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Tutmarc audiovox model 736: where are they?
- Thread starter beebassdude
- Start date
This should answer your question. In the center is a fairly true reproduction, at least the shape, just scaled-up a bit. The problem is, it is too narrow and too light ( even though it is solid walnut. ) It won't sit right in your lap, and it doesn't hang well on a strap either. Much like a Steinberger, which, as you might know, requires all kinds of extra clap-trap to actually be playable, because Ned Steinberger doesn't play, and wouldn't know the difference. Tutmarc made all the same mistakes as Steinberger, just a lot earlier.
You can see that my updated design is wider and heavier, with a big round ass to counter-weight the neck, and a properly contoured lower edge to catch your leg when you are seated. ( Actually, you could take a Stratocaster body and grind it down to one of these, I basically did that on paper first. ) On the left, you can see I added a Strat cutaway to the back, so it sits even better. Also, the original headstock design just doesn't work, and Tutmarc's narrow banjo neck looks pretty much unplayable too.
Aesthetically, Tutmarc's original is about as attractive as an old table leg, and his brass pickguard is hideous (IMO, Bakelite would have been a better material.) He did the best with what he had. I don't mean to take anything away from his invention, but it really is crude and ugly. I much prefer my pearl pickguard and curvy bound body. I fixed the headstock issues as well. On thing I kept was the big black knob, although mine is split in two to add a tone control.
The tiny switch on the middle one controls the pickup mode - it is like being able to switch between a P and a J. It plays and sounds a lot like a Fender, albeit with the ergonomic issues I already described. These bodies are in final polishing and the necks have been done for a long time, so from here it is all screwdriver and soldering iron, I should have them all together soon.
And aw shoot! The bass needs a quick trip back through the spray booth. Can you see the spot I fixed? Ha ha - good!
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I think you did an excellent job. I'm all for making improvements on the original, like I have had done on the bass ukes I buy. So it seems the mod I did as a tribute to the Tutmarc fits right in with your ideas, gratifying.
Would you consider selling the bad player?
I have a collection of historic basses and amps and an Audiovox repro would be a fantastic addition
Jim chapman
Maybe someday, when I sell off everything. It's not really a reproduction, it's more just after the style, with modern parts and dimensions.
A new one
I finally got another Audiovox together. This one is a twin to the guitar.
Specs:
mini humbuckers wired in parallel, roughly Ric positions
Jazz bass stacked control
Fender standard short-scale neck: maple, 30.3", Strat heel, brass nut
solid poplar body, stained, poly finish ( pores can't breath at all )
roundwound nickel strings, from odds & ends
sounds like a humbucker bass with roundwound strings
plays nice, needed very little adjusting, not even intonation
These are designed to evoke the Tutmarc design, while actually being much better instruments. Balance and ergonomics are much better, electronics and hardware are modern. In particular, Tutmarc's unworkable headstock design has been fixed, the too-narrow neck has been widened to modern proportions, and his too-skinny too-light body has been given some bulk to balance and feel right.
Side-by-side with real walnut, the stained poplar actually looks better. All the woods came from the lumberyard. I think the aged pearl pickguard is a big improvement over the original brass as well, although each one takes a full sheet of material, so they are not cheap.
I kept the electronics deliberately simple, as getting at them to make repairs requires a good deal of disassembly - both the bridge and tailpiece have to come off.
Compared to other hornless designs like the Vox Phantom or Steinberger, this design is much more practical. Unlike the Phantom, it will sit in your lap like a normal guitar, and unlike the Steinberger, it does not need any mechanical claptrap to do so.
I finally got another Audiovox together. This one is a twin to the guitar.
Specs:
mini humbuckers wired in parallel, roughly Ric positions
Jazz bass stacked control
Fender standard short-scale neck: maple, 30.3", Strat heel, brass nut
solid poplar body, stained, poly finish ( pores can't breath at all )
roundwound nickel strings, from odds & ends
sounds like a humbucker bass with roundwound strings
plays nice, needed very little adjusting, not even intonation
These are designed to evoke the Tutmarc design, while actually being much better instruments. Balance and ergonomics are much better, electronics and hardware are modern. In particular, Tutmarc's unworkable headstock design has been fixed, the too-narrow neck has been widened to modern proportions, and his too-skinny too-light body has been given some bulk to balance and feel right.
Side-by-side with real walnut, the stained poplar actually looks better. All the woods came from the lumberyard. I think the aged pearl pickguard is a big improvement over the original brass as well, although each one takes a full sheet of material, so they are not cheap.
I kept the electronics deliberately simple, as getting at them to make repairs requires a good deal of disassembly - both the bridge and tailpiece have to come off.
Compared to other hornless designs like the Vox Phantom or Steinberger, this design is much more practical. Unlike the Phantom, it will sit in your lap like a normal guitar, and unlike the Steinberger, it does not need any mechanical claptrap to do so.
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Setting Up
I've let it settle for 10 days, so now I can start doing some fine tuning: nut, truss rod, action, fret leveling, intonation, etc. It's getting better and better. Here's a shot of the back. Can you believe that's poplar?
As you can see, the neck is slightly offset, and access to the high frets is quite good. Also, generous round-overs and tummy cut. I actually began the design with a body tracing of a Stratocaster.
I've let it settle for 10 days, so now I can start doing some fine tuning: nut, truss rod, action, fret leveling, intonation, etc. It's getting better and better. Here's a shot of the back. Can you believe that's poplar?
As you can see, the neck is slightly offset, and access to the high frets is quite good. Also, generous round-overs and tummy cut. I actually began the design with a body tracing of a Stratocaster.
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Tutmarc uke bass
Just laying all the parts together. The neck is not fretted yet. Today I made the bridge from scraps of fretboard wood. The circuit board is the buffer for the piezo. The body is plywood over pine. I think it needs a sound hole to fill in the blank space.
Although I prefer the brass color to pearloid, overall I really like this 'modernized' version of the bass. Maybe this is how they'd look if AudioVox had continued existing up to today. If I wasn't broke, I'd order one.
Where did you get the bridge/saddle pickup and circuit board? For the mod I did to the Rondo Hadean 24" scale bass uke, I've been looking for spare pickups and preamps.
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Here's another one:
Custom Short Scales - 32" and under - no factory guitars
This is the third one I've finished to my modified design, plus one other that is closer to the original. This "Modern Player" design is better in every way.
Custom Short Scales - 32" and under - no factory guitars
This is the third one I've finished to my modified design, plus one other that is closer to the original. This "Modern Player" design is better in every way.
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- Jan 28, 2009
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- Owner: Moonshine Custom Guitars
