V8 project

[Flamingo21]

Less.

 

[JIO]

 

[Mickey666]

Very Metal!

 

[JIO]

Howdy! Been awhile.., mostly because I was putting off shaping the neck profile because I knew it was going to be a lot of work. But also wanted to wait until my left hand was more recovered from carpal-tunnel surgery. I know a lot of players like big fat 'log' necks, but navigating 8 strings comfortably wasn't happening for me with the deep U neck profile on this bass.

Sooo... I addressed two things I wanted to do once the strings were disconnected once again from the hs. I reinforced the hs with a 1/16" layer of carbon fiber (sheet) epoxied over the hs back. With all that string tension - the hs was slightly bowed. I did lighten it and plane it to accept the engravers plastic face, so it was to be expected. The 1/16" cf backing should resolve that issue.

I followed @Bruce Johnson 's advice about removing material on the E and G sides w/o removing material from the center and it feels much better. (easier to navigate a wide neck 8-string bass) From studying the various basses I own with different neck profiles, it's clear that they are all pretty closely related. So what that means is that it doesn't take much to create a different 'feel'. Subtle differences are what makes one neck feel 'better' (to each individual player) than one that is very similar... but different.

I have a contour gauge but mostly went by 'feel'. In general it's a 'leaning toward V' profile. Like I said.., subtle - but very different feeling. Removing the finish was a chore - under the blue was an epoxy 'seal-coat' which was very time-consuming to remove. I ran into this same issue many years ago removing the 'mustard' colour off of a '06 CIJ '51 P RI P-bass. Really bullet-proof... nothing like a thin '60s nitro finish. I have basses with painted necks, but I do prefer un-painted with a sealer. (usually hand-rubbed satin poly) In this case I'm going to stain the neck with ebony stain and do the satin poly once it cures.

Before someone sez' "shoes" ... it's conceptual art!

 

[JIO]

Filed the cf flush to the hs contour (messy stuff cf!) and applied ebony stain. It wasn't as dark as I hoped so I wiped most of it off and applied satin enamel - and wiped most of it off. (staining by another avenue)

I kinda dig the mottled look - almost like it was burned. (another thing I could have attempted) I coated the hs edges and volute solid to blend in visually with the cf, and once it cures I'll wipe on another layer of satin black to darken/richen it a bit more. (or not!)

It happens a lot with an intent - I start with a concept but am open to changing course if something along the way reveals itself as a better solution. Opaque black would have looked good - but this 'charred' look brings out a 'rough & ready' R&R look that is just the ticket for this souped-up V8.

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

Filed the cf flush to the hs contour (messy stuff cf!) and applied ebony stain. It wasn't as dark as I hoped so I wiped most of it off and applied satin enamel - and wiped most of it off. (staining by another avenue)

View attachment 4958530
I kinda dig the mottled look - almost like it was burned. (another thing I could have attempted) I coated the hs edges and volute solid to blend in visually with the cf, and once it cures I'll wipe on another layer of satin black to darken/richen it a bit more. (or not!)

It happens a lot with an intent - I start with a concept but am open to changing course if something along the way reveals itself as a better solution. Opaque black would have looked good - but this 'charred' look brings out a 'rough & ready' R&R look that is just the ticket for this souped-up V8.
View attachment 4958541

Cool. The back of the neck would have been a Nash upcharge. . And yes CF is an odd thing to work and the dust (micro shards) is nasty for you. Looks good man.

 

[JIO]

I decided to do another ebony stain which you can see in this blurry pic. It darkened/richened it up as you can see. Not sure if I'll go any darker - I'm liking the way it looks.

The combination of cf and visually gritty finish works for me -

Satin hand-rubbed poly for tomorrow. I'm going to spray the strap-peg extension satin black so that it disappears if wearing a black shirt.

 

[JIO]

Cool. The back of the neck would have been a Nash upcharge. . And yes CF is an odd thing to work and the dust (micro shards) is nasty for you. Looks good man.

Nash probably makes nice basses, but I've yet to see a relic'd finish by them that I liked that is either convincing or artistic. MJT on the other hand does very nice relic-ing.

I had them do a 'mild' relic-ing on my '93 A/S J in Burgundy Mist Metallic nitro. As you know, I do my own distressing/relic-ing but I wanted to see a competitor's work in person. I've seen pics their more extreme relic-ing and they do a good job there as well. I also wanted to see how they operated the process. They were very good about communicating w/pics and mine went through a few back & forth before I gave the final ok. It's something I do as well when it's an artistic rendering above a standard, predictable finish.

My favorite distressing work that I've done so far is this one - both convincing and artistic. (feels nice too!) Realistic/believable because Danelectro did craquelure finishes on their '60s guitars/basses.

 

[Will_White]

Nash probably makes nice basses, but I've yet to see a relic'd finish by them that I liked that is either convincing or artistic. MJT on the other hand does very nice relic-ing.

I had them do a 'mild' relic-ing on my '93 A/S J in Burgundy Mist Metallic nitro. As you know, I do my own distressing/relic-ing but I wanted to see a competitor's work in person. I've seen pics their more extreme relic-ing and they do a good job there as well. I also wanted to see how they operated the process. They were very good about communicating w/pics and mine went through a few back & forth before I gave the final ok. It's something I do as well when it's an artistic rendering above a standard, predictable finish.
View attachment 4959679
My favorite distressing work that I've done so far is this one - both convincing and artistic. (feels nice too!) Realistic/believable because Danelectro did craquelure finishes on their '60s guitars/basses.
View attachment 4959689 View attachment 4959690 View attachment 4959693 View attachment 4959694 View attachment 4959695

While artificial, I like that the relicing on that dano tells a story. It looks like it was played by someone that played seated a fair amount with a pick and while they could hold down the low-end they liked to play up high as well, maybe they were in a power trio.

 

[JIO]

While artificial, I like that the relicing on that dano tells a story. It looks like it was played by someone that played seated a fair amount with a pick and while they could hold down the low-end they liked to play up high as well, maybe they were in a power trio.

You 'get it' Will! My friend Alan Whitman who used to play bass for the Mermen (a psychodelic surf trio) use to gliss the length of the neck while playing expressively, slamming his left hand against the body at the heel. He really used the whole fb when he played. I thought about him when I was working on that detail!

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

Nash probably makes nice basses, but I've yet to see a relic'd finish by them that I liked that is either convincing or artistic. MJT on the other hand does very nice relic-ing.

I had them do a 'mild' relic-ing on my '93 A/S J in Burgundy Mist Metallic nitro. As you know, I do my own distressing/relic-ing but I wanted to see a competitor's work in person. I've seen pics their more extreme relic-ing and they do a good job there as well. I also wanted to see how they operated the process. They were very good about communicating w/pics and mine went through a few back & forth before I gave the final ok. It's something I do as well when it's an artistic rendering above a standard, predictable finish.
View attachment 4959679
My favorite distressing work that I've done so far is this one - both convincing and artistic. (feels nice too!) Realistic/believable because Danelectro did craquelure finishes on their '60s guitars/basses.
View attachment 4959689 View attachment 4959690 View attachment 4959693 View attachment 4959694 View attachment 4959695

"Nash probably makes nice basses, but I've yet to see a relic'd finish by them that I liked that is either convincing or artistic.".

Was my point. When it's ebony stain on something being stained in an organic process that's one thing. When someone sands through some over baked, slightly Cheeto colored lacquer and does that to read as "player wear" that's a different story.

 

[JIO]

"Nash probably makes nice basses, but I've yet to see a relic'd finish by them that I liked that is either convincing or artistic.".

Was my point. When it's ebony stain on something being stained in an organic process that's one thing. When someone sands through some over baked, slightly Cheeto colored lacquer and does that to read as "player wear" that's a different story.

Yah, the overly yellow 'vintage amber' stain on maple necks is always a deal-breaker for me. Ones I've owned were removed straight away. If you clear-coat a maple neck w/nitro or alkyd poly - it will amber naturally in UV (sun) light eventually, and look much better!

 

[Max Bogosity]

You 'get it' Will! My friend Alan Whitman who used to play bass for the Mermen (a psychodelic surf trio) use to gliss the length of the neck while playing expressively, slamming his left hand against the body at the heel. He really used the whole fb when he played. I thought about him when I was working on that detail!

The Mermen are one of my favourite bands ever. Tell Alan a random stranger on the internet says he’s cool.

 

[JIO]

The Mermen are one of my favourite bands ever. Tell Alan a random stranger on the internet says he’s cool.

Me too! As they are in the Bay Area (actually Santa Cruz, which is 1.5hrs away) I've seen/heard them many times. Alan moved to Germany years ago so Jennifer Burns is their bass player now. Last time I saw them was at my favorite place in SF to hear music, The Great American Music Hall. They had a spectacular light-show!

 

[JIO]

The V8 project started last August is done!

 

[BishopJP]

Me too! As they are in the Bay Area (actually Santa Cruz, which is 1.5hrs away) I've seen/heard them many times. Alan moved to Germany years ago so Jennifer Burns is their bass player now. Last time I saw them was at my favorite place in SF to hear music, The Great American Music Hall. They had a spectacular light-show!

View attachment 4961824

Great pic! At first, I thought it was the Fillmore...

Big fan of the Mermen! Even though I grew up in Santa Cruz, I never got to see them (that I remember).

The bass looks awesome, too!

 

[JIO]

Great pic! At first, I thought it was the Fillmore...

Big fan of the Mermen! Even though I grew up in Santa Cruz, I never got to see them (that I remember).

The bass looks awesome, too!

Thanks - another cool Mermen shot -

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Cool. I didn’t realize there were 2 string through ferrules on the back.

 

[JIO]

More pics - these were shot outside so better light/clearer focus.

 

[Engle]

I like it! I was wondering about this bass the other day.
I was browsing weird and wonderful bass shaped objects on aliexpress - stuff you know is going to need work