Who wouldn't want a 6 - string fretless?

[MrArose13]

O-La-La! this bass is coming along really nice!

Thanks Maurizio! Nice to see you checking up on me. ..

 

[miziomix]

Thanks Maurizio! Nice to see you checking up on me. ..

You're very welcome. And yes, even though I am not posting often I am checking every update and enjoying this thread very much!

BTW - I have to agree with the title of your thread. A six string fretless bass is The fretless bass!

 

[MrArose13]

You're very welcome. And yes, even though I am not posting often I am checking every update and enjoying this thread very much!

It's the same for me with your thread(s), it just gets had to keep up with everything sometimes. Nice to know your out there, talk to you soon. ..

 

[pilotjones]

Thanks PJ!

To answer the Q. table saw.

Yeah you know... Thinking about it now... I suppose showing how to make the jig too would have made for a more complete "HOW TO" .. I suppose I still could. ..

Ok then - the three ways I can figure would be dado head with the the blades tilted, or multiple passes with a regular blade straight up and with the workpiece in some kind of fixture to hold it at an angle, or workpiece vertical against the fence on the left side of the blade, with the blade tilted (which is a little scary). So how did you do it?

 

[Beej]

Ooh, fun game! My guess is a single pass on the table saw perpendicular to the surface, and then an angled cut that meets the bottom of the first table saw cut, that way you get a 90 degree vertical angle and the 13/26 lateral. Close?

 

[Smilodon]

I vote for the method described by Beej. The circular saw marks on the jig supports this hypothetis.

Either that, or black magic. Let's face it, we have seen some evidence of this before over at the LXL thread.



Seriously though, really nice work as always.

 

[Awake DT]

Looks amazing so far. The end result is going to be mind blowing!

 

[Thomas Kievit]

I don't understand this... You said you are making a bass, but you are making art... I guess I didn't read it that well, huh?

 

[MrArose13]

I vote for the method described by Beej. The circular saw marks on the jig supports this hypothetis.

Either that, or black magic. Let's face it, we have seen some evidence of this before over at the LXL thread.



Seriously though, really nice work as always.

HA... ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. ..

Thanks Smilodon!

 

[MrArose13]

Looks amazing so far. The end result is going to be mind blowing!

I hope so, we shall see in about 3 weeks.
Thank you. ..

I don't understand this... You said you are making a bass, but you are making art... I guess I didn't read it that well, huh?

You're reading it right, they're one in the same.
Thank you, that's very nice of you to say. ..

 

[MrArose13]

I went ahead and made a new “floating wood bridge shaping jig” and took pics so everyone could see how I did it.

I thought it was the easiest way to answer PJ’s Q. and completing the bridge tutorial, (if you will) as well.

For the record, Beej nailed it.

With the table saw set in a standard position, (fence on the right, blade at 90°) I made a cut 1/4” deep, turned the wood and made a second cut.

After moving the fence to the left side of the table, I set the blade to 13°. Then set the fence so that the blade will bottom out in the initial cut. Making several cuts, raising the blade each time allows for adjustments and a smooth finale cut.

First cut, looks a lot like the second.

Last cut for the 13° grove (not sure how many passes it took).

Now tilt the blade to 26°, reset the fence, flip the work piece and repeat the cutting process for the 26° grove.

This time I glued and brad nailed a strip of wood to the end for a stop. Mark the angles and it’s ready to make some bridges.

Well that's that, hope everyone likes it, I've got some up dates on the bass and hope to post them later, but right now I need to get some coffee and get in the shop. Till then... Happy Building. ..

 

[SpankyPants]

My main bass is a 6-string fretless with a floating bridge, and I've been redesigning one to build. I've started processing lumber, and I hope to start posting my work soon. In the meantime, I'll keep my eyes open for this thread.

 

[MrArose13]

My main bass is a 6-string fretless with a floating bridge, and I've been redesigning one to build. I've started processing lumber, and I hope to start posting my work soon. In the meantime, I'll keep my eyes open for this thread.

It's nice to have you along for the ride, .. Glad you like it.

 

[MrArose13]

OHH heavens have I been slow on the updates… .. Here’s a quickie…

The FB has been radiused …

The “cord curl” was rounded over with a dremel router and blinded in…

CA coat on the FB (to be smoothed and polished later)…

lastly the headstock logo inlay was put in and oh yes, I was able to get a pic of it glowing... ..

At this point I’m waiting on custom strings to do a mock-up and proceed to finish sanding and finish, but here’s a wetted down pic…

Meanwhile, I’m making some wood knobs and fussing with the little bits; I’ll have more on this next time. Till then, happy building. ..

 

[octaedro7]

What a cool bass, I love this design of yours.
If I may ask:
How do you manage to sand the innings of the cord curl and not go nuts?
What's the radius you used and where could you get a block wide enough for a sixer?

 

[zon6c-f]

Great build thread..Have you looked into joining our Georgia Club Thread on TB??

My quest began in 2000. I knew Greg Curbow..R I P... Masterful Luthier; specialized in electric basses..all hand crafted; machine assisted..like yours.

Bottom line..I went with ZON. For similar specs, Curbows' bass was much more expensive...and heavier. [Zon cost over $4000 with H S C.]

G C was only shop in Atlanta to sell Zon at the time.. I only wanted a 5er. Sales guy said for $100 more you get a 6..Wife said go for it... It arrived with serial number of 1001

Over a decade later..I still own and seldom play or use my ZON Sonus 6 Lined fretless..thus my screen name zon6c-f, as it is playable art ...AAAA Quilted maple top..liquid black...phenolic board/ composite neck..NO TRUSS ROD.. Bartolini soap bars...and I am not worthy of such an instrument. I took battery out to avoid any corrosion or leakage...

Again..great thread..we are all enjoying...

 

[MrArose13]

What a cool bass, I love this design of yours.

Thank you, I'm quite fond of it too.

If I may ask:
How do you manage to sand the innings of the cord curl and not go nuts?

well, in the beginning, I almost did. Then I made some 1/4" sanding drums that I simply chuck up in the drill press. Well, I cut some steel rod and glued sandpaper (of various grits) to them with spray adhesive, then put some strapping tape on the ends. This takes care of the hard work at least.

What's the radius you used and where could you get a block wide enough for a sixer?

This one has a 16", and the block I got from LMI,

 

[MrArose13]

Great build thread..Have you looked into joining our Georgia Club Thread on TB??

Quite honestly, I didn't know there was one... Or how to find it and all the other "Clubs". Tell me how to find it and I'll be happy to check it out.

My quest began in 2000. I knew Greg Curbow..R I P... Masterful Luthier; specialized in electric basses..all hand crafted; machine assisted..like yours.

Bottom line..I went with ZON. For similar specs, Curbows' bass was much more expensive...and heavier. [Zon cost over $4000 with H S C.]

G C was only shop in Atlanta to sell Zon at the time.. I only wanted a 5er. Sales guy said for $100 more you get a 6..Wife said go for it... It arrived with serial number of 1001

Over a decade later..I still own and seldom play or use my ZON Sonus 6 Lined fretless..thus my screen name zon6c-f, as it is playable art ...AAAA Quilted maple top..liquid black...phenolic board/ composite neck..NO TRUSS ROD.. Bartolini soap bars...and I am not worthy of such an instrument. I took battery out to avoid any corrosion or leakage...

R.I.P Indeed, When I was looking for Luthiery schools Curbows' was one of the first I checked out. Unfortunately, it was during a time when he wasn't doing well and no one new the future of the school. It would have been amazing.

Again..great thread..we are all enjoying...

Thank you! ..

 

[zon6c-f]

Find Ga club by...

entering:Electric bass..Miscellaneous.. search ..georgia..

Small but mighy..and we're growing!

 

[zon6c-f]

Greg Curbow was a 'gentle giant'... a kind and gentle soul....humble as well as being an excellent luthier; specializing in basses.

Through the years, he had a few shops in Midtown/ L5P vicinity... Atlanta. Ocassionally I used to hang at his last shop, which was in lower level of a large old house, below where he and his wife lived before he relocated to Blue Ridge and opened his school.

About last time I saw him, he had brought some basses for Adam Nitti to use at a free GC Seminar. He seemed well..serene.. maybe he knew what was just around the corner. He let me help bring in those basses into the room.

Prior to that seminar, I hadn't seen him in years...since we saw him at a concert...he had brought some instruments to that concert..THE FIRM.. where he met with Jimmy Page..and was Page's guitar tech for some time afterward.

He was well loved and at least he knew we appreciated him in his lifetime.
He played bass as well.