• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Will this project cut it?

Looks like he kept the full 2" thickness. My plan is to use the thickness so that I can do a Spector type thang where I curve the top and bottom.I enjoy spending time with my Shinto and I don't enjoy really heavy instruments.

I personally shoot for 1- 1/4" body thickness.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Markshan
Looks like he kept the full 2" thickness. My plan is to use the thickness so that I can do a Spector type thang where I curve the top and bottom.I enjoy spending time with my Shinto and I don't enjoy really heavy instruments.
I would probably use some of those pieces of hardwood for the body core, and make wings from something lighter. This way you can can also mount the wings at a slight angle and use thinner pieces of wood.

Then again I'm not all that interested in a stained finish so if the wood pattern is integral to your plans, ignore me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Markshan
I would probably use some of those pieces of hardwood for the body core, and make wings from something lighter. This way you can can also mount the wings at a slight angle and use thinner pieces of wood.

Then again I'm not all that interested in a stained finish so if the wood pattern is integral to your plans, ignore me.
It is, but I appreciate your input nevertheless.
 
Well, you have the block inlays to go with the butcher block body.

WRT thickness, just pay attention to what your (minimalistic, if I read you correctly) electronics need to fit, as that's one of the limits at least on the area where they live; or you need to source smaller parts than "usual" to fit, depending. Where it's just wood, suit your sense of what works/feels good. I've done some stuff with laminated walnut and cherry that's worked out well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Markshan and Beej
Having always played Rics, 1-1/4” thickness feels “normal” to me, but definitely no thicker than 1-1/2”. It’s not necessary structurally on a solid body, the rest is just deadweight.

I agree - the thinner the better. Actually '60s vintage Fender bodies were closer to 1.5" than many that proceeded them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gilmourisgod
The pickups came today. These ones seem to be 12 to 15 years old but it's a model they still make. New they sell for $209. I got them in this condition for 109. I felt like that was a pretty good deal. It looks like they had some foam removed from them but it was done cleanly enough to leave the labels intact.
My old guy eyes thought that they had four wires but they only have two. So I don't get to play with humbucker versus single coil, but only having one switch to toggle between them definitely plays into the aesthetic I have in my mind.
IMG_20231124_231658.jpg
IMG_20231124_231819.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Beej and Dark Horse
This is the bridge I chose. It is a generic from eBay, but I liked the design. It's not large at all front to back, but it is heavy. I like the way the saddles are two piece so you get full range of intonation and full range of height adjustment. I like that it's quick string or string through body. Most of all, I chose it because I was looking for one with a wide string spacing. Most of them are 18 or 19 cm, this one is 20. I don't know if you can tell from the picture of the neck, but it has a pretty extreme arc to the widening from the nut to the heel. My Hope is that the wider spacing on the bridge will make the strings sit right as they are running from the narrow neck to the wide heel. If it turns out I don't like it, it's only three screws so swapping it out shouldn't be a major issue.
IMG_20231125_174313.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Matt Liebenau
Here are the tuners I chose. Again they are cheap eBay imported from China but again I also liked the design. I like the blend of the black and the chrome. I like the fact that they are lighter than standard Fender tuners, but they fit the large holes that were already drilled into the neck. I didn't want big gonky tuners and I didn't want to have to plug and redrill the holes. The fit and finish is a little bit less than amazing if you look very very closely, but I think from any distance at all they look fine and I think with a little bit of graphite they will function fine as well. The nut at the moment is a bit stiff to get over the black painted assembly.
IMG_20231130_220430.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Matt Liebenau