Winter 2017 Build Off - Speak of the Devil

[mapleglo]

View attachment 1049050

I wonder what's up with the Hebrew letters around the pentagram.

Is it possible to create a cavity under the pickup but above the bridge? Or just a tad to the right? Seems like there is a lot of space there.
Then a small hole to the traditional control area?

Sure. Placement of the controls isn't my issue. Making a control cavity is something I typically don't like to do. I feel it interrupts the flow of the body surface.

I like this setup, but the controls must be wiggled in through the jack plate hole. It's a real pain.

 

[Bikeguy57]

I wonder what's up with the Hebrew letters around the pentagram.



Sure. Placement of the controls isn't my issue. Making a control cavity is something I typically don't like to do. I feel it interrupts the flow of the body surface.

I like this setup, but the controls must be wiggled in through the jack plate hole. It's a real pain.

It may be a pain, but it's really a cool detail.

 

[Will_White]

I wonder what's up with the Hebrew letters around the pentagram.



Sure. Placement of the controls isn't my issue. Making a control cavity is something I typically don't like to do. I feel it interrupts the flow of the body surface.

I like this setup, but the controls must be wiggled in through the jack plate hole. It's a real pain.

The pentagram/goat Kathy posted is the Sigil of Baphomet used by the Church of Satan, the Hebrew letters are a transliteration of Leviathon.

I agree with BikeGuy, the control panelless look may be a pain but it's a really cool detail. You could put the controls on a chromed plate.

 

[mapleglo]

It may be a pain, but it's really a cool detail.

Another option is this:

Dual jack plate, using one jack hole for a control. But then it doesn't fit well in a standard case. I guess I'm looking for some magic.

*edit - at one point we were talking about finding those push-button controls, so the knob could sink into the body when it wasn't being used. Never did find any.

 

[ctmullins]

For a take-no-prisoners bass from hell, you should just wire the pickup straight to the jack.

 

[Will_White]

For a take-no-prisoners bass from hell, you should just wire the pickup straight to the jack.

Or with just a button switch on a dual jack plate to keep it low profile and provide muting.

 

[Bikeguy57]

Another option is this:

Dual jack plate, using one jack hole for a control. But then it doesn't fit well in a standard case. I guess I'm looking for some magic.

*edit - at one point we were talking about finding those push-button controls, so the knob could sink into the body when it wasn't being used. Never did find any.

Not sure if you're looking for opinions...but I think the knobs in the standard location with no rear cavity are subtle and sleek. The side mounted knob is maybe kind of gimmicky? It actually impairs the function of the control. On the other hand, you know the old saying about opinions

 

[Korladis]

Just an on/off switch.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

I recommend putting the controls on the edge, but recessing them in. Passive, Volume, Tone, jack. Find some small diameter black knobs. Rout a pocket from the edge and make up an aluminum plate that fits down in there, so that the knobs are only slightly sticking out. You turn them with the tips. Subtle and barely visible. I'd also put the jack as the lowest (with the bass hanging on the strap) and the knobs above it, more around the back.

Rout the shelf for the plate first, leaving space at the two ends for two sturdy screws. Make the plate from 1/8" aluminum, brush finished like the neck plate. Then use a Forstner bit to hog out a chamber for the pots, jack, and wires. Drill a hole up into the pickup cavity.

 

[SLivinghouse]

I know a lot of you, and certainly Maple from her post above, disagree with me on this, but I largely don't care that much what the back of the bass looks like. To me it's kind of like worrying what the underside of your car looks like. And especially if I could do something like a panel on the back so that I can make something look better on the front, I would do it in a heartbeat.

That said, I've been thinking about something like what you have above but recessed into the bass maybe a 1/2 inch. I'm also thinking about recessing controls into the top edge of the top bout roughly straight above where the pickup is on that bass.

On your devil bass, I think you have a lot of opportunities to hide controls since the body shape has so many cut outs. For example, I saw I think in one of JIO's threads, a bass with a wheel type pot like on an old 1970's portable AM radio.

Maybe you could slide one of those into a slot routed into one of your cutouts in the middle of the bass. It might take up too much room depth wise, but it would be unique and it would keep keep the flow of the front in tact. A cool thing about these builds is you can try stuff out.

 

[mapleglo]

I recommend putting the controls on the edge, but recessing them in. Passive, Volume, Tone, jack. Find some small diameter black knobs. Rout a pocket from the edge and make up an aluminum plate that fits down in there, so that the knobs are only slightly sticking out. You turn them with the tips. Subtle and barely visible. I'd also put the jack as the lowest (with the bass hanging on the strap) and the knobs above it, more around the back.

Rout the shelf for the plate first, leaving space at the two ends for two sturdy screws. Make the plate from 1/8" aluminum, brush finished like the neck plate. Then use a Forstner bit to hog out a chamber for the pots, jack, and wires. Drill a hole up into the pickup cavity.

Great idea! I never thought to mount the jack plate recessed along with a knob. I think I'll just go with volume - I don't have much use for a tone control. I may put in a switch though, for perhaps series/parallel (it's a dual coil), or maybe single/dual coil.

I largely don't care that much what the back of the bass looks like

Sacrilege!

 

[mapleglo]

Started mounting the tuners, then ran out of time. That work thing keeps getting in the way...

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I lost track of how those tuners work, hex key? Can't wait to see the FB final buff and polish, should make the inlays glitter.

 

[mapleglo]

Tuners installed, put on 2 strings.

I have to work on the nut a bit more, and then file notches in the bridge, but it's coming along. I mounted the bridge before mounting the neck, and that concerned me, but it appears to be ok.

 

[mapleglo]

Heh, ya'll knew I wouldn't be able to resist putting on the rest of the strings...

 

[JIO]

View attachment 1050951

Heh, ya'll knew I wouldn't be able to resist putting on the rest of the strings...

Super duper

 

[Indiedog]

View attachment 1050951

Heh, ya'll knew I wouldn't be able to resist putting on the rest of the strings...

Looks GREAT! This will be a special bass, 'Glo.

 

[mapleglo]

I got a little done today. I glued up the control cavity template.

Rounded over the neck/body transition a bit more, and drilled the strap lock holes. I'm hoping to start on the control cavity tomorrow.

 

[Clark Westfield]

What kind of tuners are on the headstock?

I've never seen that style before.

 

[Will_White]

What kind of tuners are on the headstock?

I've never seen that style before.

those would be some of @michaelwayneharwood single string headless tuners.