Winter Build-Off 2020 - Semi-Hollow Six String

[dmarino]

I'm grinding away this week after work so there isn't some rush to the finish in the last few days for me.

Built the truss rod cover. I added some more faux abalone dots to pull the design together with the fretboard.

I also slotted the nut slot. Sorry, no zero fret this time, but I still want to figure out how sometime in the future.

I went back into the control cavity with the electronics so I could figure out where to put everything. I hemmed and hawed so much that I finally got annoyed at my indecision and made the holes.
It's a volume and blend on the left, and on the right a stacked treble and bass control.

There's not much left to do but make a nut and sand this thing up. Then the oil finish will go on and I'll assemble this beast. There's a little over 2 weeks left, if I can get the sanding done by the end of the weekend, I think we'll be in good shape.

 

[postalflunkie]

I can't wait to see the grain with oil on it

 

[TerribleTim68]

I like your control layout, if that helps. It flows well with the F hole design.

 

[dmarino]

Thanks @TerribleTim68! In the end it was the only way it made sense because the preamp has to go somewhere, and it's kind of a big preamp with lots of wire run

 

[Reedt2000]

I really like this one too. Especially the bottom of the fretboard detail being echoed at the top of the headstock.

 

[dmarino]

Like a few of my build-off compatriots, I'm starting to throw oil over here, too!

This is probably the last update before the submission post

 

[Fat Freddy]

Like a few of my build-off compatriots, I'm starting to throw oil over here, too!

This is probably the last update before the submission post

View attachment 3735183

So pretty....Love that grain....

 

[dmarino]

This is my submission for the Winter 2020 Build-Off.

Winter Build-Off 2020 - Semi-Hollow Six String

This is a semi-hollow six string with wide spacing, a wide nut, and a 35" scale. It's a large-format bass for someone with large hands, I suppose. I don't have very large hands, but I have kind of gotten used to playing it anyway and if I can manage, then anyone can . It's a big bass, but it does still fit into a standard case, see final pic.

I had a blast participating, and I'm genuinely humbled by the quality of the submissions. This is my 4th build and I learned a lot and tried a lot of new techniques this time, such as the piece-work on the heel, and the general semi-hollow architecture. It's far from perfect, but I feel like this is a true representation of the best I can do right now, so I'm pleased with the results. Thanks for looking!

Specifications
Body: African Mahogany core, Wenge, and Hard Maple layers. Topwood is walnut with nice grain that I resawed from a piece sold as "Shelving" at the local hardwood shop.
Neck: Hard Maple with African Mahogany and Wenge stringers.
Fingerboard: Ebony, with faux abalone dots at the 12th and 24th frets. 14" radius. Ebony nut.
Frets: 24 medium-jumbo frets.
Scale Length: 35".
Headstock: 3x3 setup, 10 degree tilt-back. Walnut wings and an ebony top veneer.
Tuners: Hipshot ultra-lite Y-style, black.
Bridge: Aluminum 18mm Hipshot B-style top-loader.
Pickups: Bartolini split-coil hum-cancelling 5.5" candybars.
Preamp: Bartolini NTBT 918 2-Band preamp.
Controls: Volume, Blend, Stacked Bass/Treble.
Finish: Crimson Guitars Penetrating Oil, Crimson Guitars High-Build Oil.
Strings: LaBella 760FS-CB Flat-wound extra-long. .029 - .128 gauge.

I may make a sound sample, but it basically sounds like a split-coil J Bass, and my playing is nothing special.

Edit: here's some Aston Barrett riffs that will be familiar to most. This is both pickups. Deep and thumpy with the flats on there. Signal chain is as direct as I can make it. Bass --> Apogee Gio --> Logic Pro X. I used the Hi-Fi DI setting with zero effects.


Pictures:

 

[Fat Freddy]

This is my submission for the Winter 2020 Build-Off.

Winter Build-Off 2020 - Semi-Hollow Six String

This is a semi-hollow six string with wide spacing, a wide nut, and a 35" scale. It's a large-format bass for someone with large hands, I suppose. I don't have very large hands, but I have kind of gotten used to playing it anyway and if I can manage, then anyone can . It's a big bass, but it does still fit into a standard case, see final pic.

I had a blast participating, and I'm genuinely humbled by the quality of the submissions. This is my 4th build and I learned a lot and tried a lot of new techniques this time, such as the piece-work on the heel, and the general semi-hollow architecture. It's far from perfect, but I feel like this is a true representation of the best I can do right now, so I'm pleased with the results. Thanks for looking!

Specifications
Body: African Mahogany core, Wenge, and Hard Maple layers. Topwood is walnut with nice grain that I resawed from a piece sold as "Shelving" at the local hardwood shop.
Neck: Hard Maple with African Mahogany and Wenge stringers.
Fingerboard: Ebony, with faux abalone dots at the 12th and 24th frets. 14" radius. Ebony nut.
Frets: 24 medium-jumbo frets.
Scale Length: 35".
Headstock: 3x3 setup, 10 degree tilt-back. Walnut wings and an ebony top veneer.
Tuners: Hipshot ultra-lite Y-style, black.
Bridge: Aluminum 18mm Hipshot B-style top-loader.
Pickups: Bartolini split-coil hum-cancelling 5.5" candybars.
Preamp: Bartolini NTBT 918 2-Band preamp.
Controls: Volume, Blend, Stacked Bass/Treble.
Finish: Crimson Guitars Penetrating Oil, Crimson Guitars High-Build Oil.
Strings: LaBella 760FS-CB Flat-wound extra-long. .029 - .128 gauge.

I may make a sound sample, but it basically sounds like a split-coil J Bass, and my playing is nothing special.

Pictures:
View attachment 3741481 View attachment 3741482 View attachment 3741484 View attachment 3741485 View attachment 3741486 View attachment 3741487 View attachment 3741488 View attachment 3741489 View attachment 3741490
View attachment 3741491

 

[Jisch]

that came out great!

 

[FatStringer52]

That is absolutely gorgeous. Forgive me if I missed it, but have you weighed it yet? I'm curious, with the chambering, what it comes in at. Also, how's the balance when you're strapped in?

 

[dmarino]

Thanks, @FatStringer52!

I don't have a scale here at the house, but it's not too bad with the chambering on both sides. It doesn't feel heavier than my USA P-Bass.

It's a touch neck-heavy, but if you let go of the bass, the neck doesn't really dive down, it settles a touch lower than my preferred playing position, though.

 

[postalflunkie]

Quite a looker totally digging this bass

 

[bobdabilder]

Nice job!

 

[wraub]

That looks really good.
Really.

Nicely done.

 

[Beej]

Really nice work, especially since you've only built a handful of instruments

What's the string spacing at the nut and bridge? That neck does look meaty

 

[dmarino]

What's the string spacing at the nut and bridge? That neck does look meaty

Thanks, @Beej!

It's 18mm at the bridge and 11mm at the nut.

I could have probably added a tuner and made a 7, there's enough real estate there, lol

 

[MPU]

What's your opinion on Crimson oil?

 

[dmarino]

What's your opinion on Crimson oil?

It was just as you described - low odor, fast drying and super easy to use. I used two coats of the penetrating oil and maybe 6-7 coats of the high-build oil. I really like the semi-gloss sheen that it has. I'll definitely use it again on builds where I don't stain the wood with color.
When I use color, which would be most of the time, I'll still probably go with Varathane Ultimate clear gloss. I prefer to design with color, but sometimes you got to let that natural wood show itself off!

 

[BishopJP]

Looks great, I like the subtle Deco touches! I also like the pile of soon-to-be-basses stacked behind the completed instrument!