Wolf 5 String rebuild

[Slidlow]

My fretless playing sounds like a moose doing an impression of a sheep and a cow mating, so I'm not likely to build one for me.

That’s funny. My fretted playing sounds like chains dragging over an open piano. Having started on fretless and only really ever playing fretless I don’t lift my hand much from the fingerboard so whenever I try fretted it ends up a horrible mess. This Wolf will get frets as I intend to not keep it. I don’t do the muted slidey mwahh thing and if you heard me playing without seeing you’d think it was a normal fretted bass even though I use nylon wounds.

 

[Slidlow]

I put an ad in the classifieds for the Blackwood Tek black version of the fingerboard blank if anyone is interested in trying one. Also have the black headplates available.

 

[Slidlow]

Started work on the Blackwood Tek “brown” fretboard for this bass. Got it tapered and starting to mark out the length.

 

[Slidlow]

So far I only trimmed the big end of the fretboard.

 

[Slidlow]

Went Out to the cold garage today to put the fretboard through the planer. Planes really well with no chip out and very little snipe.

Next will be slotting, radiusing, adding side markers and gluing in place before fretting.

 

[Slidlow]

Another pic of the planed board. Slotting next then add a radius. Will post as it gets done.

 

[Slidlow]

Got a chance to slot the board

I’ve been installing cabinets in the basement for a kitchen so while the wife was out I used the mounted cabinets as an ad hoc bench

 

[Slidlow]

Well it’s been quite a while since I had a chance to work on this. Glued the fretboard on snd started the radius.

 

[Slidlow]

Well here we are with a nice low 24” radius and mostly polished up. On to the fret cutting and installation.

 

[Slidlow]

Started fretting

using a very basic set of tools.

A few passes notches the end of the fret.

 

[Slidlow]

Frets are in, ends trimmed and bevelled. Next to mix some sanding dust with epoxy to fill the fret slot ends. Oh and I forgot to drill for side markers so there’s that to do.

 

[Slidlow]

Put some oil on the board and I am liking the richness of the “brown” Blackwood Tek board.

I actually smacked the surface a couple of times hammering in the frets and didn’t dent it so it would work for fretless.

 

[Slidlow]

Got the bridge mounted and gathered all the hardware from the four corners. Getting all budget electronics and hardware for now

 

[Beej]

I like to use all budget electronics but in an established size for eventual swap-out. Only once or twice have I plugged something in and thought 'oh dear, this is crap'. Usually with a properly built instrument, it sounds perfectly fine with inexpensive stuff, and can then be modified by the buyer. Nice to see you do justice to this instrument.

 

[Slidlow]

I like to use all budget electronics but in an established size for eventual swap-out. Only once or twice have I plugged something in and thought 'oh dear, this is crap'. Usually with a properly built instrument, it sounds perfectly fine with inexpensive stuff, and can then be modified by the buyer. Nice to see you do justice to this instrument.

Exactly my sentiment with budget parts. Always use ones with common configuration so they can be upgraded later. Thanks hoping it comes out good. I have a couple of more junkers coming later for rehabilitation.

 

[Slidlow]

Sorry for no update. I’ve busy sorting out the garage so I can move my brothers car out and get my workspace back.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Sorry for no update. I’ve busy sorting out the garage so I can move my brothers car out and get my workspace back. View attachment 7332578

Cool car though.

 

[Slidlow]

Cool car though.

My brother's 1930 Model A. My 1929 Chev is alongside it and I need the space to bring in a 1951 GMC.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

My brother's 1930 Model A. My 1929 Chev is alongside it and I need the space to bring in a 1951 GMC.

Well now you’re just showin’ off!

 

[Slidlow]

Well now you’re just showin’ off!

Am to