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Zebrawood Short Scale Bass

Bonetrager

Bonetrager

Guest
Oct 4, 2015
8
1
43
#1
I have this posted on another forum, but since that forum is mostly for guitars, I decided to look around for a site more dedicated to bass guitars. This is actually my first bass build, but I have a walnut thin line telecaster under my belt. Anyways, my build is not set in stone yet, so that is why I would like to share with your guys.

Neck - Through - Laminate 5 piece neck using maple/purple heart
Fingerboard - Wenge from LMII
Body Wings - Cherry and Maple
Top - Zebrawood

Hardware
Bridge - Hipshot Style A
Tuners - ??? Something good, but not extremely expensive
Pickups - Still undecided on pickups, but leaning towards some kind of active. I currently play bass for a band and have been using the lead singer's 1960's Fender Mustang and love it (hence why I am going with a short scale), but I think I could get the sound I am looking for out of an active set. Open to suggestions.


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Bookmatched zebra wood gave me the inspiration for the bass
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The 5 piece neck being glued
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The laminate body. Zebra wood, maple, cherry
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The neck planed
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A mockup of the shape of the bass
 
#11
Ok, from what I have read, there isn't much difference between through body or through bridge. Anyone have any experience with Carvin bridges? They are a little cheaper, but I am also not trying to skimp too much on this bass since it will be my main playing bass in the band that I am in once we start playing again in the spring (we are on a break due to one of the main singer being pregnant).
 
#13
Get Gotoh 707, they are the least expensive tuners that you will not regret.
The A bridge is milled to allow string-through. If you do string through on a 30" scale bass you may find short scale strings too short and long scale strings too long.

There are only a couple of manufacturers that make active pickups. EMG, Seymour Duncan. They have a distinctive sound for sure so if you want that then probably EMG is the way to go. That sound has fallen out of favor as the market for passive pickups has really opened up in the last 10-15 years. My favorite pickup in the EMG series is the DC. I had an Acacia with the 45DC and it had a monster sound. You'd want the 35DC for 4 string.
 
#15
I've become a fan of the Schaller SD-4 because of the amount of adjustment you can do with them. Being able to adjust string width is a big plus.

If you're not completely set on actives you might give a look at the Alumitones. Using a "P" & "J" set of them gives you many tonal options.
 
#16
I guess I didn't realize that what I consider "Active" pickups are actually passive pickup with an active preamp. I didn't realize they were two different things. So that changes my thought process a little. I do want an active preamp, but not dead set on active pickups.
 
#17
Got my fingerboard in. I was lazy on this build and got one pre slotted. On my tele build I did it myself and now am dealing with some intonation issues. Anyways, here is the beautiful grain.
 

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#18
This bass is kind of at a standstill as my bandsaw took a crap and am trying to figure out how to either fix it, or finally upgrade. Don't want to mess with the neck until I get a bandsaw. On a positive note, I did get the electronics in. Here is a rundown. It is not set in stone, and I might end up either leaving the PB pickups out, or getting a different pickup for the neck. Not sure yet.

Pre-amp: Bartolini 4.7AP

Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan SPB-3 (not dead set on those, but got a killer deal on them)

Bridge PU: Delano MC4 FE/J-M2

Bridge: Hipshot AStyle Brass
 

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