Jabba_the_gut

I think it might be the way sapele works and joins. You can see the join line on the back of the headstock but you cannot see the join from the sides at all. If I veneered the back of the head it would be complete!y invisible! I've actually been looking at doing this and reusing the neck.

This is it. I dismantled the bass quite a while back - really should put it back together again! Sapele laminated with I think two strips of wenge and some other random hardwood. I was looking at this recently as it was my first attempt at a scarf joint that worked really well because I cannot see the join.

Nope, it’s paduak if I remember right. The dust from sanding was very, very orange!! I did make a fretless neck from sapele that was fitted to that reclaimed door bass I made a couple of years back. I’ll dig a picture out for you.

Nice to have a day off today. Been working on another 27" bass in spalted beech again. Had a piece left from the previous bass so marked it up for cutting - odd shape but sufficient for his build. First, I placed the templates on to work out which was would avoid any of the knots or faults in the wood and look the best when done (always a bit of a guess with spalted beech when you are going to carve some of it as it changes pattern throughout it's thickness) Then marked the line to cut: and ended up with this which lines up quite nicely across the join: I've also been practicing making scarf joints and have a nice selection of blanks for a neck: I've got another body glued up made from ash which may also get turned into one of these.

@SpondonBassed. Another option could be to use one of the cheaper headless bridges and put a hack saw to it to remove the saddles to use the tuning bit on it's own (think @Andyjr1515 took that approach to Mick's bass). Then make a bridge (maybe using the saddle blocks from the headless bridge?) or even run a piezo across at an angle. At the neck end, use a straight string clamp and an angled nut. A bit like this very rough mock-up: It's a compromise on a few bits but cheaper! Might work, might not. Might be a starting point though....

https://bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Grosmann_Travel_Walnut.html This looks like the wood is rotated 90 degrees to normal.

Meant to put these details up before - final weight of this was 3.2kg / 7lb and overall length 92cm / 3ft. Can't put it down...….

Nice build. Love the colour.

Lovely build. Nice design, choice of woods and a quality finish. I'm really liking the fret dots - they work really well and are the icing on the cake.

23” and 27” scale. The headed one is my new favourite toy!! So much so, I’m making another.

Could try Vanson Guitars on eBay. They have some knobs at 18mm and 15mm diameter. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-NEW-Small-Narrow-Vanson-Screw-Knobs-for-Guitar-or-Amplifier-Amp-VS001/121200192341?hash=item1c38182b55:m:mDGNUu0-NXdIuBhdhQ2GyoQ https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-NEW-Vanson-Rounded-Screw-Knobs-for-Fender-Telecaster-Tele-guitar-VS002/120881725102?hash=item1c251cbeae:m:mNOWUmg_jC4xp52ivuJj8PQ

I have to say, I'm really liking this 27" scale. It's very comfortable to play hence why I'm making another. I'm just torn between everything (active electronics and side LED fret markers) or more simple (passive jazz pickups). Still, plenty I can do before it gets near that point and I changed my mind enough on this build that went from 23" scale to 27" scale! I changed my mind enough that these are the leftovers for another day!!

@SpondonBassed Yikes indeed! There are other options but for a multiscale headless you would ideally be looking at individual headless units something along the line of ABM units (around £40 per string) plus a headpiece (around £50) so still not cheap. I've got a Nova 5 string headless bridge unit sat in front of me (it's actually in a pile of 'parts I've bought but haven't quite decided if I'll actually get round to using'.....) that is much more affordable (around £150 for bridge and head piece) and still very nice quality. There's quite a bit of adjustment in the way it is designed though whether this is enough for a multi scale I wouldn't know.

I like the thought that has gone into this. One part of the timber is more spalted than the other so this is made to be the bit that isn't covered by the pickguard. The black pickguard and hardware then really sets it off. I'm not sure if I would try a neck from spalted wood as the strength is likely to be a bit variable across the piece (obviously depending on how spalted it is) and I wonder if that could cause inconsistent bending or warping later down the line. Just my immediate thought as I've never tried it but as Del would say 'He who dares, wins'....

Hipshot hardware is very nice, quality stuff. You get what you pay for hence the price. I might have another go at headless version later on but I'm loving this bass so much I've already starting making another. Not sure what the spec will be yet other than I'm planning on it having a birds eye maple neck with a scarf joint (as that is what I've done so far!!).

I’m liking this thread - nice builds! I’ve had similar experiences - had a spare pickup so built a bass around it, can’t have it doing nothing!!

Looks lovely!

Nice use of tin foil to prevent anything sticking to the jig. I’ve always got a reel of cling film in the garage for the same purpose. I presume you cut the scarf joint on a table saw. What kind of depth of cut did you need for that - about 4”?

Ouch. Hope you have a speedy recovery.

Love spalted beech!

For this headed 27" scale bass I have used strings made by Newtone strings who recommended a heavier core (nice strings by the way). The bass is tuned to standard tuning and the tension seems absolutely fine to me. I'm really enjoying playing it, it's a very comfortable size. I'll bring it along to the next bass bash for anyone to try, whenever that is. The two 23" scale basses are also tuned to standard tuning. One has the bottom 4 strings from a 5 string set and the other just normal 4 strings. Again tension seems fine - strange that both sets of strings feel fine to play - I still haven't got my head round this yet!! I'm in the process of making a 27" scale neck to try on one of the headless basses (along with trying a different string clamp) just to see how that feels. Again, I'll take that to the next bash as well. I've also got the other headed neck at 25.5" scale I started making for this project and another set of Newtone strings designed for that scale. I'm also looking at a 27" 5 string as well. oh, And I've got a roughed out headed 34" scale bass with a Moses graphite neck knocking around as well!! Too many projects......

That wood has a lovely grain. Looking forward to seeing this progress. What is you plan for the strings for this? Cheers

And all three together just for the hell of it!!

Just lovely. Proper craftmanship. Thanks for posting this modification as it shows what can be done to get an instrument exactly how you want it. I have an old Overwater Deluxe II (bought for £60 with a damaged headstock over 30 years ago) that would benefit from a refinish. You might just have convinced me to get it done now and make it all sparkly again.

Some slightly better pictures.