Jabba_the_gut

Fitted a pair of black metal knobs to this to finish it off. Got a comment about this bass at the SE Bash last year that the EMG knobs looked cheap and I completely agree - they're not even what I would call quality mouldings especially the stacked knob. Shame really as the rest of their kit is first class in my opinion. The stacked knob looked a little too tall on this small bodied bass so I filed a couple of mm off the top knob and I think it looks quite a bit better. I think that is all the little jobs complete on this one and need to wait a little before I can do any work on the finish of the other shortie so on with the semi hollow basses to get them progressed as far as I can for the SW Bass Bash.

PM'd @BassTool

As it fits just to the front face of the neck it allows a bit of scope for the shaping of the end of the neck as it doesn't go over the end of the neck as such.

Bought quite a few bits and bobs off them - all small hardware parts and found them to be pretty quick and decent. Ordered two nuts from them recently, they only sent one in error. I let them know, they apologised and sent the other very quickly so customer service seems pretty decent to me.

I know what you mean - it's not something you think about with double ball end strings but they only come in 34" scale (double ball end strings are so convenient and quick to change). The Nova headpiece clamp is similar to what I've seen on other headless basses using single ball end strings so should be a tried and tested approach. Here's the two head pieces side by side for reference. The Nova is a nice looking piece of work isn't it?!

+1!! Interesting little project - look forward to seeing what you do with this.

I've picked up the headless parcel and the bridge looks nice. I bought a five string bridge and head piece and also a four string headpiece to try as an alternative to the ones used in these builds. The Nova headpiece has a single large grub screw to retain the strings so would be a lot less faff than these ones with the grub screws and clamp. Not really had anytime to look at it properly but will stick some picture and comments on here when I do!!

Neck sanding done and satin lacquer applied. Really pleased how this is looking....just need to get the rest of it finished!! As a little future experiment, I'm going to make another neck for this or the other shortie but with a scale length of somewhere around 30" just to see how a normal short scale feels on a headless bass. I've quite enjoyed building a couple medium/short scale basses and like the way they feel so I'm curious to what a 30" headless would be like. That's the trouble with this building lark, there's always the next bass and always something else to try!!

I have a spangly new, sealed copy of Geddy Lees Big Beautiful Book of Bass that I'll be adding to the raffle. It is really a rather good book!

A volute is the carved bit at the joint of the neck and headstock. In theory, it adds a bit of thickness to the weak point.

Some of the decent makes of guitar machine heads have string posts of different heights (staggered posts) to better string angles. Haven’t seen anything like that for bass though. I quite like scalloped headstocks and am not particularly bothered by string trees. However, there isn’t a massive choice for these. Hipshot do some of the nicest in terms but aren’t cheap. I keep looking for some simple trees for two strings along the lines of what Wal used to use but can’t find anything like them. Scalloped headstocks are also easier to make i.e. no joining required. I’ve always liked headless basses and they do away with most of these issues........

Very nice!! And a complete contrast from what you started with. Anyway, you don’t have time to read posts on here, you need to get that jazz bass done...😁

@Andyjr1515 Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssss!!!! The original neck fits like a glove on the spalted body. And the old body with the new, shorter neck template looks like it will be nice too! Frank will be pleased...

Time to start looking at a neck transplant...walnut bass ready to strip to refit neck on spalted body. .

This is going to be nice - proper character to that body! Cheers

Really like the look of this! Really nice contrast in the grain. And probably very satisfying use of a blow torch!!! Look forward to seeing this progress. Cheers

That’s a shame but hopefully catch up next year. Cheers

Excited!! Got the card through the door that my headless parcel is here. Just got to find a way to go to collect it from the sorting office ( who don’t have the most flexible opening times...).

I've filed the angles on the edges of the frets using a home made block - basic but does the job! I've filled the fret ends with a mixture of epoxy and ebony dust. This should give a nice finish to the edges of the fretboard. Next task will be to level and polish the frets and then to lacquer the neck.

…. and more sanding! I'm quite pleased with how this is going and the joint between the two halves is looking really nice: I'm now at a point where I need to dismantle the walnut bass so I can transfer the neck to the spalted beech body. I need to do this to ensure the carve on the heel will blend into its new body and so I can get on with making progress on the new short scale neck.

I've decide to take the suggestion made by @TheGreek, @Andyjr1515, @wrinkleygit to use magnets to hold the control cover on. I've used neodymium magnets in the body and in the cover. I have to say, I do like the way this leaves the back of the bass very clean with only the bolt holes for the neck visible. I haven't put a notch in the body to allow this to be removed as it shouldn't need to be taken off but if necessary, a cocktail stick through the jack socket will do the job. Just trying to leave the back as clean as possible. So thanks chaps, a good idea that I will implement on other basses!

That’s a really nice looking job! You must be very pleased. Completely agree - John East is a really helpful chap. Look forward to your next project. Cheers Jez

That does look quite nice! I’m sure someone an make something from that. A nice item and nice idea to offer. Dont you fancy s go at building something yourself??.....