Jabba_the_gut

The back of the neck is, err, an interesting profile...

Cheers chaps - I'll look into this.

Hi @CameronJ. I've only done a little work on this since the last post due to other non-related bass things going on over summer but I'm hoping to get one done over the next few weeks. Ideally, I'd like to get one complete for the SE Bass Bash at the end of July. I was doing some sanding on the maple faced on yesterday and have done the belly and arm shaping. I'll stick a couple of pictures up later today. I'm quite pleased with how it is looking and I think the birds eye neck will come to life when oiled, which would be great as the neck for this shortie is just made from the offcut of another neck. Cheers

PM'd

Whereabouts are you based?

Have you got a multimeter to measure the coils? You can then work out if they are the same as the diagram.

Here's a diagram I got years ago from Aaron Armstrong regarding pickup wiring - I think it might be very similar to what you have.

I like the mother of pearl blocks - I think they look really nice. I put blocks on a bass that were non-Fender sized and they look fine but as @Andyjr1515 says, it's about what you are happy with.

So, as I'm building two of these and I like the 800mm (31.5" scale) I could do with a fret scale template to use in the StewMac fret slotting mitre block I bought off Basschat a while ago. As the scale I've chosen is non-standard I can get a ready made template but a while ago I got some clear Perspex off FreeCycle I thought might be handy for templates. Well, that day has come!! I used StewMac's fret calculator tool https://www.stewmac.com/FretCalculator to calculate the fret positions - makes life easy. I trimmed the Perspex on my router table to get one straight edge to work from then measured (twice...), marked up the fret positions and scored them with a scalpel. I then drilled a hole at the edge of each fret mark and used a nut file to finish the slot. This slot was made the same size as the locator pin in the mitre box. I then trimmed the Perspex to the same width as the mitre box. It looks okay - the slots line up with my marks and it fits snuggly in the mitre box. Just need to try it now and see how it works!!

Lovely work! Still jealous of your drum sander...….!! Cheers Jez

Just a quick note for anyone thinking about attending any of the Bass Bashes listed in this section - go! The Bass Bashes are informal get togethers of all things bass with people of all abilities with all types of gear. Don't be put off going if you think that they will be dominated by exceptionally talented folk continually slapping on boutique basses as that isn't the case (there will be boutique basses and a bit of slapping but there is more to the bashes). Folk turn up will all sorts of gear and its a great opportunity to try different kit and put faces to the names seen on here. I've met some great folks of all abilities at these and picked up lots of useful info. I've tried lots of basses I wouldn't normally get the opportunity to try and discovered I dislike some I've previously drooled over and really liked others I've dismissed!! For info, I don't play in a band, I'm not a particularly good bassist, I can't read music, I can't slap but I have a pretty decent amp and I make my own basses. If you're thinking about it, try to come along to one if you can. It's great that someone organises these and attendance will reward their efforts and ensure these events keep going. Hope to see you there! And there's usually cake too.....

1) Cetera - Spector NS2 & Legend 4X, Dingwall NG2, Epiphone Vintage Pro Thunderbird, Yamaha BB3000, GK800RB head, Genz Benz Neox212 cab, Tech-21 Dug DP3X preamp/pedal 2) Ezbass - Maruszczyk Elwood L 4 string fretted (J pickups), Maruszczyk Elwood L 4 string fretless (MM pickup), Rickenbacker 4003s, Rob Allen MB2 fretless, Phil Jones Flightcase + PB300 3) Happy Jack - AliKat DB #004, Mike Lull 54P, all I need to play a doubling gig (that evening) on those two instruments 4) BlueJay - Eminence Upright (left-handed), loads of camera equipment 5) obbm - Fender Precisions, Sadowsky HPJ, Bergantino NV115, Handbox WB100 and if room Quilter BB800 + BF One10 + Nate Mendel for sale/trade  6) Nancy Johnson (Paul) - The Big One, rack (GED/poweramp), possibly the dUg DP3x. A bass. 7) MacDaddy - Shuker bass(es), Snapdragon Folding bass, Flattley Bass Poison Ivy. 8 ) prowla (Paul) - Maybe a Ric or two and fakers, maybe a couple of Statii, maybe J- & P-basses. Probably a Markbass amp & cab and a pedalboard with some FX. 9) Stingray5 - Old faithful Stingray5; Tune SWV4-BB bass; Eden EC180 1x15 combo. (I also have a gig that evening so may leave the Eden in the car but happy to bring it in if anyone asks). 10) TrevorR - Wal Pro II E, Wal Mk 1 Custom, Aria SB700, MarkBass LMII and Traveler 2x10, pedalboard. 11) TheGreek - Mesa M Pulse 600 head/ Powerhouse 1x15 cab and The Psilos bass built by Andyjr1515 12) JapanAxe (Graeme) - most of the stuff in my signature! 13) Wolverinebass (Andy) - Maybe some Wounded Paw effects/signature preamp and a bass. 14) Silverfoxnik (Nik) - Roscoe Beck 5, Gibson Thunderbird, BC Rich Eagle, plus my Ampeg V4BH Rig 15) Paul The Drums of the Junkyard Dogs, with kit. 16) Frank Blank (Frankè Blanké) Rob Allen Mouse, AER Basic Performer, Fender Modern Player with modded fretless neck, Ibanez SRC6/SR500, cake. 17) Ordep - Noble Preamp, Modulus Jazz, Fodera Monarch New Std, Amp, pedalboard depending on the day’s mood. 18) ChunkyMunky - Yamaha BB1025X, SWR Redhead combo  19) Jabba the Gut - TC Electronic RH450, RS112 and some own build basses

Could I possibly put one of my own bass builds into the mix? I’d be interested to see how it compares ( or indeed if I could identify it!!)

Cheers @ChunkyMunky for the comment - much appreciated. If the timing is right i’ll bring a few of my own builds along. Be very interested to see what you’ve built and to have a chat. Cheers, Jez

Please could you let me know what time the doors open and close. I’m off to see a band that evening but would like to squeeze in a visit! Hoping to get one of the short scale things and one of the semi- hollow basses in a playable state for the bash but will be tight.

Cheers. Yes, I finished the edge of the hole prior to fitting the top. It was sanded, sealed then painted black. It is easier to do this it this was whilst I could still get at both sides of the top. I did the same on the previous version - just seemed to look a little cleaner to my eye.

I know that feeling. I want a fret scale template for my fret jig. 30", 34" 35" easy enough but no, I want one that is 800mm. Not 32" (812mm) that would be difficult enough but 800mm...….!!

Cheers Andy! TMAWBASHA is such a catchy name, just rolls off the tongue!! I think the membership will cost me many pounds...... I'll get my coat.

Just out of interest, I have weighed the walnut/maple body which is weighing in about 1.2kg/ 2lb 11oz. With the neck blank and fretboard (neither shaped) the weigh is about 2.5kg / 5lb 8oz. It should end up about this weight when the tuners, electrics etc are added and the neck wood removed.

Looking forward to this one - that tele bass did look superb. For having no hum on pickups I always like EMGs but they aren’t to everyone’s taste. cheers

I've done a bit more work on these bodies. I created enough space in my crowded garage to temporarily set-up my new router table and I fitted it with a cutter for rounding the edges of the bass bodies. One of my next project will be to clear all the cr*p I seem to have accumulated in the garage that 'might be useful one day' but has done nothing but gather the considerable amount of dust I create!! I really need to clear the space and make myself a half reasonable working space where I don't need to keep stacking things on top of each other each time I finish a task.... Anyway, the router table seems pretty decent - this is only a simple test for it but it is so much more robust than my previous home made effort. I rounded the edges and I'm pleased with how they look so far. The tops on each body are different thicknesses so the veneer lines are in different places but I think both look fine. The edges now need sanding and belly/arm carves need making which will be the next job.

No worries. Glad it might be of some use!!

I kind of guessed you’d have a copy!!

As you like Gibson basses, the 'Gibson Bass Book - An Illustrated Tribute' by Rob Van Den Broek is an interesting book full of excellent photos if you don't have it already.

Hi Christine, Looking forward to seeing this build thread progress. I've always liked the Thunderbird shape but I've never actually tried one. I keep thinking of building myself one with a pair of EMG's pickups but there's always too many other things to do - I'll make do watching this for now! Do you mind me asking where you source your wood for bass projects? Cheers Jez