Jabba_the_gut

There is a loft space above my garage so when I sorted the workshop I put a reasonable sized loft hatch in. It's really handy when it drops down...

And, with the door open today with it being so sunny, I had a visitor

I've made a new template, cut the fretboard roughly to size and started cutting the side slots. The fretboard extension for a thumb rest is starting to take shape.

A lunchtime finish from work and lovely weather! 

I've made a start on the fretboard for the fretless bass. Someone must have done this before but I haven't seen it which means either it hasn't been done much or it's a bad idea for reasons I haven't found out (yet)!! After chatting with Frank a while back the idea of using aluminium for the lines on the fretboard came up. I tried it on a sample of ebony and it looks lovely!! There is something about how it catches the light that makes it really standout.

So that's the plan for this fretless build - full length wraparound aluminium lines. Just figuring out how to that on a full board and the order in which to fit them!! In the meantime, I've slotted the fretboard and cut the required strips of aluminium.

I'm really looking forward to seeing how this turns out.

Cheers

Big pause between posts - been busy sorting lots of non-bass related stuff!!

One main thing I've been doing is sorting my garage. I moved house a couple of years ago to a place with the luxury of some garage space I can use for a workshop. It gets cold in there, there's weren't enough sockets and it was full of boxes of stuff that needed sorting. So after lots of work I now have a warm and tidy area to work in and lots of space to move the bigger tools like my planer thicknesser around. I also converted an old Workmate into a stand for my router table and that has worked out a treat. There's still a couple of jobs to do, such as painting the walls and sorting a some tool boards, but this is where I am at:

I've now got the semi hollow bass back on the bench and off we go again!! And I'm excited as it been a while and I have a few ideas that I'm going to try on this.

Cheers

Just now, prowla said:

It has to be decimal point slippage...

Check their other listings - most of them have a decimal point issue!!!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265476193777?hash=item3dcf9d3df1:g:UmsAAOSw6R5g~pYw
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265476194101?hash=item3dcf9d3f35:g:BeAAAOSwx49hUEeW

Very interesting! I've been looking at a Lusithand double NFP and Rautia pickup combination for a project too. I really liked the video of the Spector bass which is what started me thinking.....

Got a couple of other things to finish first then we'll see. In the meantime, I'll be following this with great interest.

Cheers

I’ve had exactly the same thoughts with short scale basses in order to have a greater string choice!! 
I was thinking of this with the very short scale basses I’ve made (27”) in order to use standard short scale strings. I didn’t find an off the shelf bridge that suited what I wanted so the idea went on hold as I don’t have time to make a custom bridge at present.

Be interested to see where this goes!

Cheers!

The rule of thumb I read once was a year per inch thickness. That, said most stuff I have bought has been seasoned for more like five years. 
 

Spalted beech can be used for a solid body but that depends on each piece- some of it can be a bit soft so you just need to give it a good check! Press it with your thumb nail and see if it dents easily.

Cheers

I can't even remember where these came from but they have been sitting in a drawer for quite a few years. Anyone got any idea what they are or what they are from? Cheers

I haven’t used oil that many times. I tried Tru oil once and I didn’t particularly like it. I should really try it again based on other folks results!!

I have used Osmo oils before a few times and as Andy says, very easy to use and nice finish. Only thing I found was one type of Osmo I tried out was not waterproof so a sweaty arm was enough to affect the finish! The other type was great.

Be interested to see how you get on!

Cheers

+1 for Newtone. I’ve had custom strings made for my 27” basses and I’m really pleased with them.

Absolutely beautiful choice of timbers and stunning work.

I had one of these back in the mid to late 80's - bought it after selling a Kay P bass that weighed a ton. I have good memories of it - the only issue if I remember right was with the bridge. The ball end of the string is retained through a keyhole slot in the bottom of the bridge plate. The problem with mine was that the ball ends didn't fit through the saddles so changing strings was a real pain. I suspect that is the reason this one might have been converted to through body stringing!!

Oh, go on then......

4 hours ago, prowla said:

@Jabba_the_gut's creations are fine things!

Cheers!!

On 06/10/2021 at 11:02, TheGreek said:

Looks like one of @Jabba_the_gut's creations but apparently not.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254894607481

 

Nope, not one of mine. Got to love spalted wood though!

On 06/09/2021 at 02:03, The Crusher said:

Hi Jabba,

A friend asked me today if I could make him a 5 string short scale bass. I've successfully made a

few 6 string custom bodies but no bass' yet. 

 

I've got everthing I need to build 6 string fret boards, including a nifty heavy steel slotting template

from Stew Mac for 25 inch and 25.5 inch scale. I use this with a crosscut sled on my table saw.

 

Please help if you can. How are you cutting your 27 inch scale fret board?

Thank you in advance, Matt

@The CrusherHi Matt - apologies - I completely missed this reply. I got a 27"/29" slotting template from G&W (I think - I'll check and repost if it anything different). These slotting templates work with my Stew Mac slotting jig just fine. You might even get close using a standard bass template and skipping the first 7" worth of frets if that makes sense.

Cheers

Jez

On 20/05/2021 at 15:28, Andyjr1515 said:

Yes - great transfers.  Good colours, ultra thin and very reasonably priced

@Andyjr1515 @BassToolI bought some decals from these guys and you guys were right - very pleased with them. This bass was finished a few weeks ago -here's the final photos. Time to finish the next project!!

A very big thank you to Mike and everyone that helped put this event on - your effort is genuinely appreciated. It was so nice to get together with everyone again and catch up.

It's not just about basses as over lunch we:

• We cured old age pains that make you go arrrggghh when you sit down or get up (just requires rhubarb crumble)
• We shared a recipe for the perfect salad dressing#
• Ate some very nice food. Went back for more. And went back for more again.....

For anyone that hasn't been to this before, put it in your diary for next year. It is such a friendly event in a beautiful setting. I'm looking forward to the next one already!!

10 hours ago, Rich said:

Plus of course the raffle was so well supplied with goodies that everyone ended up with something  

@Jabba_the_gutI hope you get on ok with the Heffalump pedal... if you want my build docs at any point so you can tweak it (or even reinstate the missing blend) give me a shout and I will gladly let you have them.

Hi Rich,

Cheers for this - will have fun trying it out! If you have any documents for it that would be great.

Thanks again

3 minutes ago, Pea Turgh said:

FFS.  Mrs Turgh has symptoms and just booked in for a test tomorrow 😡

 

If her big girl test comes back clear, would people feel comfortable if I just did a leteral flow test on my self beforehand?  Probably not.  Damn.

 

Keep the ticket money though, Mike, otherwise you’ll be way out of pocket!

Personally, if Mrs Turgh's PCR is negative and your lateral flow is negative I'd be comfortable. Appreciate everyone has a different level of risk that they are comfortable with. I generally do a couple of lateral flows a week and will do one before this event. Does anyone else have any thoughts on this?

4 hours ago, Rich said:

 

Am I right in thinking this is the one that is partially made from my stairs?  very much looking forward to seeing it.

That’ll be the one!!

4 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said:

I'm afraid some unavoidable family stuff has got in the way and I won't be able to get there.

 

But I will be at the next one!

 

Have a great one, folks.

 

Andy

Sorry you can’t make it. Look forward to catching up another time.

Cheers

Jez

Hi Mike,

I’ll be there. Looking forward to it.

Cheers

Always liked the look of these.