Kees_SoS

[quote name='eude' timestamp='1375617817' post='2163457'] Wow, this is going quickly! Really excited for you mate, I love the Original Series Shape Eude [/quote] Sorry, I only just realised it was you, Ewan ;-)

Fingerboard glueing and carving of the back of the body.

[quote name='eude' timestamp='1375630288' post='2163630'] Geeky question here mate, but whats the "tonal goals" using this wood combo? Eude [/quote] No problem. I love all that stuff myself, too, as you can probably tell. With this kind of bass, I tend to favour a punchy, middly tone with plenty of 'honk' and some 'growl'. The wenge should enhance the latter characteristic in particular. Also, some luthiers believe wenge to offer greater stability and consistency than maple, which means that even with a 34" scale it should still have a killer B-string. For the rest, I wanted the top to look spectacular, but wanted to limit the higher frequences I might have got with, say, maple, hence the flamed ash. If I should need to add to or deviate from the tonal characteristics of the wood, the Scott Devine circuit should give me everything I need. The main thing I like about it is the mid sweep. Very few amps and onboard preamps offer the tonal possibilities I'm looking for in the high mid range, so I'd actually been looking for something of this nature for a while. The dual concentric knob makes it easy to find the 'sweet spot' and set it to the desired level. What's more, the circuit can be used passively by means of a push-pull switch, which, when in passive mode, also acts as a tone knob.

[quote name='hubrad' timestamp='1375655603' post='2164036'] Here we go; similar woods - walnut wings with flamed ash top. Smooth as you like.. with black nylons this bass sounds kinda EUB! [/quote] I had a six-string Progress built from similar woods a couple of years ago, and they do work a treat on a fretless. Does yours have a maple or wenge neck?

[quote name='hubrad' timestamp='1375656388' post='2164043'] Found it in the More Options bit! [attachment=140765:blacksailJan2010.jpg] [/quote] It also took me a couple of goes to get the hang of it. The bass looks the business. I take it it sounds it, too?

[quote name='eude' timestamp='1375617817' post='2163457'] Wow, this is going quickly! Really excited for you mate, I love the Original Series Shape Eude [/quote] Cheers! For me, it's timeless, classic, cool... so many things, all of them good. It also balances surprisingly well, with the neck just slightly up. I've literally wanted one for all of these years, but bottled out with my last custom order. Since then, I've had a couple more of them in my hands, and they're just ME!

Pickup blanks ready for machining, and Martin routing out the control cavity.

[quote name='rk7' timestamp='1375385862' post='2160688'] Looking good Kees! Martin is cracking on with the build. When are you coming over to collect it? We need to arrange a meet up. R [/quote] Definitely! I'll PM you some details later so we can organise something. Kees

[quote name='Myke' timestamp='1375383342' post='2160650'] This is coming together quickly [/quote] Indeed. I never expected the build to be this quick. Chuffed, to say the least!

Body radiused.

[quote name='pablo100' timestamp='1299426551' post='1151552'] Sorry for the quality of the pic, but this is the best photo I've got of me playing my Overwater... [attachment=74068:earlefest07.jpg] [/quote] Beautiful-looking Original Series. Do you still have it?

[quote name='cd_david' timestamp='1245780087' post='521971'] The two blue ones, 4 and 5 strings are Fusion basses [/quote] Wow! Love the black Original Series. I'd give my eye teeth for one in that colour!

Bookmatched top glueing.

[quote name='rk7' timestamp='1375277109' post='2159131'] That Flamed Ash is wonderful. Nice choice Kees! R [/quote] Martin said it should come out even nicer when he's evened it out. It's was a piece they already had in stock and, conveniently, exactly what I wanted!

[quote name='hubrad' timestamp='1375277522' post='2159141'] Yes, that's right! I'll find a photo once I am on a regular computer. [/quote] Thanks! Looking forward to seeing it.

Pickup placement roughly marked out. (Thanks for the measurements, Ian!)

[quote name='ian maclaughlin' timestamp='1375256021' post='2158784'] I dont know were that line came from. [/quote] Indeed strange.

[quote name='ian maclaughlin' timestamp='1375255926' post='2158781'] [s]I like the progress headstock, it will make finding a case easyer, I have had a problem getting a new case for mine because of the length.[/s] [/quote] With it being a 34" scale, if we're lucky it should fit in a standard Hiscox case (like the one in the photo at the start of the thread). Otherwise, I'll have to have a custom flightcase made. Warwick also do a gigbag that will fit it, so I'll also buy one of those at some point. You're measurements came in really handy for the pickups, BTW, so thanks again for those. I may also go with the same pickup spacing.

The build is progressing really quickly, so I've posted some more photos below:[list] [*]Back of the body with visible neck laminates (see also the maple veneer either side of the neck laminates, a great suggestion Martin made this afternoon) [*]Bookmatched flamed ash ready for marking out and glueing [*]Bookmatched flamed ash marked out and ready for glueing [/list] I'm particularly pleased with the flaming on the ash; it looks exactly as I envisaged.

[quote name='rk7' timestamp='1375188585' post='2157835'] Good call! Show that neck off. You will now need a rotating stand, like mine! ha ha. R [/quote] Hmmm. Tempting ;-)

Had a chat with Martin this afternoon and decided not to go with a three-piece back after all. He said the difference in weight would be minimal, and that retaining the full thickness of the wenge running through the body would give the bass a bit more 'honk'. It will also look great! Not long after, Martin glued the walnut body wings on (see photo below).

[quote name='JPJ' timestamp='1375129577' post='2157118'] Kees, I'll be watching this build with great interest. I've always liked the original series shape but have never been too keen on the headstock shape. Pure genius to mate the original body with the progress headstock! [/quote] Thanks! Had I not seen that one black bass, I may never have thought of going for that combination. I know Chris still prefers the Fender-style headstock, but I think the Progress headstock makes the bass look a bit more compact, particularly on a five-string. I only know of two Original Series basses with a Progress headstock: the black one and a wine red one with the same specs I saw on eBay a few years ago. Off topic, didn't we discuss fretless MM Sabres a while back?

[quote name='hubrad' timestamp='1375126613' post='2157064'] Ooh, this looks like it could be a seriously gorgeous bass in the making! [/quote] I actually remember Martin mentioning you a while ago. Didn't you also have a fretless built with some of the same flamed ash?

[quote name='hubrad' timestamp='1375126613' post='2157064'] Ooh, this looks like it could be a seriously gorgeous bass in the making! [/quote] That's the plan. Given all the time and thought that's gone into the specs, I'm confident it will be something seriously special.

Cheers, Robin! Your bass is something else, so I have every confidence mine will be just as impressive.