HazBeen

The good thing about building is that you can change your mind  .... looking  good!

Now the multi-scale is done I am starting this tandem build thread.

Infinite Bass 4.4CL:

4 string PJ style, but with Thunderbuckers

Passive 

34” scale

Remodeled/reused Ibanez Grooveline 4 wenge/bubinga neck

Alder body

Chrome hardware

Black stain/oil finish

Gotoh tuners

Hipshot bridge

Infinite Custom Mocking Jay 6:

25.5” scale

Alder body

Dual humbuckers, 3 way switch

Red stain/oil finish

Chrome hardware

... who cares  

22 hours ago, Hellzero said:

There's some bass appeal in this design, Harry. Congratulations, it looks even more beautiful now that it's finished.

Waiting for the soundclips now. 😉

I used it for band practice yesterday, it is a “heavy” sounding bass. A lof of natural girth and compression. Maybe the wood combo, maybe the Fishmans.

Great pickups, although even the “classic” voicing is quite modern. I like them (I like EMGs too), but they may not be everyone’s cuppa.

I am going  to hold off on recording for a few weeks, so it can break in a little but it will come!

4068 grams, including batteries for those who want to know. 

10 minutes ago, Jabba_the_gut said:

Very nice!

No issues with rear pickup sensing area btw, phew

Wow, that took much more time than expected 😂.

Lots and lots of wires to solder.... anyway, all done now. Clearly I will shoot some daylight pics soon and so a quick recording.

The thing sounds monstrous through my headphone amp, so bodes well!

Will tidy up strings when fully intonated.

Been putting things together..... just the wiring to do and then we are pretty much sorted. Expect to post pics of the finished bass tonight, I got lucky and pretty much have perfect action everywhere, just need to raise the E string a little and we should be golden.

It is looking mega!

It looks glorious!

2 hours ago, Jabba_the_gut said:

I looked on the web too but couldn't find anything either. I was looking for something like this that you get for EMG pickups - I guess the Fishman ones won't be too far different.

Look forward to seeing this bass complete. Cheers

Fluence pickups are very different apparently, the similarity ends on the exterior. And they certainly extend beyond EMGs, my screwdriver test made that very apparent. You see a lot of guitars where they are really close to the rounding, which would not work with EMGs.

Anyway, we will know soon enough. 6 layers of oil on the body, 4 on the neck. Just 1 more coat tomorrow (but lemon oil) and then dry overnight and I will start putting things together.

Whilst I knowingly took a risk for the sake of the “design”, and I have a solid “what if” I’d hate to have to make covers or surrounds on this one, I really like it as it is now.

So pics like this are what I am relying on...

5 hours ago, Jabba_the_gut said:

That is looking lovely - beautiful contrasting woods.

Quick technical question with regards to the pickups, what is the layout of the sensing area?  Just wondering as the B string is closer to the edge of the pickup than the G. I couldn't find anything online that showed the layout and I'm curious as these pickups look interesting as an alternative to other soapbars.

Cheers

Hi, from a design perspective it looked better for the pickups to align with the flared heel, so they are off-centered ever so slightly, well spotted!

The picture angle makes it look as if the B is a little further towards the edge than it actually is. I could not find too much on the net on the sensing area, but if you look at the Spector Dimension 5, it is also pretty close. Roughly the same as I have it and I had seen examples where it is even closer to the edge (especially on 7/8 string guitars with Fluence pickups, they have the same design as the bass ones).

I did a quick test (screwdriver tapping) and the sensing area appears to run to a few mm from the edge, but it is a bit of a gamble if honest.

Should be okay, worst case I will be creating some wooden pickup surrounds ....

I will let you know!

I will let the pics do the talking,

3 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said:

Ah - a Stanley 71 Router Plane ... now that's my kind of router

 

Not something you see too often nowadays...

Phew, I can breath now

So, at least we have the alignment and string spacing right, now to carefully route out 4mm cavities for the saddles to slot into and get some better access to the tuning knobs. Will be using my Dremel and tiny router base for this job...... very slow, very gradual.

I can still b@lls this up of course, but so far so good  

And yes, I have had a little play..... appears to be very resonant, very comfortable neck.

@Andre_Passini, installing your wonderful bridge next

String clamps check! May keep the strings on, great tone

Glorious! I was wondering when you would post another thread, happy to see you are at 8 by now

All leveled, crowned and polished up!

Frets in..... well, all the hard work on them sti to do, but the arbor press did a good job. Stainless zero fret in as well

54 minutes ago, Jabba_the_gut said:

Looking good. Be interested to see what you think of those Fishman pickups.

Cheers

Me too :), bought on reviews, so I hope they are as good as people say.

Slowly but surely..... neck shape finalised and ebony cap on “headstock” made. Also test fitted pickups.

1 minute ago, PlungerModerno said:

My guesses (make yours before peeking!):

  Hide contents

Musicman Big Al:

BC Rich Mockinbird:

Ibanez Iceman/Destroyer (vibes I'm getting mostly from that headstock):

Looks like it should be very unique, cool, and practical.

Damn, that was quick! 100% score and extra brownie points  

Just got the okay on the attached design for the G-tard.

Brownie points for the ones that can spot the 3 models I butchered to create this.

All will be documented, but first I need to finish the current build 😎

6 hours ago, LeftyJ said:

Cool, i look forward to pics of the process!

Is the Grooveline neck finished? If so, don't sand it. The Ibanez Prestige thing is very much in the neck treatment! 

It appears finished. As I am remodeling the headstock I will probably need to sand everything down and refinish with oil. Should be fine, oil gives a really nice and thin finish to wenge/bubinga.