Longmayyourun

That is absolutely stunning. Congratulations. Yes - I'd love to see the back too

Well yes - a lot of tools certainly helps, but after machining and jointing the neck and body blanks, which you might be able to get a local woodwork shop to do for you, I used a router, pillar drill, spokeshave, block plane, a fine hand saw and an electric drill. And a selection of cabinet scrapers and chisels,marking knives etc.... Sure you need some tools, but there are plenty of guys on here who do lovely work in their front rooms / garages / back yards with the minimum of stuff

Then I think you should go for it. It's incredibly satisfying to play an instrument you have made yourself

[quote name='woodster909' post='392102' date='Jan 26 2009, 08:40 PM']that looks stunning, well done nice shape too how does it sound/play? anything you'd do different next time?[/quote] Thank you Woodster. I'm pleased with the shape - the body is really quite small - (the neck joins at the 24th position on the Gstring side to give you an idea of proportions) How does it sound/play? Well it's very hard to be objective with something you've made yourself. There's plenty of that lovely fretless woody thing going on and it seems pretty even all over the 'board. I'm enjoying the flats as I usually play roundwounds - it feels very slick and the action is low and eay to play. But I'm no great shakes as a bassist - What I really need is for someone who knows what they're on about to try it out and give me an honest opinion. Maybe if a SW bash comes together I'll pluck up the courage to bring it along. Different next time? A few things - the headstaock needs to be very slightly bigger so the machines don't look so crowded. The electrics need playing with - different pots and cap values to tweek the tonal possibilities, maybe a series/parallel switch. For the deep sound I was hoping for I think the pup is too close to the bridge. Anyway, I'm happy for now. Thanks for your interest

That lower horn is troubling me from a strength point of view - there's a lot of short grain and therefor weakness. I'm thinking if the body were a laminated sandwich type then the centre laminate could be placed at an angle to give some long grain in the horn which would strengthen it a lot, but machining the body shape would then become a little more tricky as the grain would be running out at all sorts of weird angles - a bit like trying to get a clean edge on plywood, no matter how you went at it you'd be working against the grain. Just my thoughts. I love what you're doing with this. Can't wait to see it taking shape.

[attachment=19009:IMG_1284.JPG][quote name='kdphysio' post='386765' date='Jan 20 2009, 09:27 PM']Wow. Absolutely stunning! Can you post some close-up/more details pics please. Karl[/quote] [attachment=19004:IMG_1115.JPG] In the workshop, before angling the neck pocket [attachment=19005:IMG_1253.JPG] Woodwork finished [attachment=19008:IMG_1269.JPG] [attachment=19010:IMG_1284.JPG]

Thanks for your kind words all of you. Rjb you hit the nail on the head - simple and elegant is what I was hoping for. If I did decide to sell one of my bases? Well I think I'd need to make a few more first to fine tune the design and execution. (i've started a on a neck through version already) I make my living making things in my workshop, and it would be nice to think that one day a customer would consider my work (guitar wise) good enough to part with money for. If you were in my neck of the woods I'd be happy to show you what I've done. Thanks again for the interest.

Thank you. This is kind of a hobby for me - I make furniture for a living.(but I know what I'd rather be doing)

A couple of pictures of my latest effort - 34 inch scale fretless, Bart MM pup. Body is Wenge on Sapele, fingerboard Wenge with Ebony binding, neck Sapele/Wenge/Sapele. Oil and wax finish [attachment=18941:IMG_1280.JPG] The back is particularly pretty: [attachment=18942:IMG_1281.JPG] Hope you like it

Oh that is pretty. (Not sure about the furry strap tho') Edit for understatement: that is a [u]beautiful[/u] bass.

Unfortunately, no

Get hold of a catalogue from Wealden Tool Company (www.wealdentool.com) where you will find all manner of router cutters with bearings above or below the cutter, also laminate trimmers. Then if you make a template the size you want (body blank, pickup hole, neckpocket, scratchplate or whatever) fix it to the thing you are shaping with clamps or double sided tape. The cutter bearing follows the template while the cutter itself shapes the material to match, with a straight cut, round over, bevel etc. For body blanks there is a long (50mm)cutter with bearings top and bottom which means you can fix your template to one side of your blank (cut almost to size) and cut downhill with the grain simply by turning the whole thing over and using the top or bottom bearing depending on whether the template is now above or below the workpiece. Good luck. Hope this helps a little

There's not a lot you can't do without one - I've been a cabinet maker for 30 years and hardly ever resort to a router table or spindle moulder. It's worth remembering that while you have both hands holding the router you're much less likely to get your fingers near the cutter. Having said that - if you do decide to get a table, go for the best you can afford (accuracy is everything). And be careful. Good luck - are you doing guitar work?

they don't do velcro, but have you checked out johnnyshredfreak.com (sorry, I'd post a link if I weren't a complete luddite)

Made myself a short scale bass (31 1/2 ''), put EMG active Jazz pups in it, now my fellow band mates won't let me play anything else. No, they're not just being nice to me - one in particular is very fussy about how things sound - but apparently they all love the noise it makes! Happy bunny

Hi Jens - welcome to the forum. The welcome committee will be along soon. It's a holiday here so everyone's probably in bed or gigging (or at work like I should be) Congratulations on your new family. Andy

Hi Karl - welcome to the home of all things deep and good. As an ageing cabinet maker who occasionally makes the odd bass I've got to say there is some lovely woodwork on your website. Tung oil and wax - oh yes!

'The Section' - Russ Kunkle and Lee Sklar Crazy Horse Zsa Zsa and Rev Otis of the Hamsters

I'd go up to Hartnoll guitars in Mutley - nice guys who will be happy to spend a little time with you. Good luck

I,ve just had a sudden dawning realisation that what I need is some of those epiphany speaker cabs. Now, where did I put my coat?

[quote name='chris_b' post='202296' date='May 19 2008, 05:28 PM']I was in a Chicago blues band. The bride’s father thought we were great (we were) and booked us for his daughters wedding. Old people nearly died in the rush to get out of ear-shot. We played to an empty room, had a miserable time, got paid lots and swore we'd never do another wedding. Sometimes you have to be wiser than the promoter and say no. I don't know you or your band but I feel confident in saying that if hairy-arsed bikers are your audience, then a load of Masons and their wives will not be. Can you play a quick-step? There's your answer!![/quote] I think you've hit the nail on the head. (I sympathise with your wedding experience too)

I'd be interested to know if there are any gigs you'd say 'no' to (for whatever reason), or any that you wish you had. Last Friday we spent playing Born to be Wild and others to 100 merry bikers in a marquee behind a pub in the middle of nowhere. This is my comfort zone - good gig, good crowd, everyone knew what they were getting. We've been asked to do an annual dinner/dance for a masonic lodge and I'm frankly tempted to turn it down, because of a vague feeling of unease and a vision of two thirds of the audience going home early in dismay. Let's be clear - this is not about the merits or otherwise of the Masonic movement (wouldn't want to go there), I'm just curious if anyone else ever says 'we're not the band for you', or wishes they had?

Welcome along Squire, from another (relative) newbie Precision, Trace, fiftysomething........ snap! Hope you enjoy the forum

[quote name='dlloyd' post='188669' date='Apr 30 2008, 10:14 AM']Had a look on BBC iPlayer... I'd say that was Charlie Hunter with his Novax guitar and a massive beard. [/quote] Thanks for identifying it - that looks like an astonishing instrument. My son, who is the proper muso in this house, is having a serious attack of 'I'd love to get my hands on one of those'

Does anyone know what that was - the guy playing bass lines with his thumb and jazzy chordal thing at the same time? Interesting instrument.......