Mikey R

Question #2 - You can get a whole load of hardware very cheap off of ebay, if you dont mind not using branded parts.

This July Im doing the bass building course with Jon Shuker in the Peaks. As well as being a kickass holiday, I also get learn the basics of how to put a bass together from one of the UKs best luthiers. Plus, I get to walk out of it with a custom bass! Doesnt get better than this!

Ive been looking for a good solid P type bass, since Ive started using just the P pickup on the Bass Collection PJ, but I wanted to make the body a wee bit smaller than the traditional shape and make it a bit more comfortable to get around.


EDIT: Heres the final spec:

[b]Neck[/b]
4 string modified P
42mm nut
19mm string spacing at the bridge
34" scale
24 frets
5 piece laminated maple/purpleheart
Maple f/board (black veneer beneath)
Two way truss rod
Satin polyurethan topcoat
Medium fretwire
Bone nut
Offset black face dots
Black side dots

[b]Body[/b]
3 piece white ash body
Flamed maple top (black veneer beneath)
Dark blue stain
Satin polyurethan topcoat
Three ply black / white / black scratchguard

[b]Hardware[/b]
Gotoh mini tuners
Shaller 2000 bridge

[b]Electrics[/b]
Wizzard Thumper with covered pole pieces
Passive vol, 250k pot


EDIT: Heres the final(ish) design:

[quote name='Paul Cooke' post='508399' date='Jun 8 2009, 06:08 PM']there's not enough turns on the posts for a start and [b]it just ruins the look of an expensive bass[/b] having bits of wire going off in all directions...[/quote]

Hey Mert, did you hear that?

[quote name='sshorepunk' post='508248' date='Jun 8 2009, 02:49 PM']I always thought, Black pudding, Tea and Brocolli were the devils spawn![/quote]

Lets not forget sprouts

[quote name='GreeneKing' post='507696' date='Jun 7 2009, 07:51 PM']I couldn't agree more, such ugly creations:





Devil's spawn indeed [/quote]

Ugly as hell!

Get a load of this toad:



Yuk!

Al, when I finally get round to prototyping something I might have to give you a call!

[quote name='Al Heeley' post='487823' date='May 14 2009, 12:57 PM']JPG, PDF, PSD, GIF, BMP, etc. please[/quote]

do you know of any free software for laying out circuit boards? In the past, Ive always done it the analogue way using OHP film, a permanant marker and some transfers for the IC pins, but maybe its time to go a bit more digital.

Hi Al, I was just reading back this thread and this post made me laugh:

[quote name='Al Heeley' post='379174' date='Jan 13 2009, 04:31 PM']...then I build a guitar in my garage or in the kitchen (if the wife's out)...[/quote]


So true!

[quote name='thedontcarebear' post='506620' date='Jun 5 2009, 08:37 PM']Seem's to be working at the moment, it's quite different to the others.[/quote]

Yep its working now - really nice tone! Good tune too...

[quote name='thedontcarebear' post='500216' date='May 28 2009, 08:21 PM']Hear me out, forgot to post that, good point, haha.[/quote]

MySpace says "Song is not currently available"

Like the other songs though!

[quote name='Al Heeley' post='506450' date='Jun 5 2009, 03:58 PM']Looking sweet! Good work sir.[/quote]

Cheers Al! Coming from you, thats a real complement!

[quote name='JackLondon' post='505261' date='Jun 4 2009, 09:07 AM']And a mock-up of the bass (there's no neck pocket yet)
[attachment=26519:Mock_up.jpg][/quote]

Hey Jack, excuse the dumb question - is this going to be a set neck or bolt on? And is that central route for a ramp?

Looking good!

Mikey

Kev, I remember hearing some of your playing at the Harrogate bash, I'd forgotten the kinds of sounds you can get. Ive got to say the look of the bass matches your playing style perfectly! Really like it!

[quote name='MacDaddy' post='502583' date='May 31 2009, 09:29 PM']We will be expecting build diary's from all 3 of you! [/quote]

I dont have a clue who the other two are - If they are on BC maybe they'd like to send me a PM!

[quote name='Merton' post='502073' date='May 31 2009, 07:37 AM']Nice one Mikey! How's the Hartke?[/quote]

Its very nice! Tho I feel bad for buying an amp thats not green...

We have the third person needed to run the course so its on!!!

I'll probably be starting a thread closer to the time as Im gonna need some advice from the wise folk here about design and stuff.

Really excited!

[quote name='peted' post='499594' date='May 28 2009, 08:50 AM']Got an update from Jon last night. The fretboard is on the neck after a couple of trial runs. The bass should be entirely assembled in the next couple of weeks and ready for sanding and spraying.[/quote]

Thats quick!

[quote name='peted' post='499594' date='May 28 2009, 08:50 AM']I've been promised photos this weekend [/quote]

Really looking forward to these photos!

Heres some photos taken by my brother last weekend:

Have you uploaded any MP3s of the bass yet? Have I missed them?

[quote name='Merton' post='497350' date='May 25 2009, 04:09 PM']Indeed, I was thinking the same thing immediately after I posted. Are the strings the Status ones I sent up to you?[/quote]

When did you send them? Ive not recieved anything...?

[quote name='Merton' post='497058' date='May 25 2009, 08:10 AM']Mikey, that sounds awesome, just how I was hoping (and expecting?) it to sound. Soo excited [/quote]

Ha, nows the tricky part. I have no idea what aspect of the construction makes it sound like that! It could be any of these:

* The overwide, overthick neck;
* The strange choice of neck material;
* Placement of pickups;
* Choice of pickups (cheapo ebay);
* The coice of (very heavy and hard) body material;
* New strings?

Or any of a number of other factors I havent even thought of?


But more importantly, how do I recreate a similar souding bass with the changes to specs and materials we are planning? Hmm. Suppose its all guesswork till after its finished!

Ive attached some quick tracks I did using a friends recording setup this evening.

Its DI'd into the Yamaha desk (dont know the model number), output via firewire into Cubase on the PC. The bass is hard wired with both pickups in series direct to the jack socket. Back at home, Ive maximised it using Audacity. I tried MP3 but Audacities codec makes a real mess of the recording and theres no way to increase the bitrate, so Ive left it as WAV.

The playing is a little bit jerky, Im still getting used to the fanned frets.

Im very pleased with the tone! The hissing is probably due to the fact that I havent shielded the pickup or control cavities yet.

[quote name='cheddatom' post='494992' date='May 22 2009, 11:22 AM']You can attach them to a post on here![/quote]

Cheers - I'll see if I can do some recording on Monday.

Kev, whats the spacing at the bridge? I would guess thats the limiting factor for a lot of styles. My new 5 string is 17mm and thats kinda tight!

[quote name='Spoombung' post='495050' date='May 22 2009, 12:15 PM']Let's have a look at the back then:



Nice ash grain ( the finish is wax and oil and only a light sealer - so you can still feel the grain slightly) String thru bridge design means I don't have to buy short scale strings all the time (the bass is a 31" scale)[/quote]

Now thats pretty! Love that swirl of ash grain - Im a sucker for open pored wood on basses!

Quick question - Does anyone know where I can host some mp3s?