Jimothey

I've been thinking........... I've got a sheet of polished alu in the workshop so I could do a 1 piece pickguard but I really like the shape of a 72 telebass pickguard and the classic telecaster so I could try and incorporate the 2?? 🤔

Managed to get a little bit more done today neck pocket is now routed and I've been having a bit of a play with the pickguard shape I kinda like the classic tele shaped pickguard with the jazz control plate Just got to decide what pup config would look best I'm still thinking the double MM would look really good?

That top is stunning saying that so is the back you are a very lucky man!! Can't wait to watch this progress!! I only wish that I could afford Mr ACG to build me a bass but alas that will never happen unless he would take my missus and kids in part exchange!?! 😁

Sorry I get the point your making but I completely disagree with your logic if you only make a template (computer or otherwise) if you are going to do the same shape repeatedly why do most people make a template to build a guitar body if they aren't going to use it again?? If it's for accuracy then surely isn't that what CNC machines were designed for?? Also sorry but if you watch any custom bike building programs they more often than not use a CNC to cut the 1 off pieces required for the build And finally sorry @Marcoelwray for the thread hijack I promise that was the last post I'll do about the off topic subject 😀

@Hellzero sorry but the point I was trying to make wasn't aimed at mass production guitars it was that a Luthier making a one off bass would make the same quality guitar by using a CNC machine or doing it by hand

I think it's a bit harsh to say there's no style and craftsmanship in CNC you still have to have style to create a design and you need to have craftsman skills to assemble and do a high end finish IMHO there's not much difference in using a CNC than say a bandsaw, pin router, thicknesser, tablesaw etc Ithey are all just tools to aid you with the building process

The pickguard is made I've just temporarily covered it in black vinyl to see how it looks

Option 2, I'm with Andy and your right it looks like a design statement if you have anymore that have the blue hue to it add something to your headstock proper style it out 😀

I like the fact its a bit strange looking but it's not so strange looking that it's really odd!! 😀

I like the top horn being long but I love the shape of the warwick fortress and corvette so that has kind of influenced the way I cut the body in the first place also I think it makes it look a bit different😀

The control cavity is now all routed and just gluing in the block to sort out the neck pocket Just a little bit of filling and sanding then I can start getting the body undercoated 😀

Thanks its all part of a learning curve! It was a really cheap kit that I got so I was tempted to just leave it as is and just use it as a bit of wall art but then I thought I really want a 5 string P so for a few extra quid and a bit of routing it's worth a little but more effort!! Depending on the quality of the neck I'm getting I am seriously considering buying another one and changing my Jazz to a 5 as well? and use the 4 string neck on my white P bass as I find the Jazz neck a lot more comfortable to play. But my White P needs a refinish as the paint job I did a few years ago is rubbish to be honest!!

Yeah that is exactly the problem, I don't know whether when I change the neck change the pickup aswell? I spose I'd better wait and see how it sounds when I fit the new pickup before I make that decision I'm probably going to use the neck off this one on my Tangocaster project but turn it back into a 4 string 😀

@kodiakblair I thought I'd give the conversion a go but I just couldn't get on with (Damn you sausage fingers!!)🙄

Just a quick update @Woodinblack I can't get on with the string spacing I keep hitting wrong notes and the B and G strings keep falling off the edge of the fretboard so I've decided to order a new 5 string Jazz neck for it 😀

That's why I remade the body because the body felt too small so it seems to me that its nicely proportioned for a guitar? I'll be sorting out the neck pocket and filling all the cavities tomorrow as I'm going to top rout it now

I wish I could turn it in to a 6 string bass but alas its just a guitar! 🙄

I know that I might get run out of town but I've decided not to just tart up the skip find but I'm going to do a custom (aka The B*****d!) using parts off of it and using my first Ibanez bass body It's going to be White with Black neck and Black pickguard, 1 humbucker and 1 single coil pickups and hardtail bridge It's kinda going to look a bit like this:

They do look great when they are finished it's got my creative juices flowing 😀

@Grangur I did what you suggested and attached the pup straight to the jack and still nothing so I've just ordered a new pup nothing special as I'm still not 100% sure whether I'm going to change the neck to a standard sized 5 string and fit some 5 string split coils but they should be here in a couple of weeks so I can have a play about with it and see how I get on 😀

I'll bring my soldering iron in tomorrow and give that a go thanks @Grangur for the advice

No unfortunately I don't have any spares or a soldering iron on me but I've got a multimeter so can I check the pup by coming off the hot and ground and I don't get any readings then would that mean the pup is shot??

I checked all the pins, solder etc and nothing is touching the foil

Sorry its a bit of a rubbish photo! All the blacks (numbered 1) are grounds they go Pickup - Pot - Pot - Jack (Sorry I'm colour blind so I might be completely wrong??) the thicker green (numbered 2) cable goes from the middle pin on the volume pot to the other pin on the jack then the cable (numbered 3) goes from the jack to the bridge I hope that make sense??

Here's the wiring, the ground to the bridge is a bit short so I can't really lift it off too far but that hasn't made a difference My other P is quiet without sheilding the cavity so I haven't done this one as yet