Chopthebass

I’m going to try a new preamp. Made by 3-Leaf audio. They do a Red and Blue version that are modern sounding and rock biased respectively. It has a quick release so you can swap the preamp module. Not cheap but hoping it sounds good with the Lollars. I’m going to have to install the headphone amp in the other end of the cavity.

I made the wings using alder, black veneer and cottonwood burl top. I have to rout the battery boxes. What you see here are cavities for the controls, and the headphone amp.

I always fancied a Mayones Cali 4 mini bass. Great build and great looks. And they sound good too. But thought I would make my own five string mini bass with a few differences. The Cali is 17" scale, same as 12 fret onwards on a 34". I am going for an 18.5" scale (equiv to a 37"). Like Mayones, I am using offcuts that are too small to make a full size bass.

You can get a liquid wood hardener or stabilizer. Its a watery consistency and just soaks in. Works a treat. Although I can't remember what make it is.

Home stretch now. Shielded cavities and dry fitted the Lollars. Threaded neck bushes fitted too. Just deciding on a preamp.

A few more coats. 80% sheen. A bit more glossy than I wanted.

Thanks guys. I pre-finished the fingerboard, pre-polished the frets before pressing them in. I will polish again after levelling.

I decided against blocks. Instead I have brass tube with orange glittery resin. Binding glued on too.

Bergantino Forte HP. It has everything on it a bass player needs IMO. The parallel compressor is particularly nice. And the filters are great for removing any unwanted frequencies.

I have a 5LT but don’t find it super bright unless I boost treble. I would love a mid control though. Its fine having the cog to set the mids, but I’d like more control. I think with the right preamp those pickups will shine.

It should go back in the loft!

I have had a similar thing going on. Turned out to be a vibrating saddler screw would you believe!

For that price I'm surprised it has a veneer top. At least it looks like a veneer from the edge photos.

Quality isn't great. Looks great from a distance.

Ibanez also did a weird 7 string bass. EADG fretted and (I think) ADG fretless. Not a big seller.

I recently bought a Jabba 5 Classic, with some custom options. I can honestly say it is the best built and finished bass I have ever owned. Absolutely flawless. And they Plek all their guitars so it plays super nice. You need to get one!!

I have a GK MB500 in my gig bag as a back up. Its actually really nice. And like Cetera I can get a good crunchy tone from it when needed.

Great CNC build

I bet it's easily compressed. Boom Boom

I haven’t dinged a bass in 35 years of gigging! Maybe I’m just lucky.!

There’s a company that sell Fender bodies and necks. Think they are called Stratosphereparts.com they will have what you want

simon I’ll probably mock it up and see how it looks with and without. But you could be right!

Sanded back the orange a bit, as I wanted more burl visible. Started roughing the maple neck. The Birdseye fingerboard will have binding and blocks

Ha ha I had a plywood one. It actually looked good. Sounded shite

I was going to go green, but decided on a crazy orange! I will probably sand back a little. Just got to make a neck now.