Dom in Dorset

"spoiler box in your signature file" - I have no idea what that actually means! I'll remedy the situation if you can explain.😕

It's on it's way... I just need to print it. I'm not limiting myself to basses and I won't just be using pianos but the emphasis will be on recycled materials. Website and decal should be ready in a day or two.

Ready for sea trials. I went for chrome knobs in the end. Contours (well one contour) Headstock waiting for a suitable decal ...watch this space...

I was sticking to basses while I'm here. The Tele was originally going to have a bought neck but it was crap so I decided to make one for it, hence the strings but no neck. I do have a facebook page (name change and website coming soon) I'll be doing a build diary for the V there. I'm just working on templates and jigs when other projects grind to a halt. https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Musical-Instrument-Store/Dominic-Allan-Bass-Guitars-697594160378026/

Once again I'm using piano frame bolts as strap buttons...proper chunky! Close up of knobs. I bought these in but will try making my own next time. Getting there... Every good project deserves a side project... Every good side project deserves a side side project...

If anyone needs a band name "Peacock Death Hoax" is free.

Widow?

Not Dave Peacock?

I am planning on selling these eventually but not just yet. There's a lot I have to do first , build a workshop, website, stock, refine my designs/technique and all on a shoe string. It should be months rather than years but not until I'm ready. I moved to Dorset earlier this year and I'm hoping that this plus repairs will make up the shortfall in my income after having to reduce my hours at work. I have a part time job at a shop that sells pianos , that's where the materials are coming from, although I'm not directly involved in piano restoration. I won't just be limiting myself to pianos, any suitable materials will be involved.

...and that's why you are only allowed two.

But which testicle is best for metal?

I'd always done some of the singing , up to 50% . A few years back I formed a trio with myself on bass and lead vocal partly to see if I could pull it off. I really enjoyed it, I agree that you have to learn both parts , if you falter on a lyric the bass can fall apart and vice versa. You also need to have total confidence in what the other guys are doing, you don't get to interact with them as much. Sadly our last gig was booked for the 21st March and is currently awaiting rescheduling 😪 so yes I am or was a singing bass player.

I haven't decided yet but leaning towards slab. I'll play it for a while and see how it feels.

Holes for machine heads. The slice that I took off the front of the headstock makes a handy template for future use. Screening . I used to use graphite paint but it's filthy stuff and the copper tape looks sooo much more stylish. I like the look of the copper foil and might try something else for the scratch plate but for now I've made this from part of a chest of drawers that used to house spiders in the shed. It's really nice all hardwood 3mm ply. The story so far:

What strings do you have on it? The signal takes the same route through the wiring whatever string you are playing. New wiring will certainly help but in my experience when different strings produce different outputs it's down to the pickups or the strings.

I used to deliver pianos for a living and every time we unloaded one from the back of the van a witty passer by would say "Give us a tune mate!" If we weren't trying to man handle an extremely heavy and awkward object we would have collapsed with laughter every time we heard this . NOT.

Oddly enough Ralf Little was one of the more convincing ones in Telstar!

Last night I watched Telstar the Joe Meek Story which I very much enjoyed. One thing I noticed was that most of the actors seemed to have some idea how to play the instruments they were handed by the props department. There were a couple of people that you only saw momentarily holding a guitar but even then it didn't look too uncomfortable. So often a music biopic is spoiled by the fact that the actors look like they have never even held a guitar/bass before. My two pet hates so far are: Bohemian Rhapsody - While the Brian May is quite convincing (apparently he lad lessons with the real BM) the John Deacon looked like he's spent his entire life trying to avoid going near a bass guitar. Even the way he held it when not playing looked awkward. I did enjoy the film but that performance made me wince. Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll - looked like they only cast people who'd never seen a musical instrument being played. Once again I quite enjoyed it but could hardly bare to look during band scenes.

Put the neck on straight and I'll have one.

Meths will do it too.

Not just front dots, side dots too made from bamboo skewers, (not recycled). I've put the first coat of oil on the neck and the wood will darken over the next few months, I'm hoping that the bamboo will stay the same and be more visible. Fret ends still need finishing. Back of the neck: The whole thing so far:

Yes.

It's my bass and if I want front dots I'm having front dots. 😜 One of the things I wanted to try in this build was a new material for dots made from hammer shanks (maple?) Close up of the one dot I finished before the heat drove me out of the shed.

"Standard size" does seem to be quite flexible! I tried the neck on several other bodies and several other necks on that body , those two just found each other. It's a true Mills and Boon bass. Note to self -get a black nut.