Jump to content
Why become a member? ×
  • advertisement_alt
  • advertisement_alt
  • advertisement_alt

New Jazz Bass build/parts Project


Sibob
 Share

Recommended Posts

I'll post the pictures then tell the story! :)

[url="http://imageshack.us"][/url]

[url="http://imageshack.us"][/url]

[url="http://imageshack.us"][/url]

[url="http://imageshack.us"][/url]

[url="http://imageshack.us"][/url]

I'm sure you can see that Ian (Chopthebass) has done a stunning job!! It really is even more beautiful in the flesh!

[b]HOWEVER[/b]

Both myself and Ian have been bamboozled by a rogue truss rod!! It escaped both our attention when I went to pick up the bass! But whilst playing the bass acoustically later the same evening, I noticed a slight 'rattling' seemingly emanating from the neck itself! Tapping the back of the neck further revealed that something was definitly 'loose' within the neck, we think maybe the weld has broken holding the threaded collar on the truss rod bar!!

Because of Ian's imminent move to Canada there is unfortunately no way of him fixing it in time! So it's going back to live with him until he has time to fix it across the water!

What I would like to highlight here is that this is not a flaw in Ian's building by any stretch of the imagination! He's been amazing throughout the whole process, and the end product (save for the defective rod) is really stunning! We're both gutted as this was a real collaboration between us with some great problem solving and improvisation from Ian, and the wood specimens are the best I've seen in person!

What this does mean however, is that the above pictures are what i've affectionally called 'Version 1', and is now an ongoing saga! I'm now interested in sourcing a new neck for the bass ASAP.

Aside from this unfortunate setback, I'm sure you'll agree that the body is looking stunning with the scratchplate, Dimarzios, Badass and stack-knobs. The very brief time I've had it plugged in, the Dimarzios sound full and meaty and I'm really excited about them in the long-run!

So yeah.....more updates soon hopefully! :huh:

Cheers
Si

Edited by Sibob
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='steve' post='308899' date='Oct 17 2008, 08:27 PM']Wow, that's absolutely stunning mate - shame about the trussrod, but it's only a further delay, at least you already know it'll be worth the wait[/quote]

The final Bass won't have this neck on it at all Steve :)
Ian hasn't got time to fix it before he goes away which is a massive shame! He really does have a lot to sort before he goes.
I think he also mentioned that when he eventually does attend to it, a new fingerboard will have to go on, which I can understand, as I'm sure this one won't survive being taken off!

But you are right in a way, when the bass is finished with a neck, it's going to sound awesome!!

Si

Edited by Sibob
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Sibob' post='308901' date='Oct 17 2008, 08:31 PM']The final Bass won't have this neck on it at all Steve :)
Ian hasn't got time to fix it before he goes away which is a massive shame! He really does have a lot to sort before he goes.
I think he also mentioned that when he eventually does attend to it, a new fingerboard will have to go on, which I can understand, as I'm sure this one won't survive being taken off!

But you are right in a way, when the bass is finished with a neck, it's going to sound awesome!!

Si[/quote]

that's terrible mate, if the neck plays anywhere near as good as it looks, I'd have been inclined to send it to someone else to get it sorted (obviously no disrespect to Ian intended)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='steve' post='308918' date='Oct 17 2008, 09:01 PM']that's terrible mate, if the neck plays anywhere near as good as it looks, I'd have been inclined to send it to someone else to get it sorted (obviously no disrespect to Ian intended)[/quote]

This had crossed my mind mate, but my tech suggested it might cost something around £200 to sort out....and my funds don't really run to that, especially if it was on top of the price of the neck!
Ian has been fantastic and very accommodating so I'm just going to suck it up and source another neck from somewhere (see the 'Wanted' post).

Si

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was sure I'd seen a repair for your trussrod problem in the original Dan Erlewine video tapes from the 1984. I went through two 3 hour video tapes, but I found it again!

To fix the rattle, the video shows him taking off one of the mid-board fingerboard dots (7th) and drilling into the neck from the area underneath the dot. Thinned down Titebond glue is then injected into the neck using a plastic syringe. The instrument is left for a few hours for the glue to harden. If this doesn't stop the rattle, then another dot is removed and the process repeated.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='7string' post='308990' date='Oct 17 2008, 11:34 PM']I was sure I'd seen a repair for your trussrod problem in the original Dan Erlewine video tapes from the 1984. I went through two 3 hour video tapes, but I found it again!

To fix the rattle, the video shows him taking off one of the mid-board fingerboard dots (7th) and drilling into the neck from the area underneath the dot. Thinned down Titebond glue is then injected into the neck using a plastic syringe. The instrument is left for a few hours for the glue to harden. If this doesn't stop the rattle, then another dot is removed and the process repeated.[/quote]

The fingerboard has no dots on the facing! :)

Thanks for looking though mate!
Si

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh, One thing I forgot to do was mention everyone who's helped out with this (ongoing) build, certainly up to 'Version 1'. It's been a real Forum effort lol :)

[b]They include:[/b]
Jon Shuker (for the sexy and solid 'version 2' neck)
Chopthebass (Ian - for the beautiful 'version 1' neck, good luck in Canada)
My Uncle Steve (for the ace refinish)
Kevbass (Kev - for the body and neck plate)
Mr Pablo (Rob - for some electronics and string tree)
Bassistjonathan (Jon - for the Badass II)
DylanB (Dylan - for the Hipshot tuners)
Bassic Bits (for a superb price on some new DiMarzios)
Neepheid (Matt - for the strap buttons)
NJW (Nico - for the control plate)

Cheers
Si

Edited by Sibob
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='7string' post='308990' date='Oct 17 2008, 11:34 PM']I was sure I'd seen a repair for your trussrod problem in the original Dan Erlewine video tapes from the 1984. I went through two 3 hour video tapes, but I found it again!

To fix the rattle, the video shows him taking off one of the mid-board fingerboard dots (7th) and drilling into the neck from the area underneath the dot. Thinned down Titebond glue is then injected into the neck using a plastic syringe. The instrument is left for a few hours for the glue to harden. If this doesn't stop the rattle, then another dot is removed and the process repeated.[/quote]



Hi,
That's a very useful piece of info for solving an ill-fitting truss rod. I must remember that! However, I'm 99% sure that the weld has broken that fixes the bar to the threaded part or the rod. This would mean the rod part would flap around as it is narrower than the bar itself. I'll be removing the board and fixing the problem at some point in the future.
I'm sure this will end up an awesome bass.
Ian

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

Ok, so this is getting resurrected.....why?

COS IT'S FINISHED! :)

I kept it quiet, but since the unfortunate troubles with the original neck that Ian (Chopthebass) built for me, I commisioned Mr Shuker to build me a neck. I guess this was around 2 months ago, and I went to pick it up it up yesterday. Jon was very helpful and I'm so grateful that he could finish it in time for my tour that starts this weekend!

Here's the spec:
One piece Rock Maple neck
2 Carbon reinforcement bars
21 frets
Birdseye Maple fingerboard
Black fingerboard binding
No inlays on fingerboard facing

I'll get some photos up ASAP
It has its first rehearsal tomorrow, and then straight out on tour on saturday!!

Gonna be immense! :huh:

Si

Edited by Sibob
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It is a beauty, and proper solid as a rock!

I haven't had time to take pictures just yet, will get on it today, but I'm going on tour with it on tuesday (13th), so come to any of the gigs listed in the gig listing forum or at www.myspace.com/firstsignsoffrost, and you can see the young lady in action! ;)

Other than that, pics a little later today

Si

Edited by Sibob
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I found some time....pre-tour pictures!

Sorry for the quality, just off my phone, but gives you an idea:

[url="http://imageshack.us"][/url]

[url="http://imageshack.us"][/url]

[url="http://imageshack.us"][/url]

[url="http://imageshack.us"][/url]

[url="http://imageshack.us"][/url]

[url="http://imageshack.us"][/url]

[url="http://imageshack.us"][/url]

As with any photos, with some professional exceptions, you can't really see the beauty of the birdseye fingerboard....which is apparently 15 years old according to Jon!!
I think the Binding really sets it off though!
On this neck I went for 'structural integrity' over the more fancy wooded construction of the previous neck. The neck wood of this neck being Rock Maple with two carbon fiber rods for reinforcement!

Anyway, as I said, this is coming out on tour with me tomrrow, so come check it out in action! Gig listing in the 'Gigs' forum!
Oh and it feels and sounds awesome as well, fantastic Jazz growl with a Piano like roundness! As I've mentioned before, this bass is tuned C, F, Bb, Eb.

Si

Edited by Sibob
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Interestingly, and this is obviously open to debate, but according to Jon flamed maple isn't as strong as regular (rock) maple, and so doesn't make ideal necks. Obviously I learned this after the initial neck was built!
But yeah, Love the bass in its current state! ;)

Si

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Well, the bass performed exactly how I wanted it too on my tour, sounded massive, was solid, barely went out of tune between shows/during transit, perfect.

I've definitly found 'The Bass' for First Signs Of Frost. It is still a prototype of course, and money permitting I'll have something built for purpose heavily based around this, but for now, I'm really happy with it! ;)

Anyway, here's some live shots:

[url="http://imageshack.us"][/url]

[url="http://imageshack.us"][/url]

[url="http://imageshack.us"][/url]

[url="http://imageshack.us"][/url]

Si

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...