Jabba_the_gut Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 (edited) Thought I'd share my pictures of the first bass I've built from scratch – I'm kind of pleased with it. It really is quite satisfying to end up with a usable instrument from some drawings I scribbled a little while ago! Decided to try something fairly simple for my first effort just to see if I could do it. The fret board is ebony, not sure about the neck and body. They were made from a block of hardwood that had been in my dad's garage for 30 odd years before sitting in mine for another 10 as something that would be 'useful one day....' - I'm glad I held onto it! The neck is made from a single piece, the body is three piece. Bridge is a Schaller 2000 series, pickup is an EMG 35DC with simple volume/tone controls, machine heads are just generic ones. The neck is a similar width to a jazz bass and quite thin. It plays quite nicely – just need to learn fretless now!! Have a go yourselves – you might be quite pleased with what you create. Cheers J. Edited August 11, 2014 by Jabba_the_gut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumple Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 That's nice work, lovely bit of wood and I like the 'dimple' in the body shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 I'll tell you what is so genius about this bass. It's the little fret-markers on the side of the bass (not the dots; they look like little brass infills). They're barely visible on the pictures. Very subtle touch. Great job. P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stroopy121 Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 I absolutely love the naked simplicity of this. It's absolutely beautiful. Amazing work, can't wait to see what you come out with next! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soloshchenko Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 That looks like your 20th build mate. Wonderful looking thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scojack Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 Beautiful build .......especially for a first scratch build, you definately have a talent ! Whats next? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purpleblob Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 Excellent job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoker Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 That looks stunning! You sure it's your first build? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 lovely bit of work - very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 Looks great. To echo others round here, it certainly doesn't give the impression that you haven't done this before! One small question... has this got a trussrod? Or is it one of those truss rods where you have to take the neck off the body to alter it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardHimself Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 It looks fantastic. I can't believe it's your first build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth1982 Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 build me one! Excellent! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnDeereJack Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 Very nice! Cant beat natural wood and the grain in the wood you've used is stunning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire5 Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 Lovely clean uncluttered lines.But tell me this.Where can I get some of this 'Scratch' stuff that everybody builds basses with? I've lost count of the number of basses built from scra.....Oh... right.... I'll get me coat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted August 21, 2011 Author Share Posted August 21, 2011 Cheers for the comments. I can't claim credit for the idea of the fret markers though, I saw that done on a Clover Argo based and though it looked good so borrowed that idea for this bass! The infill is just veneer I found to mach the neck. Cheers J. [quote name='NancyJohnson' post='1346197' date='Aug 20 2011, 11:28 AM']I'll tell you what is so genius about this bass. It's the little fret-markers on the side of the bass (not the dots; they look like little brass infills). They're barely visible on the pictures. Very subtle touch. Great job. P[/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted August 21, 2011 Author Share Posted August 21, 2011 Cheers for all the positive comments - really appreciated. It's not faultless as a first build but that was point of doing it and why I picked something fairly simple. There's a fair few things I learnt for next time such as remembering to put a slot in to adjust the truss rod without having to loosen the neck (might still do this yet), and how the cut the holes for the neck bolts etc so they are really neat. I had some fun and games with the finishes I tried too, but got there in the end! Been collecting parts over the last six months or so for another bass when I have time. #2 will be a 5 string fretted, got a Badass V, Hipshot Ultralites, Nordstrand pickups, spalted beech top, maple body and neck blanks. All I need now is the time to do it!! If anyone is thinking of having a go at building their own, I'd recommend it. There's plenty of details on this forum and on the web and plenty of advice available. Just need to learn to play better now!! Cheers J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB1 Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 MB1. Thats an amazing job for a first attempt! must have taken some hours!.Nice touch with your initials! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted August 21, 2011 Author Share Posted August 21, 2011 [quote name='MB1' post='1347508' date='Aug 21 2011, 08:53 PM']MB1. Thats an amazing job for a first attempt! must have taken some hours!.Nice touch with your initials! [/quote] Doing my initials was fun - never done any inlay work before this. That was done with a 25mm square piece of mother of pearl about 1mm thick and an offcut of the ebony used for the fretboard. Makes you appreciate what skill it takes when you see some custom guitars. Cheers J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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