gafbass02 Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 (edited) I've had a bit of a long and unhappy history of trying to build a walnut jazz bass, just like the cool 70's ones which I'll never afford, so when this body came up on here I grabbed it with both hands! As I already own a few great jazz basses I thought a new voice was in order, so when I was browsing eBay a nice looking fretless neck came up at a good price I clicked 'buy it now' totally on a whim! I was already pretty broke by that point, so dreams of active preamps and barolini pickups are on hold!! I wanted gold hardware, so bought cheap, generic Chinese electronics, hardware and some wilkinson tuners and pickups. Problem number one was that the bridge on this body had been a gotoh with a large footprint and odd hole pattern. This meant that my bridge left gaping holes in the body. (Anyone need a generic hi mass bridge?!!) Problem number two was the after hours spent getting the bushings in the headstock (to keep assembly costs down at my local shop) I found the baseplates on the wilkinsons were too big. Darn!! A new set was purchased that look much nicer! (Gold wilkinson tuners without bushings also for sale btw!!!) One evening I quickly wired up the pickups to the controls and then just stared at the rest of the bits. I had planned to drop it into my local shop to build, as I didn't want to futz the bridge position or neck fitting, and I've only an old drill my dad left behind and usually any DIY attempts fail BADLY!! So I dropped by the shop, only to find it closed. That evening I just started to tinker, until I just thought 'in for a penny'. Grabbed my drill and started to improvise!!! A few hours later and it's built! A few more hours and the action is low, the intonation spot on and it plays and sounds great, only causality a snapped cheapo pickup screw. I love it, and the sense of satisfaction at not only having done it all myself, but also to still have fingers and a house that's not burnt down is amazing! Now I just need to learn how to play fretless!!!! [URL=http://s34.photobucket.com/user/gafbass02/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-15.jpg.html][IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d115/gafbass02/Mobile%20Uploads/image-15.jpg[/IMG][/URL [URL=http://s34.photobucket.com/user/gafbass02/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-12.jpg.html][IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d115/gafbass02/Mobile%20Uploads/image-12.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s34.photobucket.com/user/gafbass02/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-11.jpg.html][IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d115/gafbass02/Mobile%20Uploads/image-11.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s34.photobucket.com/user/gafbass02/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-13.jpg.html][IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d115/gafbass02/Mobile%20Uploads/image-13.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v1u7f3HqOA Edited May 20, 2014 by gafbass02 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 (edited) Parchment scratchplate? Or black! Edited May 20, 2014 by HowieBass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bh2 Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 Holy smokes... that is one lovely looking jazz bass... two jacks? Super! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 Looks fantastic! No scratchplate. Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 Excellent job. +1 for [u]no[/u] scratchplate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikki1984 Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 Awesome bass! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gafbass02 Posted May 20, 2014 Author Share Posted May 20, 2014 Cheers, the body previously had a side jack/through body, both are now defunct features. I plan on having a see through pickguard made by bass doc when he's feeling better. I'm also picking up a walnut one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madshadows Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 great work by you, looks great and sounds terrific, looks great without a scratchplate, outstanding John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 [quote name='gafbass02' timestamp='1400606386' post='2455424'] Cheers, the body previously had a side jack/through body, both are now defunct features. I plan on having a see through pickguard made by bass doc when he's feeling better. I'm also picking up a walnut one! [/quote] I like the sound of a see through scratchplate - nice idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theyellowcar Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 That is cracking. Good job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 Great job and sounds the business too. You should be proud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alyctes Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 You'll never get rid of that one And you might just find you start looking for excuses to play fretless. Kudos! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gafbass02 Posted May 20, 2014 Author Share Posted May 20, 2014 Thanks for the kind words all. I've never done so much work on a bass myself before. Love the result! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman Sam Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 That looks great. A clear scratch plate will be the business. Congrats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Tidy job. Good work that man ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bh2 Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Yes... sounds great... you can play fretless alright and no mistake! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fun size nick Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 (edited) Absolutely gorgeous...that walnut/unlined maple combination is killer! Way too beautiful to hide with a scratchplate... There's no feeling quite like getting your hands dirty and doing your own work on your bass, casting fear of breaking something to the wind. Hope you feel inspired by the experience! Edited May 21, 2014 by fun size nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badboy1984 Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Very nice looking bass man. I think I probably have to go down the same route because I can't find a fretless that is right for me. I will need to look for the neck first then sort out the body later lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlin Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 wow now you got me thinking,can I make one ?? SHE LOOKS AND SOUNDS AWESOME, great build sir Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 (edited) Good work! As for the pickguard I'm going to say... GOLD ANODISED. The Bass Doc does a spiffy plastic version which really looks like the real thing. I was born and raised in Cheltenham... your accent takes me back! Edited May 21, 2014 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Good job nice bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumple Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 I do like an unlined fretless maple fingerboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTractor Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 (edited) Wow. That was kinda yummy, and a good example how gold hardware can tone down rather than ostentatiate (well ... it [b]should[/b] have been a word!) Well done! BTW, what is the smart/quick way of starting to work on the intonation of a fretless? Simply measuring up 17" from the nut and remember/mark that point, or? Edited May 21, 2014 by BassTractor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OliverBlackman Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 [quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1400687830' post='2456125'] BTW, what is the smart/quick way of starting to work on the intonation of a fretless? Simply measuring up 17" from the nut and remember/mark that point, or? [/quote] You can do that, or if you really want to develop your hearing in the process the alternative would be playing along to music. If the recording/ players are in tune, you will hear when you are out. Then by correcting what you hear your muscle memory kicks in and remembers where the correct spot is. It is much easier on a familiar style of neck, such as a Fender compared to say a Warwick. Unless you don't play Fenders and play Warwicks. Then you stop thinking you're Stuart Zender! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lee4 Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Luverly! Really good combination of timbers there. Sounds good as it looks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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