kevin_lindsay Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 (edited) Chris is making this for me. I've no pics yet as the build is just about to commence. So, I'll update everyone as to the progress when the pics become available. I love old USA retro Surf Green cars. I've found Surf Green to be a colour that is sometimes too vivid or too dull in the available spray paint currently available. My preference on this build is for a faded out Surf Green look, while still maintaining a vibrancy. I saw a Fiat 500 in their "Smooth Mint" finish and thought, "YES!!!! THAT'S THE COLOUR I'M LOOKING FOR"!!! So, that's what we're going to use on the body and matching headstock. [URL=http://s7.photobucket.com/user/kevin_lindsay/media/2014-fiat-500-smooth-mint.jpg.html][IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/2014-fiat-500-smooth-mint.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s7.photobucket.com/user/kevin_lindsay/media/IMG_1417.jpg.html][IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/IMG_1417.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s7.photobucket.com/user/kevin_lindsay/media/media.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/media.jpeg[/IMG][/URL] The specs will be: Jazz style 4 string fretless Body - lightweight alder finished in Fiat Smooth Mint Neck - very old growth maple (for resonance and solidity) Fingerboard - unlined ebony fretless. Side dot markers only. Matching headstock - in Fiat Smooth Mint Pickguard - either parchment 3 ply, or tortoiseshell Tuners - Hipshot Ultralite clover head Pickups - probably a set of the new Fender Pure Vintage 64 jazz pickups. I installed a set of the Pure Vintage 74 pickups in my white dot & bound Jazz and they really are fantastic units. Electronics - we'll be discussing circuits with John East. I'll be looking for a circuit which retains the natural sound of the instrument, but with a fuss free ability to dial in a bit more "bark and bite" when required. I'm popping throughto see Chris in a couple of weeks, so there will be more updates then. Edited June 2, 2015 by kevin_lindsay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umcoo Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 Great colour Looking forward to this one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBus Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 You'll get a good bass from Chris. Great attention to detail. Won't let you have it until he's entirely happy with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin_lindsay Posted May 20, 2015 Author Share Posted May 20, 2015 Yup Chris's attention to detail is well known. I've been friends with Chris for over 20 years. He's a star! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 Yup - the colour's got my vote Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin_lindsay Posted May 23, 2015 Author Share Posted May 23, 2015 Rather than using LEDs for the side dot markers on the fingerboard edge, I'm using these Luminlay dots. Just look like ordinary dots in daylight, but in the dark - wow! I've ordered the 2mm/3mm green dots with white outer edge piping. Should look cool http://www.luminlay.com/movieen.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 I have some basses with luminlay. The one with a rosewood board is great but the one with maple neck and board is ........... not so great in daylight. I should have thought it through! I am subbing to this cos I love your builds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin_lindsay Posted May 23, 2015 Author Share Posted May 23, 2015 Yeah, Owen, I'm not sure about the "black ring" dots on maple either. The "white ring" ones on rosewood or ebony should be pretty good though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin_lindsay Posted May 25, 2015 Author Share Posted May 25, 2015 Carey Nordstrand is making 3 band preamp for me. We're still finalising the exact configuration of the pots and frequencies of the preamp. It'll be sent to me here in Scotland from Carey's workshop in California. Should be on its way in the next couple of days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Great choice of colour. I am about to refinish a fretless P and had narrowed it down to that Fiat mint green or Mini Ice Blue (duck egg blue). It just so happens I have a Mini to paint in that blue next week so my choice was made for me, but now I'll see yours finished in the Fiat green and doubt myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin_lindsay Posted June 2, 2015 Author Share Posted June 2, 2015 Pickups now ordered - Fender Pure Vintage 64 Jazz Pickups. I'm really impressed by the new Pure Vintage line from Fender. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin_lindsay Posted June 11, 2015 Author Share Posted June 11, 2015 I spent Monday morning at Chris's workshop . We've settled on the neck dimensions and profile. I took my dot & bound white Jazz Bass through to Edinburgh with me as it has such a great feel to it. The jazz has a 38mm width at the nut a d 64mm at the body end. I asked for the depth of the neck to be the same as on the white bass. However, Chris advised that the neck will feel slightly different as the overall depth will be less than the white bass due to the metal frets no longer being in place. If the depth of the neck was increased by the usual height of the frets, the neck could feel more chunky in the hand. Chris suggested increasing the width at the nut to 40mm. He had an example in the workshop and the neck did feel great - it didn't feel chunkier than the white one - great to play.. We've got the Luminlay side dot marker rods ready for the project. The Fender True Vintage 64 Jazz Bass pickups are on their way from the USA as I type this. Carey Nordstrand will be wiring up my own spec preamp and control pots very soon. I'll post pics as the build progresses. Chris's huge wood cutting / shaping room has had new equipment installed so things will be ready to rock soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin_lindsay Posted June 20, 2015 Author Share Posted June 20, 2015 (edited) I've ordered a set of chrome Hipshot Ultralite clover head tuners for the bass. [URL=http://s7.photobucket.com/user/kevin_lindsay/media/Screenshot_2015-06-18-18-25-01-1.png.html][IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/Screenshot_2015-06-18-18-25-01-1.png[/IMG][/URL] I've also been in touch with Mark at Spitfire Pickguards. I'm planning on having him make me a custom pickguard for the bass. I'll need to send him an accurate 1/4" (6mm) thick template so that he can make the guard. It'll be a red speckled 60s one. Should be cool! https://spitfiretortoiseshellpickguards.wordpress.com/order/ Edited June 20, 2015 by kevin_lindsay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Argh! Scratchplate GAS. Thanks a bunch Kevin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin_lindsay Posted June 26, 2015 Author Share Posted June 26, 2015 The Hipshot Ultralite clover head tuners have arrived from the USA [URL=http://s7.photobucket.com/user/kevin_lindsay/media/FB_IMG_1435337604861_1.jpg.html][IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/FB_IMG_1435337604861_1.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Also, the Fender Pure Vintage 64 jazz bass pickups arrived. Here how they compare to the 74 spec ones: [URL=http://s7.photobucket.com/user/kevin_lindsay/media/FB_IMG_1435337653528.jpg.html][IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/FB_IMG_1435337653528.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s7.photobucket.com/user/kevin_lindsay/media/FB_IMG_1435337649191.jpg.html][IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/FB_IMG_1435337649191.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s7.photobucket.com/user/kevin_lindsay/media/FB_IMG_1435337644024.jpg.html][IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/FB_IMG_1435337644024.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Carey Nordstrand messaged me a couple of days ago to say the custom wired 3 band EQ preamp is now wired to the pots. It's making its way to me now via Fedex so it'll be fun tracking the parcel ' progress as it journeys from California to Scotland (it's scheduled for delivery next Wednesday). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin_lindsay Posted July 3, 2015 Author Share Posted July 3, 2015 The Nordstrand preamp is showing on the Fedex tracking as being in Stansted with a delivery date of Monday 6th July 2015 - almost here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin_lindsay Posted July 8, 2015 Author Share Posted July 8, 2015 Hooray! The custom wired Nordstrand 3 band preamp has arrived. The "spiderman nest" packaging looks very cool [URL=http://s7.photobucket.com/user/kevin_lindsay/media/McIntyre%20fretless%20Jazz%20Build/20150708_180335.jpg.html][IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/McIntyre%20fretless%20Jazz%20Build/20150708_180335.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s7.photobucket.com/user/kevin_lindsay/media/McIntyre%20fretless%20Jazz%20Build/20150708_180347.jpg.html][IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/McIntyre%20fretless%20Jazz%20Build/20150708_180347.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s7.photobucket.com/user/kevin_lindsay/media/McIntyre%20fretless%20Jazz%20Build/20150708_180449.jpg.html][IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/McIntyre%20fretless%20Jazz%20Build/20150708_180449.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s7.photobucket.com/user/kevin_lindsay/media/McIntyre%20fretless%20Jazz%20Build/20150708_180501.jpg.html][IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/McIntyre%20fretless%20Jazz%20Build/20150708_180501.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 odd question.... best pickups I ever played were Nordstand - any reason why you went fender rather than nordies? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 Pickups, shmickups! [size=8][b][u][font=georgia,serif][color=#FF0000]Where is the scratchplate?[/color][/font][/u][/b][/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin_lindsay Posted July 9, 2015 Author Share Posted July 9, 2015 I went for the Fender Pure Vintage 64 pickups as I fitted the 74 set into my white dot & bound Jazz. They sound really good, do I decided to use a tried and tested set for the fretless bass. As for the scratchplate, Chris will have to cut a 5mm thick template to send to the USA. The pickguard will then be made to our spec. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBus Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Any progress with this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 [quote name='BassBus' timestamp='1441907865' post='2862889'] Any progress with this? [/quote] Ditto . We all wait with prelibant expectation... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Interested in the side dots..but for maple. I have some Sims on a Sei bass, that Chris M modified but my other bass with a maple neck had no dots and in dark light can be a bit fraught... Would also like to see the end result as he worked for Sei and their work is top notch visually... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin_lindsay Posted October 8, 2015 Author Share Posted October 8, 2015 (edited) It's been quiet for a bit. However - the body and neck are about to go off to the sprayer to get the body and headstock painted in Fiat's "Smooth Mint" colour (as used on their Fiat 500 model). [URL=http://s7.photobucket.com/user/kevin_lindsay/media/2014-fiat-500-smooth-mint_0.jpg.html][IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/2014-fiat-500-smooth-mint_0.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s7.photobucket.com/user/kevin_lindsay/media/IMG_1417_2.jpg.html][IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/IMG_1417_2.jpg[/IMG][/URL] I'm popping through to see Chris on Monday 2nd November, so I'll take a load of pics then Edited October 8, 2015 by kevin_lindsay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 Bump... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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