The slow but certain resurrection of the 'new' white rockbass fretless...

[goonieman]

Hi All,

For those who were following the thread on the 'sad and tragic failures of the 'new' rockbass streamer fretless' - ([url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/266450-the-sad-and-tragic-failures-of-the-new-rockbass-streamer-fretless/"]http://basschat.co.u...eamer-fretless/[/url])

...here is the promising and invigorating sequel:

First off, I got just over 20% discount to compensate for the situation of the bass - which was obviously not enough, but it's better than a kick on the nether regions.

Second, I went to work on fixing the neck. I gave it the classic heat treatment by clamping the heel, weighting down the headstock, and setting straight via heat from a household iron. I gave it 3 x 4hr treatments over 3 days, leaving to rest for around 18hrs after each. The neck came out very good in the end, but there was a persistant hollow from frets 1-4 (16 thou deep), and a slight bulge a frets 5-7 and 14-18. (classic s-curve or gooseneck)

So I then took to levelling the whole board with my stew mac straight edge and sticky sanding paper. I also rounded all the edges a touch for a more comfortable feel. This job took edges: Ebony is HARD! I mean HARD HARD. Wow - I have a new appreciation for ebony.

It came out dead straight! I set it up last night with a shim, and this morning there was still no movement in the action or relief. The just-a-nut II also needed to be sanded down at the bass because it could not drop low enough. LOL. What are the factory workers thinking?!

I've setup again today with a balanced set of chrome flatwounds, with 0.001" relief (yeah, that's ONE THOU), and 3/64 and 4/64 action (it could even go lower). No nasty buzzing, no dead spots.

RESULT: Successful rescue!

Loving this bass. It's got great resonance and my fingers fly around the fretboard. Plays like butter. The colour is a yellowy cream and is awesome. Fretboard has great figuring in the ebony.

Next step is active electronics. The stock MEC's are a but muddy, so not sure what to about that.

[attachment=197184:FullSizeRender (25).jpg][attachment=197188:FullSizeRender (24).jpg][attachment=197185:FullSizeRender (21).jpg][attachment=197186:FullSizeRender (22).jpg][attachment=197187:FullSizeRender (23).jpg]

Edited July 26, 2015 by goonieman

[White Cloud]

Well done you! I advised you to send it back in the original thread, but am now more than happy to eat my words.

Great job.

[HowieBass]

Impressive! I doubt I'd have the skills or nerve to try this with a new instrument! Glad it's worked out

[discreet]

Great conclusion! So often these things end in disaster. See my new book, 'Coping with Disappointment'.
Nicely done!!

[Dad3353]

[quote name='goonieman' timestamp='1437905112' post='2829805']...
... Plays like butter. The colour is a yellowy cream...
...
[/quote]

That makes sense.

Well done; we all like a happy ending.

[zawinul]

excellent job!! Fretlboard looks lovely, mines a lot darker but then I think mine needs a good clean and polish!!

[miles'tone]

Really glad you've sorted it out, congrats for doing it yourself.
It's a lovely looking bass, gorgeous colour and that fingerboard...
Would have been a shame to let it go.
👏👏👏

[uncle psychosis]

Nice work.

Warwick should do more solid colour finishes. That looks much nicer than the usual coffee tables

[PlungerModerno]

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1437952189' post='2830374']
Nice work.

Warwick should do more solid colour finishes. That looks much nicer than the usual coffee tables
[/quote]

It certainly has a more "NS design" spector look to it . . .