Jimothey Posted January 29, 2021 Share Posted January 29, 2021 (edited) I've started this build but this one is probably going to be a long one as I need to source a 5 string neck and the missus has put an embargo on buying any more bits as she reckons I've got enough basses!?! (So if anyone's got an old neck they want to donate then she cant whinge at me as I haven't spent any money!! 😂) This is the top I'm going to use I think its either Meranti or Red Grandis that I've black grain filled and then sanded back slightly then danish oiled The back is going to be pine as I want a nice contrast between the top and the back....... 👍🏻 Edited February 11, 2021 by Jimothey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted January 30, 2021 Author Share Posted January 30, 2021 I've tried to make the back a little bit more interesting than plain old Pine I'll do the sides when I've glued the top on....... 👍🏻 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted January 30, 2021 Share Posted January 30, 2021 I quite like the look of hammered pine (for want of a better term). You see it on well worn pine dining tables that have been waxed regularly and where the soft wood between the harder, more dense, rings has settled to leave tactile ridges. With such a regular grain as yours I think it would look and feel good. I suppose it's a nod towards relicing but it could be applied as a new finish in the same way that you can hammer copper sheet to achieve a textured surface. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted January 30, 2021 Author Share Posted January 30, 2021 8 hours ago, SpondonBassed said: I quite like the look of hammered pine (for want of a better term). You see it on well worn pine dining tables that have been waxed regularly and where the soft wood between the harder, more dense, rings has settled to leave tactile ridges. With such a regular grain as yours I think it would look and feel good. I suppose it's a nod towards relicing but it could be applied as a new finish in the same way that you can hammer copper sheet to achieve a textured surface. I know what you mean, ots not as far as barncaster rusticesque but I think it just gives it a little something but to touch its completely flat and smooth as I attacked it with a stiff wire brush to get the grooves then painted it black then sanded back to take the high spots off leaving the painted grooves flush with the top......... 👍🏻 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted February 2, 2021 Author Share Posted February 2, 2021 (edited) Did some more work on the body today........ 👍🏻 Edited February 2, 2021 by Jimothey 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted February 3, 2021 Author Share Posted February 3, 2021 I'm slightly rethinking this build I'm struggling to find a 5 string neck in my budget so I'm probably going to make this a 4 string instead, Also I'm thinking of changing the pickup config aswell to a Thumb style with the bridge pickup angled and the neck straight??......👍🏻 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted February 3, 2021 Share Posted February 3, 2021 2 hours ago, Jimothey said: I'm slightly rethinking this build I'm struggling to find a 5 string neck in my budget so I'm probably going to make this a 4 string instead, Also I'm thinking of changing the pickup config aswell to a Thumb style with the bridge pickup angled and the neck straight??......👍🏻 Oh and it's now a viola... Heeheehee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted February 4, 2021 Author Share Posted February 4, 2021 This is basically what I'm thinking now.........👍🏻 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 Are you doing it for the sound or for the appearance? I imagine the bridge sound will be thinner on the heavier strings and the blend with the neck pickup will allow you to taper off the bottom end or thicken it up before you even touch the tone controls. I'm wondering if the blend works a bit like a midrange sweep. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted February 4, 2021 Author Share Posted February 4, 2021 4 hours ago, SpondonBassed said: Are you doing it for the sound or for the appearance? I imagine the bridge sound will be thinner on the heavier strings and the blend with the neck pickup will allow you to taper off the bottom end or thicken it up before you even touch the tone controls. I'm wondering if the blend works a bit like a midrange sweep. To be honest I've never heard a Thumb with the angled bridge pickup in the flesh so I can't really comment about the difference it will make to the sound but on a couple of videos they do sound different to a Corvette so I thought why not give it a go!! and also I like the look of it as well........👍🏻 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted February 4, 2021 Author Share Posted February 4, 2021 My wall of Corvettes is coming on nicely!! 😁 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 I think that's actually called a fleet of Corvettes. There's even a navy one in the middle. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 (edited) Clearly to check the effect of the angled pickup 'scientifically' you would need to do a V rout and an A / B comparison. But, on my less scientific measure of the sound of Jazz type basses with the angle and without, then yes - for the bridge pickup - it makes a tangible difference. To my ear, the top G on many basses is noticably more trebly than the other strings. With this change, that effect goes away and sounds much more balaced across the strings. On the other hand, the same angle on the neck pickup makes no tonal difference to my ear. Edited February 5, 2021 by Andyjr1515 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted February 8, 2021 Author Share Posted February 8, 2021 Got the pickups and control cavity routed out today Its going to be a 4 string so the bridge is just for the mock-up........👍🏻 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted February 11, 2021 Author Share Posted February 11, 2021 (edited) Well I modified a neck to use on this from a fender style headstock to an angled headstock, it is very secure with no movement as I used 2 x 2" long 8mm steel bar going through from the neck into the headstock and routed 2 timber strips into the back of the neck as well and I'm happy with the result just filling a few little gaps and then it'll be ready for painting Black but......... As it is only a 21 fret neck and the template for the body I use had be taken from a body with a 24 fret neck the neck pocket wont be long enough for my liking! so I'm trying to win a 24 fret Westfield neck off ebay at the moment as i didn't want to have to mess around with the body I've decided that I'm going to make the 4 string p/j version and I'm going to extend the body under the neck pocket so I can use this neck its going to look something like this........ The body is pine and I've just rough cut at the mo, it's going to be painted Satin Red with Black hardware....... 👍🏻 Edited February 11, 2021 by Jimothey 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted February 16, 2021 Author Share Posted February 16, 2021 Managed to get a little bit more done, I've decided just to go for the split coils instead of a P/J...... 👍🏻 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted February 17, 2021 Share Posted February 17, 2021 Looking great 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted February 17, 2021 Author Share Posted February 17, 2021 I've just won this neck on Ebay so I'm going to reshape the headstock but its only a 22 fret so the neck pocket is still going to be too short so I think I'm going to remake the body with the body extending under the neck a bit..... I'm thinking of making the body out of Sapele so hopefully it will turn out a bit like this one i Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted February 18, 2021 Author Share Posted February 18, 2021 Got my first coat of colour on the body today I'm colour blind (might explain some of my colour choices! 😁) but the pic makes it look a bit Orangey to me but its quite a strong Red in the flesh....... 👍🏻 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted February 19, 2021 Author Share Posted February 19, 2021 Just a quick mockup....... 👍🏻 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted February 20, 2021 Author Share Posted February 20, 2021 New body is cut and sanded, I've given it a quick wipe of danish oil to see how the grain will look and after reading @Andyjr1515post re finishing to see if I've missed any sanding which I have on the lower horn! I think it will look good with the contrast of a maple fretboard?.......👍🏻 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlungerModerno Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 2 hours ago, Jimothey said: New body is cut and sanded, I've given it a quick wipe of danish oil to see how the grain will look and after reading @Andyjr1515post re finishing to see if I've missed any sanding which I have on the lower horn! I think it will look good with the contrast of a maple fretboard?.......👍🏻 I think it'll work just fine with a tinted or bright plain maple fb. I think it might look odd with a darker tinted or roasted maple, but I would need to see the shade to know. I would be shocked if you roasted the assembled neck, but there's a first time for everything Personally I like the knot near the lower horn, adds a bit of extra character, but I know they've done wooden pickguards if you want more inspiration: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 5 hours ago, Jimothey said: New body is cut and sanded, I've given it a quick wipe of danish oil to see how the grain will look and after reading @Andyjr1515post re finishing to see if I've missed any sanding which I have on the lower horn! I think it will look good with the contrast of a maple fretboard?.......👍🏻 That's some nice timber Looks great. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted February 20, 2021 Author Share Posted February 20, 2021 4 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said: That's some nice timber 🙂 The timber is from an old conservatory roof joist...... 👍🏻 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlungerModerno Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 2 minutes ago, Jimothey said: The timber is from an old conservatory roof joist...... 👍🏻 Who knew what was hiding in that joist all those years! Reclaimed timber can be amazing stuff. I think Spector did a run with Redwood from old water tanks in NYC a few years back, great way to add a story to the instrument! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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