SBO 24 - String Spread over a Blade Pickup

#22
I was certain that I had an ebony board for this build, but upon raiding my stash, no board was to be found.

Time to get creative.

IMG_8951.jpeg



I split this offcut into two pieces, and bookmatched them.

IMG_8952.jpeg



Depending on the final thickness, I may have to put a veneer under the board, as the last thing I'd want is a trussrod finding it's way through the board once everything was assembled.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Max Bogosity, Matt Liebenau and Dark Horse
#23
Alex Xander said:
I was certain that I had an ebony board for this build, but upon raiding my stash, no board was to be found.

Time to get creative.

View attachment 7008063


I split this offcut into two pieces, and bookmatched them.

View attachment 7008066


Depending on the final thickness, I may have to put a veneer under the board, as the last thing I'd want is a trussrod finding it's way through the board once everything was assembled.
Click to expand...
That’s what makes me nervous about using a two piece fretboard.
 
#25
Alex Xander said:
I hear you, despite the fact that it's been proven time and time again that a good glue line is stronger than the wood.
Click to expand...

I agree…. It’s still this weird mental block for me. I’d feel better if I laminated underneath, or the glue joint wasn’t a straight line ( like a “river” fretboard)

I’m sure it’d be fine as is. I just know I’d be expecting it to explode every time I adjusted it 😂😂😂😱😱😱
 
#26
  1. Yes, the glue is stronger than the surrounding wood.
  2. Use the correct technique - don’t force the rod to move the neck. Bend the neck with your arms, and hold it there while you gently snug up the truss rod nut. Then release the neck. Gently if you’re feeling amorous.
  3. Or use two truss rods, on either side of the joint.
  4. Or use a tension cable near the back of the neck (sounds like a lot of trouble to me).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Alex Xander
#27
It was Father’s Day here in Australia today. My 5 year old daughter helped me make some templates using bondo/bog. Among them was the neck pocket template for this build.



IMG_9042.jpeg


IMG_9050.jpeg



I also ordered another X2N-7 to make this a dual pickup bass. Following the lead of @StereoPlayer , the two pickups will be a fairly extreme positions and I will run a stereo output. I have ordered a Hotone Ampero II Stage modelling pedal for the express purpose of processing a neck and bridge pickup independently, with a HPF on the bridge pickup and a LPF on the neck pickup. Each will be compressed and eqd differently, and the bridge pickup will get effects where I want to use them.

Ebay says the second pickup will be here in a week. I’m not sure if I’ll make it over the finish line or not.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lance Bunyon, Matt Liebenau and Gary_M
#28
This one is getting very, very close. Plenty of bling going on, and the gold labella flatwounds will push this thing into gaudy territory.

Even though it’s a partial build entry (despite being a scratch build for me), I think I’m going to focus my efforts on this one for the SBO deadline. I’m really digging it.

IMG_9099.jpeg



I have the frets installed and levelled, headstock and tuner holes done, along with pickup routes and control cavity routes. All that’s left is to screw down the bridge saddles, pickups and control plate, then it’s onto sanding and finishing.

While this build is probably worthy of high gloss finish, I’m thinking danish oil will do the trick.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Max Bogosity, ddm0502 and Matt Liebenau
#30
ctmullins said:
How are you going to wire the stereo output?
Click to expand...
Here’s what I think will work

Hot for both pickups goes to the tip of a stereo plug, ground from neck pickup goes to the ring and ground from bridge pickup goes to the sleeve. I’ve made a stereo to twin mono cable and I’ll have a stacked vol/vol knob.

With a mono jack plugged in, it should operate as a normal twin pickup bass as it will short both ground wires against the sleeve. With my stereo to dual mono cable it “should” work in stereo.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ctmullins
#32
Alex Xander said:
Here’s what I think will work

Hot for both pickups goes to the tip of a stereo plug, ground from neck pickup goes to the ring and ground from bridge pickup goes to the sleeve. I’ve made a stereo to twin mono cable and I’ll have a stacked vol/vol knob.

With a mono jack plugged in, it should operate as a normal twin pickup bass as it will short both ground wires against the sleeve. With my stereo to dual mono cable it “should” work in stereo.
Click to expand...

This kind of circuits always confuse me. Wouldn't the grounds of both pickups need to be conected to the bridge ground?
 
#33
KidAmnesia said:
This kind of circuits always confuse me. Wouldn't the grounds of both pickups need to be conected to the bridge ground?
Click to expand...
I don’t think so. I have no credentials in electrical engineering, but my understanding it that when we touch the strings, we aren’t grounding the pickups, we’re grounding our bodies, stopping us from being a big antenna.

The way I’m wiring is the only way I can think to get the bass to work mono with a normal cable and stereo with a stereo. If they share the bridge ground which is wired to the sleeve of the jack, it then means the hot from one pickup needs to go on the ring. That’s fine when running stereo, but if you insert a mono jack into the socket, it will short the pickup that is wired to the ring and sleeve.
 
#35
Alex Xander said:
I don’t think so. I have no credentials in electrical engineering, but my understanding it that when we touch the strings, we aren’t grounding the pickups, we’re grounding our bodies, stopping us from being a big antenna.

The way I’m wiring is the only way I can think to get the bass to work mono with a normal cable and stereo with a stereo. If they share the bridge ground which is wired to the sleeve of the jack, it then means the hot from one pickup needs to go on the ring. That’s fine when running stereo, but if you insert a mono jack into the socket, it will short the pickup that is wired to the ring and sleeve.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I agree, I think your plan is solid. The bridge ground is as you said, just to minimize noise. Being connected to just "one ground" (which should actually be the same ground/earth in the end) is fine for that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Alex Xander
#40
Alex Xander said:
So I’ve just discovered a mistake in @Beej ‘s opening post on the build off. It says it finishes on Wednesday 22 September, when in fact, the 22nd is Sunday (tomorrow)!
Click to expand...
No worries, just means it's the super-slacker endless (nearly) summer build and you have 3 more years to get this finished, based on a technicality.

Code: 
September 2027   
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
          1  2  3  4 
 5  6  7  8  9 10 11 
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 
26 27 28 29 30
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: Flying B, ctmullins and Lance Bunyon
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back