Winter 2017 Build Off - Mystery Bass (winter themed)

#21
Fretboard glue up this morning...

IMG_5198.JPG

And out of the clamps and trimmed up to shape tonight!

IMG_5199.JPG IMG_5201.JPG

Feels good to make some progress after being sidelined all week.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SLivinghouse, mapleglo and afa3
#22
Small steps....

Routed the body to final shape and routed the neck pocket.

The neck pocket was actually a bit of a big step as I was pretty nervous about it. I had to pre drill a series of holes for the fiber optics to rest in and I also routed the neck pocket on an angle. Two things I haven't had to do before. All went very well and I have a nice snug pocket at a small angle (approx 1/16" difference end to end, don't know what the angle is).

IMG_5218.JPG
 
  • Like
Reactions: reverendrally, moonshinegtrs, I-Am-The-Slime and 2 others
#24
Beej said:
Looking great!
Click to expand...

Thanks Beej!

Progress is slow as I am really forced to stop and really think about what I am doing and how to do it and in what order on this build.
I have the body mostly hollowed out. Still need to smooth out the bottom a bit and clean up the edges. Next up I think will be starting the carve of the top plate. Not really sure how I am going to accomplish that yet.

IMG_5252.JPG
 
  • Like
Reactions: moonshinegtrs
#25
Today saw the fingerboard radiused (16") and polished. Also cleaned up the inside of the body cavity some, although you can't see that in this pic.

IMG_5427.JPG
 
#30
Man I've been neglecting this thread! Sorry folks.
I have made some pretty good progress though. Since my last update I have carved the top, inside and out. Routed access in the back of the body and for the pickups. Installed some top secret nonsense inside the body. Glued on the top. Glued in the neck. Mounted the tailpiece and made a bridge. Drilled for and mounted tuners. Carved the back of the neck. Mounted strap lock buttons. And as of right now she is strung up and making some noise! The pickups are not mounted, but acoustically she is making a pretty good volume and the sound makes me very happy. There are lots of adjustments still to be made at the nut and bridge, I just got it to the point where I could throw an old set of strings on there and see what would happen. But already it is a very pleasing instrument.
Ahead will be lots of finish sanding on the body, a finish on the body. Probably going to leave the neck raw on this one. My son pointed out that the wenge fingerboard looks a little like a blizzard and we like the look. Fits right in with the winter bass theme. So that will likely stay as is. I don't know in the end if I will string her with flats or roundwounds, but right now she has an old set of rounds on and I'm liking it so I might go with rounds and just keep an eye on the fingerboard to see if they are doing damage.
Need to hook up the pickups and mount the controls. I'm thinking about going volume tone and blend but that too is subject to change.
Hmm so I guess that's about it for now. I'll throw some pics up here and please hit me with any thoughts or critiques I'd love some feedback.

Greg

IMG_5721.JPG 1488232560670.jpeg IMG_5841.JPG IMG_5843.JPG
 
  • Like
Reactions: Barbaric.Eric, Will_White, smithcreek and 5 others
#32
Getting nearer the finish line on this one...
In keeping with the spirit of challenging yourself on this build, I went in a completely new, untested, and quite possibly ridiculous direction in finishing the body. Milk paint. I did 2 coats of sealer/topcoat, followed by 3 or 4 coats of the white and then 2 more coats of the sealer/topcoat. While the final coat was still wet I threw some silver leaf crumbs into the top. I had them laying there from having just applied leaf to another project and they caught my eye. I think it adds a little frosty twinkle to the end result.
I have her strung up again, pickups mounted. Waiting on some pots to be delivered so i can wire the pickups.
I did wire up the LED lights. I have hinted about secret goings on on this build. I used LED side dots and also have mounted LED's inside the body so when the side dots are switched on, the whole inside of the body lights up. I routed the pickup holes a little larger than usual to allow the glow to come through. The inside of the body was also covered in rattle can chrome paint to help light it up.

Should have this one wrapped up by next weekend.

use2.png use1.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: BuffaloBob4343, Barbaric.Eric, Gilmourisgod and 7 others
#33
This is my submission for the Winter-2017 Build off

This build off asked the builder to challenge themselves with things they've never done before. This is my list
1) Full hollow-body
2) Carved top inside and out
3) Fretless neck
4) LED's inside the body
5) Fiber optic side dots
6) Handmade wooden bridge
7) Angled neck joint

The list could go on because all these things caused a bit of domino effect to my usual build practices and orders of operation, but these are the main points.


Specs of the build are as follows:
Neck : 5 piece Wenge/Maple
Neck Joint: Glue in
Markers: Blue Fiber optic dots
Body: Maple full hollow-body
Finger Board: Wenge lined fretless
Fingerboard radius: 16"
Scale Length: 30"
Tuners: Schaller
Bridge: Handmade Wenge w/Ash saddle
Pickups: GFS lipstick tubes
Electronics: V/V/T
Finish: White milk paint w/silver leaf specks

I am hoping to get a chance today to record a short clip of audio in which case i will edit this post to put it here.

On to the pics!
final2.png
final3.png
final4.png
final5.png
final6.png
final1.png
IMG_5983.JPG
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: fermata, Novarocker, reverendrally and 15 others
#38
Barbaric.Eric said:
hot damn!! what a beaut! Love the hidden LED's inside the body! When I first read that you were planning inner-body LEDs I was nervous that you'd have glowing f-holes (or something gaudy) but when I saw the photos of just a touch of glow bordering the pups... very well done!! Tasteful yet unique, great lookin' instrument :)
Click to expand...

Thank you! and you have reminded me that I forgot to include a pic of the side dots! will edit the submission post to include one.

Jon Clegg said:
Very cool! (looks frosty actually!) I like the body shape; reminds me of an Gibson L6S. And lipsticks to boot! (My voting choices just get more and more difficult!)
Click to expand...

Thanks Jon, I quite agree, voting is going to be very tough in this contest! So many awesome builds.

smithcreek said:
Nice!
Click to expand...

Booty Shaman said:
Oh man is that a beautiful bass. I love the finish you used. Seriously gorgeous! Thank you for the documentation.
Click to expand...

Thank you both!
 
#39
Things I like- The finish, with the sprinkle of silver flakes; the LED effects; and the proportions. Imo the overall scale is quite pleasing.

Things I don't like- Can't hear it, can't play it... Pretty much it, really. ;)
Nicely done.
 
  • Like
Reactions: gsnad2000
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back