Winter Build Off 2024 - Scalawag 5: Best Bass to Replace the Best Bass for Me

#141
I'm almost finished... still have a handful of things to do. I got strings on and set it up, and everything lined up and worked out. The 'nut' I cut is so wrong, I had to laugh. The exterior strings are too wide for the nut and the spacing on them is wonky - no way to save it, so I'll have to cut a new one. I still need to finalize the control cavity cover and add a magnet to the underside.

The most annoying thing is that the blend control is silent in the middle position. I ran into this once before and just swapped the leads from the 'pickup' and that worked. It did not in this case, now the whole bass is silent. I ended up that way at 1030 last night, so I'll have to dig into it again this evening. Hopefully I can sort it asap and then get some final pics. :thumbsup:

So close

So close

almost there
 
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#142
Beej said:
I'm almost finished... still have a handful of things to do. I got strings on and set it up, and everything lined up and worked out. The 'nut' I cut is so wrong, I had to laugh. The exterior strings are too wide for the nut and the spacing on them is wonky - no way to save it, so I'll have to cut a new one. I still need to finalize the control cavity cover and add a magnet to the underside.

The most annoying thing is that the blend control is silent in the middle position. I ran into this once before and just swapped the leads from the 'pickup' and that worked. It did not in this case, now the whole bass is silent. I ended up that way at 1030 last night, so I'll have to dig into it again this evening. Hopefully I can sort it asap and then get some final pics. :thumbsup:

So close

So close

almost there
Click to expand...

That looks so good! Can't wait to see some more pics. :drool:

Regarding the blend pot, if you don't solve it on your own and can post an annotated pic we can probably figure it out. Normally silence in the middle means you have the A and B tabs of the pots reversed. Nothing means you probably have something grounded that shouldn't be.
 
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#143
Beej said:
I'm almost finished... still have a handful of things to do. I got strings on and set it up, and everything lined up and worked out. The 'nut' I cut is so wrong, I had to laugh. The exterior strings are too wide for the nut and the spacing on them is wonky - no way to save it, so I'll have to cut a new one. I still need to finalize the control cavity cover and add a magnet to the underside.

The most annoying thing is that the blend control is silent in the middle position. I ran into this once before and just swapped the leads from the 'pickup' and that worked. It did not in this case, now the whole bass is silent. I ended up that way at 1030 last night, so I'll have to dig into it again this evening. Hopefully I can sort it asap and then get some final pics. :thumbsup:

So close

So close

almost there
Click to expand...
I love the aesthetic. Body shape is spot on.
What kind of pickup spacing are you using? The neck pickup looks pretty close to the neck, but if it's 24 fret that would explain it.
 
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#144
Jeff Siddall said:
That looks so good! Can't wait to see some more pics. :drool:

Regarding the blend pot, if you don't solve it on your own and can post an annotated pic we can probably figure it out. Normally silence in the middle means you have the A and B tabs of the pots reversed. Nothing means you probably have something grounded that shouldn't be.
Click to expand...
Thanks Jeff, really appreciate it, and all of your willingness to help out those less intellectually capable. I'll post up my rats nest this evening. :D

NKBassman said:
I love the aesthetic. Body shape is spot on.
What kind of pickup spacing are you using? The neck pickup looks pretty close to the neck, but if it's 24 fret that would explain it.
Click to expand...
Thank you sir - this design was heavily influenced by Fodera and @Lonnybass 's instruments. Both of them have done reasonably good jobs at design I think. :woot:

I'll have to measure again, but I'm pretty sure they are very close to 70's jazz positioned relative to the 33" scale - and the 24 fret neck with extra deep heel probably also contributes to them looking different. :thumbsup:
 
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#145
Beej said:
Thank you sir - this design was heavily influenced by Fodera and @Lonnybass 's instruments. Both of them have done reasonably good jobs at design I think. :woot:

I'll have to measure again, but I'm pretty sure they are very close to 70's jazz positioned relative to the 33" scale - and the 24 fret neck with extra deep heel probably also contributes to them looking different. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Yeah I think I said this earlier, but it reminds me of a dual-cut Fodera Matt Garrison or something like that.
The 24 fret and deep heel would definitely explain what I see for pickup locations. Thanks
 
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#147
Hi guys! I'm 2,000 miles from home on another business trip right now, wishing I was making sawdust like you...@beej, I'm so happy to hear how my design influences supported your work on this build. It looks fantastic!!!

Being 6'5", and as the ergonomics nerd that I am, I'm VERY particular about how an instrument balances and "fits." Hence, my designs which are rooted in the Fodera/FBass/MTD style, but elongated. I can tell just by looking at a bass how it's going to balance. And, I can tell by looking at your bass that it appears to be an ergonomic dream! Plus that pure white top, it's just the epitome of subtle taste and class. Way to go my friend.
 
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#148
It works! :woot:

doc-brown-it-works-back-to-the-future-delorian-emmet-brown-gif-15562483.gif
 
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#151
Beej said:
And as a follow up... oh... mah... gawd... the toan. I think @ctmullins suggested I'd like these pickups, but paired with the two JTEX distillers, hoo boy, its something else. After I got it working, I kept playing it for 20 minutes straight while I toyed with settings. :drool:
Click to expand...
I have Nordy Jazz Blades in my Geddy Lee and I love them! I can only imagine the Big Blades are moar better yet!
 
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#154
Beej said:
The notes from this bass are like twelve foot long rods of concrete being pushed out of my bass amp. It speaks with authority.

It's gonna take me some time to make it fit the mix the way I'm used to. :D
Click to expand...

Well, I decided to try a little AI for my response... it sorta worked, but of course fell on its face with spelling. :D

upload_2024-3-14_14-19-54.png
 
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#156
Okay, I'm calling this bass done, and this is my submission post for the build off. :thumbsup:

Specs:
Neck: Three piece hard maple, tapered centre stringer, flamed side stringers, aluminum reinforcement bars, 7 degree tiltback headstock with maple veneer caps front and rear.
Truss Rod: Double acting double rod, headstock access
Fretboard: Obsidian Ebony engineered hardwood
Fingerboard Radius: 15"
Scale Length: 33"
Frets: 25 nickel silver (zero fret design)
String Spacer (Nut): fretboard material, 45mm zero fret neck width
Tuners: Black Gotoh GB350
Strings: D'Addario
Neck/Body Join: bolt on with under-board inserts and furniture bolts
Body: Radiused Poplar back/core with figured hard maple top
Pickups: Nordstrand Big Blades
Electronics: 2x J-Tex Distillers and mute switch
Controls: Volume, Blend, Neck Filter, Bridge Filter, Neck Q switch, Bridge Q switch, mute switch
Knobs: Black Plastic Audio in 2 sizes
Bridge: Black All Parts, 16.5mm spacing, body-bedded aluminum mounting block
Finish: Circa 1850 Wood bleach with Saman waterbased polyurethane, handrubbed to matte
Weight: 6.82 lbs

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