first build. still don't have everything planed out.

[Jordan_Frerichs]

almost time to start my first bass build, for my shop class. just have to finish a crappy coat hook first.

body:
going to build it of black walnut, with a figured walnut bookmatch on top. i. would a strip of purple heart at the center make it look wierd?
k, i know the shape. fender precision upper horn, ibanez atk lower horn, ibanez atk arm contour, fender jazz leg contour. it will possibly be a 5 string bass (unsure right now). will the whole body need to be larger, or just the neck pocket?

neck:
neck will be bought pre made, don't know exactly what kind i want. will be 34" scale, unless i go with a 5, and the 34" comprimises the low b. maple fretboard

string number:
thinking about making it a five string, because i am getting more into ska music, and a good deal of ska bassists use 5 string basses. on the other hand, people have been complaining about Sh**y lowb strings, and if major companies have trouble with 5 string construction, and this is my first build why should mine be any better? is this right? is it all in the neck, if i get a good five string neck, will i not have to worry about the string tension, as long as the bridge is placed right? should i just do a 4, and 5 the 5 for another day? the 4 string would be easier to get parts and things like that.

pickups/electronics:
unsure of pickup type, and other electronics. was told i would want a pre amp or eq or something in there if i wanted it to be good for slap. don't know exactly what those are, or look like. i want the bass back routered. should i skip that and go for top routered? are there any pickup types that have more difficult/simpler electronics than others? don't want a p. maybe a special p. i am thinking either jazz, or mm. would it be too much of a stretch to add a j pup, or moved back p pup with a mm?

[rh15951]

How come all the exotic woods? For a first-time project you're probably best using something cheap like ash/maple/basswood.

Also you might have trouble finding a pre-made neck that isn't 34" scale.

if i get a good five string neck, will i not have to worry about the string tension, as long as the bridge is placed right?
This doesn't make sense. The bridge has to be placed so that the adjusted saddles are roughly the scale length away from the nut.

[Jordan_Frerichs]

How come all the exotic woods? For a first-time project you're probably best using something cheap like ash/maple/basswood.

Also you might have trouble finding a pre-made neck that isn't 34" scale.


This doesn't make sense. The bridge has to be placed so that the adjusted saddles are roughly the scale length away from the nut.

my school has a lot of walnut, and sell it cheap to students for school projects. i am using it because of good cost and avalibility. as far as the low b goes, what would i need to do to get a decent low b? don't want to extend the scale, but that isn't out of the question
have not played a 5 with goods strings, and a 4 string would be easier to find parts/resources. should i stick with what i am familiar with, and wait on a 5 five build until i am more experienced with 5 string basses and luthiering?

[rh15951]

Fair enough.
It'll be easier and cheaper to find a 4 string neck and parts.
34" is fine for a low B.

[Jordan_Frerichs]

Fair enough.
It'll be easier and cheaper to find a 4 string neck and parts.
34" is fine for a low B.

so do u think it would be best to go with the 4 build?

[Chilifanthatsme]

Personally, i'd go with a Birdseye maple fretboard ;)

If you've never played a bass with a preamp, or unsure about having one in your guitar, then maybe you should go and try some basses with them in to see how they feel/sound to you.

[rh15951]

so do u think it would be best to go with the 4 build?

Yes.

[HELLonWHEELS]

you could always make a 4 string and tune it B-E-A-D.

[Jordan_Frerichs]

you could always make a 4 string and tune it B-E-A-D.

yea, slkipknot tuning. lol

[Jordan_Frerichs]

K, still a few this and that to take care of, but i think i know what i want

Body:
blackwalnut with figured black walnut top bookmatched at center
shape is a fender/Ibanez hybrid with a few modifications
back routed

neck:
maple neck
birdseye maple fretboard with cocobolo block inlays
32 to 33 inch scale. fingers want just a little less length
4-string
as thin a fretboard as i can get (slightly less than a jazz)
(anyone have an estimate of how much warmoth would charge?)

strings:
4

pickups/electronics:
mm pickup in the sweet spot, neck jazz pickup in usual fender position
volume and tone knob pair for the mm
volume and tone knob pair for jazz
(too many knobs? what would you suggest?)
series/paralel curcuit switch
(how easy is this done?)
some sort of pre amp
(how does it look, how do i put it in, how do i use it)
badass II bridge


opinions? tips? still thinking about substitute inlays for cocobolo just to see my options. would purple heart look to wierd??

[Jordan_Frerichs]

rethought the cocobolo inlays. cocobolo has a warm tone, while maple is bright. cocbolo is difficult to work with, and block inlys are probably more difficult than regular laminates in the first place, plus the cocobolo dust. blood wood has simalar color to the coco, simalar tone to the maple. that seems to be my best bet

[HELLonWHEELS]

for the neck i think you might have a hard time finding a a 32" or 33" neck with out paying a huge permium. Those cocobolo inlays aren't going to happen unless you make them yourself.


as far as the electronics I prefer

master volume
Pick up Blend
master Tone

you could put in a 3 band EQ(the pre amp) and throw in an active/passive switch. If you put the EQ in you don't need a tone knob. That would leave you with 5 knobs.

[Jordan_Frerichs]

for the neck i think you might have a hard time finding a a 32" or 33" neck with out paying a huge permium. Those cocobolo inlays aren't going to happen unless you make them yourself.


as far as the electronics I prefer

master volume
Pick up Blend
master Tone

you could put in a 3 band EQ(the pre amp) and throw in an active/passive switch. If you put the EQ in you don't need a tone knob. That would leave you with 5 knobs.
right. might have to settle with the 34". no big deal. how hard would the active passive controls and Eq be? i could have all of them? staring look a litlle like a G&L or Jaguar. cool. i am very unexperienced with electronics.

[rh15951]

To go active you'd need to buy (or make) an active preamp. Passive is easy.

[Jordan_Frerichs]

To go active you'd need to buy (or make) an active preamp. Passive is easy.

k. lets go passive pre amp with a series paralell switch. so most large name company luthiers can't help with the neck. is a medium (32-33") scale neck harder to make, or just not as common? like if i were to find a local good hobbyist luthier, have a better chance for him to make the med. scale hard maple neck, with birdseye maple fretboard, and bloodwood block inlays?

[CCR90]

good luck with that. Its prolly gonna cost a bunch.

Build your own neck. Its easy. Get yourself some maple. You will prolly want to buy your fretboard premade. You need to buy a trussrod those are like 20 bucks. Radiusing a neck and **** is easy. Buy that melvin hiscock book how to build an electric gutiar or w/e. It will help you out.

[rh15951]

k. lets go passive pre amp with a series paralell switch. so most large name company luthiers can't help with the neck. is a medium (32-33") scale neck harder to make, or just not as common? like if i were to find a local good hobbyist luthier, have a better chance for him to make the med. scale hard maple neck, with birdseye maple fretboard, and bloodwood block inlays?

Passive doesn't have a preamp, it's just a tone knob.

Seriously, buy a standard 34" neck - it will be so much easier.

[Jordan_Frerichs]

good luck with that. Its prolly gonna cost a bunch.

Build your own neck. Its easy. Get yourself some maple. You will prolly want to buy your fretboard premade. You need to buy a trussrod those are like 20 bucks. Radiusing a neck and **** is easy. Buy that melvin hiscock book how to build an electric gutiar or w/e. It will help you out.

would a pre made fretboard have the frets, radious, and inlays i want? that would take a lot of the screw up chances out. how about shaping the maple. what is the safest way to do that? how would i do the headstock? i probably want fender style, but make the shape a bit more original. what is easyier for the truss, through headstock access or through body access? some of this stuff makes me nervous. what are somne things to remeber NOT TO DO? i don't want to have it be good, a F*** it up just before its done. also, been trying to track down a fair priced peice of nice figured black walnut with little luck. anyone know a source for that? think i will check out that book. thanx for the heads up

[CCR90]

first. go buy the book.

second. use a rasp to shape the neck. fat chance with premade neck with blood wood inlay. U'd have to do it urself. Everything else, prolly. IDK. Check stewmac. The access is up to you.

How do u do a headstock? Get it to the thickness you want and bandsaw the shape out. Then map out your tuners.

[CCR90]

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Books,_plans/Building_and_repair:_Guitar,_electric/Make_Your_Own_Electric_Guitar.html

this one is good too.
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Books,_plans/Building_and_repair:_Guitar,_electric/Build_Your_Own_Electric_Guitar.html

apparently stewmac doesnt do a 32" scale. If you can't mind a 32" scale nck, buy some cheapo bass off ebay with one and use the bass for parts.

[Jordan_Frerichs]

just bought Make Your Own Electric Guitar off ebay

[Jordan_Frerichs]

i will see if a local luthier can do a med. scale fretboard

[Jordan_Frerichs]

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Books,_plans/Building_and_repair:_Guitar,_electric/Make_Your_Own_Electric_Guitar.html

this one is good too.
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Books,_plans/Building_and_repair:_Guitar,_electric/Build_Your_Own_Electric_Guitar.html

apparently stewmac doesnt do a 32" scale. If you can't mind a 32" scale nck, buy some cheapo bass off ebay with one and use the bass for parts.

forgot to ask if that book had separate directions for bass, or the information is appliable to either instrument or what?

[Jordan_Frerichs]

apparently stewmac doesnt do a 32" scale. If you can't mind a 32" scale nck, buy some cheapo bass off ebay with one and use the bass for parts.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--IBAGAXB150 . $170 new on MF. does the neck have good quality and playability? how would i remove the fretboard without damaging and/or warping the neck?

[CCR90]

same **** applies. projectguitar.com will show you how to remove the fb. You can also try just finding a neck off ebay as well. Good quality and playability is to the person anyways. Some necks needs sanding and profiling to be suited for you anyways. Get that neck and chop the headstock off and make ur own.

[Jordan_Frerichs]

well are the chances good that GC will usually have a short to medium scale bass on hand? definaltely want to try them out before i use them. also with a shorter scale, the bridge must be moved , and i imagine that would effect the sound of the pups.
that ibanez is under $200 new. might just get one as a backup off ebay. strip the finish, make it up to look like a vintage Gibson Grabber.
will probably make the neck on the luthier bass 34" scale and make it a little thinner than a jazz. like a somewhere between a fender j and an ibanez, like the body. sry if i have ticked anyone off by by going back and forth on the neck. just want an ideal bass for me.
ccr thank for the tips. good to know someone in about the same position is re-ashering me. is your strat job finished by the way? can't wait till that book arives. don't know if i posted it here or not, and too lazy/tired to check, but i was contacted by a local hobbyist bass luthier. going to meet with him wed. will probably make things a lot clearer.

[Jordan_Frerichs]

neck will be 34" scale. body is black walnut. no laminate top. stuff like that. too tired to give a full heads up. today i took the sides, and glued them and clamped them. used titebond original and 6-8 clamps. it gets the weekend to dry. on monday and tuesday i make it into a more useable body blank.

[HELLonWHEELS]

I have read almost all of those how to build a guitar/bass books. There is one cool where they show you how a Wal is made, but other than that they aren't too great. Go the TalkBass Luitier section. You can learn so much

[Jordan_Frerichs]

I have read almost all of those how to build a guitar/bass books. There is one cool where they show you how a Wal is made, but other than that they aren't too great. Go the TalkBass Luitier section. You can learn so much

lol. i am there at least ten times a day. right now i am trying to find out a little about audere pre amp. probably going to put on in the bass with a mm pup, and a neck j position nordstand fatstack or big single.. can the audere go in there with a series/parallel switch without problems, or is it one or the other?

[Jordan_Frerichs]

got a template, that i am currently roughing out. when i band saw the body, should i follow the drawn lines as close as i can, or give it some space? thinking about using john entwistle style spirit inlays made from african padouk over a low grade flamed hard maple fretboard.

[CCR90]

leave a little bit for sanding. Not a whole bunch.

[Jordan_Frerichs]

decided to make the pup combo mm/p. mm in sweet, p moved slightly back. need that punch. there is a good amount of space left for work because of my crappy band saw skillz. we have a circular micro-plane drill bit i will use to shave a little more, before i use the drum sanders

[Jordan_Frerichs]

ok, updates. the body if fully rough cut, and needs smoothed, i have the woods for the neck blank and will glue them tommorow. i just got ahold of some purple heart for the neck and padouk for the fb inlays. pics in the other thread

[muthafunkabass]

Doing good, Jordan. Keep it up. :thumb:

[Jordan_Frerichs]

thanx. see the pics? my parents said that "since its for school" they will cover half the cost of everything. i am going to go all out on the electronics! BAII bridge, seymour duncan mm, seymour duncan quarter poun p's, an audere. i'm siked. lol. better do it good, or it will look like $500 worth of parts in a giant hunk of carved turd. lol

[Jordan_Frerichs]

glue maple for the neck today. going to square up the laminate, cut it and thrown in some purple heart

[Chilifanthatsme]

Any progress photos?

And if you're going all out, why not an even better make of pickups, like Bartolinis or whatever they are or something else?

[muthafunkabass]

Bartolinis are on the same level of Seymour-Duncans.

If you want to get boutique pickups to match that boutique preamp, I'd suggest Nordstrand, Delano, Lindy Fralin, Aero, Alembic, Bill Lawrence, Q-tuner, Hammon Darkstars, or Benedetti.


/IMO

[Jordan_Frerichs]

i like to see the poles, especialy on mm pups. the p pups are duncan 1/4 pounders, because i want this bass to be as punchy as possible. might go nordstrand on the mm. is the nordstrand punchier than the duncan smb 4a ceramic core?

[Jordan_Frerichs]

well a few minor updates. i scored a new badass II bridge off of ebay. it was taken off a fender highway one bass, so it has been slotted in the fender factories with multiple slots. i was doing some reshaping, and accedentaly made the top horn more like a rickenbaker. will have to thin the bottom horn to match. no big deal. decided to do you controls with a master volume, bass, treble, and pup blend knobs, with an aguliar pre, with active electronics. still thinking on the finish, but so far the best option seems to be polymerized tung oil sealer, followed by polymerized tung oil. neck laminate is purple heart and maple. going to start fb this week. 20 fret flamed maple, with padouk spirit inlays

[Jordan_Frerichs]

pics update http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=412555