Andyjr1515 Posted November 28, 2016 Report Share Posted November 28, 2016 Hi I've mentioned this a couple of times in one of my recent summary threads but it probably warrants a proper build thread as it develops. I was contacted by someone who has seen and played the Camphor and Alder Single-cut bass I built for Kert and has clearly got me in the 'mad as a brush and will try anything' category of builder. What he wants is a bass very much in the style of the custom job that Jim Mouradian built for the 'Yes' bassist Chris Squire back in the 70's: Headstock will be different and the lower bout will be a touch slimmer but this sort of thing, in a cream solid colour, is what the guy (Nic) has asked me to have a go at. For no better reason than it worked OK last time, I opted to have a similar construction to the EB-3ish SG bass I've just finished, albeit with some different woods. Agreed spec is: 34" scale Mahogany weight-relieved body Maple neck with rosewood centre splice Rosewood fretboard Passive but with a couple of massive humbucker pickups Semi-concealed Smoothhound wireless TX / cable alternative I'll bring the progress thread up to date over the next couple of days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted November 28, 2016 Report Share Posted November 28, 2016 Madness. I like. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted November 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2016 This is the slightly tweaked shape. Just 5mm or so off the rear upper and lower bouts: I thicknessed some mahogany down to c. 20mm and started cutting out the shape for the top: It's going to be a solid colour so no problem with the colour mismatch. Then got some nice plain maple, using my central rosewood laminating splice offset to form the truss-rod channel: Then squared and thinned the neck down to finish maximum width, notched and fine-tuned the slot for the top to sit into and band-saw cut the side shape: ...and finally cut the bottom mahogany wings, using the top as a drawing template: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted November 30, 2016 Report Share Posted November 30, 2016 This is going to be fun Andy! I presume Mrs. Andy is not on hand for those table shots? SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted November 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2016 1 hour ago, ScottR said: This is going to be fun Andy! I presume Mrs. Andy is not on hand for those table shots? SR Mrs. Andy was at the shops..... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Foreigner Posted November 30, 2016 Report Share Posted November 30, 2016 This looks fun. Tangentially related: I once shot a piece with the Mouradians about guitar care. Lovely blokes. And Pat Badger from Extreme was hanging around in the shope while we were setting up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted November 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2016 20 hours ago, Johnny Foreigner said: This looks fun. Tangentially related: I once shot a piece with the Mouradians about guitar care. Lovely blokes. And Pat Badger from Extreme was hanging around in the shope while we were setting up. Brilliant. They have a great reputation for very sound, experience-based, knowledge and a passion for getting it right...even way over here in the UK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted December 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2016 Bit more progress today. Got the rear wings on (and Mrs Andy is out again, Scott ): And agreed with Nic, the future owner, that we'll use my logo swifts on the 12th fret. These are the paper templates in place: ...and while the glue for the rear panels was curing, I jeweller's saw'd out the swifts: Now...which needle file shall I use to finish them off? With the top still off, I will rout the cable runs, weight relieving chambers, etc and then glue the top on before final shaping. Even with the top just laid on, it's beginning to look like a bass, though : 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted December 1, 2016 Report Share Posted December 1, 2016 Your wood choices go together so nicely it's going to be sad to see the top painted. The colors bring to mind @psikoT's lovely single cut. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted December 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2016 20 minutes ago, ScottR said: Your wood choices go together so nicely it's going to be sad to see the top painted. The colors bring to mind @psikoT's lovely single cut. SR I'm pretty sure even the neck is going to be solid colour. Shame in someways but he's very excited by it anyway so no probs 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted December 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 Reasonable amount of progress on this. Got the back wings glued and lightening chambers, etc routed: Then the top glued on and the edges rounded. The fretboard isn't glued yet: For the headstock, I attached a couple of wings cut from the neck excess and then went for a cutout to try to give a passing nod to aspects of the body shape: Here is what it is starting to look like: The mahogany is going to be painted solid cream. The neck, including body section, left natural and the headstock will be stained a little darker with a central cream stripe and a few swifts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Natural Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 I like how the edges are "roundabout" . Also- I noticed the bridge is "close to the edge". Guess I shouldnt become a comedian- (I had a couple more but they were worse than the first two and those were pretty lame)- seriously though- looking good- and like how you styled the headstock- it flows better than the original headstock. is the cream color you mention like the color of his ric? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 Much prefer your headstock to the original one. The one on the original Mouradian looks like a bit of an afterthought. 5 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said: You may want to consider adding a bit of reinforcement to that little flap of timber at the edge of the wireless cavity, or even taking it off completely I can see an ill-positioned lead or guitar stand accidentally snapping that off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 4 minutes ago, Mr Natural said: I like how the edges are "roundabout" . Also- I noticed the bridge is "close to the edge". Guess I shouldnt become a comedian- (I had a couple more but they were worse than the first two and those were pretty lame)- seriously though- looking good- and like how you styled the headstock- it flows better than the original headstock. is the cream color you mention like the color of his ric? I think @Andyjr1515 will be reluctant to let this go when he's finished building it. That would make him an Owner of a Lonely Heart. And You And I should discuss sending this one down here to the South Side of The Sky instead? Perhaps you could give me a discount of Five Percent For Nothing, then we'll hit the pub so that can be Going For The One pint or two? ...I'm done... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Natural Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 5 minutes ago, curtisa said: I think @Andyjr1515 will be reluctant to let this go when he's finished building it. That would make him an Owner of a Lonely Heart. And You And I should discuss sending this one down here to the South Side of The Sky instead? Perhaps you could give me a discount of Five Percent For Nothing, then we'll hit the pub so that can be Going For The One pint or two? ...I'm done... lol- you went further than I did bro. and better than I did. and I totally forgot about 5%! well done! (I may have to pull out my RECORDS) ha. In danger of hijacking poor Andy's thread- this could get hilarious- or ridiculous- or both. but at least he has two pats on the back for the headstock design. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted December 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2016 Hijack away, folks . And Yes (pun utterly intended) - the cream will try to emulate the colour of the owner's 'one that got away' Ric. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted December 11, 2016 Report Share Posted December 11, 2016 Careful what you wish for... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Natural Posted December 11, 2016 Report Share Posted December 11, 2016 (edited) 17 hours ago, curtisa said: Careful what you wish for... Yes Andy- careful- as "It can happen". (where is the drum rim shot emoji when you need it) Maybe you should have said to "leave it" alone- but now- "onward" folks. Question for you Andy-on the cream color (and I ask this cause I have tried and failed over the years)- when I think of Squires Ric the original is more of a late 60s/70s fender color (and I am careful here to say vintage cream or vintage white cause alot of the stuff they put out these days is no where near the original colors- and I get the whole "yellowing of lacquer" over time thing- )do you have a product in mind- or technique that you are willing to share(if not- cool). IMO-two of the hardest colors to reproduce in their true original form are that cream color- and the 70s fender and gibson "midnight wine" "wine red"colors. (and the reproductions are no where close to the originals) a good example -hendrix's strat he used at woodstock- that is the color I have in mind when I think of Squire's original Rickenbacker. I have seen some of the Squire signature models from Rickenbacker that I would say were spot on, and some that were more yellowish than the original. and its tough to get a good photo of that bass from that period that isnt affected by stage lighting. Edited December 11, 2016 by Mr Natural Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted December 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2016 4 hours ago, Mr Natural said: Yes Andy- careful- as "It can happen". (where is the drum rim shot emoji when you need it) Maybe you should have said to "leave it" alone- but now- "onward" folks. Question for you Andy-on the cream color (and I ask this cause I have tried and failed over the years)- when I think of Squires Ric the original is more of a late 60s/70s fender color (and I am careful here to say vintage cream or vintage white cause alot of the stuff they put out these days is no where near the original colors- and I get the whole "yellowing of lacquer" over time thing- )do you have a product in mind- or technique that you are willing to share(if not- cool). IMO-two of the hardest colors to reproduce in their true original form are that cream color- and the 70s fender and gibson "midnight wine" colors. (and the reproductions are no where close to the originals) a good example -hendrix's strat he used at woodstock- that is the color I have in mind when I think of Squire's original Rickenbacker. I have seen some of the Squire signature models from Rickenbacker that I would say were spot on, and some that were more yellowish than the original. and its tough to get a good photo of that bass from that period that isnt affected by stage lighting. I haven't got my head around it yet. I have a photo of the Ric that the prospective owner used to play and what he wants to emulate. For the sake of a couple of spray cans, I'll see how nitro from a UK supplier Manchester Guitar Tech fares...you start with an Olympic-ish White and then overspray with a yellowish tinted clear. I'll also look at car colours - there are some fiat and European ford colours that are in the right spectrum, again maybe with a tinted overspray. I'm starting to look at options while I am still a way off the finishing stage.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted December 12, 2016 Report Share Posted December 12, 2016 12 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said: For the sake of a couple of spray cans, I'll see how nitro from a UK supplier Manchester Guitar Tech fares... I'll be interested how you find their coloured nitro. I'm using their clear nitro when I finally get around to putting a finish on. Their metallics look interesting too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted December 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2016 13 hours ago, Norris said: I'll be interested how you find their coloured nitro. I'm using their clear nitro when I finally get around to putting a finish on. Their metallics look interesting too Hi, Norris I used their stuff for a butterscotch tele last year...I'll post a shot when I get onto the desktop. It worked well but was frighteningly expensive compared to my normal methods... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted December 13, 2016 Report Share Posted December 13, 2016 (edited) 10 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said: Hi, Norris I used their stuff for a butterscotch tele last year...I'll post a shot when I get onto the desktop. It worked well but was frighteningly expensive compared to my normal methods... Your "normal" methods involve a £3 bottle of ink - yes it IS relatively expensive Btw, I don't think I've mentioned what a great job you are doing on this bass yet Edited December 13, 2016 by Norris 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted December 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2016 5 minutes ago, Norris said: Your "normal" methods involve a £3 bottle of ink - yes it IS relatively expensive Btw, I don't think I've mentioned what a great job you are doing on this bass yet Well, to be fair, it's a £3 bottle of ink, a £1 micro-fibre cloth AND £2 worth of varnish and thinners .... I don't skimp, I'll have you know I suppose my surprise was that, with carriage (it is treated as carriage of hazardous materials due to new transport regs and put onto 'specialist' couriers) it came to £100 just for one £200 build... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted December 13, 2016 Report Share Posted December 13, 2016 3 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said: Well, to be fair, it's a £3 bottle of ink, a £1 micro-fibre cloth AND £2 worth of varnish and thinners .... I don't skimp, I'll have you know I suppose my surprise was that, with carriage (it is treated as carriage of hazardous materials due to new transport regs and put onto 'specialist' couriers) it came to £100 just for one £200 build... Ouch! For that much it's probably worth driving up to Manchester to collect it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted December 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2016 Got the fretboard glued while the neck was still squared off. @Prostheta would be proud of me - full use of cauls top and bottom for the clamping!: Then today my favourite bit - the neck carve. I use mainly a cabinet scraper but take the corners off with a spokeshave and rough it out with a micro-plane bade (and gloves ) I'd previously made some plasticard templates from profiles taken from the new owner's favourite bass: Then carved the volute using pretty much every hand tool I have in my workshop plus a few borrowed from neighbours, local building sites and unsuspecting members of the public... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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