Maurits Posted August 7, 2006 Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 (edited) Well after wanting this for years I've finally started my first real build. Together with a friend of mine we're building a fretless 4-string neckthru bass each. Here's the specs: -maple/purpleheart/maple -zebra wings -coromandel fretboard (with maple lines) -chrome hardware -oil finish -2 J-bass pickups We've decided to build a prototype to get some practise down using cheap wood, as this is our first build and don't want to ruin nice wood. So anyway here are the all important pics. Plan http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...an/DSCF1226.jpg Fretboard (such lovely pieces of wood) http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne.../DSCF1301-1.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...el/DSCF1292.jpg Zebra http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...od/DSCF1237.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...od/DSCF1242.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...od/DSCF1245.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...od/DSCF1256.jpg Neck wood http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...od/DSCF1234.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...od/DSCF1232.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...od/DSCF1233.jpg Prototype http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...pe/DSCF1267.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...pe/DSCF1281.jpg Hope I didn't break any photoposting rules, and if so I'll change them. So what do you guys think? Edited August 7, 2006 by Maurits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doeringer Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 Cool, keep it up. I love zebrawood, I have a tele doublecut building now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indieinked Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 I have to say that wood for the fretboard is pretty spiffy I like it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurits Posted August 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2006 Yeah, we were really lucky with those pieces. From all the pics I've seen on the internet and the other pieces they had at the woodplace, these werethe nicest looking. But with the Zebra this is going to be one heavy bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielM Posted August 9, 2006 Report Share Posted August 9, 2006 hi guys, I'm the buddy who's also building a fretless. it should turn out to be pretty interesting. I have a couple more up to date pictures of the proto which I'll post the second I upload them to the photobucket, I just need to find that cable which connects my camera to my pc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurits Posted August 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2006 Well hello there Dan, welcome. Good to see you here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inisheer Posted August 9, 2006 Report Share Posted August 9, 2006 I've been thinking about making a fretless bass too, so I'll be checking out this project. That's some nice looking wood, should look pretty cool when it's done. Good luck to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielM Posted August 10, 2006 Report Share Posted August 10, 2006 here's the pics http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...pe/P1012378.jpg we did some neck shaping today, I'll take some pics later today. I'm quite proud of what we've accomplished today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielM Posted August 11, 2006 Report Share Posted August 11, 2006 sorry about the double post but here's more pics! http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...pe/P1012400.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...pe/P1012398.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...pe/P1012382.jpg peace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurits Posted August 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 Here's another update. -glued wings on -rounded edges off -shaped most of the neck -shaped the arm and body contours So here are some new pics. http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...pe/DSCF1342.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...pe/DSCF1347.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...pe/DSCF1344.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...pe/DSCF1346.jpg So what do guys think of our little prototype? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travismoore Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 Nice prototype im concidering doing that myself dont know if i have the extra time though =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 Your design reminds me of the Soloway Swan: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurits Posted August 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 We loosely based it on the Fodara Emporer 1, but the lower hor does sort of look alike. Nice top on the one.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
De Trepagny Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 (edited) We loosely based it on the Fodara Emporer 1, but the lower hor does sort of look alike. Nice top on the one.. Another emperor based guitar: Good design choice! It's simply a downscale jazzbass with a tricky lower horn. keep the good work! Philippe Edited August 17, 2006 by De Trepagny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurits Posted August 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 That looks really cool Philippe. Nice job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielM Posted August 21, 2006 Report Share Posted August 21, 2006 (edited) we finished shaping the proto and I took some pics which I will upload when my PC is alive again. hopefully some time this afternoon.... well avoiding a double post I'm editing. here are the pictures! http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...pe/P1012423.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...pe/P1012412.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...pe/P1012413.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...pe/P1012414.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...pe/P1012416.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...pe/P1012418.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...pe/P1012421.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...pe/P1012422.jpg there you have them! Edited August 30, 2006 by DanielM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurits Posted September 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2006 So this weekend we did some more work on these beasts. Here's the all important pics. Bass 1. http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...0I/DSCF1423.jpg Bass 2. http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...II/DSCF1437.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...II/DSCF1433.jpg Both. http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...es/DSCF1447.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n191/Ne...es/DSCF1445.jpg Should start cutting next weekend. These should be some really nice looking basses when finished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travismoore Posted September 3, 2006 Report Share Posted September 3, 2006 i see a nice peice of zebrano there god i love that wood! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RGGR Posted September 3, 2006 Report Share Posted September 3, 2006 I see bikes in the pictures......must be Holland talking. Question: Why the drilled holes in the Zebra? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurits Posted September 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2006 Yes, we do love our bicycles here, must be because the weather is always great for riding them everywhere. The holes seemed strange to me too, but a friend of Daniel's father recommended it. You drill the holes and then join them with a jigsaw. I believe the guy has been working with wood years before both of us were even born so if he says it's a good idea then I believe him as he seems to know what he's talking about. Never seen anyone else on this site do it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsnhavoc Posted September 3, 2006 Report Share Posted September 3, 2006 Those will be some beautiful basses. Are you guys going to finish the fretboards, or leave them unfinished? Cant wait to see more! -AJC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurits Posted September 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2006 Thanks for the kind words. We're leaving them unfinished since that wood is really hard, plus our most likely choice of strings is flatwound so there shouldn't be too much trouble with wear. The rest is going to have an oil finish. We should have some more progress by next weekend. I can't wait either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Mailloux Posted September 5, 2006 Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 Yes, we do love our bicycles here, must be because the weather is always great for riding them everywhere. Great weather? I wouldn't consider 11 months a year of clouds great weather I'd say the bike thing is because the land is super-flat so it's easy to ride anywhere and the country is too condensed to switch all those bikes for cars (nowhere to park) Ik heb 6 jaren in Den Haag gewoond. In case you issed it RGGR who posted about the bikes is also Dutch. Are you guys going to finish the prototype or just leave it this way and start on those two basses? So far the work is really nice and so is the design. Keep it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurits Posted September 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 (edited) We do have crappy weather here. Don't some say the Dutch summer is on a wednesday cause the weather is nice only once a year? And I didn't know RGGR is Dutch, well you learn something valuable every day. We do have these really weird, really big cars here we take everywhere, I believe some might call them trains and busses though. And we're not finishing the proto in the near future, we want to finish the real ones first. Great looking basses on your site btw Phil. Edited September 6, 2006 by Maurits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oz tradie Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 Question: Why the drilled holes in the Zebra? The holes seemed strange to me too, but a friend of Daniel's father recommended it. You drill the holes and then join them with a jigsaw. Drilling the holes at regular intervals helps keep the blade from skewing to far away from a 90 degree cut. (This is a must if using skinny bendable blades) Every hole you get to relieves the pressure on the blade and allows it to right itself. I haven't seen much zebrawood before and I lurve it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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