Simo Posted November 29, 2006 Report Share Posted November 29, 2006 (edited) As my Black Limba guitar is getting close to being finished I've made a start on my next project, a 6 string bass. I've wanted to build a bass for a while now, actually I'm planning on building JUST basses for the foreseeable future I find them more interesting to design and build than guitars, in fact I'm already planning the next one 35" scale, 24 frets 16.5mm string spacing 1 piece African Mahogany body Black Walnut, Purpleheart, Limba neck (with carbon fibre rods) Ziricote fretboard Hipshot Ultralite tuners Bartolini M56CBC pickups Bartolini 2 band pre-amp Graph Tech nut Here's how it's looking so far... The body cut and routed to shape (the shape has been tweaked quite a bit since these were taken) http://usera.imagecave.com/Simnett/jonmk031.jpg Another shot of the body http://usera.imagecave.com/Simnett/bass_6string2.jpg Control cavity routed http://usera.imagecave.com/Simnett/bass_rearrouted.jpg The neck blank http://usera.imagecave.com/Simnett/neckbla95.JPG The cat checking my work on the scarf joint http://usera.imagecave.com/Simnett/basscar2.JPG Truss rod and carbon fibre rods channels routed http://usera.imagecave.com/Simnett/bass6neck.JPG And my favourite picture, the Ziricote fretboard courtesy of Larry @ Gallery Hardwoods... Edited December 3, 2006 by Simo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Posted November 29, 2006 Report Share Posted November 29, 2006 Clean work as always, very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted November 29, 2006 Report Share Posted November 29, 2006 Looking good! The cat looks like he doesnt approve though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travismoore Posted November 29, 2006 Report Share Posted November 29, 2006 Wow smooth work! That fretboard is HOT! Can your cat looks cool too =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
!!METAL MATT!! Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 SEXY SEXY FRETBORD !!METAL MATT!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnRossitter Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Looks great! If you don't make it as a builder, you may g=have a future in photography Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
De Trepagny Posted December 1, 2006 Report Share Posted December 1, 2006 clean work! hope to see more soon! Philippe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryovanni Posted December 1, 2006 Report Share Posted December 1, 2006 Nice. very clean. I just love the look of landscape figure Zircote, and that is one of the nicest I have seen. Peace,Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simo Posted December 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2006 Thanks guys I've been busy the last couple of days sorting out my workshop, but there will be some more updates very soon. I'm also waiting for some more Ziricote to arrive from the U.S. so I can cut a headstock veneer, I've got an idea about bookmatching a piece so there's a strip of pale sap wood in the centre for my logo....hmm, we shall see how it turns out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simo Posted December 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2006 I routed the pickups this afternoon, and I've also carved out a small arm rest... http://usera.imagecave.com/Simnett/b2.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travismoore Posted December 2, 2006 Report Share Posted December 2, 2006 Looking awsome! =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fookgub Posted December 3, 2006 Report Share Posted December 3, 2006 Looks great. What kind of bridge is that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simo Posted December 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2006 Looks great. What kind of bridge is that? Thanks The bridge is an un-branded one I brought from eBay, it might not be a Hipshot but it's well made for the price. I just realised I put 17.5mm spacing in the first post, it's actually 16.5mm, I'll go edit that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottyd Posted December 3, 2006 Report Share Posted December 3, 2006 Looks great. What kind of bridge is that? Thanks The bridge is an un-branded one I brought from eBay, it might not be a Hipshot but it's well made for the price. I just realised I put 17.5mm spacing in the first post, it's actually 16.5mm, I'll go edit that... Ive actually used one of those bridges before in a 5 string, very good value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xanthus Posted December 4, 2006 Report Share Posted December 4, 2006 FRETBOARD!!! I love that body too. A+, everything looks sharp and SUPER clean, keep it up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted December 4, 2006 Report Share Posted December 4, 2006 Simo - IIRC, that's a Wilkinson or something. The guy is selling loads of tuners and hardware and I bought a 4-string bridge off him but in a different style. Very nice gear for the price too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simo Posted December 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Ziricote headstock veneers are done The top veneer is bookmatched, it's a little paler that the fretboard and the back veneer but I'm hoping it will darken enough with the finish so it doesn't jump out too much, if not I'll stain it darker. For the back piece the Ziricote was cut and planed down to a very thin veneer (around 1mm) before glueing I pre-bent the wood using a plywood caul, one end of which was rounded over to roughly match the curve of the neck. With a little water and some clamping pressure on top of the caul the Ziricote bent very well. Altough if it was any thicker I'd probably use some heat to help things along. It went well for my first attempt anyway, I'll definitely be using veneers on both sides of my scarfed headstocks from now on http://usera.imagecave.com/Simnett/PIC_0076.JPG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travismoore Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 MMMMMM that is so awsome ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Hear hear Simo!! Any more of that lovely Ziricote going around? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simo Posted January 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2007 It's been a month since I've been able to do any work on this bass, finally I've had chance to do some work on the neck this weekend! The picture speaks for itself really... the fretboard was slotted, the nut slot and truss rod access hole have been routed, then the board was glued on and trimmed to shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Posted January 20, 2007 Report Share Posted January 20, 2007 Sexy! Great work man, this is definitely going to be a killer bass! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travismoore Posted January 20, 2007 Report Share Posted January 20, 2007 WOW that looks hot!! Can't wait to see it all together =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son of Magni Posted January 20, 2007 Report Share Posted January 20, 2007 Wow, that looks sweet. How did the back lam on the headstock come out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simo Posted January 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2007 Wow, that looks sweet. How did the back lam on the headstock come out? Thanks, the rear laminate came out really well... http://usera.imagecave.com/Simnett/PIC_0076.JPG I'll take some up to date pictures of the rear when I've done some shaping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simo Posted February 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 Just a quick update... the neck pocket was routed today and I've made a good start on shaping the neck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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