Cyclone Posted January 16, 2007 Report Share Posted January 16, 2007 I have recently started a new build. Its a 34" Vampyre Bass. It has a 5 piece flame maple and purlpe heart neck and the sides are walnut with maple. I am installing a double expanding trussrod from warmoth and two steel stiffeners. It will have a graphite nut and 4 mono bridges. For the pickups I will be using an EMG "PJ" set up. Below is a pic of my progress to date. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goat Posted January 16, 2007 Report Share Posted January 16, 2007 That`s a great looking piece of wood.That headstock looks sharp. Do those break off if it falls? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclone Posted January 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2007 I havent had any problems yet, however this is the first time that I have used this shape for a bass. I still have some sanding to do on it so the points will shorten a little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goat Posted January 16, 2007 Report Share Posted January 16, 2007 I havent had any problems yet, however this is the first time that I have used this shape for a bass. I still have some sanding to do on it so the points will shorten a little.I was just joking about the points.They look great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PTU 7's. Posted January 16, 2007 Report Share Posted January 16, 2007 Interesting shape, dude! The selection of woods it's amazing, and the head looks nice, it's not too sharp. But you have to put hose horns leveled. Like a normal RG, but with that shape of horns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted January 16, 2007 Report Share Posted January 16, 2007 Are you shaping the edges like the "original"? Nice bit of walnut! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord-of-the-strings Posted January 16, 2007 Report Share Posted January 16, 2007 One word could make that headstock look fantastic... BEVELS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclone Posted January 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 PTU 7's--I think that I am going to keep the horns on the head offset, its kind of my shape. It is obviously PRS inspired but it is the shape that I have put on all of my projects so far. I do however think that I may bevel or round off the perimeter. Prostheta--I think that I am going to shape/carve it like the original, however I haven't started carving yet so I may still change my mind. I don't know if you remember me or not but you sent me the auto cad layout of the shape. Thanks again for that it is very appreciated. Thanks for all of the complements on the walnut. It started off as a 6'x11"x2" board that I bought at a local lumber supplier for $89.00 US. The good thing about the place that I bought it from is that they don't grade their lumber, the bad thing is that you have to sort through stacks of it to find what you are looking for. I think that it was worth it. I hope to post some more progress pics soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted January 18, 2007 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 I do indeed remember that Cyclone :-D I would say that given the experience with my Vampyre build (well, I actually have two) if you don't carve the perimeter then the recesses look too small. I opened mine out on the five-string to balance it all out for a straight contouring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim_ado Posted January 18, 2007 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 looking good love the walnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclone Posted January 25, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2007 Well its update time. I have just received the mono bridges that I ordered new on ebay and a brand new set of EMG PJ pickups also from ebay. I have layed out my fret board and I am going to start cutting slots tomorrow. I was thinking about binding the fret board in some purple heart but I haven't made up my mind on that yet. I think I may play around with that tomorrow as well. I will probably glue in the steel truss rod stiffeners tomorrow as well. Attached below is a pic of the roughed out fret board and the bridges in place. Please feel free to comment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted January 25, 2007 Report Share Posted January 25, 2007 I would recommend printing out the template I sent you onto paper, and creating an "inner template" for the curves at the sides and running a roundover bit around the edges, then using the template to run a round end bit on the inside of those raised outer curves. Much better than doing it by hand like I did on my mahogany prototype :-D Those mono bridge will look hellaciously cool. Any news on inlay choice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travismoore Posted January 25, 2007 Report Share Posted January 25, 2007 Wow looks awsome =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim_ado Posted January 26, 2007 Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 hey i dont know if it existist but if u could do the inlay out of like some black stuff that would look dam sick especial it it was like a long inlay over the neck like bootsy collins bass minus the stars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclone Posted February 8, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2007 Well its time for an update. I have located the pickups and routed out the cavities. For an added accent I am lining the pickup cavities in ebony. Attached below is a picture. I have only had time to do one of the radii where the screws go. I hope to have the rest done by the end of the week. Please feel free to comment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travismoore Posted February 8, 2007 Report Share Posted February 8, 2007 Looking awsome! I like the sound of the ebony lining =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goat Posted February 8, 2007 Report Share Posted February 8, 2007 Cyclone, The bass looks awesome. Do you have a slight neck angle in there?... if you don`t ,remember Fender runs a straight neck but their fretboards are elevated a little.Without a slight angle you may have some action issues to deal with if your neck is flush to the body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclone Posted February 8, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2007 Goat--no there is no neck angle and this was purposly done because I am going to recess the bridges slightly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclone Posted March 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2007 Well its time for an update. I have located and drilled the controls (two volume and one tone). I routed out the control cavity and made a cavity cover and lastly started shaping the back. I still have a little more shaping to do to the back of the body and then I can finish working on the back of the neck. I have included some pics below please feel free to comment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travismoore Posted March 1, 2007 Report Share Posted March 1, 2007 Looking SICk! Nice one =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCH Posted March 1, 2007 Report Share Posted March 1, 2007 Looking good! Nothing like grabbing the bull by the horns! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclone Posted April 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 Its update time. I have radius the finger board, slotted it and glued it to the neck to include some twelfth fret inlay. Pics are below. Next I will fit the nut, drill the tuner locations and dry fit everything to make sure it all works and fits prior to fretting and finishing the carve on the top. Please feel free to comment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted April 1, 2007 Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 Looking good! Can't wait to see how the carving turns out - it's pretty much essential for this body shape else it can look a bit "heavy in the horns" and bulky. The carves give it a different feel for sure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclone Posted June 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Its update time. I have finished the carving and the rough sanding. I am in the process of sanding to 220 grit before stain the whol thing a very light shade of brown and sand back to bring out all of the figure. I will then be spraying the first sealer coat. However, I still have some final shaping and sanding to do on the head stock. When I am finished with it I will post more pics. Below is a pic of the shaped body. Please feel free to comment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Wow! The fingerboard curve and the grain of the top match up very well! Gives it a beautiful look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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