al heeley Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 A new project is brewing. I want to put together a fanned-fret 5-string, low E to high C, 34.5" scale for the low E up to 32.5" scale for the C. 46mm nut, some wood left over from previous builds include some nice sawn and planed maple for a bolt-on neck, and a mahogany-zebrano sandwich body. Here's first plan sketch - everything else is up for grabs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bygde Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 Looks really nice. Not a fan of the inlay though, but I guess this is just a "concept" sketch. Which pickups/preamp are you going to use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 why such a long scale length on the low e? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted February 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 I don't think 34.5" is such a long scale length for a bass, its a good compromise and only half an inch longer than standard Fender precision or jazz. My standard fretted B to G 5 string has a 35" scale. The rule of thumb for fanned frets seems to be that the scale length steps 3/4" per string in order to optimise the frequency resonse and tension benefits this type of construction gives. Regarding pickups and pre-amps, i have still to decide. Too much choice - any suggestions and recommedations gratefully received. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fookgub Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 Like Dingwalls any? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inisheer Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 You've been working a lot lately! I can't wait to see this one come along, since your other stuff looks so great. I really like the body design...it looks slightly familiar, where did you get the inspiration from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
black_labb Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 love the look of that. ive just started a 5 string as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted February 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 The body shape is basically a slightly tweaked Warmoth Gecko profile with a little more waist and the heel cut in, apparently very like a Digwall - although I drew this out before being directed to the Dingwall site and realising the similarity - honest! The plan started off with me drawing round the outline of my Gecko 5-string then making the waist a bit more pronounced. Glad you like it The fret markers are not keepers, it looks like a load of dominos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fookgub Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 I agree on the fret markers. They have to go. Otherwise, it's a really nice looking drawing. Are you going to extend the neck heel to the front pickup, and go for a heel-less bolt on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted February 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 Yes, that's a sound idea and something Wez also recommended, I'll try to minimise the heel as I'll have a good long area to bolt on to. The warmoth gecko uses a similar construction where the neck after the last fret continues another inch or so then gets planed off level to the body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassisgreat Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 (edited) I haven't had an opportunity to play on a fanned fret bass, but I must say the concept is intriguing and I am pretty curious about it. Too bad I don't know anywhere to go to try one out. This should be a cool build. I saw the last project you worked on and was very impressed! Now stop reading and start cutting!! Edited February 19, 2008 by Bassisgreat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 ahh, its a bass that clears things up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Ross Posted February 21, 2008 Report Share Posted February 21, 2008 Sweet Dingwall (Actually, I have an Afterburner II, and it's extremely comfortable) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted February 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2008 Started work on the fanned 5 body this morning. Here's the shape copied onto Simo's Sapele, I sandwiched a thin veneer of white wood into the join, which adds a nice centre-line mark and also helps to hide any of my bad jointing. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v609/al_heeley/body1.jpg Here's the basic body shape jigsawed out, sanded smooth and some countouring started. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted February 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2008 A little progress on the body today. Back edges rounded over, control cavity routed, sunken recess made in the tail cut for locking Neutrik jackplug. Since I seem to have got the Dingwall thing going here, I thought I'd make use of some of their really cool little design details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xanthus Posted February 24, 2008 Report Share Posted February 24, 2008 Dammit, how do you guys get so much work done so fast?! I need your methods! Looks good, and the color on that sapele is sharp! I see you decided on offset dots for the fretboard? That'll look cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RestorationAD Posted February 25, 2008 Report Share Posted February 25, 2008 Dammit, how do you guys get so much work done so fast?! I need your methods! +1 It takes me forever.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted February 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 Quick progress shot on the body - curves and contours added plus a couple of rub downs with tru-oil and a fine sanding sponge. The shape is now finished, awaiting neck pocket and pickup routing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted February 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 Progress started on the neck. Sorry, not a very exciting picture. Maple blocks glued together with a thin light wood veneer centre stripe to match the body. Here the truss rod channel has been routed, truss rod installed and the wood fillet inserted over the top and and planed flat. On previous builds I have really struggled to get a nice neat trim fillet after mucking about with planes and sanders. This time I used a rasp and surform and got it flush and smooth in about 30 seconds. Marvellous! Never neglect those little hand tools, these silly little jobs can be a real pain with the big power tools and a small surform stands far less chance of taking nasty chunks out of your neck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassisgreat Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 Hey Al, it looks like you've routed the truss rod channel all the way through the top of the headstock. Is the route that long by design? Could you explain the reasoning for this? Perhaps I'm missing something, but I thought the route should end shortly after the adjustment nut (just enough space for adjustment tool access). Thanks! And the bass is looking phenomenal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 Looks like it's going to be a one-piece angled headstock - the tilt (if there's enough drop in there) should end the recess halfway through the headstock? I gotta say, it looks a bit touch and go with that depth Al. Hope you've got that one under control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted February 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 You are on the ball, Prostheta - there's about a 10 degree angle on the headstock so once thats planed off the truss rod channel pokes out nicely so you can access for adjustment. I'll have a bit of a volute underneath to make up for the lack of wood and strengthen the area back up. If all else fails, I'll have an extra long trc screwed on to hide the channel! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xanthus Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 Looks like it's going to be a one-piece angled headstock - the tilt (if there's enough drop in there) should end the recess halfway through the headstock? I gotta say, it looks a bit touch and go with that depth Al. Hope you've got that one under control. Agreed, that makes me wary. That's how I did it on my neck for my current build, and is one of the reasons why I put a veneer on the headstock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted February 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 I just rechecked the dimensions. The channel rout is 12mm deep, this means it will run through just over half (maybe 9/16ths) the length of the headstock before the angle breaks into flat wood, if you get my meaning. If this looks bad, I may think about filling the channel with a piece of rosewood or wenge left over from trimming my last fingerboard down. Only then I would need to run it the entire length of the headstock. Hmm, I'll reassess this once the angle is planed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted February 29, 2008 Report Share Posted February 29, 2008 A headstock cap would be a great getout if you feel it runs too far down the headstock as Xanthus suggests. What are the dimensions of the headstock? I have some 1/8" ziricote, bloodwood, koa and zebrano headcaps if you run into problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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