motel_asimov Posted July 22, 2008 Report Share Posted July 22, 2008 (edited) Hi to all, Some time ago I discovered this site when I was doing some research for my “fender VI replica” project… I found some quite interesting builds like the single cut baritone guitar by Pukko. He also encouraged me to make a post about this build… I always wanted to get a Fender VI, however the vintage versions, the reissues and NOS versions are too expensive… About two months ago I did some translations and got paid by Paypal so I decided to use that money to get all the materials and parts for this project and build myself the Fender VI replica. First I got a 30” short scale bass neck on Ebay and then I got a picture of a Fender VI body from USA Custom guitars and I stretched the picture until the neck heel matched the neck pocket on the body… Here some pictures of the building process: The woods I used for this project: Purpleheart (nazareno) Rum-rum and “almendro” http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/mo...ov/PICT0105.jpg Drawing the body… http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/mo...ov/PICT0103.jpg When I shaped/cut the top of the Fender VI http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/mo...ov/PICT0108.jpg Gluing the whole thing… http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/mo...ov/PICT0146.jpg More glue… http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/mo...ov/PICT0147.jpg http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/mo...ov/PICT0148.jpg http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/mo...ov/PICT0149.jpg http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/mo...ov/PICT0151.jpg http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/mo...ov/PICT0152.jpg After 24 hours… the body was altogether… and did some routing on the edges… http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/mo...ov/PICT0166.jpg Edited July 22, 2008 by motel_asimov Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motel_asimov Posted July 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2008 (edited) Body and neck… I can’t help it… at every step I put together the body and the neck just to image how this is going to look like when completed… http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/mo...ov/PICT0006.jpg http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/mo...ov/PICT0007.jpg Wiring test… I checked the internal cavities I routed over the core… I was concerned about the glue obstructing the wires… everything seems to be ok! http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/mo...ov/PICT0144.jpg http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/mo...ov/PICT0007.jpg Shaping the body http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/mo...ov/PICT0002.jpg http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/mo...ov/PICT0005.jpg I still have to sand the body and as soon as I’m done I’ll start the finish which in this case is going to be an Oil and wax finish… I’ll post more pictures later. Edited July 22, 2008 by motel_asimov Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pukko Posted July 22, 2008 Report Share Posted July 22, 2008 Glad to see you decided to post it! A cool and unusual type of guitar to build! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpm99 Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 That wood is gorgeous, and I'm a big fan of vintage stuff. You should be proud of that thing when you're all done with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motel_asimov Posted July 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 dpm99 and pukko, thank you for your kind comments! As soon as get more pictures I'll post them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bygde Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 (edited) Nice build, and I like the creative use of a bass neck! I would probably never think of that. But it raises a question; Is the neck wide enough? I checked with a neck I have lying around, and it seemed good, if not wider. Edited July 23, 2008 by Bygde Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bygde Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 I guess they used thicker strings, and tuned it an octave below a standard guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stereordinary Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 Right you gentlemen are. The Fender VI is tuned E to E an octave below a guitar, and it can definitely get low. As low as a regular scale bass? Through a good setup, yes. Nice to see you over here Motel! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motel_asimov Posted July 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 Bydge Thank you for your comments… The idea to use a short scale bass neck came from the fact I wasn’t sure to have enough woodworking skills to complete my project, also the fact it takes too long to get a Fender VI neck done at US Custom Guitars. At some point I thought that building a neck was the hardest part to build… The neck is wide enough at the nut but at the heel I’m missing some millimeters… I guess the option will be to set the strings closer… I think I may end up getting a guider neck from Rondo Music… they sell SX Short scale bass necks to a very competitive price… I can do again the modifications I did on this one… The SX necks are wider. Mexknob, Muchas gracias port us comentarios! A short scale bass can sound like a bass… As far as know longer scales allow using thicker stings. I received few day ago a Fender VI string set form Musiciansfriend.com and I realized the string gauges are the same I use for my Fender Precision Lyte Bass. You can play bass lines with a Fender VI however people say it’s hard to play this instrument since the strings are too close and playing with a pick is almost mandatory… If I’m building this bass is because I want to play it through a Boss Delay and Chorus and then spend days and days playing the Fender VI riffs of the Disintegration album. Stereordinary, Yes nice to see here!!! I checked your website and I loved your VI prototype! If I were skilled enough I would quit my job an start a Custom shop as you did. A bientot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted July 24, 2008 Report Share Posted July 24, 2008 It looks great! Classy guitar! The bass I built is 30", which makes it a lot more "accessible" to me, since I came to bass from guitar. The issue with a shorter scale, though, is the lessened string tension (unless you get heavier strings) and thus a less firm sound. One question... are you really routing that body without eye protection, and without it clamped to the table?! (Maybe the clamp is hidden, but you're scaring me! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motel_asimov Posted July 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2008 It looks great! Classy guitar! The bass I built is 30", which makes it a lot more "accessible" to me, since I came to bass from guitar. The issue with a shorter scale, though, is the lessened string tension (unless you get heavier strings) and thus a less firm sound. One question... are you really routing that body without eye protection, and without it clamped to the table?! (Maybe the clamp is hidden, but you're scaring me! ) Geo, Thank you for your comments. Yes the body had just one clamp and no I wasn't wearing eye protection. Actually my wife took the picture after I unplugged the router and adjusted the bit... I adjusted the height of the bit and I was checking with the router if the height was right. Thank you for your concern! And you're right routing without eye protection and without clamping is just looking for a serious accident... As you said some people say the sound is not as punchy or firm because of the short scale. The low E string is 0.095. I play bass and since I never managed to play guitar (I feel frustrated about that), I'm building this instrument to play some simple riffs as Robert Smith (the cure) did on the disintegration album. I've read that longer scales also help with to have more sustain. This weekend I'll try sanding the body and get it 100% smooth. Then I'll start the finishing which is going to be OILD and WAX. If I manage to get it done I'll post more pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motel_asimov Posted July 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2008 here's a picture of the back of the Fender VI body after one coat of Danish Oil... unfortunately I ran out of batteries before I could take another picture of the front side... I'll take another picture tomorrow as soon as I come back from work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted July 28, 2008 Report Share Posted July 28, 2008 Yes the body had just one clamp and no I wasn't wearing eye protection. Hm... if there's only one clamp, the wood can rotate on you. But you probably know that. The low E string is 0.095. Wow, I would want a heavier-than-normal string since the scale is shorter! :-? I play bass and since I never managed to play guitar (I feel frustrated about that), Try taking bar chords (Emaj form, Am form, etc.) and moving them around the neck. If you drop some notes out, you have a finger or two to play little riffs within the chord shape... this idea really expanded my abilities, just passing it on. The body looks lovely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motel_asimov Posted July 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2008 (edited) Here's a photo of the front side after the first coat of danish oil... Edited July 29, 2008 by motel_asimov Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motel_asimov Posted August 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2008 Here's an update... I strung my bass last week end and I took a picture but unfortunately is not a good one... I still need to drill some holes for the volume and tone knobs... Then I need to complete the wiring. This is how my project looks so far: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motel_asimov Posted October 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2008 Today I got some sun… Costa Rica is going through the rainy season. I also managed to complete some detail on the finishing and the bridge. My attempt to replicate a 62’ Fender Bass VI with some design modifications is complete now. So here are my some pictures that I want to share with you all: http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/mo...ov/PICT0218.jpg http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/mo...ov/PICT0219.jpg http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/mo...ov/PICT0222.jpg The next step (this is something that I’ll do in a couple of months) is to add some modifications to the wiring so I can have the “strangle switch” option by adding a push pull pot that will replace the tone pot I’m using now. This will be completed by my brother… Thank you for checking this project. All the best, Motel Asimov Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motel_asimov Posted October 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 Nice job, Motel! I´m glad to see you sorted out the bridge issue. One question: what is a "strangle" switch? Jose Luis, The Strangle switch is a 4th switch that was added to the fender vi after 1962... so all the fender vis made in 1962 come with a 3 switch plate and the later models come with 4. Once you turn on the "strangle switch" the pickup signal will go through a resistor that will cut the low frequencies and make the fender vi sound more like a guitar... Robert Smith from the cure always plays with this switch enabled and that's how he gets his signature sound... well he also plays the fender vi through a delay and a chorus pedal. Salu2 MAsimov Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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