Simo Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 This is my entry for the 'Fretless 5 String' competition that's taking place over at www.talkbass.com. I thought I'd post some progress pictures over here too, in case anyone is interested The rules are simple... you have to build a 5 string fretless bass, starting no earlier than December 27th and ending on March 31st. Here's the spec so far... 34" scale, 19mm string spacing Claro Walnut top African Mahogany body (chambered) Maple(?) neck Ziricote fretboard (lined) Hipshot hardware (black) Graphtech Acousti-Phonic preamp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonnyPM Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 That's some nice looking wood. Good luck in the contest! Jonny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simo Posted January 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 That's some nice looking wood. Good luck in the contest! Jonny Cheers Here's a few more pics... Top & body joined, sanded to size on the drum sander and then rough cut ready for shaping... (I'm not building a lefty by the way, this will be the back) Body cut to shape (wiped over with a damp cloth to raise the grain) Ready for the chambers to be routed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Our Souls inc. Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 Looks awesome. Whats with the plastic wrap under the plane? Can't wait to see it finished. Edit: looked again, you're using the plane as a weight during the glue up... the plastic is to keep it from getting glue on it.... gotcha... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simo Posted January 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Looks awesome. Whats with the plastic wrap under the plane? Can't wait to see it finished. Edit: looked again, you're using the plane as a weight during the glue up... the plastic is to keep it from getting glue on it.... gotcha... Bingo Chambers routed, ready for the top be be glued on.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RestorationAD Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 You are the man Simo. I like watching these bass builds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chops1983 Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Really nice clean work Simo! I like the way you've matched the grain on the back. All the best for the comp. Chad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simo Posted January 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 Really nice clean work Simo! I like the way you've matched the grain on the back. All the best for the comp. Chad. Thanks very much. The top is now glued to the body, along with a dyed black Sycamore veneer... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simo Posted January 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2011 The 'S-Hole' (still requires a bit more work with a file & sandpaper) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted January 27, 2011 Report Share Posted January 27, 2011 Did you use a scroll saw or something else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simo Posted January 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2011 Did you use a scroll saw or something else? I used a Dremel with a template, then sandpaper/files to finish it off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted January 27, 2011 Report Share Posted January 27, 2011 I wholeheartedly approve of oddball f-holes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireFly Posted January 27, 2011 Report Share Posted January 27, 2011 Wicked Like!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strato-Master Posted January 28, 2011 Report Share Posted January 28, 2011 BadA$$ dude love the S hole though it might have something to do with my last name starting with S. I would have never thought to do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simo Posted January 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2011 Edges rounded over, ready for sanding, sanding and more sanding... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooglebug Posted January 28, 2011 Report Share Posted January 28, 2011 simo, i wuv you hehe its coolies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireFly Posted January 28, 2011 Report Share Posted January 28, 2011 That veneer really brings it out in your builds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simo Posted February 4, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2011 Not much progress this week I'm afraid, but I have sorted out the wood for the neck... I've gone for Maple with Ebony veneers, they've not been glued together yet but here's a preview. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simo Posted February 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 Just a quick update... the neck blank has been glued & planed to size, plus I've slotted the fretboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simo Posted February 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 The scarf joint is done. I managed to get the neck laminates nicely lined up, in fact it's a shame they'll be covered with headstock laminates Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simo Posted February 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2011 Another quick update on the neck... the headstock veneers have been glued on (front & back) and I've also routed the truss rod channel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linny Posted February 11, 2011 Report Share Posted February 11, 2011 I love how you square off the top of the headstock perfectly even though its not necessary. You got OCD simo . I would love you to pop over and tidy my workshop! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simo Posted February 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2011 I love how you square off the top of the headstock perfectly even though its not necessary. You got OCD simo . I would love you to pop over and tidy my workshop! Thanks, but I've got enough tidying of my own to do don't let the pictures of the clean workbench fool you, the rest of the workshop looks like the inside of a hamster cage at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted February 11, 2011 Report Share Posted February 11, 2011 The first thing to come to my mind is a similar comment. Whenever I look at the progress shots of your builds I see imaculate work. And yeah the background is clean, but I'm talking about the parts you're building. The curves are smooth, the lines are straight and parallel, the corners are square, and theres not a speck of dust on the wood or a sanding scratch to be seen. Maybe you tidy up your wood work for nice pics...but the craftsmanship is top notch. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireFly Posted February 11, 2011 Report Share Posted February 11, 2011 The first thing to come to my mind is a similar comment. Whenever I look at the progress shots of your builds I see imaculate work. And yeah the background is clean, but I'm talking about the parts you're building. The curves are smooth, the lines are straight and parallel, the corners are square, and theres not a speck of dust on the wood or a sanding scratch to be seen. Maybe you tidy up your wood work for nice pics...but the craftsmanship is top notch. SR +2! I bet this kind of work comes with a lot of diciplin, and the ability to not rush anything at all. I bet every stroke of the sandpaper counts, and every cut of the router is no deeper than 1/4" at a time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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