Andyjr1515 Posted March 6, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2017 5 hours ago, Norris said: Call me shallow, but I'd go for the bling gloss finish I know where you're coming from, Norris, but Pete has spoken! And he's choosing tactile over bling. Actually, with the sun at last coming out for a couple of house for me to be able to see it properly, I think this looks OK too. It certainly feels wonderful. Probably one more coat and buff will do it: I'm waiting for some hardware before I can string it up and workout if I need to reshape the volute a bit but, in the meantime, I've popped the magnets onto the hatch and truss-rod cover: Excepting some unforeseen disasters or hitches, this should be finished by the end of this week. Can't believe how fast it's gone... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted March 6, 2017 Report Share Posted March 6, 2017 Well yes, you've certainly developed a knack for working at warp speed by default! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted March 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2017 Someone on one of the other forums was asking about the body profile on this. Here it is: I've done variations of this idea on a number of builds, including my own bubinga fretless. There are some limits, and there are some areas you need to be careful about, but it: Takes a useful amount of weight out Feels great to play. Rests on the paunch very nicely It allows a much slimmer neck heel: 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted March 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 I've been fiddling about with permutations and combinations of the hardware. As discussed earlier, I generally steer clear of gold, but the colours of the wood are just shouting out for something more than black to set them off. Chrome also wasn't quite right when I tried a couple of items. I tried gold tuners - they suited the headstock much more than the black. I tried a gold pickup ring - that looked the ticket. But gold bridge elements - screamed bling and cheap. So with some mixing and matching of components, I've come up with this: What do you reckon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted March 8, 2017 Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 Can you mix and match the tuner components? What about gold buttons and bushings with black gears and shafts? Edit: or the opposite - black buttons/bushings, gold gears and posts. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted March 8, 2017 Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 (edited) 1 hour ago, curtisa said: Can you mix and match the tuner components? What about gold buttons and bushings with black gears and shafts? Edit: or the opposite - black buttons/bushings, gold gears and posts. Ha - I was thinking of black bushes with gold elsewhere, just to balance up the black 'n' gold theme. It would also look good with black buttons too as Curtisa suggests. Black outer & gold inner at the headstock end to match the bridge. You certainly need some black at the tuner end Edited March 8, 2017 by Norris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted March 8, 2017 Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 4 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said: What do you reckon? I reckon you've struck gold.....with that combo. That is a very classy look, and it really accentuates the colors in the top. You are getting good advice on the tuners too, if you can work that out. You need to find an off-cut of that top and finish it just like the top plus clear, so we can see what we missed. SR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pan_kara Posted March 8, 2017 Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 I'm a fan of this black&gold mix. Had something similar in mind once but never went with it. I think when done right it makes the hardware much more unique, and here it suits the color theme of the bass perfectly! now do the tuners! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Natural Posted March 8, 2017 Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 I like black hardware but this mix is cool. like @pan_kara said- the tuners would be cool in a mix as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted March 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 8 hours ago, curtisa said: Can you mix and match the tuner components? What about gold buttons and bushings with black gears and shafts? Edit: or the opposite - black buttons/bushings, gold gears and posts. Well, I think this might be a case of great minds think alike . You mean like this : I'm pleased with this I strung it up this evening just to do the 'first fitting'. Predictably, plays like a lemon Lets hope that's suffixed with 'at the moment' Oh - and it weighs 5lb 12oz and yet is full-size in terms of a 6 string electric. Couple more tuners and another pickup would still sit at no more than 6lb. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted March 8, 2017 Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 I don't see where the question is Andy. It looks perfect with mixed hardware. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted March 9, 2017 Report Share Posted March 9, 2017 9 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said: You mean like this : That's exactly what I mean. Bling without the Ka-ching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted March 9, 2017 Report Share Posted March 9, 2017 Yes - you've hit a nice balance there. Understated bling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted March 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2017 Thanks, folks Here it is with the first fitting of the strings. Need to tweak the frets a touch in places, raise the bridge on an ebony plate so I can drop the saddles, fit a brass nut, finish off the volute and fit the electrics but I'm hoping I can pass this across to Pete by the end of next week. I also will be fitting some small ferrules in the back of the bridge elements - these are large telecaster ones I happened to have in my bits box. They are needed because they are guitar strings with small ball ends and larger bass bridge string retainers... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted March 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 I'll do the fancy shots when I've got hold of the intended brass nut and decided what strings suits it best (I've got two flatwound jazz electrics and two bronze acoustics on it at the moment ) I've wired it up '58 Les Paul Junior style to give the maximum tonal opportunity. I sounds good, even though I still have no idea what one is really supposed to sound like Here it is: I'm pretty pleased with it, especially as it's probably the last build I'll do for Pete (unless he has more money than sense!) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 You might know that I'm a big Claypool fan, Andy. I'd love a piccolo bass myself as I learned the mixed hybrid techniques Les plays, and they suit 4-string piccolos nicely. Example at 0:40 This guy play's a lot of Primus covers and had a copy of Les' Carl Thompson black Walnut piccolo bass made. It shows how a piccolo bass can function as a nice cross between the use of a bass and a guitar's function in a band: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 I don't think Les ever tuned up into the range piccolos are normally found, however the scales (32"?) and number of frets make the instrument more open for exploration than a basic style of bass. Hell, you make of an instrument what you can regardless I guess.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 5 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said: Good job that, man. Either you have massive armchairs at your house, or that'd be a piccolo bass 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted March 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 2 minutes ago, curtisa said: Good job that, man. Either you have massive armchairs at your house, or that'd be a piccolo bass To little old me, most armchairs seem pretty huge That bass is just my kinda size Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a2k Posted March 13, 2017 Report Share Posted March 13, 2017 Looks great. But I can't wait to hear it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted March 13, 2017 Report Share Posted March 13, 2017 That's a good looking bass Andy! That snakewood on top of the walnut makes a nice combination, much better than I would have guessed. both are busy but the colors work together quite well. Sort of like your black/gold combination. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted March 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2017 Thanks, folks Well, brass nut is cut and installed and so I can pronounce this as officially finished! Here are the final shots for those that aren't thoroughly bored by the 'almost there' photos : Thanks for all the encouraging comments along the way 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Natural Posted March 13, 2017 Report Share Posted March 13, 2017 looks great Andy- Pete is a lucky friend. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoltar Posted March 13, 2017 Report Share Posted March 13, 2017 The black and gold mix works so well with the warmth and richness of the wood. Really nice And really fast too! I need to pull my finger out... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted March 14, 2017 Report Share Posted March 14, 2017 (edited) Another fabulous build to add to your impressive portfolio! Edited March 14, 2017 by Norris 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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