Andyjr1515 Posted January 4, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2021 2 hours ago, curtisa said: Can you retrofit a piezo to the bridge as well? MORE POWER!!! Don't you go giving A ideas!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted January 4, 2021 Report Share Posted January 4, 2021 Is he following here? Hey A! Andy said you could have all the pickups you want! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Andyjr1515 Posted January 12, 2021 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted January 12, 2021 Bit more progress with this. Apologies for the post being a bit pic-heavy. The pickups arrived. The pickups themselves have a bottom multi-wire connector which, with the three way switch supplied, gives the three options of 'P' bass' (diagonal split); 'Jazz bass' ( single coil); Humbucker. They are passive, so the only connections needed to the PCB on each switch is a ground, a hot out and a 9v in to drive the LEDs: A wants a straightforward 'off/on' for each with a master volume and a master tone. We decided on this as a layout: With those large connectors, I needed to make some pretty large cable channels in the rear wing. Note also the cutaways for the battery to slot into. I did a 'spare' just in case of a change of mind of the switch layout: So now I could glue the wing on, deepen the control chamber and round the edges: And then onto the pickup chambers. As you know, I hate routers - but there are times when only a router will do. My way of trying to limit the damage potential is to use - wherever possible - a router bit that it fully captive and can't go off and do unsociable things. With the normal warning that this is just how I personally do it and not that 'this is how it should be done', what I do first is mark out the pickup outline + 0.5mm clearance on the top. I then drill the corners with a decent bradpoint 1mm diameter bigger than that of the pickup corner: I then hog out with a forstner right up to the line: I use a sharp chisel, again up to the line, to create an accurate line joining the drill-hole tangents, down to about 10mm. This is what the router bearing will run along. Note I've broken through to the channels I made in the back wing to get those sizable connector through: Then, I use a flush bearing bit to tidy the sides up and bring it to full depth: And finally I chiselled the cutout for the connector block sitting at the bottom of each pickup. This then allows the pickups to drop down, if required, to the lowest practical position: So, as this is the last flat router surface I need, I can now glue on the fretboard and start the neck carve - which are the next two jobs As always, thanks for looking 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted January 13, 2021 Report Share Posted January 13, 2021 So, are those pickups or slate flagstones? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
komodo Posted January 16, 2021 Report Share Posted January 16, 2021 On 1/13/2021 at 2:07 AM, curtisa said: So, are those pickups or slate flagstones? No kidding. I think you could sell advertising space on those. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted January 19, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2021 And on to positioning of the tuners. Other than the added dimension of the two strings being able to move independently, I do it similar to with a fixed bridge - I fit the headstock equipment (in this case the clamp) and then fit some 'sacrificial' strings to the top and bottom positions to line up with the scale length + intonation and with the fretboard/string spacing: Having positioned the two outer ones, I marked the front screw positions and then the two for the middle strings: Then fixing the tuner bases by these front screws, I could string up to get the splay angle, taking advantage of the individual tuners being able to follow the taper of the string runs, and mark the position for the back screws: Which then could be screwed in place. It was effortless to tune the strings to pitch - in fact it was so smooth I ended up 5 or 6 semitones high on a couple of strings just in straightening them. The last headless system I used would have involved quite a bit of effort to reach the same tightness! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gogzs Posted January 19, 2021 Report Share Posted January 19, 2021 Such a nice top, shame the pickups cover half of the front coming along really nice, just a question about the tuners, how do you intonate them? You have to totally losen the strings, readjust them and tighten up again? Otherwise, love them, one friend is asking me to build him a headless travel-friendly bass, and I'll probably go with those or something like them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted January 20, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2021 2 hours ago, Gogzs said: Such a nice top, shame the pickups cover half of the front coming along really nice, just a question about the tuners, how do you intonate them? You have to totally losen the strings, readjust them and tighten up again? Otherwise, love them, one friend is asking me to build him a headless travel-friendly bass, and I'll probably go with those or something like them. Yes - but it's very easy to do. I'll do a post tomorrow showing how easy it is to fit the strings. I did a full set, including trimming in two minutes total! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistermikev Posted January 20, 2021 Report Share Posted January 20, 2021 i somehow missed earlier post of bass with three fricking humbuckers? "I like the cut of your jig sir". that is going to have a LOT of options... v nice work. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted January 20, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2021 5 hours ago, mistermikev said: i somehow missed earlier post of bass with three fricking humbuckers? "I like the cut of your jig sir". that is going to have a LOT of options... v nice work. I think it's around 120 options 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted January 20, 2021 Report Share Posted January 20, 2021 8 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said: I think it's around 120 options When I have a bunch of options, I usually pick the two I like best......and only play one of those. SR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted January 24, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2021 You know how it is sometimes when you keep looking at a build and think, "I know something's missing, but I just don't know what!"... Well, A had requested the offset head finial and we had agreed that it would have an ebony cap - which, once it was sanded to shape, would look fine: But, with the bass propped up in the room for a couple of days...what was it that was bugging me. And I realised it was some ebony to balance the small cap and make the tuner blocks look like they were always supposed to be there! I took a gamble because I didn't tell A that I was going to take my Forstner and chisel to the back of his expected baby!! The ebony block would be tapered to reflect the string taper and inset into the tailstock: And having also started the sanding - and using a quick coat of Tru-oil as my 'reveal' coat to spot more easily the scratches, dints, lumps and bumps - a quick mock-up confirmed, in my mind at least - that this indeed was what had been missing: Happily, A agreed The reveal coat also showed A for the first time what colour this will be when it has been properly finished. Here's the back: I think it's going to look quite nice 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistermikev Posted January 24, 2021 Report Share Posted January 24, 2021 looks lovely! very clean look. nice work!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted January 25, 2021 Report Share Posted January 25, 2021 On 1/24/2021 at 10:10 AM, Andyjr1515 said: "I know something's missing, but I just don't know what!"... I started looking at this from the body and let my eyes work their way up the neck...and it's oh! You've lost your head. Headless builds always do that to me. They always jar me for a second, it's like, put a hat on that or something. It's a very tasty looking bass, lovely timbers, excellent execution. The need of a hat and those giant humbuckers even disguise the fact it's a bass for a moment. A should be very happy. And I totally agree, the lonely piece of ebony needed another to balance it. Excellent resolution to that! SR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted January 25, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2021 I do know what you mean, @ScottR. I also feel there can be something missing visually. I must say, on the other hand, that they are a joy to play. No neck dive here 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted February 24, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2021 And this is pretty much finished! The neck was carved with a combination of micro-plane and cabinet scraper. Luminlays fitted too: The scary job drilling the wire access for the bridge grounding. Helps to have a long drill. Clearly the hole doesn't have to be that big, but a thinner long drill tends to be too flexible and can go wandering off. Ask me how I know! I do my normal method of soldering the wire to a piece of copper shielding - gives me a sure connection with minimal impact of the bridge/top joint. Apols for the blurry pic: The other strings are grounded by the headstock clamp block. Finishing was with Tru-oil slurry and buff to grain fill and get a decent basis and then, to aim for a light gloss, just a couple of coats of wiped on Tru-oil: And then all of a sudden it was the finishing off stuff! First the jackplate inset: Then the wiring...no magnets are going to hold THIS hatch down! And then is was finished! I'll post the arty farty shots in the next post but this is how it looks 'leaning up against the amp'. Yes - those tuners are clear of the ground 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizman62 Posted February 24, 2021 Report Share Posted February 24, 2021 17 minutes ago, Andyjr1515 said: Yes - those tuners are clear of the ground Clever! I have a guitar with dual strap buttons but until now I couldn't figure out any real use for them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted February 24, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2021 Just before I post the finished shots, a few comments about two of the things fitted on it. First the headless system. And what a nice, great to use and looks good too is Andre Passini's Nova Guitar Parts headless system! String fitting (2 minutes for a full string change - I timed myself) and tuning up is effortless. The tuners are as smooth as silk and very accurate. And it looks great too The only challenge I had was getting enough height adjustment of the saddles while still being able to clamp then in the normal way - but I have some thoughts how this could be easily and cheaply improved which I will bounce off Andre shortly. But for 'best bang for the buck' - it absolutely gets my vote and I will be fitting them on all future headless builds The other is the SimS Super-Quad system. They are fully passive pickups - the 9v battery is simply there to light the LEDs to tell you if you are in 'Split' 'Single' or 'Humbucker' mode. All the tech happens in that fancy switch, including some very clever work that means that there is NO volume change from the humbucking to single/split coil modes. And this is fully passive - remarkable. Here are the options: The three switches at the bottom are the SimS Tri-logic switches, then the 3 at the top are simply on/off toggles for each. There is a master volume and master tone and that's it. And this, to SimS's and my knowledge is the first bass in the world with three of these remarkable pickups Next post the arty farty pics and then I promise that I'll shut up! Or at least stop carping on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Andyjr1515 Posted February 24, 2021 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted February 24, 2021 Forgive the self indulgence As always, thanks for looking, folks 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted February 24, 2021 Report Share Posted February 24, 2021 She's a beauty, Andy! SR 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistermikev Posted February 25, 2021 Report Share Posted February 25, 2021 really looks lovely. with all the electronics and controls going on... pretty clean. nice work. leds - takes it over the top. I bet it is super versatile. lots of gotm potential there. I do hope you'll do a vid? would love to hear it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiKro Posted February 25, 2021 Report Share Posted February 25, 2021 Enter it this month in GOTM, since there no entries, but you better hurry. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted February 25, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2021 2 hours ago, MiKro said: Enter it this month in GOTM, since there no entries, but you better hurry. I think they carry over if there's only one entry - but I'll enter it in the morning just in case someone else pops one in before Feb end too 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
komodo Posted February 25, 2021 Report Share Posted February 25, 2021 That's gorgeous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted February 25, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2021 18 minutes ago, komodo said: That's gorgeous. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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