Simo

Pickups have now been routed...

Is that colored veneer, or one of those pressed fiber products?

It's dyed Sycamore veneer.

At last, some progress...

Sorry I can't help with that, I'm the first to admit I don't have a clue when it comes to electronics!.... in any case, I'm building a 6 string, so they're bound to be different.

Simo, your builds are always awesome!

Perfect wood and shape choiсе and clear work.

I've mentioned you used Nordstrand pickups for your previous build too. Have you ever tried Nordstrand Dual Coils? (image).

Thanks I'm actually using a Dual Coil for this bass, along with a Fat Stack.

It's already dyed, I get it from.... http://www.anitamarquetry.co.uk/acatalog/C...rs__1_5mm_.html

...the one I use is the dyed black Sycamore (at the bottom of the page)

Thanks No chambering, so it's a reasonably heavy body, although having a 1/2" thick top has helped keep the weight down as the Redwood is very light.

It's just dyed veneer, I use 2mm thick sheets to get a nice bold line.

I've got a bit more work done this afternoon, I've routed the roundover and made a start on the sanding...

Just a quick update.... the body has now been routed to shape and the edges sanded ready for the roundover.

Clamps are off, and after a quick sand it's starting to look good...

I'm about to get started on another 5 string, I'll post some pictures when I start making sawdust next week

Body:

American Cherry

English Walnut top, 1/2" thick

Oil/wax finish

Neck:

Not 100% sure, either Sapele or Maple...or a mixture of the two

Macassar Ebony fretboard, 35" scale, 24 frets

English Walnut headstock veneers

Hardware/Electrics:

Nordstrand Big Singles

Nordstrand 2 band preamp

Hipshot Ultralite tuners, black

Hipshot bridge, black

Here's the original sketch of the body shape (not a very good angle), it's been tweaked slightly since this was taken...

Yep, only a light tint of red though, it won't be too dark.

I've just started working on my next commission, a 6 string bass.... spec as follows,

Body:

American Cherry body wood

Redwood Lace Burl top, with matching headstock veneers

Red dye, oil/wax finish

Neck:

Sapele & Black Walnut with Ebony laminates

Macassar Ebony fretboard

Dual action truss rod & graphite rods

24 medium frets

Custom Ebony inlay at end of neck

Graphite nut

Stainless steel inlays

Oil/wax finish

Electronics/Hardware:

Nordstrand pickups x2

Hipshot type A bridge, Black Alloy with 19mm spacing

Hipshot Ultralite tuners, Black

Aguilar OBP-3TK pre-amp with mid-frequency switch and passive/active switch

Mdf template...

Redwood top, wetted to raise the grain...

Gluing the top

Dan's recorded a couple of sound clips, as you'll hear there's more than one track, the sound is pretty much dry apart from a little EBS MultiDrive in places.

The first one is with both pickups wide open...

http://www.simnettguitars.com/01%20Wings.mp3

This one is mainly the jazz pickup, with the tone dial rolled off a bit on the lead track...

http://www.simnettguitars.com/02%20In%20Slow%20Motion.mp3

Thanks to everyone that voted for me in GOTM

How about some Newton Faulkner?

Congrats mate :D

Do you want to split an order of inserts, Simo?

Thanks but I've already got a bag full, I sell them on the UKGB Forum.

The skateboard truck bolts, neck ferrules and brass inserts work a treat don't they Jon? :-D

That is some fantastic work there, and I can't wait to see what your next one off the table is going to be like.

RPC crew, represent!!!

Cheers mate The next couple of builds will probably be guitars, I've got 2 friends that have asked me to build something for them, I've also got ideas for another bass, so it should be a busy start to 2009. I think I'll give the RPC a miss next time though, the fumes have been a nightmare (the workshop still smells of the stuff), so I'll go with oil/wax for the next one, or pay someone to lacquer it for me.

Simo, I've got a couple of necks that I'll be carving in the next month or so, and your build inspired me to buy a Shinto Saw Rasp as a Christmas present to myself.

I'm almost certain you'll like it, if not you can send it to me, call it a late Christmas present

'MK5 - 5 String Bass'

35" scale, 24 frets

Korina body

1/2" quilted Maple top

Maple neck

Macassar Ebony fretboard, matching truss rod cover

Hipshot bridge, Ultralite tuners

Nordstrand MM and Jazz pickups, 2 x vol, 1 x tone, Ebony knobs

Stainless steel inlays & side dots

Rustin's Plastic Coating/beeswax finish.

In progress thread: http://projectguitar.ibforums.com/index.ph...=39010&st=0

wow simo THAT IS BEAUTIFUL! is "simmett" an inlay? or a decal?

great work man, thats real hot!

Kenny

Cheers Kenny, and that's a decal on the headstock.

Thanks guys

All done :D Dan collected it this afternoon and was very happy with it, he's going to send me some sound clips when he gets chance.

More pics...

http://usera.ImageCave.com/Simnett/2.jpg

http://usera.ImageCave.com/Simnett/3.jpg

http://usera.ImageCave.com/Simnett/6.jpg

http://usera.ImageCave.com/Simnett/7.jpg

http://usera.ImageCave.com/Simnett/8.jpg

http://usera.ImageCave.com/Simnett/9.jpg

All done... apart from wiring that is! which should be done tomorrow if I get chance. I'll take some better pictures in the daylight tomorrow.

Looks like I've exceeded my bandwidth on my imagecave account, I'll upload the photo's somewhere else when I get chance.

I agree, that is a fantastic top under lacquer, though I would have LOVED to see even a hint of amber dye over it just to give it a tiny bit of pop. Just me, though, very creamy and very nice.

Is that a hole I see on the back, between two of the pocket screw holes? Maybe it's camera magic...

Nope, that's a small knot.

What grain filler ya use?

Chris

I don't use sealer or filler, I just apply the RPC straight on to the bare wood.