loosetoe

Thank you folks for your kind words. I do plan on keeping this instrument. I originally set-out to make myself a fretless bass, as it is something i have been wanting for a decade or so. See, I have a problem with the phrase "might-as-well". I came across that chunk of maple for $25. I thought it would serve well to make the body of a bass. So then...maybe I should make it a through body....might-as-well. How about a 6 string...might-as-well EXTREMELY long scale (38")..might-as-well. (try finding strings for this length) I guess I have an issue with letting things snowball. That being said, the costs associated with building this instrument have actually been rather appropriate. Again, the body maple (which also served for the headstock facing) was only $25. 6 b/f of Mahogany was $32 (and I still have enough for AT LEAST 1 other neck) The padaouk was scrap i had lying around. The tulipwood was the most expensive wood at $54, but again, I still have enough to do another fingerboard. (And as always happens, the second piece looks better than the one i used.) The hard maple was also scrap. SO in all the woods were only about $100. The hardware OTOH, was probably in the $300 range. Still, I am extremely happy with the results I have been seeing. As for any GOTM competition...Naw, not my style. I appreciate the suggestion, but competetion is just not my thing. As far as I am concerned, I've already won everthing I intended to get out of this project. Hopefully next week I'll have some FINAL shots of the bass. -Wayne

These will be the last pics I post until the bass is completely assembled. There is now 2 coats of tungoil / spar varnish on the instrument. The maple body has darkened SIGNIFICANTLY.I really do like that the sugar maple (hard maple) stayed rather white, whereas the red maple body turned brown...almost mahogany. The color of the mahogany neck s absolutely mesmerizing. The figuring is coming out nicely. The gloss will build over the next week as i continue to add a coat a day.

I finished all of the machining /shaping this evening. The tuners have been "installed" . The nuts have not been tightened yet as im too tired to do it correctly. I also added a matching truss rod cover. The nut blank is hard Maple. It will be resized before being cut. Rear shot. One looks crooked in this shot. It's not in real life...it just began to finagle itself free. These were custom ordered Sperzels. They are Black and Gold The pickup cavity was routed and the controls are now properly in place. The cavity cover was made of pseudo-matching wood. IT is from the same piece, but the grain direction doesnt match, so i am a little dissapointed here. The next steps will be final sanding and application of oil /varnish.

skibum5545, The knobs are matching tupliwood. They came from the same billet as the fingerboard. I turned them on a lathe then drilled and installed a marker dot from ASB plastic side dot material. I wish I hadnt used the abs material, as it wil now be the ONLY non-wood piece on the instrument (besides the bridge, pickup and tuners). The nut will be HArd Maple to compliment the maple aready on the FB. -W AND YES...this will be finished with an oil/varnish finish. Black Lacquer is fine...for explorers (which i do have 2 of)

MKG, No the pickup will not be angled..... I just put it on haphazardly. -Wayne

I finished shaping the body today. The most difficult part has been the transition between the neck and body. NOw it is perfectly smooth. The remainder of thebody was shaped. All shaping was done with a spokeshave, rasps, and sanding. We are now getting close. So i put some of the harware in its place to get a feel for the finished product. I should have all work on the instrument finished on Wednesday. Then onto finishing.

Another update. I did some shaping on the body. The tummy cut and forearm contour are in place. The upper portion of the instrument is coming along nicely. The heastock was thicknessed and contoured as desired. The volute was reduced significantly as it's previous size would have impeded playing. The frustrating part was making the template for the bridge recess. I did complete it as seen below, but it took me 2 hours to do this (no particular reason why....it just dtook a long time). Then before I could complete a pickup template, my Stew-Mac patern bit decided to throw the bearing. So no more routing till i get a new bit or bearing.

StonesCreed, The side markers were made by taking a 1/4 walnut dowel and putting it in the chuck of my drill. I then ran 80 grit over it until it was near the right size, then i switched to 180 to get final size. I then installed using superglue. So i didn't officially use a lathe, but i did turn them down. -Wayne

I was able to shape the neck and heel this evening. I dont like heels at all so you can see the smooth transition. I am liking my shape more and more as i see it more. I think it's kind of like a Carl Thompson meets a benevente. This wasnt entirely intentional. Also i have a pretty big volute. Finally I also added Walnut side markers.

The EMGs are A Zakk Wylde set. 81/85 if i remember correctly. -Wayne Thanks for the compliments on the Z.

My purpleheart P-bass. I built this instrument for $100. This was my goal to see if i could build a first class P bass for $100. I got the purpleheart for free from a friend who was putting in purpleheart floors. (ridiculously rich friend i might add). I already had loads of maple (so im not counting it's cost) and the rosewood was left from the explorer. The pickup is a cheap duncan performer, but remember the budget constraint. I like the way this instrument looks and plays, but it is TOO DAMNED HEAVY to play for long. 1/4 Sawn purpleheart with a slight figuring. Hard Maple core slight curl to it. Walnut strips in between. This instrument is finished in Tung Oil. finally my really cool project. YES i built it myself too. It is finished in the dupont Chroma sytem. 1972 Datsun 240Z 1st place Nissan Modifed 240Z nation Z car convention 2002

As I have been showing the progress on my current bass project, I figured I should send some pictures of completed instruments I have made. The first is a Gibson explorer copy I started when I was 14 (14 years ago). Becuase I had no idea of the true tool requirements to complete the project it went on hold for 10 years. It has a basswood body, maple neck. Rosewood fingerboard. I think it's good for a first project, but i will probably refinish it one day. This instrument is finished in Nitrocellulose lacquer. A checkerboard tele I started on but decided i dont like. I'll probably use it for a cutting board. Walnut Maple face with a poplar back.

As I have been showing the progress on my current bass project, I figured I should send some pictures of completed instruments I have made. The first is a Gibson explorer copy I started when I was 14 (14 years ago). Becuase I had no idea of the true tool requirements to complete the project it went on hold for 10 years. It has a basswood body, maple neck. Rosewood fingerboard. I think it's good for a first project, but i will probably refinish it one day. This instrument is finished in Nitrocellulose lacquer. A checkerboard tele I started on but decided i dont like. I'll probably use it for a cutting board. Walnut Maple face with a poplar back. My purpleheart P-bass. I built this instrument for $100. This was my goal to see if i could build a first class P bass for $100. I got the purpleheart for free from a friend who was putting in purpleheart floors. (ridiculously rich friend i might add). I already had loads of maple (so im not counting it's cost) and the rosewood was left from the explorer. The pickup is a cheap duncan performer, but remember the budget constraint. I like the way this instrument looks and plays, but it is TOO DAMNED HEAVY to play for long. 1/4 Sawn purpleheart with a slight figuring. Hard Maple core slight curl to it. Walnut strips in between. This instrument is finished in Tung Oil.

I wanted to see what it might look like with clear so i wiped some naptha on. Just a little bit of figuring. I am going to post another post of some older completed projects if anyone is interested.

I'll pretty much let these images speak for themselves. I decided againt usig the padaouk refered to earlier and just keeping it simple. I have since these pictures began shaping the neck and heel.

Since the overwhelming opinion is that the lower horn was less than desirable (which I agree with). I drew up a couple of alternative shapes. The lower horn in the orignal posting was extended to try to get it into the pakaouk. I can still cut out a section of maple on the table saw to get a proper glue surface for the padaouk sandwich. I think the ball tip with multiple layers'll just be too cool. The body will be finished in clear. The "hot pink" is actually red poster board. Old shape: Old shape revised lower horn Alternative I realize the single cut shape drives some folks away, but i think it is still classic while being different. In the end...I like it. That's really all that matters.

Test fit: Fingerboard Radiused and trimmed to final: My favorite shot Test Fit 2. Some Padaouk for cats eyes on the lower bout and horn tip (the padaouk is actually a 7 layer sandwich of woods padaouk-maple - walnut - maple - walnut - maple - padaouk). Kent Armstrong custom wound pickup. Kahler fully adjustable 6 string bridge (pain in the butt to setup, but what wonderful flexibility. Headstock shape with Custom Sperzels Alternating Black-Gold color. I will have 3 of the brige saddles powder coated black to match . Finally, I think I am going to do a single cut stlye body. THe lower horn here will be made slightly smaller and more rounded on the end (to show the padaouk snadwich ball tip). Otherwise the shape is similar to a benavente B. Any comments appreciated. Wayne

Hello, My name is Wayne Lousteau (pronounce Loosetoe) I have been a long time lurker here. I always like seeing other's work, so i figured I'd show some of my own. This is the sixth instrument that I will have built. It is to be a 38" scale 6 string through neck fretless bass. How this whole thing started. A large CHUNK of spalted curly maple. Just looks nasty at this point Neck Core 5 piece Mahogany/ Maple neck core. I dont like scarf joints so i waste alot of wood. Here it is freshly glued with the Tulipwood fingerboard bound in Maple w/ maple veneer liners Close up freshly glued Headstock Veeneer (from body block): Rear of Headstock (Padaouk wings): Whole Neck Rear