Cyclone

the materials that I plan to use on the bass are as follows: Neck- 5 piece laminate, neck through, 35" scale, with double expanding truss rod and stiffening rods (flame maple and purple heart) Finger board- birdseye maple bound in flame maple Body- claro walnut Body shape- modified warwick vampyre Pickups- jp configuration and i am leaning toward seymour duncan Bridge- havent found anything that i like yet but it will be recessed

jon, thanks for the reply, if it helps the guy that the bass is for is about 6' 2'' and has very big hands. he is the type of person that could palm a basketball.

I have been commisioned to build a bass for someone who is learning to play. I am primarly a guitar player however I can play bass with some level of skill but I do not know the pros and cons of a 4 string and a 5 string. can anyone please educate me on what would be a better instrument and why. I am leaning toward the 5 string and my cliant would rather a 4 string but cannot provide a valid argument other than thats what he sees being played by most bassest. any input would be appericiated.

The bridge is a gotoh 510 and it is seated with inserts which were pressed in. The studs that come with the bridge also have set screws that run through the length of the them. I have checked to make sure that everything is tight and secure. The only other difference that I can think of is that I normaly use Dean Markley Blue Steel custom lights as opposed to the lights that are on there now, but there is no difference between the two gauages on the high E and B strings.

Devon, no problem, thanks for the input. I hope that I didnt sound harsh in my response.

The frets are level and dressed and there is no fret buzz any where on the neck. Its not about playing any type of music that I would need to let a note ring true for any amount of time. Its about knowing that I have created an instrument that is true in every way because no matter how nice it looks if it dosent sound good and play well your efferts are in vain. I think that this may be the case. I will be sure to check it and let you know how it works out.

I am almost finished with my first from scratch project and I have the guitar set up with electronics in place. Everything seems to be working fine but I am not getting very much sustain from the high E and B strings plucked open or fretted. In contrast the low E,A,D,and G strings sustain for up to 20 seconds as opposed to the 5-7 second time frame for the B and high E. Does anyone have any idea of what the problem may be as I am stumped.

Me either but it is the only anomaly(sp) that I have noticed. This one has really got me. I have been tinkering and setting up guitars for almost 19 years and this is the first time that I have come across something like this.

I dont know if this is an issue but the pup I am using is a trembucker so the pole pieces are not exactly under the string for the "B" and high "E".

They are based on the strings plucked open and fretted. What do you mean by poorly slotted?

I am having some issues and I need some help. I have finished the clear, wetsand, buffing process and I have temporarly installed a Seymour Duncan Screamin Demon in the bridge to set the action at the nut and bridge. The problem that I am having is that I am getting about 17 seconds of good sustain from my low E, A, D, and G string but the B and high E only sustain about 3-5 seconds. The action is consistant at about .010 under the first fret with the strings depressed between the second and third frets. There is no bow in the neck and the action is smooth and even throughout the rest of the neck. Does anyone have any idea what the problem might be. By the way this thing sounds awsome (except for the sustain issues)!!!!!

Any idea for the angle between the join? Looks very well done but like it would be uncomfortable. On a side note welcome back, your presence has been missed.

Well I have located the nut glued it down and slotted it for the strings. I couldn't wait so I strung it up and wired an old pickup that I had from when I replaced the ones in my Les Paul and set the intonation. After I tuned it and played those first notes the feeling that I had was unexplainable. Its like I had given birth. I know that sounds kind of girlie but that is the best that I can explain it. Now I have to take it apart and wet sand with the 600 and finish the clear coat process. Hopefully I will be finished with that by the end of the week end and post some pics. If not I will try to post some pics of the pickup rings and knobs when I am finished with them.

Jason, I hate to sound like a girl, but I love the tuners and yes they are the locking ones. For the rings I have a metal ring from an Ibanez that I will use as a template and utalize my router to cut it. For the knobs I plan to cut some 1" x 1" lengths and turn them down using my drill press and a hand held high speed grinder. I may post some pics of everything pre-assembled, I havent decided yet.

Update time: I have recieved my tuning machines (Sperzel satin finish black) and located them. The finger board has been dressed down and steel wooled back to a satin finish and the frets installed, trimed, leveled, dressed, and polished. I do however have one fret that will need to be pulled and refretted with glue due to it being loose on one end (oh well). My next step is to locate, fit and notch the nut. I then plan to string it up to make sure every thing works as advertised. Last week end I was able to clear the guitar (about 4 good coats). As soon as I can ensure that every thing works ok I plan to wet sand with some 600 and apply about 4-6 more coats of clear, wet sand through to some 2400, buff to a high gloss and polish. After I am finished with that I will make some pickup rings from some maple and I am also thinking of making the volume and tone knobs from maple also. Peace,

Yeah, I hear that purple is the new pink

Matt, speakingof how things sound, did you ever get the Impaler up and running and if so how does it sound?

Jason, Thanks for the concern. I think that the worst is past us and we fared ok but the fear of God was in me for a while. With regard to the fretting, I didnt get much done so hopefully when the pandamonium dies down I will be able to get back on track. I will post pics as I can.

Thanks everyone for the complements. As some of you know I am from Lafayette Louisiana and right now we are riding the storm out waiting for it to make land fall. Its kind of nerve racking just sitting around so I decided to apply some sand and sealer to the fret board and get it ready to fret tonight. If we are still here tomorrow I will be sure to post some pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Everyone thanks for the complements. Its time for an update. I have sealed the front with sand and sealer. At this point I will take a liberty and throw some roses on myself and give myself a pat on the back cause damn this thing looks good. I still have to finish staining the rest of the guitar, sealing it, scuffing, spraying the polyurithane and wet sanding to a high mirror like finish, but at this point I am very pleased. Attached below is a pic. Please feel free to coment.

Scotty, I can almost 100% reasure you that your glue joints will not come apart. If it worries you to the point that you may loose sleep test it out on a couple of scrap pieces before you shoot your project. Good luck and I am looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Well i didnt quite achieve the desert burst that I was trying for but I am pleased just the same. I have finished staining the front and I am almost finished with the sides and back. Below are pics of the front. pic of full front close up of body please let me know what you think.

Scotty, I have used primarily polyurithane on my projects. The problems that you may have is that wood breaths and the paint may react to the oils/solvents that may have been soaked up by the wood. To protect against solvent pop or fish eye make sure that you have sealed that wood properly and you should be ok. Below is a pic of my warmoth and it was painted using polyurithane.My warmoth I hope that this helps.

Wes, I love that whole simplicity thing. That thing is made for on purpose and it ant opra music! Looking forward to seing it finished.

I agree with idch, I have said it before there is only so much that a person can do with a piece of wood. Form should follow function and in the end if it gives you a warm fuzzy feeling you have done your job. Good luck and I am looking forward to seeing some progress.