maull

Step by step build?? Yes please

dang, that is a bright geet.

Thank you all for the kind words. Just used it for the first time today in practice with a whole group and I have to say it really kicked a$$. Impressed all of the guys there. Now to move on to the next one and do an even better job. The bug has bitten.

Ok so it is officially assembled and sounding quite good. I will update one more time as soon as I can borrow a friends DSLR camera to take some decent photos.

So I have narrowed the problem down to the screw down connections on the buss. A good friend of mine with marital issues stopped by tonight so I am not sober enough to fix the problem at this point. I will address it tomorrow and hopefully will be able to call this project complete.

So my 3 way on/on/on switch finally came in and I have it installed to select either bridge, neck, or both. I have run into a problem however and could use some assistance. I am using the EMG active PJ pickups with a buss. The switch is working as it should however the volume is about 10 times less than it was when I just had a jumper in bypassing the switch positions. Any advice would be welcomed at this point.

I love how precise and detailed your posts are on this. Great information and your prototype is turning out very nice as well.

Seriously, this is getting almost too hard to choose from. My vote went to The Owl and the Fox. The wood combo and the color choices for the hardware tie everything together beautifully.

this build is so badass. You have a great eye for detail and the concept- putting it together- well executed. Great job.

What he said. Very impressive.

For your hand drilling you might want to think of using a block of wood drilled in the correct locations. You could drill this out on the drill stand so your holes are perpendicular and then use it as a guide when drilling the body.

a quick google search for Aldridge Empire shows they have a Facebook page. Perhaps that might be a venue to contact them.

Started filing my first nut ever. Using a tusq blank. It took a little longer to get into shape than I had expected.

Checking string height. I don't always trust my measurements.

More filing. Getting closer. . .

Final fit. Took a few tries to get the width dialed in.

Strung up and tuned. Still have to set the saddle heights. Not too shabby though, the strings sit less than 1/8th from the fretboard. I double checked the neck at this point and only had to tweak the truss rod about a 1/4 turn to bring it true. I was a little worried about this part since I neglected to put in a neck angle and ended up recessing the bridge.

I bypassed the 3 way switch since it is back ordered (you might notice the missing control on the face) and tested out the wiring. All sounds good so far. Looking forward to wrapping this one up and not only being able to use it for any practice/gigging but also to move on to the next build.

I am seeing maybe one or two more posts on this project. As soon as I can install the switch and once the intonation has been completed. I will try and get some decent pics for that post. My camera kinda blows . . .

Thanks for any and all feedback that has been given on this. Not only has it has been greatly appreciated but has helped me make the decisions needed to complete this project.

Your designs are about as unique as I have seen. I cannot say I like all of them but I do give you credit for being original. This one in particular definitely suits my fancy. I think it is going to be stellar when completed and I look forward to watching your progress.

I would suggest doing a LOT of reading. This forum contains a lot of the information you are asking about and can be easily accessed with simple searches.

Very clean flowing lines.....this is a great looking bass......that line is worth repeating. Looking forward to seeing it strung up.

SR

Thanks Scott. That really means a lot. I too am really looking forward to getting it strung up. My switch was put on backorder so it looks like it will be a few weeks before I can call it complete however, I should get the strings soon and be able to start setup at the very least.

The list looks pretty comprehensive. Since it is for your business however I would suggest removing any abbreviations or slang and being very thorough with proof reading. Every little thing counts when you are a business.

The battery cables are just hiding in the rats nest of wiring. I assure you they are there and have been tested.

Pickups installed.

Pots, jack, preamp, and 18v battery box wired up.

All assembled minus the switch I am waiting on.

Nut blank in place. Strings are being shipped so waiting for them to arrive before I can file and shape. I do not have any flatwounds lying around and roundwounds will never touch this fretboard.

Have been slacking on updates. Finally finished the buffing. NOT impressed with the product used. As I was finishing it up I ran across a post where Wes was talking about what I think was the very same product and was having the very same issues I have run into. Curing times per the manufacturer are not accurate, if you spray lightly it doesn't cover right, if you spray too heavily it gets gummy and doesn't cure at all. If I had not applied 18 coats I think I would have removed all the finish before I got any results. There are still some issues with it but I will let you all look and see if you can find them.

Face buffed out:

Fretboard final sanded and oiled:

Buffing completed and ready for hardware:

Hardware installation started:

Assembly is on hold while I wait for a couple parts. I should have this project wrapped up within the week.

Love that spalted top.

Clear coat #18 has been applied to the bass and I have started buffing out the cavity cover. Still some minor scratches to remove but its coming out pretty nicely. 3 more days until I can start buffing out the actual instrument. Finishing has taken much longer than I had expected but I did not want to rush through anything.

Very cool idea. Can't wait to see it completed.

So I started scuffing back on coat 12 and realized that it was smoothing out really well. Barring any defects I am thinking that I am probably good at this point. My micromesh pads are pretty destroyed (used them with water on a restore a few years ago) so I have a new set ordered. I will finish leveling out the finish and decide if I need to spray any more once I have finished that.

Headstock faceplate smoothed to 12000 with my micromesh remnants:

The spots of light in this photo are the floodlights in the fixtures on the ceiling of my garage.

Personally I would just customize the he11 out of it. Why bother with 80's cheese when you can come up with something cool and original for a paint job?