Jabba_the_gut

I think that is always interesting when things wrong and you need to fix (and learn not to do it again!!). I've made several mistakes on builds and had to repair or redo something ( normally as the result of an angry router..) but it has been quite pleasing when you make a near invisible repair. And your fix definitely goes into the invisible category! Lovely build!

Cheers - trying to get that finished for the weekend too but as you can see, it still needs a bit of work on the neck.....

Yep - will probably levelling the frets and trying different strings there as well!!!

I don't really know - haven't got the opportunity to try it until the weekend!! Will let you know then.... Cheers

Last few pictures from this build. First up is the shielding of the control cavity, I've found the self adhesive copper sheet easy enough to work with. I have found two distinct thicknesses of it but both seem to stick equally well. You can also see from this picture how it would be very difficult to drill frim the control cavity to the battery box at this point - much easier to pre-drill holes before assembling the two halves of the body. I've fitted an EMG 35 DC pickup and EMG 2 band preamp. Will see how it performs before I decide if they are staying. EMG active pickups do not need a grounding wire to the bridge - there is a wire connected to the bridge but it does not connect to anything. It is just there if I decide to change to a different type of pickup at a later date. I bought a cheap box of crimp connectors so I can make up my own interconnects to suit the EMG parts. It's fairly tight in there to work - the plug together parts have made this a bit easier! I had to route a small recess into the neck pocket for the wire off the pickup. This is an older EMG pickup that does not have quick connect plugs; it has a wire out of the back of it that just needed a little more depth. With the exception of the screws to hold the control cavity cover in place, all of the assembly is complete. It does need a bit of setting up and fret levelling but it is not too far off the mark at this point. Only frustration is that I haven't really got opportunity to play it through an amp at the moment - that will have to wait until the weekend. I'm also still trying to finish another bass for the weekend but that still has lots to be done!!

There's always things like this on eBay that may be worth looking at as a starting point: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-ELECTRIC-PAULOWNIA-J-BASS-BODY-3-and-MAPLE-NECK-BLACKWOOD-FB-34-Scale/232858003923?hash=item36376b29d3:g:pBQAAOSwCA5bUxY~

Have a go - you may be surprised!

Doh! Fat fingers....! Duplicate post - deleted.

Know that feeling! Had driers and dehumidifier in my kitchen for over a week due to a leak that had gone unseen for a long time (years probably..). Entire kitchen is being removed tomorrow and the floor so everything can dry out. Luckily, the garage hasn’t been impacted so I’m trying to finish a bass build at the moment!! I’ll keep an eye on this thread as I might be able to help with a few things when you pick this project up again. Cheers

I’ve used some of the clear stuff before. It’s very thin and gives a good finish. Not sure if it was the same brand but you could get inkjet or laser paper. I used the laser one and finished over it with water based lacquer. I seem to remember that the laser one can’t be finished with nitro and the inkjet can’t be finished with water based finishes. Cheers Jez

All wired up and making a noise!! I fitted an EMG 35DC and 2 band EMG preamp in the end.... A few little things left to do but the end is in sight!! Will post some more pictures later.

Hi Anzoid - where abouts are you based? Cheers Jez

Trying to get these finished for the bash - it's going to be tight!!

A few of mine

Cheers @honza992 but it must be said that the pictures of the two builds you just put in the gallery are stunning. Even so much so, that I'll let you off for one of them being a Telecaster!!

I'm obviously quite lucky to have a wife that doesn't object (too much) to about a dozen basses and various planks of wood knocking around the house. Oh and the large tool chest (still) in the utility room. Or maybe I just haven't recognised the danger yet...…!!

Cheers @SpondonBassed. Just one of those things discovered by accident and before you know it turns into something a bit bigger. It's a pain the $$*& but not the end of the world!!

I'm in Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire

That's a shame - would have liked your feedback as you are used to these funny, small bass things!!

Thanks @ped. That's is interesting to know - I'll be interested myself to see how this turns out!! I should have this one finished for the SE Bass Bash so folk can have a play with it and see what they think. That's the trouble with bass bashes though - this project started after I had a quick go on your Wingbass last year!!!

It's a bit of an experiment but my plan is to use the lower four strings from a five string set which should (by my calculations so may well be wrong1) give me standard EADG tuning. I've also got some other strings I will try that are much lighter - might possibly get EADG from them but an octave up. Will also try standard strings which should give BEAD an octave up. Will be a bit if trial and error to see what works and sounds best. Cheers Jez

Been doing some sanding on the body - there's some really nice grain and flame appearing. Still hoping to get this in a playable state for the SE Bass Bash but it's going to be tight! Just need to sand the body, finish the body, shape the neck, do the inlay, fit the frets, fit the electronics etc etc...….!!! And I'm ignoring the kitchen that has been wrecked by a leak, has the flooring up, drier and dehumidifier installed, will need all the units to be removed, new floor fitted, kitchen re-installed, new flooring across the whole downstairs. That can wait - must get the build finished first for the bash!!!!

I've done plenty of sanding today and put the first coat of oil on. This first coat of oil is quite light and will show up any little flaws - there are a few that need sanding but generally I'm quite pleased so far. The top has got dome depth to in in quite a few places. I've assembled it again just to see how it looks together, took a few pictures and then dismantled it again to carry on working on the finish.

I'd need to speak to @Andyjr1515 and find out how to take decent photos first! But I'd be quite happy to add any pictures of my builds if folk are interested. I know what you mean @TheGreek, it would almost like a coffee table book that you can you just scroll though and look at the pictures. Be nice for reference and inspiration. Cheers

Done a few more bits and pieces on this in the last couple of days. I've finally settled on a EMG35 sized pickup for this as it suits the design. I've got an EMG35DC from another bass I'm going to use for this. So first thing is to make a template for the pickup route. I used my standard approach of nailing little bits of wood to make the pickup outline then using a router template cutter to cut this neatly. It sounds a bit crude but it makes very neat templates and I've found these to be accurate to within about 0.2mm. This ends up with a template looking like this: And a pickup route like this: I also made a cover for the control cavity: Next task is a load of sanding......