Jabba_the_gut

Funny - I just started building (well I've drawn it out and and sorted some parts) for a 23" scale thing. I've also been looking at using the lower 4 strings from a 5 string set to get EADG or to use a 4 string set to get BEAD but an octave up. Mine won't be finished (will barely been started as I have house DIY to do) but I'm looking forward to seeing this one. Cheers Jez

It is 29.5" scale but it does look very small in that picture!!!

Agree with Andy @Andyjr1515 on this especially with that top horn being so rounded. Most guitar tops tend to be around 5mm+ in thickness whereas the veneer will be typically 0.6mm which gives you very little to work with for a rounded edge. The semi hollow bass I made recently is sapele with a spalted beech top and very rounded edges like that Corvette. The top I used was 10mm thick to achieve that effect. Cheers

I'll be bringing that short scale bass that is on the table next to me in this picture, as it was completed about a month after this bash. Looking forward to catching up with everyone and the very tasty food!!

Looking good so far and nice to have the proper pickups for it! But like drinking and smoking, building basses can become addictive and expensive!! 😉 Cheers Jez

That really does look lovely!!

Cheers Andy. Looking forward to catching up at the SW Bash.

Plenty long enough then!

That Makita looks like a nice unit. I've recently got a Triton JOF001 which I really like. It has a really nice micro depth adjuster. I don't think you'd want something too small if you are doing the edges of a body. I don't think you'll beat a router for this task - don't even consider a Dremel or the like. They're only any good for free hand shaping or inlay work (with the precision base) in my opinion. I've also got a cheap Black and Decker router (was about £50) and that has been plenty good enough up to now. I only got the Triton for thereof adjuster and the 1/2" collet. There was a router for sale in the 'sell anything' forum. Cheers Jez

It's a bit difficult to tell from this picture but even with the bridge right at the back, can you still make a sufficiently big neck pocket?

I'll be being a pair of RS112s - hoping to hear how they sound with other amps. Not long now and I've finished two basses I've built ready for this. Looking forward to it!

Hi Andy. I quite like the preamp (could do with a bit more explanation / documentation) - there's just enough tone control with the top end roll off. Certainly sounds better than the piezo on its own. See what you think at the SW Bass Bash. How did you find it in Mick's bass as you were using it with both piezo and mag pickups? I struggled to find a piezo only preamp so half of this one isn't being used!! The only thing I could really find was Café Walter preamp but that means ordering from the States. Cheers P. S. I'm hoping there's a decent fretless player there to see what it really sounds like - I'm useless with it!!! My neighbour is a guitar teacher and had a quick noodle before the preamp was fitted and it sounded very nice in his hands.

Really must try to finish this one - has it really been two years since I last did any work on it?!!!

And finally finished this one ready for the SW Bass Bash.

Fitted the preamp to this today so it is now finished!! Hooray!! Ready for the SW Bass Bash.

Too bloody cold to go into the garage so I've taken over the utility room this time! Nice to stay in the warm getting these jobs done isn't it?!!

Taped the neck up and have been working n the frets. I've used a beam to level the frets (needed very little work - which was pleasing)., then I've re-crowned them and polished the ends. Time to remove the tape and start assembling this now. The only thing left to make is a small plat to go under the string retainer just to raise it a little. I'll do this this afternoon while Leicester beat Chelsea in the FA Cup......

This is a great thing to remember - you can also do the same with a soldering iron if you can't get a steam iron in but you just have to be a bit more careful. I've used a soldering ireon a few times and it is actually quite surprising how big a dent you can remove!!

I will try to remember to take photos when I do it!! What I don't want is a bit of card or similar just sitting in the neck pocket as a shim - that doesn't feel properly finished to me. I'll use a piece or two of veneer to work out how much of an angle I need to introduce. Then I'll glue a couple of pieces of veneer together to get the same thickness. The veneer pieces are bigger than the neck pocket and are sanded into a wedge, cut it to the size of the neck pocket then glued it in place. I'll use the a veneer made from the body wood so the shim matches (even though it won't be seen!). I need to start looking at introducing a slight angle in the neck pocket when I route it - I'll try that on the next build!

Wenge is very nice if you find it flat sawn. This is another one of my basses (which has been an on going project for a long time as I cant decide what finish to use!!) with a wenge top on rippled sycamore. This piece of wenge was once a floor board......

Cheers Andy. Just got to get it finished and set-up!!

Rippled ash is lovely! This is one of my basses with a two piece rippled ash body. Lucky with this piece as it was two colours which gives the light central part.

Cheers for all the comments. Progress on this has been slow recently - between work and the garage being so cold getting some of the remaining jobs done is taking a while!! I have managed to get a few things done though. I've put the bass together to make sure everything fits, the neck angle is correct etc. Needs a little shim but otherwise went together nicely. Couldn't resist trying it and very pleased with how it plays and sounds. Shame I have to take it to pieces again to finish the frets and build a shim but nearly there!!! Not the best photos, but here's how its looks: Still deciding on a string retainer: And with its sister fretless bass (which also need finishing off - preamp needs fitting) Right, I'm off to take it to bits and finish those frets!! Must get this finished for the SW Bass Bash!! Cheers Jez