Jabba_the_gut

This might be the link to it http://basschat.co.uk/topic/240391-sold-firecreek-hollow-body-5-string-fretless-bass-sold/page__fromsearch__1

PM'd

[quote name='Ghost_Bass' timestamp='1456251510' post='2987122'] As a coincidence yesterday i was looking at this: [url="http://noll-electronic.de/bass-electronics/mixpot/"]http://noll-electron...tronics/mixpot/[/url] May do the trick. [/quote] I've looked and found a couple of things that may be of interest for this type of set-up. John East does a module that sounds like it would do the job 'MPM-01' but I've also found a website '[url="http://www.cafewalter.com/cafewalter/fetpre/index.htm"]Cafe Walter[/url]' that has a piezo circuit.

[quote name='scojack' timestamp='1456219214' post='2986641'] No it's fine Jabba thanks........ you've got more than enough to be getting on with . I was thinking of a wee floating job to allow me a degree of intonation adjustment, there was a big difference on my last 5 string so i'd worry about settling on a fixed bridge. Have you had any thoughts on the electrics...mixing the piezo/mags ? Ian [/quote] No worries! But what you said about adjustment has got me thinking about another possibility. That's the trouble with this - too many ideas and not enough time!!

[quote name='Ghost_Bass' timestamp='1456251510' post='2987122'] As a coincidence yesterday i was looking at this: [url="http://noll-electronic.de/bass-electronics/mixpot/"]http://noll-electron...tronics/mixpot/[/url] May do the trick. [/quote] Thanks for the link - looks quite interesting and very compact.

[quote name='scojack' timestamp='1455792489' post='2982424'] Do me a 5 string version Jab will ya ?! [/quote] I've got a 5 string acoustic bass and the saddle is the same length so shouldn't be too difficult to follow the dimensions. I might be able to look at this in a few weeks depending on how busy I am or diy my wife finds for me(!!) - will let you know. What shape are you thinking?

Hoorah! Finally did the binding and I'm happy with it!! Just hope I don't make any mistake whilst installing the dots/LEDs...... (The other fretboard in the picture is going to go on one of the 'recycled front door basses' I'm doing in another thread).

I made the second bridge with the idea of fitting this to the first bass I ever made which currently has a Schaller 2000 bridge on it. I reshaped the wooden bridge a little to match the body shape - I think this would look quite nice. No quite sure how to amend the electronics for this but that's for another time!! Still got a little work to do on both piezo bridges but really pleased with how they turned out especially after the first attempt!! Ultimately it just came down to holding the work piece more securely and not trying to take too much off in one go.

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1455394932' post='2978836'] I think I had the same metal musicman type bridge that you have on my build... is it the one with the insets for the 2 side bolts? If so it's not bad but the 3 screws you get with it are made of butter. Get different screws to install it! (I learned the hard way) [/quote] Yep, that's the one. Thanks for the advice - I'll make sure I use some decent screws!!

Had a second go at the bridge - much better results this time (i.e. it is still in one piece!!). I used my router again for this but changed the way I clamped it and that has worked nicely. I've still got to do a bit more work on it but quite pleased do far. I'm actually thinking of making another bridge to put on a fretless bass (the first bass I ever made that gave me the bug for this building lark!!). I've got the start of the bridge using the second piece I prepared in case this went wrong.

Cheers for the comments and suggestions. I've made two more bridges that are ready to cut to shape - but this time I'll try it on some scraps first!! I have a 6mm diameter template cutter that I will try as it may be less aggressive, as suggested. I might also try with a normal cutter but use several passes to achieve the cut depth around the edge. I'll post the results oh here - good or bad!!

Was going quite nicely and I was starting to sort the outline..... ......but the router decided to bite and dismantle it for me. Oh well. Got another piece of wood so will try again..... Bugger!!

Cheers for all the comments. I have to say, I'm really enjoying doing this build. I need a few more bits of wood yet but things are getting there!! Tonight I started roughing out a piece of wood that I'm hoping to make a piezo loaded bridge from. I've made a template for the basic shape but have not done too much more than to have cut a nice slot. Will go back in the garage tomorrow and try to shape this.

....and fitted some new binding. Still not happy with it as there is a small glue line between the veneer layers that will annoy me!! So, off the binding has come again and the fret board cleaned up again. New bindings are trimmed and ready to have another go - hopefully more successful this time......

I've made a p-bass pickup template which has worked really well. So I've now routed the P and J pickups for this. Just the easy routing for the control cavity to to then a load of sanding for this body!!

Quite agree regarding the Chinese hardware - I've found this to be a lottery. I've ordered maybe 4 sets of tuners in the past and 2 sets have been really good, the other two would be fine except the washer/ferrule has been the wrong size. I also bought the bridge being used on this build which is okay but the chrome plating isn't the best. None of these have been a patch on the Schaller tuners I've used before which I've found to be excellent (and have been very helpful when I'd managed to lose a ferrule once). Ultimately, you get the quality you pay for!!

Cheers for the comments. I've got some bits of hardware that I've accumulated along the way that I'll use - most of it is cheap stuff bought direct from China on eBay I the past. I am still thinking of making a piezo bridge for one of these basses hence one of them does not have any holes drilled on the plate for controls, just a jack socket. I've also got my hands on a bit more scrap wood that might be good, including what looks like another block of teak.

I quite agree Andy. I want it to be right else I won't be happy!! I've been in the garage tonight (very cold!) and trimmed the old binding off. I've sanded the neck and the fretboard and now I'll try again....third time lucky with this fretboard!!

Did some rough sanding to see if this would work and it won't! Shouldn't be too hard to fix - I'll use the router to remove the binding and trim the board a little. Then I'll redo the binding with a little bit more room for error.......

Cut the scratchplate today from the plastic that was in the back of a notebook - really pleased with it!! I've also done a little bit of rough shaping of the corners. Quite looking forward to seeing how this turns out!!

I like that - very nice build!

I've found something that might be good to recycle into a scratchplate for this build and quite an unlikely source. I've finished a notepad that I picked up at a meeting once and noticed the back cover is black plastic and about 1.5mm thick. It's really hard wearing and has a slight grain on the front. Hopefully it will cut ok. I will to reshape the scratchplate a little - I'll give it a try in the next couple of days! My issue now is that I need to find something to make the fretboard from so the majority of this bass is recycled from something. I was thinking about a spare board I have already but now I would much prefer to find something to make one from. Have to see if I can find some olf furniture at the tip!!