Bigjas

To get started, you might want to start customizing/altering existing basses. You can swap necks, play with different pickups, learn how to set up a bass etc. Making a guitar /bass from scratch that plays well is very difficult and takes a lot of skill and practice. I have been working with wood for a living for the last 25 years and dabble with making guitars. Its very rewarding and I have learnt a hell of a lot about guitar set ups during the builds. Get a tool kit together, buy some timber and start working with it. Its quite good to see if you can copy an existing bass/guitar to start with, rather than trying to design your own. Good luck, don't give up at the first balls up........Jas

As a covers band, we played at an army base 3 times last year, they are really good gigs compared to pub gigs, guaranteed audience that will love you if you are any good. We played the officers mess Xmas party, I wore a dinner jacket........ Not my usual attire but it was fun. Jas

Having built my first Bass from scratch, I thought I might try my hand at re-finishing an existing one. So when I was offered a second hand Squier Affinity P Bass, I thought I would give it a go. The Bass is a 2005 (stamped on the neck) and had clearly not been looked after. The frets were grooved, the body had a lump out of it near the input jack, the pots were scratchy when turned, neck was quite dirty, clearly not loved. [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/87323611@N03/9215622286/"][/url] [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/87323611@N03/9215622286/"]IMG_2222Cropped[/url] by [url="http://www.flickr.com/people/87323611@N03/"]bigjas42[/url], on Flickr So the plan was to strip it back to just the timber and then upgrade all the components. Looking through hundreds of pictures I decided I would like a white body, black scratch plate and white headstock. All the hardware would be black, along with the strings. I didn't see many like this so thought it would be something different. First job was to take it all apart and start preparing the woodwork. I used a sander and lots of elbow grease to get a decent base to work from. [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/87323611@N03/9215607294/"][/url] [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/87323611@N03/9215607294/"]IMG_2247[/url] by [url="http://www.flickr.com/people/87323611@N03/"]bigjas42[/url], on Flickr Then the primer coats were sprayed on. I am using automotive rattle cans to paint it. I will upgrade and get some decent spray equipment in the future, although I have got quite a good finish by spraying plenty of thin coats and flattening it off between coats. [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/87323611@N03/9212831015/"][/url] [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/87323611@N03/9212831015/"]IMG_2249[/url] by [url="http://www.flickr.com/people/87323611@N03/"]bigjas42[/url], on Flickr [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/87323611@N03/9212829747/"][/url] [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/87323611@N03/9212829747/"]IMG_2251[/url] by [url="http://www.flickr.com/people/87323611@N03/"]bigjas42[/url], on Flickr I have put my logo on the headstock and cleaned up the fretboard. I have re-oiled it and dressed the frets. [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/87323611@N03/9215603910/"][/url] [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/87323611@N03/9215603910/"]IMG_2295[/url] by [url="http://www.flickr.com/people/87323611@N03/"]bigjas42[/url], on Flickr I have put Wilkinson tuners on. They are too big for the Squier headstock so need filing down and touching up with black paint. [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/87323611@N03/9215592766/"][/url] [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/87323611@N03/9215592766/"]IMG_2336[/url] by [url="http://www.flickr.com/people/87323611@N03/"]bigjas42[/url], on Flickr The scratch plate is 3 ply, the volume and tone knobs are black aluminium, Black bridge, black strap buttons, new pots and input jack, and new Tonerider pickups. [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/87323611@N03/9215580190/"][/url] [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/87323611@N03/9215580190/"]IMG_2368[/url] by [url="http://www.flickr.com/people/87323611@N03/"]bigjas42[/url], on Flickr And the finished Bass is just what I wanted. I have set it up and its had its first gig. I am really pleased with the finish and the sound. The new pickups are much better than the stock Squier ones. I like the DR Black Beauty strings too. [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/87323611@N03/9212785743/"][/url] [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/87323611@N03/9212785743/"]IMG_2401 Cropped[/url] by [url="http://www.flickr.com/people/87323611@N03/"]bigjas42[/url], on Flickr More pictures [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/87323611@N03/sets/72157634496323236/"]HERE[/url] Jas [url="http://jasebass.webs.com/"]http://jasebass.webs.com/[/url]

1 - Our band needed a bass player. 2 - I have always enjoyed listening to the bass parts in songs. 3 - Norman Watt Roy Jas

[quote name='threedaymonk' timestamp='1370810219' post='2105926'] Watch out for the size, though: the base plates are quite large, and might not fit the MIC headstock: [url="http://i.imgur.com/MpPVOH0.png"]http://i.imgur.com/MpPVOH0.png[/url] [/quote] They are a little to large for the squier headstock too. I have bought black ones and have filled the base plates down to fit and touched them up with black paint. Jas

I agree, a 500k pot is a 500k pot, but I am changing them because the original ones are noisy when turned, I will buy quality ones to raise the quality of the whole guitar along with the other components. Jas

I am doing the same as the OP, I have bought a beaten up squier for £80 and once I have finished with it, the only original parts that will remain are the body and neck. I am currently re-painting it, dressing the frets and swapping out all the pots, pickups etc. the resale value won't be anywhere near what I spend on the parts but I end up with a custom bass that I want, rather than an off the shelf one. I would say carry on spending and create the bass that YOU want, it's a fun and rewarding thing to do. Jas

Bought a set of strings, great comms and quick delivery. Thanks Jas

[quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1366556669' post='2053958'] I never keep the dials all the way for this reason. It's good to have headroom when you need a boost. . [/quote] Yep, this is what I do, along with hitting the strings a little harder when needed. Jas

Total respect for you Wilko, a true legend, can't say that about many people............... Jas

Cold temperatures do not affect timber, its differences in moisture content of timber that causes it to move/swell/shrink. The biggest problem is condensation forming with the constant warming and cooling in your studio. It probably wouldn't affect the timber components as they are usually sealed with a lacquer or oil, but anything metalic will have moisture forming on it. I keep my instruments in my house where there is a fairly regular temperature. Jas

Looking forward to following this one, lots of pictures please I'm the same as Myke, I would love my own studio, very jealous. Enjoy the build Jas

For me it's got to be good service. I have received poor service from Nevada who are just down the road from me and I won't go back there. I drive past their shop and travel a further 20 miles to M B music in Bognor to get treated in a way a customer should. Jas

I bought my first Bass guitar 6 months before I joined a band, I didn't really play it much until I joined a band, then I played it loads Jas

Well, I took it to rehearsals last night and I am extremely happy It plays and sounds great, just how I wanted it to. For most of the time I used the Bridge Pickup soloed as it sounds so good. It held its tune all night and was comfortable to play. Now thats satisfaction!! and on to the next build...................... Jas

[quote name='BassBus' timestamp='1363277561' post='2010938'] Beautiful bass and the best position for the back pickup. Bet that sounds good soloed. [/quote] Thanks, I'll find out tonight There is some info regarding pickup positions that I stumbled across on the web, its such a fascinating subject to research. Jas

[quote name='scojack' timestamp='1363273400' post='2010832'] Looks really good Jas.... especially for a first build ! So ....what's the next one going to be? [/quote] Yeah I'm really pleased with the end result, I never thought it would actually play so well. hmm the next one................... I have got the building bug and have started thinking about a 5 string Bass I have learnt so much from my first build it would be a shame to waste all that learning Jas

Tonight it will get its first proper test at rehearsal. So far it sounds good and plays well in my lounge, just can't wait to play it with the rest of the band. Jas

For a few years now, I have wanted to have a go at making a guitar or bass but never had the confidence or time to have a go. I read these pages and follow builds and read the technical forums and I have learnt quite a lot, but not as much as I have actually making one!! This is not so much a build diary, but a reflection on the past couple of months and to share my experiences. I am a Carpentry and Joinery teacher in a College so the woodworking side of things has been pretty straight forward, but I have never maintained let alone made a guitar before. The most I have ever done to a guitar is change the strings and give it a clean every now and then. To those of you out there who can competently build guitars and other instruments I take my hat off to you, you have a great talent. So this was my idea.............. to build a Bass Guitar for me to use in my covers band. I wanted the bass to look nice, but also to play well and sound half decent, but on a budget. The timber I used was sourced from the off cuts bin at work, most of the fittings were bought from ebay (the cheapest I could find) and the pickups were secondhand from a member from Basschat I have not added up all the bills but I think it comes to a healthy £150 ish all in. The Bass has an Ash body with Walnut top and Burr Elm Veneer, Ash neck with American Black Walnut Fretboard, Wilkinson Tuners and Seymore Duncan SSB-4 Pickups. So, here comes the last few months of wood butchering and head scratching in pictures................. Jas [attachment=129928:IMG_0772.JPG] [attachment=129930:IMG_0906.JPG] [attachment=129931:IMG_1008.JPG] [attachment=129932:IMG_1100.JPG] Won't let me upload any more pictures, but I have written a blog here with more details and pictures [url="http://jasebass.webs.com/jasebass-001-bass-guitar"]http://jasebass.webs.com/jasebass-001-bass-guitar[/url]

That is so clever I'm sure it won't be 100% accurate all the time with all songs, but it makes working out songs so much easier. This is a long way from when I used to sit at a tape deck, starting and stopping and rewinding songs to work them out Jas

There was plenty of sweat at the Portsmouth gig!! Jas

I saw him at Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms a couple of weeks ago, don't think there was a dry eye in the place when he was playing Bye Bye Johnny. It was a cracking gig/performance and leaves me with very good memories of him. Jas

They cost 2100 Yen which is roughly £14, posted. I got the SB30 side dots. Jas

[quote name='JimBobTTD' timestamp='1362374883' post='1999039'] I bought some from the seller in Japan. It arrived in four days. No problems. [/quote] Yep, I bought some from the seller in Japan 2 weeks ago and it also arrived in 4 days. Jas