rubis

There's a link to a thread on Talkbass, one of many, about doing just this. Some have got around it by routing the p bass pickup out in reverse if you know what I mean, like it is on a Yamaha BB bass [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/anyone-have-warmoth-p-bass-mm-pickup-sweet-spot-511322/"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/anyone-have-warmoth-p-bass-mm-pickup-sweet-spot-511322/[/url] There's also ths link, with pics!, from these very pages. This includes the lovely Pingray from Ou7shined [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/173421-fender-precision-with-musicman-pickup-modification/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/173421-fender-precision-with-musicman-pickup-modification/[/url] good luck with your project and keep us all posted Harry

Not seen one of these before, very nice condition though! [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Classic-Marshall-30W-Bass-Amplifier-1970s-/170925001815?pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL&hash=item27cbec8c57"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Classic-Marshall-30W-Bass-Amplifier-1970s-/170925001815?pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL&hash=item27cbec8c57[/url]

"I wonder if retro-chambering could be done! Kept to the wings it could make a number of heavy basses much more comfortable. Routed from the back, could be painted and left open." I have seen it done on a telecaster, it was quite successful in terms of reducing weight, here's a link [url="http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaster-discussion-forum/71878-weight-reduction-plan.html"]http://www.tdpri.com...ction-plan.html[/url] Thanks spiritchaser I did some work on the neck this weekend and was thankful for a mask

I'd like to think its educated guesstimation

I'm looking forward to getting to grips with the neck. The grain on the blank is 90 degrees so it should be really stiff. I was going to use carbon rods again but under advice I won't be, they would be OTT I've read that Wenge necks can be left just wire-woolled, is that what you do, or do you apply some oil?

Hi 4 Strings thanks for raising an interesting argument I don't know about you but it seems that the more I read about the tonal properties of different woods and or chambering the more confused I become. I guess until someone builds two identical instruments, one chambered, one not and then swaps hardware from one to another to compare them, then the whole subject is open to conjecture. In the case of this build I'm doing it mostly because the tambooti is heavier than I'd like it to be and I have a problem with my right shoulder so a lighter bass would be preferable. I've done chambered telecasters before so I thought I'd give it a go on this one. Also, I wanted this Blingray and my previoius one to be something that is not available from Musicman, otherwise it would be easier just to buy one! I won't be putting "F" holes on it, I know most opinions are that they accentuate the effect of chambering, because I don't think it would look quite right on this style and also because the top chamber isn't large enough due to the wood which had to be left in place for the tummy cut at the back. I'll post a pic to expain this shortly I would say Wenge is a hard wood, very brittle and splintery, apparently excellent for necks, although I 've never tried one, another reason for using it and also the fact that MM have never done a bass with a Wenge neck..........we all like to be different! I know Wal used it as a body top wood and it is quite a popular option so there must be some good qualities other than its looks! I honestly don't know how much a top wood affects the sound althouth this one will be thicker than usual cheers Harry

Cool project, best of luck sir

That looks amazing, how on earth are you going to fill and finish that, with some sort of resin or something? Magnificent project sir

Here is the body blank, one piece Tambooti, with a priliminary sketch up for the chambering, I may simplify the lower chambering by just routing from the top and then dropping the pre-amp in through the control plate cutout in the way that a MM Stingray is. [attachment=120349:Picture 009.jpg] Here is the Wenge top, at present it's 18mm thick. I did briefly toy with the idea of a carved top, but I have neither the time, skill or confidence to attempt that although it might have been interesting! [attachment=120350:Picture 007.jpg] There will be a light coloured sycamore veneer between the Tambooti and the Wenge top Here is the neck blank, definately quartersawn! [attachment=120351:Picture 004.jpg] I took it into the school where I work and sliced off what (I hope!) will become the fingerboard and headstock veneer. There will be a contrasting sycamore veneer running underneath the fingerboard and then following the headstock curve which will be capped with the rest of the Wenge from the fingerboard (no waste here !). [attachment=120352:Picture 005.jpg] [attachment=120353:Picture 006.jpg] If all goes well it should flow nicely together and look quite co-ordinated. I've got a cunning plan for putting the 'Rubis' name on the front of the headstock, if I can practice on a few bits of scrap and get it aligned right I will cut the logo out of the Wenge veneer with the school laser cutter before glueing it on so that the name shows through in the light colour of the sycamore veneer beneath. Fingers crossed!

This build was originally going to be a slab bodied P-bass for a competition being run over on Talkbass, here's the links [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f57/3-wood-build-challenge-887238/"]http://www.talkbass....allenge-887238/[/url] [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f57/3-wood-challenge-african-queen-894093/"]http://www.talkbass....n-queen-894093/[/url] For various reasons, mainly to do with time, I wasn't going to be able to finish it but then they have extended the deadline to November so I thought I'd have a go, however, it has taken a change in direction, I will still be using the Wenge and Tambooti but I will now be using Sycamore veneer for an accent line instead of spalted walnut (allegedly!) and more importantly it will not be a P-bass because having thought about it, I decided that a P-bass looks more suitable (to me anyway) with less exotic woods. I will do a P-bass build at a later stage but not with these woods. So, the details of this build will now be as follows A Wenge Blingray A 4 string fretted St***ray style bass with a couple of personal twists (to me thats the whole point of building your own!) 1 piece chambered Tambooti body Sycamore accent line Wenge top Quarter sawn Wenge neck with Sycamore accent line beneath the fingerboard (no carbon rods!) Duncan SMB4 pickup MM Sabre clone preamp (thanks Tommo!) Series/parrallel switch and a bright switch (I've read that Wenge can darken the tone somewhat) String through option on bridge Schaller BM's I will probably put an oil finish or Rustins Plastic coat on the body for speed, but leave the neck bare (I am open to suggestions based on the experience of others with Wenge necks) I know it will look quite dark and with little in the way of contrast, but that's exactly the look I am aiming for

PM'd

I bet he's got a tiny todger

Is there a gap along the sides of the neck pocket? If so, I have some veneer sheet, I can send you some to glue in there to close up the gap Why are you refinishing it? It looks fine to me, try a tort pick guard in it and it will look great....IMO!

Sea Foam Green but with a pickguard

This is fascinating reading, very best of luck with your 'quest' I can totally understand your reasons for starting this project and admire your tenacity Have you seen any of the builds which Gail Yarron has shown on the TDPRI site, he has a similar obsessive nature, particularly in his Les Paul build, but he is a bass player foremost with a particular soft spot for Precisions Here is a link to a list of his build diaries [url="http://www.tdpri.com/forum/search.php?searchid=7145695"]http://www.tdpri.com/forum/search.php?searchid=7145695[/url] thanks for posting this Rick Harry