Andyjr1515

Thanks, folks - you are all too kind

The best finish, in my personal view, is also one of the easiest - Tru-oil slurry and buff. This is my preferred finish on my own instruments as well as those I build for other people. The neck ends up SILKY smooth, keeps the dirt out, still feels like wood. What's not to like Nic's (gelfin) Moradian neck was done like that: The piccolo bass I've just finished also done like that: It's well documented in various places, but basically:[list] [*]Apply a decent coat of the tru-oil with a rag and let it dry at least overnight [*]Lightly sand and add another coat - leave that overnight to dry too [*]With some 600-800 wet and dry, use it wetted with tru-oil and create a fine slurry as you work up the neck (wear latex gloves - it's messy!). Wipe off the slurry after just a few minutes with a mircofibre or similar lint-free cloth. [*]Repeat after a couple of hours [*]And again [*]Then do the same with 800 grit, but this time, wipe off the wet slurry with one cloth and with a dry, unused cloth, immediately buff vigorously. You should get a satin smooth surface almost immediately. It will be a little tacky to touch for an hour or so but will dry to a very decent protective surface [*]You might want to repeat for an even smoother satin finish, but it will be usable after one [*]After an overnight, once it is fully dry, give it a final buff up with a clean cloth [/list] So - a couple of days and can all be done in the spare room! Personally, I do the same for my fretboards (and certainly for the all in one maple ones) and it's the same process for a satin finish on a body wood if that's the sort of thing that appeals. You just have to FEEL this silky smoothness to understand just how good this technique is. There has been no other finish on this walnut, mahogany, maple or snakewood than what I have described above:

[quote name='gelfin' timestamp='1489420311' post='3256760'] Lovely work again Andy. Was there meant to be a Swift in the truss rod cover? [/quote] No - I thought it might be one bling too far

OK - brass nut cut and installed and arty-farty pictures taken so I now pronounce this project finished! Please forgive the self-indulgence :

[quote name='Bastav' timestamp='1489398414' post='3256509'] That looks very tasty indeed [/quote] Thanks, Bastav. Much appreciated

[quote name='stearstree1304' timestamp='1489396940' post='3256497'] Absolutely top notch build. Lovely looking instrument. Its new owner will be chuffed to bits to receive that!! [/quote] Thanks . I will be passing it across to him next week

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1489332143' post='3256081'] Fixed.. [/quote] Of course...what else?

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1489333034' post='3256091'] Best build yet, Andy - truly magnificent. [/quote] Thanks, Paul. I have to say I well chuffed with it

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1489331082' post='3256073'] Love the shots of the rear....the gold hardware certainly complements the colour of the timber. Pete must be feeling tortured watching this thread.. [/quote] He doesn't follow the threads, so I can say whatever I like about him

I'll do the arty farty shots when the brass nut has arrived and I've decided which strings I like best (at the moment I've got 2 jazz flatwounds and two acoustic bronzes on ), but it's pretty much done. Here are a few shots:

I agree with Harry. The ones I've bought or worked on have been superb value for money and perfect for selective modding.

[quote name='Andyjr1515' timestamp='1489165902' post='3254927'] When you say bowing backwards, do you mean that frets 1,2,3,7,8,9,10 are lower than the rest? Assuming I've understood correctly, if it was just 1-3, I would have said tighten the truss rod. If it is 1-3 and 7-10, it sounds like you need the frets levelling (and re-crowning). It's not a huge job but does need to be done by someone who knows what they are doing. Are there any 'Basschat members willing to help other basschat members' on the sticky thread that are in your area? [/quote] The [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/277468-bcers-prepared-to-help-fix-a-bass/"]updated list is at the beginning of the thread here[/url]

[quote name='addictedtobass' timestamp='1489155079' post='3254800'] hi all. my eb0 bass has been playing a bit doggy recently so i decided to get to the bottom of the issue , and after putting a straight edge over the frets it looks like the nut end frets 1-3 are bowing backwards and the same with frets 7-10 . can this be easily fixed ? or is it going to be a money pit ? being only en epi it would be silly throwing loads of cash at it .if so its a wall deco from now on or at best get a new neck and do a frankenbass jobbie. cheers bob [/quote] When you say bowing backwards, do you mean that frets 1,2,3,7,8,9,10 are lower than the rest? Assuming I've understood correctly, if it was just 1-3, I would have said tighten the truss rod. If it is 1-3 and 7-10, it sounds like you need the frets levelling (and re-crowning). It's not a huge job but does need to be done by someone who knows what they are doing. Are there any 'Basschat members willing to help other basschat members' on the sticky thread that are in your area?

REALLY looking forward to this, Bastav That's what I call a spec! Armchair and popcorn ready

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1489088484' post='3254341'] Probably feel like the longest week of his life..."[i]Is it here yet??[/i]" [/quote]

Quick shot of the 'first fitting' with some strings on. Visually, the main changes to come will be the brass nut, the knobs, etc, and the bridge ferrules that fit inside the holders (photographed were some old large telecaster ones I happened to have - they are needed because guitar string ball-ends are too small for the bass bridge retainers) I reckon this will be ready to pass across to Pete by the end of next week...

[quote name='Oopsdabassist' timestamp='1489070935' post='3254155'] Definitely loving that combo, and a brass nut to finish off..........hmm maybe the frets should have gold coloured ....*hides* [/quote] You can come out of your hiding place...they are EVO Golds

[quote name='FuNkShUi' timestamp='1489047174' post='3253897'] As always, looking cracking mate! [/quote] Thanks, Kert!

[quote name='sblueplanet' timestamp='1489029158' post='3253854'] The gold and black gives the bass a boutique quality and the body shape with that hollow chamber is killer. Have you tried the look of a brass nut instead of black? [/quote] Thanks Yes - that's on the list. I've been looking for a blank that is the right dimensions but needed to get the strings on at this stage to do the 'first fit' checks so used a length of blank I had in the bits box. On a more general note in terms of playability, the initial conclusions are that: - the volute is a bit too big and a bit too far forward, particularly where the bass strings rake back - the relatively light string tension means that the truss-rod is basically loose. - the bridge saddles are set quite high for a normal (electric 6 string) action. They are within adjustment limits, but I will consider adding a shim under the bridge cluster - some further fret-levelling is needed to sort a few buzzes. I generally do a light levelling first time round to get a feel of the set up before removing too much metal! - I will check the clearance so I don't break through into the truss rod, but I might slim the neck just a touch, but I'll play it a bit more with the other stuff sorted before I do that

[quote name='stearstree1304' timestamp='1488999253' post='3253640'] Whichever combination you go for, the best bit is that you'll have to build another bass using the leftovers!!! [/quote] ...or, as MrsAndyjr1515 put it, "So what are you going to do with the left over bits, then??? Oh....nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!" Here's how it's looking with mixing everywhere. I'm actually quite liking this even though it is significantly outlandish!!

There's another option someone came up with that I'll try this evening - black body, gold ferrule, gold knob. Personality complex or wot!

Thanks, folks. Any views on another possible permutation? The above has gold tuners with a black ferrule, but it might pull it altogether to go black tuners with black ferrule: Here they are side by side: Any views?

I've been fiddling about with permutations and combinations of the hardware. I generally steer clear of gold, but the colours of the wood are just shouting out for something more than black to set them off. Chrome also wasn't quite right when I tried a couple of items. I tried gold tuners - they suited the headstock much more than the black. I tried a gold pickup ring - that looked the ticket. But gold bridge elements - screamed bling and cheap. So with some mixing and matching of components, I've come up with this: What do you think? Too bling? Too John Player Special (although, even as a non-smoker, that was always pretty darned cool!)?

[quote name='Andyjr1515' timestamp='1488875502' post='3252472'] This? [/quote] There are, of course, limits and there are some downsides, but doing this significantly reduces weight, but also allows a very much slimmer neck heel:

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1488838561' post='3252341'] Show us the body profile?? Just love the sculpture contours on mine... [/quote] This?