Andyjr1515

Although I've still got a few other smaller things on the go (including it being 'that time' in the garden), this project very much isn't forgotten! I'm planning to start sorting out the body wood and probably order the neck timber next week. Clearly on a build like this, the body shape is pretty fundamental. I drew out the profile of the original full size and Nic pencilled in some tweaks to do - mainly just slimming down the rear bout, top an bottom just a touch. It is VERY subtle, but actually makes quite a difference to the look. This is the final shape - you can just see the original lines if you look closely!: We are also developing the spec. Subject to changes as things develop to suit anything specific Nic wants, but so far we have: [list] [*]Solid colour - cream [*]Mahogany top and back to give it 'gravitas' but with judicious weight reducing chambers incorporated [*]Maple laminated through neck with single centre splice [*]Rosewood fingerboard [*]Recess to accommodate a 'hidden' Smoothound wireless tx, but also capable of accepting standard jack [*]Headstock shape to be decided [*]P/ups & EQ/No EQ still being discussed (but includes tentative discussion about the DiMarzio Model One - Nic's thoughts and total coincidence that this is what I fitted in the EB-3 but I am WELL impressed with that monster of a pickup!) [/list] Loads of other stuff we are knocking around between us. Can't wait to start cutting wood ...oh...and by the way...keep steady on the plaudits, much as those are always, always appreciated Why? Because Nic has, in his past, built a twin neck version of this himself!!!! I'll leave it to him to decide whether to show or not but it is breathtaking...

That's looking really nice

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1478352202' post='3168557'] Fingers crossed the WiFi holds up... Neck vol,tone, Bridge vol, tone please! Really chuffed with how it looks, too, as I feared the p pup might look a bit clumsy - it doesn't at all. [/quote] OK - no problem. Linear pots should be with me Monday I think it looks very good...like it was meant that way

[quote name='rmorris' timestamp='1478297180' post='3168346'] Bakelite ? I Googled the model number and everything I read says it's ebony ??? [/quote] No - I think it is ebonol. That is black paper and a type of epoxy highly compressed. From an expansion point of view - if differential expansion is the issue - I suspect that is pretty close to ebony and that it is the neck wood that is expanding and contracting more than the ebonol does. An ebony fretboard would, on that basis, have a similar issue.

[quote name='FuNkShUi' timestamp='1478245895' post='3167772'] # That is definitely one of the things that appealed to me I am going to get some rougher sandpaper on the way home from work today. Probably 80 and 180. Hopefully i'll have some time tonight to do a test strip to see if i like the flake [/quote] Hi, Kert You're doing well It's less critical when you are using primer (that usually covers pretty much anything), but the general rule of thumb is to try to get down to bare clean wood so it's well worth the effort with your coarser sandpaper. Certainly if this was going to be stained or oiled it is critical, but previous coating residue can react also with other finishes too. When you've sanded it down through the finer grades to, say, 250, dust it down (vacuuming it is best) and look closely for any dips or dings - they will still show through even multiple coats of primer and finish. The more aberrations you can sand out or fill and sand back at this stage, the better will be the final finish

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1478316670' post='3168408'] Through the marvels of modern technology I have just looked at this from my room in Mexico. Cracking job Andy. The wiring configuration you have settled on sounds more intuitive than the middle blend thing. Looking forward to my next WiFi opportunity! [/quote] Great to hear from you, Paul . Hope the trip's going well. On the off chance that the technology holds and you get wifi again, do you want (from the fretboard end) neck vol, neck tone, bridge vol, bridge tone or vol, vol, tone, tone? I'm impressed, by the way, with the Aquilar. Even through my little practice amp, it shows some impressive woomph yet retains great clarity

Nothing much to show at the moment, but been doing quite a bit of experimenting with wiring options. A summary of the conclusions are:[list] [*]As suspected, the (parallel coils) standard Music man in passive mode is no match at all for the volume output of the P pickup. Music Man pickups are very low output...it is the preamp EQ that generates the volume normally. It is also beyond the acceptable range of adjusting pickup height to compensate [/list][list] [*]Rewiring the Music Man with the coils in series creates a decent volume balance between the two pickups [/list][list] [*]I experimented with using a blend pot to cover the middle position. With a standard three-way switch it wasn't possible to wire up so that the middle could be through the blend and the other two positions not (that would have been nice!) and the interaction between the other volume settings for neck only / bridge only was too great and not intuitive. Nice sounds, but not really usable for practical use. [/list][list] [*]The option to use a blend and use the three way switch as a 'series/parallel/single' split for the Music Man is not really practical because of the huge volume drop for the single and parallel options [/list][list] [*]It is therefore going to be a straightforward 3-position switch (neck/both/bridge) with 2 volumes and 2 tones. The only thing I might do is pop linear pots on the volume.....this is because in the 'both' position, tiny tweaks to the Music Man volume produce some REALLY different and usable sound differences. However, it is far too sensitive to use in gig conditions. Linear pots should take out that sensitivity. I'll order some linears and give it a try [/list]

It's OK - got it! It's the one combination I hadn't tried on the basis of "Nahh...... can't be that!" For any crazy person doing what I'm doing...it's Red is hot White and black joined Green to ground Andy

[quote name='martthebass' timestamp='1478199753' post='3167536'] I've got a Sterling Sub (USA) that's apparently wired in series....unfortunately it's in the shop having the neck refinned....sorry no help there then. [/quote] So close....and yet so very far away Any one else got any idea?

With Ernie Ball being possibly the most unhelpful web site in the modern world, does anyone happen to know what the 4 conductor colour configuration is of the music man pickup on a Sterling? I'm trying to find which wires are which to put it into series rather than parallel but can't find any info and the physical results don't seem to match the guesswork and multimeter work.... Thanks in advance! Andy

I've got a Vox AC4. No frills, just gain, bass, treble and master vol but I am delighted. Will sonically do pretty much whatever I need a tube amp to do but at volumes from surprisingly loud to very quiet. You can plug an external speaker in too

[quote name='FuNkShUi' timestamp='1478075333' post='3166472'] Glad it can be of use to someone. I did the sides yesterday. That was far more awkward!! Firstly, i had to find a way to stand the body on end. So i used my tool bench as a kind of clamp. You can see what i mean in the picture below. Ideal? No. But it did a good job of it actually. It was tricky because the scraping tool i had on the end of the heat gun was a little too big to fit in the upper and lower horn section of the body easily. So it took a fair bit of moving around in the "vice". A few swears were made when i picked the body up and it was still hotter than the surface of the sun. But i got there in the end. A note to anyone who hasn't done this before but is thinking of it..... wear eye protection. When you're scraping the poly off, it flakes off and then flicks up into the air. A piece that goes into your eye would be bad enough on its own, but it is hot too. Feels like when you're frying bacon and the fat spits off and burns you. Imagine some of that in your peepers! I had a piece hit me on top of my cheek. That was enough of a warning for me, so i got mine out. Like i said, this bit was far trickier than the front and back, and as such i did leave the heat gun in the same place for too long in parts, but after sanding i don't see it being an issue. If i do it again, I'll make sure to go steadily about it. Do not rush. And potentially buy a smaller tool for the heat gun. Although the problem could have been circumvented by using a separate scraper. Possibly could have been more awkward because of the tighter angles in a shortscale body too. It's all a learning experience though I've ordered my metal flake, and some primer spray paint and clear coat lacquer. Once they arrive i will carry out a test on a piece of wood to see if i like the finish. Until then though, the sanding. Hopefully get a little bit done before band practice tonight. [/quote] Ah....just spotted - your scraper is part of your heat gun? That will be quite tricky as you say to get the heat right and the scraping right. I use a standard heat gun and decent quality (sharp but still cheap) hand scraper. Makes getting the balance between heat and mechanics just right

[quote name='Len_derby' timestamp='1478020870' post='3166103'] Brilliant, as always Andy. I'm looking forward to seeing and hearing this beauty in action. Any gigs coming up? Living just the other side of the hill from Andy I can reliably inform the rest of you that his creations look even better in real life. [/quote] Thanks, Neil Pete and I have a local gig on Mon 28th. Full band have one 10th Dec. Yes I know....part timers I reckon a beer beckons soon:)

[quote name='allighatt0r' timestamp='1477991175' post='3165700'] Great! :-D I was getting withdrawal symptoms, you left it such a long time between builds [/quote] [quote name='Oopsdabassist' timestamp='1478001359' post='3165828'] Do I detect a note of....cheekiness here?? [/quote] Well, it was a whole 6 hours, so fair do's to allighatt0r

[quote name='allighatt0r' timestamp='1477991993' post='3165712'] Very snazzy [/quote] It's a nice bass to start with, Bryan. I'd always admired the Musicman range from afar but they're even nicer in the flesh . Some very nice constructional touches too.

[quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1477959885' post='3165611'] Did you make the nice wooden storage unit (cupboards, shelves seen in the background where the new bass is on the stand) as well Andy? [/quote] No - we got a joiner in for that. There's straight lines and square joint involved in that. As MrsAndyjr1515 (the worlds first human spirit level) would confirm, I'm not good at straight lines and square joints

[quote name='3below' timestamp='1477954725' post='3165577'] Are the black lines in the body finish or actual 'cuts' through the body ? [/quote] I'm pretty sure I t's just in the finish. It's his initials, CS. The one I'm going to make for Nic is going to be plain cream

OK - the thread is titled as it is because, to me, this really is "something quite different". It's another 'in the style of'...but this time, what style! In the style of Chris Squire's (Yes) stunning Mouradian bass... Early stages - just sorting out the final shape and spec with Nic (gelfin) but this is now the next full build on the table...

So, as the EB-3 ish thread came to an end: "...it gets put in its case to go to it's new home It's like when the kids leave home...... .... WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH ALL THE SPACE??? " ...as one door closes... ...another one opens Hello, gelfin and - fittingly on halloween's evening - welcome to my lair

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1477932059' post='3165356'] Bring on the next one [/quote] Ah...you may have hit the nail on the head....

Round wounds on: One last photo before..... ...it gets put in its case to go to it's new home It's like when the kids leave home...... .... WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH ALL THE SPACE???

Sometimes I add details on these build threads to remind myself of things. Such as, "I must remember to tell Paul_S where his wires went from the battery box!": I shielded the P-pickup chamber and scratchplate area: ...and then installed the pickups: The passive pots, etc, have arrived so just got to wire it all up and hope it sounds OK

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1477836393' post='3164728'] I reckon they'd appreciate this on the MM forum... :-p [/quote] I'll show my ignorance here .... I didn't know there WAS a MM forum!

I think you've done well for a first attempt with a heat gun. 'Finding the Goldilocks speed' is a very apt phrase . Small scorches are usually sand able even with plain wood finishes so with glitter it will be no problem. Go carefully with the sides, though. Much easier to scorch and/or dig in, particularly round the cutaways and at the corners. Patience is definitely a virtue for this bit

Great stuff . Look forward to seeing the results. My wife has reminded me that it is a method of spraying pottery glaze onto pots that can be done the hand blowing method. I'll try to dig out the details in case the shaker approach isn't any good.