Andyjr1515

[quote name='keefbaker' timestamp='1454501840' post='2970248'] Out's full of people. Urgh. [/quote] That genuinely made me lol

[quote name='keefbaker' timestamp='1454499483' post='2970225'] Looks incredible. I have to ask though, has anyone done the Red Dwarf, "Your guitar is made from camphor wood?" joke yet? [/quote] ...and no....that was 1989.... maybe you need to get out more

Hi Chienmortbb They are DiMarzio model P+J DP126. Just over £100 for the set which is not bad against many. It is the EQ, though that really makes the difference. That's a Seymour Duncan STC-2P. Very intuitive to use and superb range of tones able to be extracted from either the DiMarzios in Kert's bass, or the SD Jazz pickups I have in my Bubinga fretless

Hi, Chienmortbb Didn't realise Axesrus were dropping some of those. Great shame! I'll get the model number of the DiMarzio PJ set for you in the morning . Pleased you're doing a build

Great - love this

Great stuff. I'm a great fan of Warmoth. Bit pricey but very good products

[quote name='FuNkShUi' timestamp='1454421442' post='2969561'] It's just the beginning [/quote]

Lovely looking bass. Should come out like new. Yeah - the Warwick hardware is very well designed for adjustment, etc.. Will be watching with great interest.

The sides assembly were shaped to the correct curve on the radius dish with a couple of lengths of 250 grit stuck on with doublesided tape. Then the top glued, clamped and trimmed: Still quite a bit to do on the top, but also started the back. A bit scary this - having got the back down to just over 2mm, I needed to inset a 1 mm central decoration strip. I had a 3mm router bit and figured that if I used a 3mm allen key as a spacer, I could cut the 6mm in two passes (one with the allen key and one without) along a straight beam with the Dremel precision router base: It worked! Strip safely in, glued and excess wiped off:

I'm so chuffed with this build, I've changed my AJRGuitarmods.co.uk homepage : I've added the bass to the gallery too. Just click the pic in the gallery and it takes you to the details and photos page...

With Kert's single-cut camphor job collected and Kert VERY pleased , and the weather cutting out any other decent Sunday activity, I thought I'd have a go at the black magic of brace carving and tap-tuning. The rough shaping of the braces is like this (there's still a tiny cap to put onto the join of the X brace which is important for tone as much as strength...more later): In brief, the position of the peaks in the braces is important. Happily, 70 odd years of other people's experience says that this will be OK. Who am I to argue. Secondly, the thinner the braces, the more bass will resonate. Also harmonics start developing the thinner things are, but that - if taken too far - is at the expense of strength. So, in very basic principle, you tap the top, holding the top up by the very edge, listening for tonal differences between the bass string side and the treble string side. You shave tiny amounts off the depth of the braces until you start hearing the top ringing more than a dull thud, then thin the appropriate braces more for a bit more bass in the appropriate places. There are some FASCINATING videos on YouTube on this, including a Physics lecturer going into considerable detail. With me - I get to the point where it rings, where I can hear a number of notes in the harmonics and where there is a tangible difference in pitch between tapping on the bass side and the treble side And then I stop... because I don't really know what I'm doing beyond that

Well, Kert was so excited, he drove all the way from S Wales to Derby yesterday to pick it up. He seemed VERY pleased with it There are rumours of pics and video clips....

[quote name='Chienmortbb' timestamp='1454183758' post='2967384'] Have you done solid colours with this method Andy and if so, what did you use? Would you use a primer or just a sanding sealer? [/quote] I haven't, Chienmortbb. The black one (PaulS's) was spray primer, spray black then just wipe on for the varnish. To be honest, I don't often take on solid colours - a decent experienced sprayer is a better route IMHO....but Paul was very persuasive

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1454093226' post='2966438'] Fascinating reading - I've just had my first go at a Danish oil refin & by complete coincidence, my method was near-identical to yours. From what I'd read I had expected the final result to be a fairly low-key satin finish - and was surprised that the two final coats post-sanding actually left me with a gloss I can pretty much see my ghastly mug in. I was quite taken aback by the quality. So I did find myself wondering if this method of application would work as well for other types of finish. Having read this, I'm quite inspired to have a crack at a thinned varnish or solid colour finish now. Jon. [/quote] Hi. I think it's all about the consistency rather than the product. If it is thin enough that it will flow and self-level, but not that thin that it's going to drip, then I suspect a number of products will give a great finish using this method

[quote name='scojack' timestamp='1453993491' post='2965111'] Its gone ...my Brother was so taken with this bass ........he took it !! He's had the same fless Wal ProII for over 30 years and really likes this (praise indeed), so the old girl from High Wycombe is getting retired. Thinking this years projects will be a fretted version of the above and possibly a short scale Turner/Allen inspired job, Thanks for reading Ian Mid [/quote] Not surprised that it went so quickly . A fretted version would be excellent!

[quote name='sblueplanet' timestamp='1454020821' post='2965639'] You've definitely raised the bar with this one Andy. [/quote] Yes...but I'm on my tippy toes

[quote name='Norris' timestamp='1454012936' post='2965502'] Just... wow! [/quote] Thanks, Norris Andy

[quote name='PlungerModerno' timestamp='1454005989' post='2965364'] Well done - you should be proud! [/quote] Thanks, PlungerModerno. I am ... and not just a little surprised too

[quote name='Myke' timestamp='1453998280' post='2965189'] Congratulations on building a phenomenal looking bass! [/quote] Thanks, Myke!

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1453991170' post='2965057'] A beautiful project. Special mention for the non-negligible photographic skills displayed, on top of the self-evident luthier qualities. An inspiration for others, maybe, in that one doesn't have to be constrained by lack of uber-expensive professional facilities to do top-notch work. Brilliant wok; well done, and thanks for sharing all of the great posts. [/quote] Thanks, Douglas !

[quote name='Chienmortbb' timestamp='1453991107' post='2965054'] Andy that is a thing of beauty. What bridge and machine heads did you use on it? [/quote] The tuners are Hipshot ultra-lites...cost a fortune! The bridge, on the other hand, is from Axesrus...very good bang for the buck. I've used them before and they are excellent.

Post-script - this is the Camphor and Alder after just the Ultimate Compound. No wax was needed

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1453988349' post='2964987'] That finish is just insanely good. It looks deep enough to take swim in. As ever, top work Andy, truly outstanding. Kert is a lucky man, hopefully he'll post some sound clips. [/quote] Thanks ! There are rumours that there maybe some video afoot later

OK - the final pictures. Kert is so excited, he's coming this Saturday to pick it up. Good job, really - if I look at it much longer I'll just want to keep it Forgive the self-indulgence: Andy

[quote name='ben4343' timestamp='1453977216' post='2964781'] I have silently followed this from the beginning. Single cuts are really not for me, but the finished result is absolutely mindblowing. I could (and probably will) look at that top for hours. Huge congratulations. What a wonderful thing to have created. [/quote] Thanks, ben4343 I know what you mean. I've been taking the fancy shots this morning and it's been sitting on a guitar stand in our sitting room. I just keep looking at it! Thanks also to everyone for their great feedback and encouragement. Next post is the final piccies! Andy