Andyjr1515

Lovely job (again!) Jabba

I've got some great ideas that I think really are unique...I'll be contacting FuNkShUi shortly and, if he's happy, throw them open to the forum to see if anyone knows of ANYTHING similar

[quote name='scojack' timestamp='1444909467' post='2887192'] See where your coming from Andy but it's hard ( nae impossible) to design something that doesn't at least have a hint of something else.Indeed you could say that the Alphers bear a passing nod to a Jag etc etc etc. Ian [/quote] It's really no problem. Chris, me and FuNkShUi are all completely cool with it and are of completely like minds:[list] [*]I'm a hobbyist. I simply get a kick out of creating something that is mine...variation on a theme or not. So I actually DON'T want the exact same shape as someone else's [*]Chris I'm sure feels the same but also his company's products compete on design flair...much else (cost of wood, production, hardware, etc) is equal and available to all manufacturers [*]FuNkShUi doesn't want a clone. He wants something unique. My builds usually are - sometimes in a good way and sometimes in a bad way [/list] In terms of concept, I still will be going jag theme, but hopefully with a bit of AJR uniqueness thrown in What is very encouraging is that I came up with a shape that is as good as an Alpher (I mean...if you're going to get close, that's a great one to get close to). The only bugger about it is that Chris got there a couple of years earlier Anyway, folks, I suggest end of this debate .... the revised design will be along very shortly Andy

IMPORTANT! I've contacted both FuNkShUi and Chris at Alpher and this build is temporarily halted. I was stunned when I saw Chris's post. I confess, I've never visited Alpher's fantastic website before and now wish I had The Home page show's a bass with 'my' horn design on it!!!! [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]When FuNkShUi contacted me ref a single cut, I looked on Google Images and came to the conclusion that single cuts were either: Les-Paul ish, Jaguar ish, or odd ish. I plumbed for Jaguar-ish as I like the general shape and also have a Jaguar bass myself that I love the look of (it's my Avatar). When I look on 'images' again, I see there is an Alpher there but a different shaped horn to the one I drew. To be honest, I basically took my Jag and tried to make it less of a double-cut![/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I hate the idea of stealing people's designs - I love stealing good ideas, but not designs! This one is unintentionally much too close to some of Chris's. When I was sketching, I had a few other variants before plumbing for the one above. I will revisit those and bounce the alternative off Chris before firming up on it.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Andy[/font][/color]

[quote name='CHRISDABASS' timestamp='1444888004' post='2886936'] That top horn seems very familiar.......... [/quote] Crikey! That's a bit close! I'll drop you a pm, Chris...may need to get the pencil and rubber out.....

[quote name='Norris' timestamp='1444824122' post='2886373'] That's a lovely piece of wood for the top. I'm looking forward to this [/quote] Thanks, Norris How's the ink-staining going?

You'll all make me blush.... ...better not bugger it up, then

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1444763241' post='2885780'] For those who don't know about the quality of Andy's work he remodelled the headstock on one of my basses - great job - if mine is anything to go by FuNkShUi will definitely be more than satisfied... [/quote] Thanks, Mick

[quote name='DarkHeart' timestamp='1444757966' post='2885707'] very Alpher esque top horn [/quote] I was concerned it might be a bit too jaguaresque (in fact, look left ... my avatar!). I'm quite chuffed if it's Alpheresque...they are stunning basses

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1444749093' post='2885585'] Love the shape - more a 1.5 cut? [/quote] Yes...but who's counting

Hi Just agreed a spec and design for a new build for our very own FuNkShUi for a single cut 4 string. It's a build I'm really, really excited about We kicked around a number of design ideas and have firmed up on this: The design has a passing nod to a jag, but I think sufficiently different to have its own look. The back will be alder, and the top a beautiful piece of camphor I have been saving for a very special project such as this. Ignore Kirk's (exotichardwoodsukltd) stratocaster outline, but isn't this a lovely bit of timber?: The camphor will be planed down to expose the alder at the arm relief and the two woods will be separated by a couple of mm of black constructional veneer. Colour-wise, the alder and camphor will contrast similar to this below, but with the thin black demarcation between the two (and clearly, a nice thick cap rather than veneer in this photo): The thru-neck will be mahogany with a central walnut splice and ebony fretboard, pickup covers, and knobs. The body will be chambered to keep down the weight but it should balance just fine with the front strap button at the 13th fret. Huge amounts of upper fret access will be available with the lower bout meeting at the 22nd fret. Other bits and bobs: Hipshot drop D tuning; SD 2band EQ with passive p/ups; luminlay side markers; headstock to whatever shape FuNkShUi wants within the constraints of the required geometry. This will probably be another long drawn-out Andyjr1515 [s]boring[/s] epic thread, but .... what the heck Andy

Looking good, Dom

Thanks, Alyctes . That must have taken sometime....I'm afraid it turned out to be one of my seemingly endless epics!

[quote name='rubis' timestamp='1444408431' post='2883090'] Lovely job, and a right riveting read, what kind of wood is the body made from? [/quote] I'm not sure. Tom may know. I think it's the same wood that they make some of the traditional African drums from.

Just a post-script...got some great feedback from Tom on this bass. When he's finished a season with it, Tom will do a full review but to keep the thread live, he's happy for me to post a couple of shots he's forwarded to me and some first impressions. I've clearly missed out the bits that ask me never to darken his door again and so on, but the following are the selected bits I particularly like from his emails :- [i]"I have used the Afro bass on a couple of things recently and had to write and tell you. I love it! I used the bass last week for some recording at the Institute of Contemporary Art in London for part of an exhibition. I should be able to send you audio recording of this at some point, it was myself with the percussionist from Gambia who helped organise the body being carved and the Tanzanian musician we play in a trio with. Also, last night I had a rehearsal with the same Tanzanian musician for a show coming up - this Saturday we are playing 12-1pm at Trafalgar Square! It's his full band (2 guitars, me on bass, drums, a vocalist and the main artist who plays guitar/thumb piano + other traditional instruments and vocals..) It sounded FABULOUS at the rehearsal. Really inspiring me and, in a moment of clarity I really felt like my playing and sound for that whole genre (which I feel very at home in anyway) really progressed several leaps. Bass in most African music is so much about the FEEL - the sound, the timing, the interaction against the other parts. I've played all kinds of basses with this group, 4/5/6str and fretted/fretless, normal/shortscale. Often I have combined a fretless with a fretted for different songs on the same gig (fretless is great and to some extent essential for the 'traditional instrument' songs where the tuning is "funky" vs concert pitch, whereas fretted sometimes works better on the more guitar led tracks where in amongst 3 other guitars I don't want the bass to sound too 'wide' and I want to blend more with those other parts). The bass you created was taking all these elements in its stride - beaming smiles from my bandmates, and I should also say every time I have played it in public it gets new comments."[/i] OK...selected highlights or not, that is VERY satisfying feedback Here is Tom at (I think) Oxford with it, just before a gig: ...and at Brixton (also, I think...) in action: When it has a lull period between major gigs, I will even finish the neck for him ! To elaborate, we were originally planning to final-shape the neck as part of the 'final fitting' on the day he picked it up, but Tom opted to play it for a while first in its unfinished (playable but not fettled to his optimum) state. As we both thought, he has confirmed that a couple of mm needs to come off the thickness and I am also suggesting we take some meat off the haunches...I had left it almost D shape at the first fitting on the basis that you can always take material off the neck but can't put back on. However, even with a relatively wide neck, a shape closer to a C will, I think, feel much more comfortable to play. For slimmer necks, I usually go one stage further and head towards 'V' profiles, but with wider necks, they can feel a bit odd. Can't wait to hear the full review...including more about the sonic characteristics of the straight-through pickup in that body configuration. It would be also interesting to try it with alternative strings...it still has on it the acoustic strings off a deko Thomann Harley Benton acoustic! Thanks, Tom. for the feedback so far and can't wait to actually properly finish that neck!!!! Andy

Yeah.....lovely

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1444331081' post='2882376'] This one? [URL=http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/FairfaxAikman/media/Alembic%20copy/Alembiccopy3_zps22c97905.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/FairfaxAikman/Alembic%20copy/Alembiccopy3_zps22c97905.jpg[/IMG][/URL] or this? [URL=http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/FairfaxAikman/media/Alembic%20copy/Alembiccopy2_zps961b4f93.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/FairfaxAikman/Alembic%20copy/Alembiccopy2_zps961b4f93.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [/quote] Yup...both. I like that very much...

I spotted the 3/4 view on the photobucket link...it is a very fancy and well shaped and constructed body when you see it side on. Might be worth posting that shot...very distinctive and something someone might recognise...

Nice to see it all put together Looks very good...

Thanks, Mick...really pleased it worked out how you wanted it

That is a cracking looking neck, Grangur. No reason at all why this shouldn't turn out to be a giant killer....

Looks a nice piece of wood

I rebodied a Curbow recently but, to be honest, the original was pretty good to start with. I rate Cort very highly for both their basses and their six strings. Huge bang for their buck....

Happy Birthday, Paul

[quote name='Meddle' timestamp='1443472305' post='2875104'] What about getting really thin super glue to wick into the crack? [/quote] My thoughts too. If that doesn't work, then based on it able to physically move, then maybe a pin after all