JPJ

[b]RESULT[/b] Just took the clamps off and the maple cap is fine. Its bent over the swamp ash beautifully. I'm well chuffed!

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='478742' date='May 4 2009, 03:32 AM']Hopefully the wood is OK... quick question - how did you go about bending the maple? Presumably there was a little steaming action?! - or at least some sort of heat roller...? (ie you didn't bend the wood with just the wedges did you? STILL one of my favourite threads!![/quote] I opted to soak the top of the maple with boiling water, it was amazing how flexible the maple became, so I'm hoping the crack was the MDF not the maple!

[b]Episode IV[/b] A new hope Today, I made another template and routed out for the control cavity and the battery box. As these were routed from the rear side, I had to use double sided tape to hold the template in place, which is my least favourite method. However, the tape held and there were no expensive slips of the router to report. Then I got me long drill bits out and drilled for the pickup, earth and battery wires. Then, I roughed out the shape of the bass on the maple cap with a jigsaw and covered the top of the body in glue. Then I positioned the top, clamped the maple top between a piece of bass shaped MDF, the maple top, the bass body and then another bass shaped piece of MDF to make a nice sandwich and then clamped the whole thing using bar clamps C clamps G clamps and quick grip clamps. In fact, every clamp I own big enough to clamp the sandwich. Then I bent the maple cap over the front comfort contour using wooden wedges. At one point, whilst tapping in the wedges there was an awful crack. I'm hoping it was the MDF delaminating (as can be seen in the photos) but it could be that the maple has cracked, I wont know for sure until tomorrow when the clamps come off Next step will be to get the clamps off, trim the cap to the final body shape and then start the sanding process.

[quote name='LeftyJ' post='475011' date='Apr 29 2009, 01:05 PM']How about that Warwick Jack Bruce Cream Reunion bass? Lookwise it's somewhere inbetween an EB-0 and a Wal mk I. Tonewise it leans more towards the Gibson but with that typical bright, punchy Warwick edge. [/quote] Dont tell Warwickhunt, but I'd really really like one of those. If only they'd do a five string fretless version for less than the price of a house.......

[quote name='mc2' post='477369' date='May 1 2009, 10:16 PM']-- like a giant bass piston.[/quote] ooh err missus gimblet, that thrusting you can feel is my isobaric bass piston I think secretly, we all need a giant bass piston

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='476397' date='Apr 30 2009, 09:14 PM']Glad you appreciate my handiwork I'm still kicking myself over how little I let that bass go for. You need a Cutlass or two in there next I think![/quote] CK, is that what you made of that sorry specimen from Germany with the lopped off horns?

pm WaterofTyne as he has owned/owns both Schroeder and Berg and has used both in a gigging situation.

[quote name='Huge Hands' post='474492' date='Apr 28 2009, 07:06 PM']I've already bookmarked "Wor Geordie's Lost His Liggie" on YouTube in anticipation....[/quote] Ye nah it wasnt doon the netty, it waz in he's flamin pocket

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='470605' date='Apr 23 2009, 12:33 PM']Everybody ever had a Schaller straplock break? The bit that attaches to the strap and you pull off has fallen out. God knows how that happened... the thing is, I can't work out how the hell it would have ever stayed together anyway. I suspect that a piece of metal has come adrift somewhere. I've already ordered a replacement set... bit bummed out because it was the gold set = more expensive...[/quote] Most likely that the small circlip on the outside of the strap lock assembly has pinged off (happend to me once) allowing the pin & spring and everything to fall out the back of the clip that fits on your strap. A replacement circlip washer cost me £1.10 for 10 at B&Q and I've nine spares if it ever happens again

[b][size=6]T[/size][/b]he truth is that [b][size=6]O[/size][/b]rdinarily, I would have said tort but as there is a [b][size=6]R[/size][/b]ule against this in this thread, I [b][size=6]T[/size][/b]hink I'll vote for............

Well done, looks like it turned out very nice indeed! I voted A. I dont like single cuts as a rule, but it was the most original (if slightly ESP looking) of the designs and having recently tried Warwickhunt's Bolin single cut, I was minded to go with this choice. B reminded me of an SEI and C reminded me of an Overwater. What's the finished bass like to play then, I imagine that with that extended top horn the balance will be pretty good, and how would you describe the tone?

[quote name='Toddy' post='473636' date='Apr 27 2009, 07:48 PM']Just for a laff,,,,,,some of the old gear... [/quote] Ok, why should I laugh? THE BEST combo bass amp ever (SWR Redhead, owned two, wished I still owned one now ), a couple of Hartke Cabs which I've heard it said make a rightous noise, a once state of the art Sabian tuner, a very honest Warwick profet amp, a bit of Marshall (well we all have to have our spinal tap moment some time) and something that looks like its come from the science museum and was part of the original Collosus valve computer thing. Ok, I'm laughing at the collosus bit Nowt wrang with that collection imho

[quote name='elom' post='404904' date='Feb 10 2009, 12:09 AM']I like this chunk of wood! Should see one or two developments slowly starting to happen now. [/quote] I'm getting wood just looking at your wood

[quote name='steve-soar' post='458865' date='Apr 9 2009, 09:55 PM']Anyone who can plane a neck straight with a Record Flat, is a total dude. [/quote] Hand tools are the only way really when making musical instruments. Power tools are great for roughing out shapes and routing and stuff, but you need the contact with the work piece that hand tools give you. I have a record plane which belonged to my grandfather and then my father. I've just paid a kings ransom to have the blade professionally sharpened and dressed and it now cuts end grain shavings! Hand tools are defo the way for this type of work imho.

[quote name='spiritchaser' post='473361' date='Apr 27 2009, 01:43 PM']Well, maybe my self-made buckeyed burl Pro WAL (only the 1979 fretless neck is original) could also tempt and inspire you to build a bass. We tried to copy the body shape of the MKI I owned at that time and realized it with the help of my wife, who's a joiner by profession and luthier Rüdiger Ziesemann of Bassline Basses Germany: tc Oliver[/quote] Stop it now with your temptation. I've already got one build on the go and all this talk of homespun Wal's is getting my whittling sticks all excited (could I really build two at once without she who must be obeyed noticing? )

I had a bash on Warwickhunt's classic vibe Squire Jazz yesterday. Beautiful neck felt really played in, weight was spot on for a Jazz, only played it acoustically but it had a lovely ring to it that I'm sure would translate into a really focussed plugged in sound. If I was in the market for another Jazz, I'd be seriously tempted by one of these.

[quote name='AndroWal' post='472461' date='Apr 26 2009, 12:01 AM']My Wal Fretless 5 Mark II has English Sycamore facings with a chemical wash....love the look and most of all..the sound is great. The Growl and with snap and clarity. Pic attached...oh...wait a minute...that's my avatar![/quote] Ooh that's made me come over all perculiar After my earlier post, I was thinking about building a five string fretless Wal'alike and the shot of your two has just convinced me. A couple of years back I had a lovely slab of English Sycamore which I had resawn and I used for the top and sides of a jewelry box for Mrs JPJ. She loves and treasures the jewelry box but I cant help thinking it would have made a nicer bass top

[b]Episode III - More wood butchery[/b] Today I started by hand sanding the edge of the body blank to remove any machining marks left by the router and the belt sander. Then I set about measuring the angle of the comfort chamfer on the old body Then I cut the comfort chamfer onto the new body using a jack plane and an electric plane to finish Next I set about making a template for the neck pocket and pickup routes. I used my smaller router for this as the offset between the guide and the bit is a lot smaller (3mm) and it just seems more appropriate for this kind of detailed work. Then, using the measure twice cut once mantra again, I routed a spare piece of mdf to check the fit of the pickup and neck before cutting the real thing Then, I set about the real thing (heart in mouth moment) After a bit of tidying up with a file, the neck fitted neatly in the pocket (eat your heart out Fender ) and the pickup was a snug fit in the pickup route. All in all, another successful day in the workshop. In addition to the above, I also bookmatched the maple cap ready to glue it on. Next step will be to complete the routing for the control cavity, the battery box and then glue on the cap on.

[quote name='Jobiebass' post='471681' date='Apr 24 2009, 04:37 PM']Only just noticed the Big-Al bass today, [url="http://www.music-man.com/instruments/basses/big-al.html"]Musicman Big Al[/url] so I was looking on the tinterweb for price, why is it STUPIDLY expensive in the UK??? USA...$1680 [url="http://www.guitarcenter.com/Music-Man-Big-Al-Bass-501816-i1446063.gc"]Guitar Center[/url] UK...£2569 [url="http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product.asp?id=11372"]Soundlive[/url] £1154.50 in america, more then double over here. Does this seam stupid to anyone else? Id love to play one then maybe fly to america and pick one up, but I cant see many bass shops having these in their shop in the first place. Massive shame. Correct me if im wrong.[/quote] Welcome to Treasure Island, where everything costs more than anywhere else Mind you, it could be so expensive because its so bloody ugly.

Two truely stunning basses. Always fancied a Wal but couldnt even begin to think about it at the price they change hands for. Might have to build my own copy...........mmm........English sycamore facings (back and front), Mahogany core, maple and purple heart five piece neck, John East filter eq, you know, it might just work

I have tried most of the string tension ideas on my 34" Fender Jazz V and my home built PV with some success, but the biggest secret to a good 'B' string tone is pickup height. Too close to the string and it sounds thin and weedy, too far away and it sounds quiet but flabby. I'd recommend that you play about with the height of the pickups before you go to the expense of changing them.

[quote name='tombboy' post='469326' date='Apr 22 2009, 10:04 AM']My brother Keith got into souncheck and AAA at AC/DC in Manchester last night... he sent me this picture this morning. Not bass porn but still bloody lovely!!! [/quote] Ooh v.nice ACADACA

How is the neck joined to the body. I'm guessing from the tang of neck woods at the body end that its a set-neck, but how is the connection between the single cut upper horn and the neck made?

[quote name='thedontcarebear' post='446333' date='Mar 26 2009, 08:15 PM'][/quote] OMG that's really tasty, on the downside, I think you need to work on your headstock design