yorks5stringer

+1 for Nearly Dan who I've seen 3 or 4 times now. I believe we have a Basschatter who is with The Dan Collective and who are also worthy of a listen! Re Steely Dan, I was very priveleged to see them on their sole UK Tour visit in the 70's. They only did a couple of dates, London and Leeds I think and then, hacked off with touring went back to the States. The band was as per the early albums and included David Palmer on vox and Mike McDonald on keys. I saw them at Leeds Uni, it was so hot the band were throwing up off stage. I know memory plays tricks but possibly the best gig I have ever witnessed and I was going to around 2 a week at that time (had to spend the grant wisely!). I still have the flyposter for the gig, ripped off a wall in the Uni or Poly at the time. Seen the 'polite' reformed Steely Dan twice since but don't think their recent recorded/live output is anything like as accomplished as the earlier stuff.

Correctamundo

[quote name='tonybassplayer' post='299971' date='Oct 5 2008, 04:35 PM']That looks stunning and I look forward to hearing it in use some day !![/quote] Then just come and see the Idle Hands, dates on this site! [url="http://www.myspace.com/idlehandstrio"]http://www.myspace.com/idlehandstrio[/url]

[quote name='Bassmonster' post='300064' date='Oct 5 2008, 07:24 PM']very nice indeed, very similar to my soon to be inbound shuker....didn't happen to see it while you were there did you?[/quote] There are basses in all different states of readiness, Jon told me on Friday he built 6 necks including 2X 6 string ricky types! He puts in at least a 6.5 day week and then all his emails when he gets home: I don't know how he manages it!

Thanks, will do some decent photos after it has been back to be buffed and fettled!

Sorry sloppy photos, I'm too knackered today to even think straight! There's a few scratches where we installed the gubbins so will go back and get it buffed up next week. The sun makes the maple capping finish shine nicely through the blue poly. [attachment=14396:CIMG0064.JPG] [attachment=14397:CIMG0066.JPG] It's a "KBass" one up from a J Bass [attachment=14398:CIMG0067.JPG] [attachment=14399:CIMG0068.JPG]

Started the last day at 8.20 am yesterday [attachment=14368:CIMG0037.JPG] 1st job to smooth off and finely shape the neck with paper [attachment=14369:CIMG0038.JPG] now on a a block [attachment=14370:CIMG0039.JPG] pencil marks to ensure the whole neck gets sanded with no gaps [attachment=14371:CIMG0040.JPG] clamped up for further sanding [attachment=14372:CIMG0041.JPG] checking neck fits body, lacquer build up can hinder fit [attachment=14374:CIMG0043.JPG] masking off neck [attachment=14375:CIMG0044.JPG] prior to spraying the back [attachment=14376:CIMG0045.JPG] rubbing down body back to smooth, took a good 2 hours! [attachment=14377:CIMG0046.JPG] Used block, dull area with no shiny was the way to go [attachment=14378:CIMG0047.JPG] totally flatted front, specs are from the chamois used to dry it off [attachment=14379:CIMG0048.JPG] starting off the decal, printed on transfer paper [attachment=14380:CIMG0049.JPG] buffing the body to a shine [attachment=14381:CIMG0050.JPG] cavity lined with copper shielding, sides to go in next, on 2 sided tape [attachment=14382:CIMG0051.JPG] getting ready to solder in to seymour duncan STC3A active circuit [attachment=14383:CIMG0052.JPG] holes drilled for neck screws [attachment=14384:CIMG0053.JPG] measuring the location at 34" of the schaller bridge [attachment=14385:CIMG0054.JPG] good view of the seymour duncan soapbars and the flamed maple top [attachment=14386:CIMG0055.JPG] masking up the neck again, prior to dressing the frets, this time frets to be showing [attachment=14387:CIMG0056.JPG] getting ready to file the fret slots in the nut [attachment=14388:CIMG0057.JPG] frets all masked up [attachment=14389:CIMG0058.JPG] first dressing with fret blocks along the neck [attachment=14391:CIMG0059.JPG] then with diamond block to remove marks [attachment=14392:CIMG0060.JPG] then with fret file to bring back contour at sides [attachment=14393:CIMG0061.JPG] strings in place prior to nut slots being cut [attachment=14394:CIMG0062.JPG] fret file in hand, G string out of slot. [attachment=14395:CIMG0063.JPG] Finished at 10.45 pm!

Time to step up to the mark..... This is my band, The Idle Hands Trio: [url="http://www.myspace.com/idlehandstrio"]http://www.myspace.com/idlehandstrio[/url]. As you can see from the photo, we are primarily a functions band but play the odd pub to some indifference from the punters! We are currently beefing (not a ref. to you know who) up the set with more soul and dancier numbers (lady marmalade, you might need somebody, you can't hurry love) because we are all going through a souly phase. We have a quasi jazz set too (fly me to the moon, let there be love etc) which must annoy all the purists out there! We also populate the set with whatever is current that we like (Mercy etc). We are called Idle Hands due to rehearsing for some time in a cricket club tearoom in a district in Bradford called Idle, home of the actual Idle Working Mens Club. We'd like a drummer but that means everything gets louder on stage to compensate and you need more space too!

SSSHHH, don't tell anyone but it's actually plastic!

[quote name='Old Horse Murphy' post='289447' date='Sep 22 2008, 08:04 PM']FUnnily enough I asked Jon the same thing. He said he only uses the CNC machine for neck inlays like the block markers on my P Bass.[/quote] I can confirm this from building my own bass with him: he thought I was going for dots, I wanted blocks so he quickly cnc'd the block gaps onto a new fretboard and I cut and glued the inlays. Check out post 6# on [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=27964"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=27964[/url]

I guess you won't need a left handed plectrum then?

I think they call this "understatement": As you can see in the pictures someone has cut pieces from the headstock and body of the bass

He was disguised as a short, fat and bald bloke for the Bass Bash. In real life he actually looks like Terry Thomas.... No offence to Terry Thomas obviously!

[attachment=13968:Picture_018.jpg] Here's Dr Dave playing my electroline 5 string It's not as nice as the fretless one but is my first choice bass at the moment, maybe once my Shuker build is finished it may not be...?

How very dare you.....

Welcome to my world.......!

It was planned to be finished today but I'm going to have to go back for 1 more day, hopefully this weekend. Can you tell what it is yet?

[attachment=13855:CIMG0017.JPG] Nifty tool for recessing the tangs on the frets [attachment=13856:CIMG0018.JPG] Literally this is the bone nut, made and shaped from Ruby's old bones! [attachment=13857:CIMG0019.JPG] My second attempt made to fit [attachment=13858:CIMG0020.JPG] Holes cleaned out with drill shank [attachment=13859:CIMG0021.JPG] Fibre optic cable used for the side fret markers, not connected, just the right colour! [attachment=13860:CIMG0022.JPG] Jobs a good 'un [attachment=13861:CIMG0023.JPG] Routed rear of neck, showing shaping still to be done [attachment=13862:CIMG0024.JPG] Another picture of rear of neck, note clamp not in use.... [attachment=13863:CIMG0025.JPG] Neck having been lacquered with 3 coats [attachment=13864:CIMG0026.JPG] Getting ready to cut control cover plate [attachment=13865:CIMG0027.JPG] Hand sanding it to size [attachment=13866:CIMG0028.JPG] It now fits [attachment=13867:CIMG0029.JPG] Ruby wearing ear protectors : necessary after my language when I dropped the neck whilst sanding it and breaking off its end... [attachment=13868:CIMG0030.JPG] An unplanned adaptation to the fretboard design: quick thinking Jon! [attachment=13869:CIMG0031.JPG] Tapping in the frets [attachment=13870:CIMG0032.JPG] A couple of drops of superglue down each fretslot [attachment=13871:CIMG0033.JPG] Nipping off the fet ends [attachment=13872:CIMG0034.JPG] Filing them to 45 degrees [attachment=13873:CIMG0035.JPG] Starting to shape the neck by hand [attachment=13874:CIMG0036.JPG] More to follow, using spokeshave

[attachment=13836:CIMG0001.JPG] Body after 3 coats of poly [attachment=13837:CIMG0002.JPG] Starting to flat down [attachment=13838:CIMG0003.JPG] Trimming up the fetboard on the centrepin router [attachment=13839:CIMG0004.JPG] Hand sanding the neck sides getting rid of surplus glue [attachment=13840:CIMG0005.JPG] ditto [attachment=13841:CIMG0006.JPG] a greeny blue body, many coats to follow [attachment=13842:CIMG0007.JPG] sanding upo the neck on the bobbin sander [attachment=13843:CIMG0008.JPG] routing the neck down to headstock [attachment=13844:CIMG0009.JPG] and a bit more [attachment=13845:CIMG0010.JPG] Hand sanding the curve [attachment=13846:CIMG0011.JPG] Putting the contour on the fretboard, hard work! [attachment=13847:CIMG0012.JPG] Removing build-up of wood dust in the fret slots [attachment=13848:CIMG0013.JPG] Marking out the position dots on the side of the neck [attachment=13849:CIMG0014.JPG] Marking out the positon of the tuners [attachment=13850:CIMG0015.JPG] Holes drilled for same [attachment=13851:CIMG0016.JPG] Cutting fretwire to size

[attachment=13760:CIMG0062.JPG] a different view of the cottage [attachment=13761:CIMG0063.JPG] cncing the fretboard and block inlay cavities [attachment=13762:CIMG0064.JPG] I had to cut and shape the mother of pearl (plastic) inlays [attachment=13763:CIMG0065.JPG] more mop [attachment=13764:CIMG0066.JPG] inlays in and glued [attachment=13765:CIMG0067.JPG] another view of rear control cavity [attachment=13766:CIMG0068.JPG] no idea what this is [attachment=13767:CIMG0069.JPG] preparing copper shielding with double sided tape, apparently the worst type of 'paper' burn you can get! [attachment=13768:CIMG0070.JPG] copper tape cut out to fit control cavity [attachment=13769:CIMG0071.JPG] a coat of hand applied lacqer to seal the wood [attachment=13770:CIMG0072.JPG] and another [attachment=13771:CIMG0073.JPG] sprayed up with 1 coat [attachment=13772:CIMG0074.JPG] and another [attachment=13773:CIMG0075.JPG] and another

[attachment=13744:CIMG0047.JPG] shaping the rib contour [attachment=13743:CIMG0046.JPG] taking away a bit more [attachment=13745:CIMG0048.JPG] and more [attachment=13746:CIMG0049.JPG] and more! [attachment=13747:CIMG0050.JPG] contray to earlier photo showing it fitted,, the trussrod with wood fillet to go on top [attachment=13748:CIMG0051.JPG] the rod in now fitted [attachment=13749:CIMG0052.JPG] routing jig/template for seymour duncans [attachment=13750:CIMG0053.JPG] taken out some wood here... [attachment=13751:CIMG0054.JPG] a close up of my rear cavity! [attachment=13752:CIMG0055.JPG] now some heavy duty hand sanding to do [attachment=13753:CIMG0056.JPG] and more [attachment=13754:CIMG0057.JPG] planing off the wood fillet level to the neck, the trick is not to plane the neck itself! [attachment=13755:CIMG0058.JPG] almost done [attachment=13757:CIMG0059.JPG] I bottled out of the last strokes(!), Jon finished it off [attachment=13758:CIMG0060.JPG] rough shaping of fretboard on bandsaw [attachment=13759:CIMG0061.JPG] Here's one I built earlier, this is where we stayed for 2 nights, Irishman's Cottage in Rushup Hall