Mikey R

[quote name='Jobiebass' post='541245' date='Jul 15 2009, 01:04 PM']335mm measured over the rear pickup, I think thats the largest bit.[/quote] Cheers!

[quote name='GreeneKing' post='540533' date='Jul 14 2009, 05:43 PM']Here's the beast. I prefer the pickup covers on and find the thumb position more comfortable than on the pickup, even with a floating thumb.[/quote] Very nice! Ive always found the cover gets in the way and I cant mute with my thumb - what am I doing wrong? Is your thumb in front or behind the cover? Maybe its because I like to play with fingers over the neck pickup, rather than between pickup and neck?

[quote name='Jobiebass' post='540813' date='Jul 14 2009, 10:34 PM']which it would you like me to measure? widest bit, shortest bit? it is definatly smaller but its quite hard to tell when you playing. altho it does make it much easyer to play.[/quote] The widest bit, cheers! Im guessing its around 320mm, maybe a little less?

[quote name='Jarhead' post='540600' date='Jul 14 2009, 06:58 PM']Headstocks different, the curve has been brought back a bit, then made deeper to allow the furthest part of the headstock to be closer without ruining the flow of the design. Zach[/quote] Yep - its funny, on a full size drawing even small changes can effect the whole balance and proportion of the thing as a whole. [quote name='OldGit' post='540749' date='Jul 14 2009, 09:35 PM']You have plenty of neck attached to the body.. Will you use 6 bolts?[/quote] Maybe - six was plenty on the singlecut, so maybe four or five would be enough for this one.

[quote name='GreeneKing' post='540240' date='Jul 14 2009, 12:37 PM']I believe it comes with a pair of ashtrays too that may need to be drilled in, do I or don't I?[/quote] Easy answer for me - I find ashtrays to be useless and just get in the way of a propper floating thumb. I cant see how you would mute the strings with them on! Nice purchase Peter! We'll have to compare P's next time we meet...

[quote name='BottomEndian' post='539985' date='Jul 14 2009, 07:27 AM']All true. But as a side point, according to the Trading Standards guy who visited me, everything [b]has[/b] to have a price clearly displayed. Yes, even if it's the "wrong" price. :wacko:[/quote] Huh? I Ive seen tonnes of shops with no price tags - if you have to ask you cant afford.

[quote name='chris_b' post='539638' date='Jul 13 2009, 07:57 PM']I'd have the slightly longer and thinner top horn (Oo err) that you had in your original drawing.[/quote] Cheers Chris, now that you point that out I think youre right - the top horn is heavier than the bottom horn (ahem). I'll have a redraw tonight.

Next... this is a bit like a spot the difference competition.

[quote name='eude' post='539330' date='Jul 13 2009, 01:47 PM']Sorry dude, The bass is a fair bit smaller than a regular jazz bass, but the proportions are perfect. I'm afraid, for anything else, you'll have to ask [b]Jobiebass[/b] questions regarding this bass now, it's no longer mine... Cheers, Eude[/quote] Doh! Ok, Jobiebass, same question

Bumping an old thread... Hey Eude, the visual balance between the smaller headstock and body looks really nice! Is this bass body the same size as a standard Jazz bass, or is it slightly smaller? If it is, how wide is it accross? I would like the same kind of proportions on my P bass. Cheers!

[quote name='JimBobTTD' post='538690' date='Jul 12 2009, 06:34 PM']Cheers, Pete. I was a bit unclear in my original post - my pondering on whether wood matters was really a thought about whether certain body woods can lead to an inability to get a good rock sound, or indeed a good growl, and whether the current understanding of the relationship between wood types and tone types still holds. We all think that wood x leads to sound y, but we all agree that wood is a non-uniform thing and so one can never be certain.[/quote] Ok, this question is always fun to ask over on Talkbass - just fire up some popcorn and put in a search for "tone wood". Just out of curiosity, why cant you try it first? I bought a bass off ebay a few years ago, learnt my lesson. I wouldnt buy one without playing it first, unless I knew the current owner or whoevers building it, but thats just me.

I got worried about the balance, so I checked the position of the top horn against the photo of the P bass. The original has the top horn between the 12th and 11th fret. Heres the adjusted pic, compared to the original Fender P: I also (re)discovered Master of Puppets is a fine album for sketching basses to, closely followed by Ride The Lightning.

The Uberhorn would be near perfect if it was headless... And I love the inlay work on the singlecut. Just so simple! And the quilted top with the burst is rather nice too

[quote name='steve-soar' post='538157' date='Jul 11 2009, 08:56 PM']It looks like a P bass with an old Peavey headstock.[/quote] Yeah, theres only so many headstock designs out there - Im still not sure that the headstock shape [i]fits[/i]. If it still looks like a P bass at first glance, that was the plan! I took the P body shape and added some curves from the basses I really like at the moment. I want it to still look fairly classic whilst having a few modern features, like a smaller body and 24 frets. After the last bass (its over there <<<), it will be quite nice to build one without any pointy bits! EDIT: ok, I think I managed to get my headstock out of the nineties: Its nearly there, maybe just needs to be a bit bigger to balance with the body.

A bit more playing with the design. Only made a few small changes but the overall effect it better: [quote name='Tait' post='538135' date='Jul 11 2009, 08:19 PM']thats looking really cool mate, the blue/black/maple will look excellent. that body looks a little small, have you thought about neck dive? my taitycaster ended up with neck dive so i had to move the strap button, just something to think about. i wouldnt worry about the curve of the pickguard, its not really noticable, it looks really great. i'm definatly keeping my eye on this one! is it this week coming up you're doing it, or the week after? and no, not thinking of doing another one... yet [/quote] I doubt it will neck dive, the strap button is at the 12th fret and Im using smaller tuners. My Bass Collection is smaller! But if it does dive, I can always swap to the Hipshot lightweight tuners, which should help. Its week after next, so Ive got 5 working days to go. I dont think Im going to be much use at work next week.

Ive spent a couple of hours scaling up the sketch to full size. Im not entirely happy with it but its close. The original: Drawn full size: I cant seem to get the back curve of the scratchguard to match the back end of the body. Hmm. Otherwise, Im quite pleased.

[quote name='Merton' post='537426' date='Jul 10 2009, 07:09 PM']Oh Mikey you are a star! I am like a kid at Christmas waiting for this baby PM me so I can sort out the monies...[/quote] Sent, will be with you Wednesday at the latest Enjoy! We'll square up next time your up norf.

[quote name='Tait' post='537618' date='Jul 10 2009, 11:43 PM']just as a matter of interest, how much is this costing you?[/quote] The basic cost is £675 which includes all basic materials and hardware. Chris and I have both decided to upgrade the hardware, which is costing us extra. I guess a large part of the cost goes towards Jons tuition, which as theres three of us gets split between us. I thinks thats why the one to one course is a little more expensive, but not that much more. Are you thinking of building another one? EDIT: Ive editted the first post to add the missing scratchguard.

I started packing up the prototype for sending to Merton tomorrow. Small body size fits a standard bass hardcase. I brough back some packing material from work. Ok, seriously, how much bubble wrap can one hardcase fit in? At this point I realised what a parent feels like on the first day of school I nearly had a tearful moment. Will be with the courier tomorrow, and hopefully with Merton on Tuesday. Time for pizza!

[quote name='Skywalker83' post='535796' date='Jul 8 2009, 04:13 PM']e bunch of luthiers in Europe, who i'm sure would be willing to come close to meeting your requirements. Remember we're in a recession...work is slow these days in some parts [/quote] The pound is a bit weak against the Euro at the moment tho.

[quote name='GreeneKing' post='534966' date='Jul 7 2009, 06:06 PM']Evidence of my Jazz joy, the colour of rice pudding. [/quote] Man is that nice! Doesnt it make you hungry every time you play it tho?

Heres one for the Mr Tait: Get me a short scale bass one of those please! [url="http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/USA/customcreations/CLF_Centennial_ASAT/index.asp"]http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/USA/c..._ASAT/index.asp[/url]

Only one week (and a POETS day) to go! Jon has been really patient with my last minute spec questions - we've got it nailed now

Heres another point - Say, you commission your dream bass and it takes 12 months to arrive. You put a lot of time and effort getting the spec right, talking to the luthier and building up a good relationship. It cost you all your pocket money. Ten years on, are you going to be thinking about how much pocket money it cost? Probably not. Are you sill going to be enjoying playing it? Most likely. P.S. Ten years on, do you still have your equally expensive plasma telly? Thought not.

[quote name='soopercrip' post='535993' date='Jul 8 2009, 08:49 PM']I thought about a five pieceneck and was wondering if I would have enough from the drop top. Should arrive by weekend so... Thanks Andy[/quote] Good call on Dave Dyke - a maple fingerboard from Dave Dyke would likely be no more than £6, if he's got the timber in. I spoke to the other Dave at Dave Dykes the other week, he said they are snowed under, but their stuff is totally top notch. I know they can even laminate up a neck blank for you. Cherry and walnut are neither very stiff, maybe get some maple in there? Walnut and maple work REALLY well together!