logs to axe 3. ziricote carl thompson copy

[lettsguitars]

while we wait for ed's pickups it hought i'd have a go at a ct copy. the scroll bass is something i've been wanting to try for a long time. i'm a massive fan of carl thompson's work. his youtube channel is to die for and i learned a lot from carl thanks to his vids. all construction methods are identical to carl's apart from the heel block, which i wont be using. this bass is open to offers and if you really want a ct feel, i can add a heel block.
mahogany core, ziricote top, rosewood back, mahogany neck and macassar ebony fingerboard (a stripey beauty) and cocobolo cat's eyes. this bass will have a custom, handmade, scatterwound i.m.p humbucker and hipshot ultralite tuners.

[lettsguitars]

routed and neck nicely fitted. carved the top. some cocobolo tearout on the side. i'm gonna try and work around it rather than glue on new sides. kind of there with the scroll. i need to work at it.

[Spoombung]

Ah, you've left out pics of the most interesting bit which is the neck-setting and routing! Did you get any of that procedure?

[gilmour]

I heard that mahogany couldn't be used as a bass neck as it wouldn't be strong enough. Is this incorrect, if not what have you done to strengthen it?

Edited December 27, 2010 by gilmour

[henry norton]

[quote name='gilmour' post='1069903' date='Dec 27 2010, 02:28 AM']I heard that mahogany couldn't be used as a bass neck as it wouldn't be strong enough. Is this incorrect, if not what have you done to strengthen it?[/quote]

Gibson and Guild players might have something to say about that!

[gilmour]

Aren't most of those short scale?

[lettsguitars]

quarter sawn mahogany is the neck wood of choice for me. i dont like necks to be too stiff. as long as the wood is stable and has a nice straight grainpattern, you're laughing. mahogany offers great flexibility and adjustability. + when i start messing about with all those laminates, theres more chance i'll lose it.
and talking about losing it. . . .
i lost a massive peice of rosewood from the back of the scroll, d*&n it! tried to rescue the body but lost heart and had to accept that i'd lost a lot of time and more upsetting, a lot of nice timber. these things happen. anyroad, i managed to scrape some bits together and get a new body in order, double quick time. the neck is not set. be it bolt-on. radius tomorrow, bit more sanding, some holes, bridge and strings. and, if things go the way they have been so far, i'll be showing how to remove a truss rod from your eye.
new body-mahogany, ziricote, walnut, sycamore. a bit strange really, still cool though.

[bcbass]

Very nice bass,I like CT basses as well.Good luck.

[henry norton]

[quote name='gilmour' post='1070064' date='Dec 27 2010, 01:50 PM']Aren't most of those short scale?[/quote]

Well the Thunderbird had a 34.5" scale mahogany neck - mahogany is lighter than rock maple but is still very strong. It's also very stable.

[gilmour]

[quote name='henry norton' post='1070931' date='Dec 28 2010, 01:27 PM']Well the Thunderbird had a 34.5" scale mahogany neck - mahogany is lighter than rock maple but is still very strong. It's also very stable.[/quote]

Cool. I've always fancied a bass with a mahogany neck (my dad has a mahogany necked guitar and it feels fantastic), but had previously been told it wasn't possible. Interesting stuff.

Sorry for the thread divert I'll let you get back on track.

[lettsguitars]

strung up. all good. quite happy with how the scroll turned out. wait for a pickup from i.m.p (ibstock magnetic pickups), and it'll be stripped, wired, cleaned up and oiled. will have a bone/cocobolo nut when i get some more bones. i messed the spacing up on this ebony nut. lovely feel, wieghs about 6-7 lbs.

[absolutpepper]

Looks fantastic

[k-sad]

This is gorgeous...
How does it sound at this point?

Pliz put a pickup near the bridge, sometimes people just go for the "neck" one, and lots of us can't bear it... (argh, i'm guessing this is just what u did and i've seen this bass in the "for sale" section haven't I?)
Beautiful fretboard, beautiful bass...
Cheers
Flo

Edited January 22, 2011 by k-sad

[Spoombung]

Cor.

[lettsguitars]

[quote name='k-sad' post='1098498' date='Jan 22 2011, 11:33 AM']This is gorgeous...
How does it sound at this point?

Pliz put a pickup near the bridge, sometimes people just go for the "neck" one, and lots of us can't bear it... (argh, i'm guessing this is just what u did and i've seen this bass in the "for sale" section haven't I?)
Beautiful fretboard, beautiful bass...
Cheers
Flo[/quote]
actually, no. this body is now knocking around with no neck ( like sandi toksvig). i used the neck on the cocobolo 5 string also in the for sale section.
i wasn't keen on some of the wood on this. i'll revive it at a later date.

[lettsguitars]

[quote name='k-sad' post='1098498' date='Jan 22 2011, 11:33 AM']This is gorgeous...
How does it sound at this point?

Pliz put a pickup near the bridge, sometimes people just go for the "neck" one, and lots of us can't bear it... (argh, i'm guessing this is just what u did and i've seen this bass in the "for sale" section haven't I?)
Beautiful fretboard, beautiful bass...
Cheers
Flo[/quote]
and regarding bridge pup. i am considering adding a a bridge bucker and maybe a single coil to the 4 string build if i get no offers. i'm considering hanging on to it as i don't have a bass of my own.