Ross Posted May 7, 2011 Share Posted May 7, 2011 (edited) Ok, so I've been hunting for parts and tools to borrow and gathering knowledge for a week. So far what I have to do: Sand and lacquer the body Lacquer the neck Make the neck fit the pocket and be straight (about half a mil out, it's too tight a squeeze) Drill all the holes (neck, bridge, control plate, pickguard, strap pins, tuner screws, string retainer. Buy pickups, tuners, electronics, strings and screws. Assemble this beast! Spend so far: Body £60.50 posted (either ash or alder, unbranded) Neck £42 posted (maple, rosewood. Also unbranded off the same guy on ebay) Neckplate and screws £6 Pickguard £5 Wood control plate £6 (still in the post) Sandpaper and clear nitrocellulose lacquer £22ish (hoping I can get away with 1 can) Bridge and strap pins, free from other jazz. Total £141.50 Planning on buying wizard 64's and using the pickups from my other jazz, might just drop them into this one though. CTS pots, switchcraft jack, cloth covered cable, PIO cap. Pretty standard wiring. La Bella deep talkin flatwounds (especially seeing as I want a flats bass in time for joining the university of Plymouth big band next year) A few pictures (the bits you really want to see) Updates soon! Edited May 7, 2011 by Ross Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillbilly deluxe Posted May 7, 2011 Share Posted May 7, 2011 Good start,thats a nice looking neck.Do you have a link ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted May 7, 2011 Author Share Posted May 7, 2011 (edited) It was an ebay jobby [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230611470620&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...e=STRK:MEWNX:IT[/url] Just started to sand the body down (using 400 and 800 grit paper, becoming smooth as a babys ass) Edited May 7, 2011 by Ross Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted May 7, 2011 Share Posted May 7, 2011 Lovely, i'm a sucker for a natural Jazz, looks promising. Personally i wouldn't bother with the scratchplate, the wooden bell plate will be enough. No point spoiling that natural finish with an 'orrible piece of white plastic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted May 8, 2011 Author Share Posted May 8, 2011 Might see how it looks after it's done. I can always put a pickguard on after. Only thing I am worried about is the neck pickup pocket looks like it'd been routed a tad wide so I may end up having to use a pickguard to cover up the inaccuracies in the routing, I'll have to measure it when my hangover calms down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 A lot of bodies have sloppy neck pup routs, Squier just rout a big rectangle nowadays and i've seen USA Fenders that are even worse. Once the pickup is in it's not as noticeable i don't think, my old Jaco copy was like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawrenceH Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 [quote name='lemmywinks' post='1223967' date='May 8 2011, 10:59 AM']A lot of bodies have sloppy neck pup routs, Squier just rout a big rectangle nowadays and i've seen USA Fenders that are even worse. Once the pickup is in it's not as noticeable i don't think, my old Jaco copy was like that.[/quote] Wooden pickguard? That could be pretty sweet. Lovely neck wood there, if it plays ok that's a bargain! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted May 9, 2011 Author Share Posted May 9, 2011 Bit of an update guys. Decided to take a break from the mounds of revision today and use some 400 grit and sanding block to widen the neck pocket. The neck is very very slightly off from my measurements but completely negligable, it's less than a degree off and a really snug fit. Waiting for lacquer now, I'm gonna finish the body and neck before I drill the holes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillbilly deluxe Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 Fit all hardware before finishing.That way you know that everything will fit,and there will be less chance of screwing up the finish with the slip of a screwdriver or something on assembly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted May 10, 2011 Author Share Posted May 10, 2011 Only trouble with that is I have the lacquer and sanding sealer now but not all of the hardware, I see your point though, no point in rushing these things. Cheers for the tip. Guess i'll have to wait then get to work with the old centrepunch and do as much as I can while I still have access to a drill press (going home on the 23rd where I don't know anyone with one). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted May 10, 2011 Author Share Posted May 10, 2011 (edited) Marking out done roughly for now, used a bit of trellis wire and got creative to get string alignment perfect. 34" scale at the g saddle, just back from the end of the screw. And while I think the pickups look rather nice I think they might sound a bit thin and lifeless Edited May 10, 2011 by Ross Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted May 13, 2011 Author Share Posted May 13, 2011 (edited) Bit of an update, not much to tell really. Still waiting on my buddy to take me to his dads workshop so I can do the hard part, drilling the holes. Got most of the hardware now, the control plate arrived today. Got the tuners courtesy of lemmywinks for a bargain £10. Nitrocellulose lacquer also came yesterday but I've not been able to track down sanding sealer in wickes, wilkinsons, homebase. No one seems to sell it, may have to order it online unless anyone knows a place? Anyway, a few more pics. Ignore the poorly aligned control plate, it does actually fit but I basically just threw it on there to see what it'd look like and didn't notice til after the pictures were taken. Edited May 13, 2011 by Ross Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lee4 Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 Liberon make a sanding sealer.Ring them up to find a stockist near you. Or try a decoraters merchant.C Brewer&Son is the only one I can think of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted May 14, 2011 Author Share Posted May 14, 2011 Found some in a kitchenware/ tool merchant (lawsons) just yesterday, amazing how a small shop like that has a better range than the giants, good to see one still going, I should be drilling the holes monday and I can then start to make some real progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted May 26, 2011 Author Share Posted May 26, 2011 (edited) Made a little progress today, finished drilling the holes. 4mm > 3mm for the neck pocket/ neck. 1.5mm for pickguard (though I fear these will be a tad small) 2mm for the tuners 3mm for the strap buttons. Just waiting for screws but thats largely irrelevant as I should be on to starting the finish tomorrow. 5 coats of sanding sealer then a much clear gloss lacquer as is needed I think. Debating about the neck because it's gloriously smooth without a finish on it at all but I know it won't last with regular playing. A few pictures: Edited May 26, 2011 by Ross Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted May 29, 2011 Author Share Posted May 29, 2011 Wirings done, finishing off the sanding sealer today. Jesus christ though, it's eaten my paintbrush, just clogged it up a treat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted June 2, 2011 Author Share Posted June 2, 2011 Real progress finally. Finished the finish now, I'm debating whether I should polish it. I quite like it as is, bit of tcut and wax would no doubt make it uber shiny. Assembled and set it up today, plays really nice, the neck is actually a little thinner than my other jazz which is ideal for my stumpy sausage fingers. All that is really left to do is sheilding, buying some pickguard screws (guitar parts worldwide are still out of them), buying the pickups and dropping it all into place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethFlatlands Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 That's coming along very nicely, can't wait to see the finished bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skej21 Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 Was thinking of doing something very similar to this but with a maple jazz neck (with white binding and block inlays)... Watching this closely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 Looking good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted June 7, 2011 Author Share Posted June 7, 2011 (edited) Right, bit of an update. Unfortunately I'm still waiting on screws and pickups are a long way off seeing as I've run out of money and work are messing me about. It's important the government doesn't hear my tunes though so I did get round to lining the cavities today: Edited June 7, 2011 by Ross Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanark Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 (edited) This is looking great - and only about 6 weeks since you started. That's pretty good going, all things considered. It actually makes me think that I could even try it myself - although I'd want to paint it too. Edited June 21, 2011 by lanark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted June 21, 2011 Author Share Posted June 21, 2011 A lot of the hold ups have been financial and tool limitations. I could have had this done weeks and weeks ago, it's surprisingly easy, very enjoyable and I'd highly recommend it. All I need now is pickups and nobs, which are a long way off. I'm £1000 overdrawn and jobless until at the earliest, july so good times. I did however get the pickguard screws finally so here's how she stands today: I've yet to give it a finishing coat of wax because I can't afford the wax either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 This looks great, Ross Is the colour natural through the varnish (esp the neck) or did you tint it? Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mugz.wood Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 fair play, how did u line the cavities? and what with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.