5-string fretless PJ build

[JimBobTTD]

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1369819827' post='2092986']
Is that neck pickup rout going to fit a 5 string P pickup? It looks like the 4 stringer fits but surely you will fit a 5 stringer? Aren't they longer?
[/quote]

Some are longer, others not. I'm going for a Nordstrand which is the same size as a 4-string.

[JimBobTTD]

Update from Dave:

Body by-and-large done, save a final sanding. The juiciest bit is that the battery compartment has been completed. We decided not to go for the Gotoh plastic housing and instead opted for a cavity with a door, held on with magnets.

Edited June 1, 2013 by JimBobTTD

[JimBobTTD]

A photo of the neck with a coat of nitro on it...

[Myke]

Lush

[Rumple]

you can really see that lovely grain now.

[rk7]

Wonderful! The battery compartment is superb. Clever work.

And I'm realising I'm definitely a 'neck' man. lmao.

congrats

RK

[JimBobTTD]

Thanks for the kind words, folks. Yes, this bass is coming along very nicely. Our Dave is a wizard at this!

[JimBobTTD]

Dave has been putting more finish on the neck and wanted to send me a pic "[color=#1F497D][font=Calibri, sans-serif][size=4]just to show you I’m actually doing something!!"[/size][/font][/color]



One or two weekends to go, he says.

I can't wait, I says!!!

[JimBobTTD]

Oh my word...an email from Dave informs me that everything is mostly done and will be posted off to me next weekend.

Am I excited?

[mixingwithtom]

Wooooooo!! Lol. Neck is looking amazing!!

[Myke]

Yay!

[JimBobTTD]

It is pretty much done. Dave said that he needs to deepen the neck pocket a bit, trim the scratchplate and have a final check that the pickup rout is the right size, and then it's off to me!

Here it is:



To do when I get it:
Cut the nut
Paint the body

Painting the body will be a little less easy than I thought as I shall have much reduced access to my shed (due to a job move) than previously thought. So, instead of me blasting through it in a few weekends, it will likely take me a lot longer. Hopefully I shall be able to do it before the warm weather passes...otherwise, I shall end up having to wait until next year!

[rk7]

Wow! Nice looking bass JimBob.

congrats, enjoy.

RK

[Rumple]

Tasty

[JimBobTTD]

Reality hit me...there is no way that I will be able to paint the bass myself and have it ready much before August 2014. I have asked Dave to paint it for me. In white, [i]bien sûr...[/i]

[i]Edit to add: ...when my dang SMTP server decides to work again! How typical that it cut out during our email exchange![/i]

Edited July 11, 2013 by JimBobTTD

[JimBobTTD]

Update!

Some pics. The body is nearly ready. It needs to be rubbed down and buffed, so it is still a bit rough and ready. It looks great, though!

I am also quite enamoured with the styling of Dave's kitchen.

[rk7]

You are right, that's a nice kitchen!

[rk7]

Btw, the bass looks fantastic.

RK

[Rumple]

Any updates on this?

[JimBobTTD]

Ah...yes, but no pictures.

There was a slight problem with the paint, so Dave wanted to strip it all back to the wood and do it all again. Who am I to stand in the way of perfection? Things should be ready in a few weeks from now. Dave feels awful that this has taken so long, but, in actuality, it has not. Allow me to break it all down:

02/13: Initial contact, discussion
03/13: Sent off old neck to be cloned (mid March)
04/13: Project expanded to include body
05/13: Neck complete, finishing started, body almost completed
06/13: Body completed (early June), neck finishing almost done
07/13: Neck ready, about to be posted when project expanded to include finishing body
08/13: Finishing almost completed, but Dave unhappy with the quality

So, all in all, it has taken ages but due to the fact that I have expanded upon the original project the whole time!

[Rumple]

Thanks for the update Jim, no point in rushing a build, if you are anything like me once one is finished plans for the next one start so the more you can drag it out the less you spend

[JimBobTTD]

A rather nice update from Dave; it is pretty much ready. He has made a thumbrest out of an offcut from the ebony fingerboard. The bass looks stunning...as I said to Dave, that first ding is really going to hurt me!

Quick edit to add: the thumbrest is not attached. Dave has cut down some screws to be able to show what it will look like once attached. I shall need to experiment (using double-sided tape) with positions before I attach it in a more permanent way.

Edited October 6, 2013 by JimBobTTD

[Rumple]

Looking lush Jim.

[JimBobTTD]

[quote name='Rumple' timestamp='1381132433' post='2234593']
Looking lush Jim.
[/quote]

Thanks! I've been working out.

Oh, you meant the bass! I agree!

[Rumple]