Maude Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 (edited) Hello folks, I've started to make some changes to my Line 6 Variax and thought I'd document it here. I'm in a covers band and the Variax is perfect for my needs and I really like the way it plays, even if it is a little heavy, but I've never liked the way it looks. Personally I can't stand perloid pickguards and the Variax has a pretty large one that dominates the black expanse of the body, and the headstock has always been a gripe with it's weird little pointy bits. [attachment=152700:b700.jpg] Soooo I decided it's time to change it a little, I picked it up cheap and I'm not fussed about devaluing it as it's a keeper as it's so versatile. I can't spend too much time on it because of gigs and I don't want to spend a load either so I got my thinking hat on. I am a fan of the more traditional styled basses, call me boring but it's what I like, and I'd like to keep it fairly neutral so it fits all occasions. We play a lot of private functions and mad design might not suit some events. First up the headstock, straight away I could tell that without the pointy bits it would be Telecaster-esque, a design I like, so I thought turn it into a Tele tribute. I was born in '73 and a '73 style Tele pickguard would cover all the electrics well so I went with it. I'm going to end this post and continue in another as my PCs screen driver keeps crashing at the mo and I have to restart it to get it going again, I don't want to have retype everything. Edited January 19, 2014 by Maude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 I'll be interested, had a 5 String Variax a few years ago and thought of modding it, then realised I only used a couple of the sounds anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted January 19, 2014 Author Share Posted January 19, 2014 (edited) I belt sanded the pointy bits off the headstock and finished by hand to get the shape to how I liked it. The holes need enlarging from 16mm to 18mm so I can fit the Wilkinson 'Elephant ears' I've ordered. I'm going to make a waterslide decal for it but won't pretending it's something it's not, I think as it's a Variax but will incorporate lot of Telecaster/Fender styling I'm going to call it a 'Varicaster', using the scroll type 'Vari' and the bold print 'caster'. [url="http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/120120141398_zps2b8cf865.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/130120141404_zpsc89fa494.jpg.html"][/url] Next the body, I sanded the black off using a sander but left the sealer coat on to make it easier to repaint, I didn't want to just paint over the black as, if the body has grain, I will use a translucent paint to let the grain show through. Once the front, back and the flat sides had been sanded back by machine I went over to blocking it by hand to finish, but before doing this I really liked how leaving the rounded edges black made it look like it had binding, the quite square edged helped this so I'm going with a faux binding in black on a trans blonde. [url="http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/120120141397_zpsfb1e16d6.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/120120141395_zps1c75aada.jpg.html"][/url] I'd also noticed how similar the shape of the pickguard was to a Tele bass Thinline so have discarded the '73 Tele idea, as I was never fully sure about the upper horn, and made a template incorporating some Thinline lines into the Variax pickgaurd and sent it off to 'The Bass Doc' to have one made in black. Thanks Howard for putting up with my constantly changing mind . [url="http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/TeleThinlineBass001_zps61b1ed27.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/120120141400_zps6b41f53b.jpg.html"][/url] I've got a Tele bridge cover which I'll use and I think I'm going with a painted headstock. I'd ordered a set of stick on Jazz blocks a couple of weeks ago and have put them on the Variax neck and they look really good, now I know that Tele's didn't have blocks but this bass is really just all of my favourite bass stylings put into one (where appropriate), it just so happens most of them come from a Telecaster Thinline. [url="http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/160120141411_1_zps868920ba.jpg.html"][/url] I'm not sure about the 'f' hole yet, a sticker would look ok from a distance but is a little 'fake'. So the state of play at the mo is, the body stripped ready for paint, the headstock stripped ready for paint, and my pickguard on order from the Bass Doc. I'll update as and when thing occur . Edited January 19, 2014 by Maude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubis Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 Nice looking project Maude, the headstock in particular looks much better. I am paused part way through a Variax guitar conversion, I found it a bit neck heavy, so I am building a new sapele body and neck to put the guts into, it will be an aluminium topped '69 style Tele thinline, inspired by one of these Nick Page guitars [attachment=152705:instock_lucidrythm_front.jpg] I also found it a bit odd not having any pickups on it so I am going to use a broken Tele bridge pickup and a cover from a P90 in the neck position as dummy pickups, to make it look a bit more like a guitar, if you know what I mean! Best of luck with yours, I shall be watching with interest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommorichards Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 that looks ace dude. I think if you keep the black binding, along with the f hole, itll end up looking like one of the fender coronado basses. Loving it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted January 24, 2014 Author Share Posted January 24, 2014 I'm probably going with a single Thinline style 'f' hole which I will route in and then backcut underneath the top to create a faux cavity. A sticker would look ok as you can get nice ones with mother of pearl style inlay around the edge but routing in a hole will look far more effective. Here's the template I've made, it's not perfect but obviously any rough edges can be tidied up in the body afterwards. [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/240120141432_zpsbe126962.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/240120141432_zpsbe126962.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted January 26, 2014 Author Share Posted January 26, 2014 (edited) I was still nervous about doing the 'f' hole route in the bass as without it I knew the bass would look fine, but with it it would hopefully look better but it might not and it's a pretty irreversible operation. The template looked ok though so I went for it, as I'd always think 'what if' if I didn't do it. So here's the template screwed down in place, the screw holes will be hidden by the pickguard when it's finished. [url="http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/250120141433_zpsbc6f4867.jpg.html"][/url] Right now the scary bit I milled the shape out with a straight bit and then cut back underneath the 'f' hole shape to create a cavity, the cavity is only about 6 or 7mm wider than the hole but I used a bit with a rounded bottom so the cavity would have no visible edge between the bottom and sides to give the illusion of it being wider, if the eye can't see where the bottom finishes your mind assumes it doesn't, and it actually works! I'm really pleased with how it's turned out, so glad I did it now. It needs a tiny bit of finishing if I'm being picky but the edge of the hole will probably be picked out in black to match the binding, and the cavity dyed a darker wood colour to match the fingerboard. The weird colour/staining is that I'd just wiped it down with a damp cloth and certain bits are drying. [url="http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/260120141438_zps588d6186.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/260120141439_zps8fa17da4.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/260120141444_zps4bef1b75.jpg.html"][/url] I also enlarged the holes in the headstock from 16mm to 18mm to take the Wilkinson Fender style tuners I'd ordered, just a quick mock up as I'm still deciding on painting it translucent off white like the body or keep it natural. I think body coloured, but yesterday I thought natural ............ I don't know . [url="http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/250120141436_zpse9e038bf.jpg.html"][/url] All ready for paint which will have to wait until next weekend now Edited January 26, 2014 by Maude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubis Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Lovely........very tidy job Hope you've got somewhere warm and dry to paint, I've been waiting months for the monsoon season to end Good luck Harry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted January 27, 2014 Author Share Posted January 27, 2014 [quote name='rubis' timestamp='1390801270' post='2349597'] Lovely........very tidy job Hope you've got somewhere warm and dry to paint, I've been waiting months for the monsoon season to end Good luck Harry [/quote] Thanks, yes rain is being a pain . Your Tele looks interesting, is the aluminium top a skin over the wood or is it hollow with a solid aluminium top? My new pickguard is on it's way from the Bass Doc as we speak, looking forward to it. Paint and rebuild, how long can that take ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted February 13, 2014 Author Share Posted February 13, 2014 Well due to only being able to paint at the weekend it's taken a couple of weeks for any progress to happen. The weekend before last I sprayed the body with a translucent off white but the colour of the wood made the finished result a shade I didn't like, so I left it to dry and flatted most of it off ready for painting again. I've gone for a solid cream now as the wood just wasn't pale enough. Last weekend I repainted and it's ready for flatting and applying the binding before hopefully lacquering this weekend. If I can get it lacquered this weekend then it'll be polished and rebuilt by this time next week ............... fingers crossed . [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/130220141504_1_zpsc6217d79.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/130220141504_1_zpsc6217d79.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted March 8, 2014 Author Share Posted March 8, 2014 I got a bit delayed on this one, been a bit busy lately but this week I found the time to finish off the body and rebuild it. Just waiting for our drummer to do the logo for the headstock as he has the stuff to print waterslide decals. As it's a Variax which has been restyled with strong influences from a Telecaster thinline I've renamed her a 'Varicaster' . I've put the faux binding around the edges and lacquered it all in and given it a damn good polish, which I kind of hate because every single finger smear shows, at least it's not a dark colour . I've also painted inside the 'f' hole bronze which will be lacquered as well and the headstock logo will be highlighted in the same bronze just carry it through. The Tele bridge cover will be fitted once strung up so it can be perfectly aligned along the string. Here's a few piccies to show off that shine. [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141549_zpsc661678f.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141549_zpsc661678f.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141550_zps5c268901.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141550_zps5c268901.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141551_zpsdb533f32.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141551_zpsdb533f32.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141552_zpsf6396693.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141552_zpsf6396693.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141553_zpsf64b8291.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141553_zpsf64b8291.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141554_zpsf4fe8ab4.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141554_zpsf4fe8ab4.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141555_zps595362ee.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141555_zps595362ee.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141556_zps375e4924.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141556_zps375e4924.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 That looks lovely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted March 8, 2014 Author Share Posted March 8, 2014 [quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1394295448' post='2390009'] That looks lovely! [/quote] Thanks, I'm very pleased with the way it's turned out. You have these ideas in your head but never know for sure until it's done wether it'll work or not, personally I think it's loads better. I'm thinking about some black nylon tapewound strings, as well as sounding lovely (I have some on my fretless P) I think they'll look superb with the new colour scheme. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 Yes, that's shiny indeed..! Well done, lad, that's a wonderful job you've done. You should be receiving calls from Variax design dept. if they've any sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skej21 Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 (edited) Looks awesome. Like, REALLY awesome. Just out of curiosity, is there a reason why you didn't bind the F-hole too? Edited March 8, 2014 by skej21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted March 8, 2014 Author Share Posted March 8, 2014 [quote name='skej21' timestamp='1394297645' post='2390040'] Looks awesome. Like, REALLY awesome. Just out of curiosity, is there a reason why you didn't bind the F-hole too? [/quote] Thanks, I did do the 'binding' round the 'f' hole but it didn't look right. With the edges of the hole the same colour as the body you see the 3D shape of the cutout against the dark (shadowed) background, when the edges were black they merged into the shadowed interior make it look a bit 2D, like a sticker. The way it is now accentuates the effect of having an actual cavity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted March 8, 2014 Author Share Posted March 8, 2014 Oh and thanks Dad . It amuses me that Line 6 went all the trouble of doing the electrics and forgot about the styling . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 (edited) Cor that's lovely! You are a clever and talented chap. Edited March 8, 2014 by ezbass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skej21 Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 [quote name='Maude' timestamp='1394298115' post='2390047'] Thanks, I did do the 'binding' round the 'f' hole but it didn't look right. With the edges of the hole the same colour as the body you see the 3D shape of the cutout against the dark (shadowed) background, when the edges were black they merged into the shadowed interior make it look a bit 2D, like a sticker. The way it is now accentuates the effect of having an actual cavity. [/quote] I totally agree! Just wondered why you'd gone for it. It looks killer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacqueslemac Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 Thanks for this thread. I've been thinking about doing something similar to my Variax, but haven't had the courage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubis Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 That thumb rest is genius............awesome job Maude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth Hughes Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 That is simply stunning. Great job. Thanks for the build pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumnote Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 Brilliant, I had a couple of these but the dont really look right. Yours is stunning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 Great thread. Awesome job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 I'm VERY impressed. It looks great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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