Just put together a purpose built bass for my band

[Mykk]

Hey Guys, my name is Mykk. I'd like to share with you pics of my most recent project bass (all of my basses are project basses). I just put this one together with the sole intention of using it for my progressive, space metal band.

I started with a really inexpensive EBay find. Ktone (made by SunSmile chinese) 6-string Les Paul style bass. We tune A-E-A-D-G-C in A=432hz and I find myself making synth/well type sounds with a volume pedal and a delay where the high string could be handy.

Mind you, I am no luthier nor a professional, and it shows in my work. I am just a working bass player that enjoys tinkering on my basses. This bass was so cheap with zero quality control I suppose I couldn't have made it any worse then how it shipped.

[url="http://s1230.photobucket.com/user/BassPlayerMykk/media/5206p3-1.jpg.html"][/url]

I was attracted to this peticular bass as the base of my build just for the uniqueness to it and I could see it would clean up nicely.

The original electronics were a total joke, the bridge pup had no output and the neck pickup only amplified the top three strings and with a very low signal. Gutted to electro's:

[url="http://s1230.photobucket.com/user/BassPlayerMykk/media/20140519_175122.jpg.html"][/url]

My replacement electronics of choice for this build; Lace Alumitone bassbars and a BassMods 3eq pre.

[url="http://s1230.photobucket.com/user/BassPlayerMykk/media/20140522_163703.jpg.html"][/url]

Cut, painted and added my insignia to the pickguard

[url="http://s1230.photobucket.com/user/BassPlayerMykk/media/20140521_0822511.jpg.html"][/url]

Also painted the neck, my preference. I like finished necks, some players prefer them bare. I am really impressed how flat the acrylic laquer layed down after flashing.

[url="http://s1230.photobucket.com/user/BassPlayerMykk/media/20140522_073328.jpg.html"][/url]

On the frontside I added faux inlays including my favorite design, the Gibson Flowerpot.

[url="http://s1230.photobucket.com/user/BassPlayerMykk/media/20140522_140617.jpg.html"][/url]

I knew I needed to address that bridge, if not for any other reason then to be able to intonate. As it was the bass has a tight 14.5mm string spacing but was comfortable and natural to play. I found a couple inexpensive bridges that had 16.5 spacing and that just barely kept the strings on the fretboard. But it was doable and playable.

As an experiment I wanted to float the bridge using the original poles. To my suprise, it worked really well with minor modification.

[url="http://s1230.photobucket.com/user/BassPlayerMykk/media/20140523_132240.jpg.html"][/url]

I had problems getting long scale strings that would clear the nut, despite the bass being 33" scale that string through and post bridge length presented a problem. Instead of finding special strings I opted to sink the pocket that seated the string ball ends:

[url="http://s1230.photobucket.com/user/BassPlayerMykk/media/20140519_170016.jpg.html"][/url]

[url="http://s1230.photobucket.com/user/BassPlayerMykk/media/20140524_142141.jpg.html"][/url]

To cure the drastic, allmost unplayable neck dive issue I filled my newly aquired cavity with sticky weights used to balance wheels & tires.

[url="http://s1230.photobucket.com/user/BassPlayerMykk/media/20140526_094229.jpg.html"][/url]

Just a couple more weights in the control cavity and under the bridge and it balances nicely and weights in at 5.26kg. A bit heavy, but not extreme.

[URL=http://s1230.photobucket.com/user/BassPlayerMykk/media/20140524_152039.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee488/BassPlayerMykk/20140524_152039.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Set it up, file some frets, intonate and it's actually a really decent and fun bass to play with a crazy modern & bright sound. The recording below isn't meant to be a direct tone test due to EQ and FX. But really I'm happy with it. Since the recording I replaced the rotosounds with some markley blue steels and it really woke up the mids.

As you can hear in the jingle, I am having a problem with the pickups wanting to pull the low string out of tune. I am working on the compromise between pickup height sweet spot and magnet grab.

[url="https://soundcloud.com/mykk-hannan/new-bass-test"]https://soundcloud.c...n/new-bass-test[/url]

Thanks for reading my story, if you have any ideas. Input. or anything at all, let's hear it!

-Mykk

Edited May 29, 2014 by Mykk

[FlatEric]

Hi.

That certainly is a bit different.

I like unique instruments - don't think I'll see another one like that.

Would be interested to see some of the others.

Cheers.

[blablas]

Nice job, cool looking bass after all the work you've done on it.

[Thurbs]

Epic first post! Welcome and a great build with a great melodic sound. .

[EliasMooseblaster]

Welcome! And fantastic stuff - some clever solutions to some common problems, and the result looks and sounds delightful. (The Pegasus on the pickguard is a nice touch as well!)

[Mykk]

[quote name='FlatEric' timestamp='1401344757' post='2462552']Would be interested to see some of the others.[/quote]

Thanks, I really appreciate it guys. The other basses are a bit more traditional:

MIA jazz with EMG pups and BassMods pre.

[url="http://s1230.photobucket.com/user/BassPlayerMykk/media/943772_549582365080581_1412601529_n.jpg.html"][/url]

Squier vintage modified V with Duncan SJB-3's & BassMods pre.

[url="http://s1230.photobucket.com/user/BassPlayerMykk/media/379759_10151350315139286_1082713162_n.jpg.html"][/url]

[url="http://s1230.photobucket.com/user/BassPlayerMykk/media/545390_3280207064622_1256844996_n.jpg.html"][/url]

My first bass from when I was 14, a Fernandes P-bass copy with Duncan SPB-3's and a stingray SMB-4A I added at the bridge:

[url="http://s1230.photobucket.com/user/BassPlayerMykk/media/Momentem1.jpg.html"][/url]

An Epi Les Paul bass:

[url="http://s1230.photobucket.com/user/BassPlayerMykk/media/10305326_678574612180273_4118643815181604909_n.jpg.html"][/url]

A stringray copy with SPB-2 precision pups and SMB-4A pup, BassMods pre. Tuned B-E-A-D.

[url="http://s1230.photobucket.com/user/BassPlayerMykk/media/482204_10151560926640609_2042948510_n.jpg.html"][/url]

Edited May 29, 2014 by Mykk

[chrismuzz]

That is AWESOME! I think the thing I'm most impressed with is the major bridge upgrade

[mrtcat]

Wow! Great bass but more importantly I want to play gigs with people hanging off poles all over the shop!

[mixingwithtom]

What mrtcat said!! ^^ haha

[Mykk]

So I've had a chance to bring the sixer into a couple of rehearsals. My first impression was that it needed to be a bit more punchy, even a bandmate said that it didn't quite have the kick in the groin as my other basses.

I thought perhaps the elevated bridge was killing some of the mids;. So I sank the heel of the neck into the pocket and fix mounted the bridge to the body

[URL=http://s1230.photobucket.com/user/BassPlayerMykk/media/20140601_130004.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee488/BassPlayerMykk/20140601_130004.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

This helped excite the mids just a bit, but still couldn't sonically cut through with the pick/string noise and grind that I prefer in a rock/metal environment.

I opt'd to mount my oversized Hipshot bridge to see how it re-acted. This really helped bring the bass to life. I've had good experiences with bridge changes altering the tones but this one was by far the most drastic.

( I'm having a problem with the tuner posts snapping strings, they either need some file time or replacement )

[URL=http://s1230.photobucket.com/user/BassPlayerMykk/media/20140602_151102.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee488/BassPlayerMykk/20140602_151102.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

I ordered another Hipshot bridge with a better string spacing for this bass, and then I took that bridge pictured and cut the end two saddles off and made it a four string bridge for my Jazz.

[URL=http://s1230.photobucket.com/user/BassPlayerMykk/media/20140603_160647.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee488/BassPlayerMykk/20140603_160647.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

The american jazz bridge has been great for a very long time, but this one excited a few high end frequencies and tamed others that sound really good.