Karl Derrick Posted November 24, 2015 Posted November 24, 2015 This is a 'Rat Jazz' bass I just finished. I wanted to see how far I could go with the relicing thing. Pretty far it seems Admittedly it's a real statement, and won't be to everyone's taste. I really like the concept of 'Rat Rod' cars and wanted to apply the same idea to a Jazz bass. The body is Oak. The neck is one piece Maple, Fender licensed. Pickups are Fender USA AVRI 75, the bridge is Fender too. The scratchplate is leather. Weighs about 9 Pounds. I wanted to get the feeling that this had been built in someone's barn. The body's features were there in the wood, I just enhanced them. The Oak is ebonized and sealed with Melamine lacquer. It's strung with Roundwounds and is woody, bright and clean. The action is Fender factory Spec but can go either way easily. The trussrod is smooth. Karl [attachment=205725:rat beautysmall.jpg][attachment=205726:ratbacksmall.jpg][attachment=205727:rat04.jpg][attachment=205728:rat06.jpg][attachment=205729:rat09.jpg][attachment=205730:rat13.jpg][attachment=205731:rat12.jpg][attachment=205732:ratbeauty2small.jpg][attachment=205733:ratdetailsmall.jpg] Quote
Jonnyboy Rotten Posted November 24, 2015 Posted November 24, 2015 I really like that! Two questions: What is 'ebonised'? Are the pickups really rusty or have they been made to look that way? Quote
Karl Derrick Posted November 24, 2015 Author Posted November 24, 2015 Ebonizing is an old traditional technique for making wood dark. You make an iron/acetic acid solution and it bonds with the Tannin in the wood, causing it to grey and darken. Works well on Oak, as it has a lot of Tannin. It makes new wood look aged and weathered. The pickups are new. The covers have been removed and cut down and inverted to support the pickup from underneath and leave it fully adjustable for height. I cloth-taped the windings to protect them, then artworked the pickups to make them look old. No real rust Karl Quote
Karl Derrick Posted November 24, 2015 Author Posted November 24, 2015 (edited) It was an interesting project, fun to work on. I used a lot of the techinques I learned working in the film industry. I guess I should make a knackered, relic strap to go with it Karl Edited November 24, 2015 by Karl Derrick Quote
Jonnyboy Rotten Posted November 24, 2015 Posted November 24, 2015 Its a bit like what I would expect a Jazz bass from Tattooine to look like! Quote
Karl Derrick Posted November 24, 2015 Author Posted November 24, 2015 (edited) As you can gather from my avatar, I'm a leather worker (among other things). I discovered the leather I used for the pickguard when looking for ancient looking stuff for a film prop. This leather has a stiff cracked surface, but is actually flexible. The cracked surface is stable and bits don't fall off. Karl [attachment=205747:rat07.jpg][attachment=205748:rat04.jpg] Edited November 24, 2015 by Karl Derrick Quote
spiltmilk_2000 Posted November 24, 2015 Posted November 24, 2015 Wow! Not sure I'd buy one but it does look very cool! I'd be interested to know how the oak body affects the tone and the weight! Are we going to hear any sound clips??? Very nice work! Quote
Karl Derrick Posted November 24, 2015 Author Posted November 24, 2015 Hmmm.... don't know how to do sound clips. The oak is dense but not too heavy. It's musical, clean and resonant. Woody, articulate. It's not 'crunchy' screaming zingy, but clear and warmly bright. As I say, my scale says she weighs about 9 Pounds. Karl Quote
Luulox Posted November 24, 2015 Posted November 24, 2015 Nice work, definitely looks like it was found in a barn! Really like it. Cheers Pete Quote
Karl Derrick Posted November 24, 2015 Author Posted November 24, 2015 Thanks. There's a surprising amount of labour in ageing and weathering absolutely every part. Spent half a day on the control plate Karl Quote
Karl Derrick Posted November 24, 2015 Author Posted November 24, 2015 Thanks it was fun to do. Karl Quote
Karl Derrick Posted November 25, 2015 Author Posted November 25, 2015 Here's a pic showing the four very different pieces the body is made from, and the quality of the cracking on the leather. I think I'll try and make a strap from the cracked leather. Perhaps a panel in the middle of a strap rather than the whole thing..... Karl [attachment=205833:Iso.jpg] Quote
RickyV Posted November 25, 2015 Posted November 25, 2015 I like that an awful lot. The knots in the wood make it for me and the leather scratchplate is also very cool. Nice job. Quote
Truckstop Posted November 25, 2015 Posted November 25, 2015 That's really cool! Looks great, would love to have one. Will you build more? Quote
Karl Derrick Posted November 25, 2015 Author Posted November 25, 2015 Thanks you guys. I may build more, but they take a lot of time.... I can also 'Rat' an existing bass or guitar. Karl Quote
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