franzbassist Posted February 19, 2017 Posted February 19, 2017 (edited) Having been so impressed with my fretless I have decided to have Xaver build me a fretted sibling. I'm hoping this will be a proper build thread with regular pictures. I thought long and hard about which model I wanted, but in the end I chose the Sirius DC shape, as it shares a common design with my Sirius singlecut. The spec is as follows: thermo ash body with a chestnut top 5 pc thermo ash neck with walnut stringers, ebony fingerboard, chestnut headstock and matching truss rod cover Delano SBC HE/S-4 pickups Glockenklang 2-band EQ active-passive, (vol, balance, bass, treble active/passive tone) with 2 x switches to switch between humbucker/parallel/single coil ETS 3D MKIII with single string attachment Dunlop strap locks Gotoh Res-O-Lite tuners I've opted for "thermo" ash for the body and neck, which means the wood has been heat treated to give it the properties akin to wood much older than it actually is: it's darker, lighter and more resonant, and I really like how it looks, feels and sounds. The bass will be custom in a three ways; it'll be the first Sirius DC to have a bolt on neck (they are usually neck-through) and pickup coil switches, but the most special bit for me is that the chestnut Xaver will be using for the top came from a tree in the garden of my parent's old house. I have many happy memories in the house, which my Mum sold just after my Dad died, so it will be a nice memory of both the house, and of him too. Here's the top: I've sold my brand new ACG Krell to part-fund the build. That in itself was a superb bass, but I have very high hopes for this bass too. Edited January 30, 2018 by walbassist Quote
Rumple Posted February 19, 2017 Posted February 19, 2017 I love the idea of using wood from your parents old house Quote
scojack Posted February 20, 2017 Posted February 20, 2017 [quote name='Rumple' timestamp='1487510766' post='3240304'] I love the idea of using wood from your parents old house [/quote] +1 lovely looking basses these...looking forward to it Quote
franzbassist Posted February 24, 2017 Author Posted February 24, 2017 (edited) Deposit paid, we're under way in about three weeks time, and it should be here late June Edited January 30, 2018 by walbassist Quote
franzbassist Posted March 6, 2017 Author Posted March 6, 2017 (edited) It was great to meet Xaver (middle) and his endorsee Ralf Gauck at the LBGS on Saturday. We finalised a few details (shape of the neck heel, walnut stringers in the neck, body finish), and I got to play lots of Xaver's other basses! Edited January 30, 2018 by walbassist Quote
franzbassist Posted May 9, 2017 Author Posted May 9, 2017 (edited) Progress. Due end of June Edited January 30, 2018 by walbassist Quote
franzbassist Posted May 30, 2017 Author Posted May 30, 2017 (edited) Slight change of plan. We're now using a second matched top as a centre block, as the wood on the outside edges of the original top weren't stable enough to work. Edited July 7, 2017 by walbassist Quote
TheGreek Posted May 30, 2017 Posted May 30, 2017 Nice grain...love the contours...following this thread, Quote
franzbassist Posted June 1, 2017 Author Posted June 1, 2017 (edited) Taking shape Chestnut top being glued on tomorrow. Matching headstock Edited June 1, 2017 by walbassist Quote
franzbassist Posted June 28, 2017 Author Posted June 28, 2017 (edited) Xaver has been so busy he's put completion back to second week in July, but real progress has been made. Edited July 7, 2017 by walbassist Quote
HazBeen Posted June 28, 2017 Posted June 28, 2017 Yummy, to me German engineered basses are where it's at. Price is reasonable, build quality outstanding and design whilst not overly "oooh look at me" perfect. But then I might be biased.... Good luck containing the GAS Quote
franzbassist Posted June 28, 2017 Author Posted June 28, 2017 (edited) This being the first bolt on version of this model of bass, Xaver is using the design he uses on his Merak bass. It's nice and clean. Edited January 30, 2018 by walbassist Quote
TheGreek Posted June 28, 2017 Posted June 28, 2017 Some nice features...like the headstock design, nice piece of timber... watching with interest... Quote
franzbassist Posted June 30, 2017 Author Posted June 30, 2017 (edited) Some routing has been done Edited January 30, 2018 by walbassist Quote
scojack Posted June 30, 2017 Posted June 30, 2017 That's lovely.... woods,design the lot ! ....the ash looks really good too. thermo ash? Ian Quote
franzbassist Posted June 30, 2017 Author Posted June 30, 2017 (edited) That's lovely.... woods,design the lot. thermo ash? Yes, thermo ash in the body and neck. Thanks chaps. Xaver is really moving along today. First finish has just gone on Edited January 30, 2018 by walbassist Quote
franzbassist Posted July 6, 2017 Author Posted July 6, 2017 (edited) Electrics installed tomorrow, shipping on Monday... Edited January 30, 2018 by walbassist Quote
franzbassist Posted July 6, 2017 Author Posted July 6, 2017 (edited) Back's nice too! The chestnut cavity cover was a nice surprise Edited January 30, 2018 by walbassist Quote
franzbassist Posted July 7, 2017 Author Posted July 7, 2017 Close up of the chestnut cavity cover. Quote
scojack Posted July 7, 2017 Posted July 7, 2017 Love this bass, is there a wee carve on the top or is flat? Quote
TheGreek Posted July 7, 2017 Posted July 7, 2017 Looks fantastic - there are some really nice builds going on here at the moment... Quote
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