Bastav Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 So I started this a few months back but its been sitting pretty for a while but I think I might make progress soon so I decided to start a thread for it. Here´s the sketch, not all planned out but basically this is what I´m going for What it is;[list] [*]8 strings, octave formation [*]28´´ scale [*]Thuya top and back [*]wenge and limba accent stripes (the way I glued these up, I´ll be surprised if I don´t have a few gaps... we´ll see) [*]mahogany center [*]mahogany/maple/purpleheart neck... to scarf or not to scarf, that be the question... [*]Fretboard will be bubinga [*]I might try making my own bridge... or just buy one of them schallers [*]will string it up with flats for all eight strings [*]pickups will be some random jazzbasspups I have lying around [*]Black Sperzel locking tuners for the real strings and sperzel copys for the alternative strings [/list] hmmm, anything else? gluing up the mahogany core Here´s the neck and fretboard. The maple stringers are a bit uneven thickness wise. I´ll probably be able to hide the worst of it under the fb Here´s the wood used for the top/back (bookmatched since this picture was taken) and the fretboard That´s it for now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblueplanet Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 That's a mean looking fretboard. Gonna be interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 REALLY looking forward to this, Bastav That's what I call a spec! Armchair and popcorn ready Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scojack Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 (edited) There is so much i love about your builds Bastav so looking forward to this myself, Its because your designs are good and you have much talent that i just want to say this .. I do feel you let yourself down with some of the finer detail , if you would take more time and get even the smallest thing 100% perfect before moving on to the next job... I think your basses would move into a whole new level. . Ian Edited March 10, 2017 by scojack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bastav Posted March 10, 2017 Author Share Posted March 10, 2017 Thanks for the encouragment! I agree with your critique scojack. Sometimes its a matter of patience where i settle for good enough and other times i just dont know the limitations of what im working with. i feel like im learning with every mistake i make but i never run out of things to get wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bastav Posted March 15, 2017 Author Share Posted March 15, 2017 Not a lot to report but here's the back with the cavity cover cut out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bastav Posted April 11, 2017 Author Share Posted April 11, 2017 The top and back being prepared for glue up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EliasMooseblaster Posted April 11, 2017 Share Posted April 11, 2017 Interesting choice of scale length! I've often wondered whether a longer scale (32 or 34") would have improved on my Hagstrom (30"), but then wondered if it was more likely to have issues with intonation on the octave strings. So I will be very interested to see how a 28" pans out - really looking forward to seeing how this one turns out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bastav Posted April 21, 2017 Author Share Posted April 21, 2017 (edited) Thanks for the comment! The choice of scale length was down a couple of things, mostly that I wanted to try flatwound strings for all eight strings and I figured a wound G string (octave) might not want to stretch to 30'' or more. It might not be able to handle the tension at 28'' either but... maybe Edited April 21, 2017 by Bastav Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bastav Posted April 21, 2017 Author Share Posted April 21, 2017 The body is glued up and today I cut the shape out, some shaping of the outline remains but it's close. Then I had to deal with the quite serious thickness issue I had from trying to use a band saw that was not up to the task to bookmatch the thuya top & back. The thuya wood clogs sandpaper in no time and does not like to be planed so I used the shinto rasp to do most of the work and then just some sanding to finish it off. I also did some carving tests Here's a pic showing some of the thickness inconsistencies Front and back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 Expect the grain on this to really pop once it's oiled... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 I am following this topic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bastav Posted April 25, 2017 Author Share Posted April 25, 2017 [quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1493067900' post='3285413'] Expect the grain on this to really pop once it's oiled... [/quote] I hope so too. The thuya is a bit of a pain to work with so it'd better be worth it Thanks for the comments! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bastav Posted April 27, 2017 Author Share Posted April 27, 2017 Not a whole lot to show for the last weeks work but the outline is finalized and have started carving the horns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted April 27, 2017 Share Posted April 27, 2017 Heavily carved to show off the contrast in timbers?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bastav Posted April 27, 2017 Author Share Posted April 27, 2017 [quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1493288560' post='3287138'] Heavily carved to show off the contrast in timbers?? [/quote] Thats the idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted April 27, 2017 Share Posted April 27, 2017 Very nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scojack Posted April 27, 2017 Share Posted April 27, 2017 Looking good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bastav Posted April 28, 2017 Author Share Posted April 28, 2017 Thanks for keeping me motivated Today I did the cut for the scarf joint and did some more carving... couldn't resist a bit of premature grain popping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roman_sub Posted April 28, 2017 Share Posted April 28, 2017 looks incredible! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted April 29, 2017 Share Posted April 29, 2017 You've got some lovely curves going on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted April 30, 2017 Share Posted April 30, 2017 That really is looking lovely!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bastav Posted April 30, 2017 Author Share Posted April 30, 2017 Thanks guys I'm quite pleased with the curves myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rOB Posted April 30, 2017 Share Posted April 30, 2017 I really like the shaping of the upper horn, it shows off the layers really nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblueplanet Posted May 6, 2017 Share Posted May 6, 2017 The figuring on top with those accents in the contouring really adds a touch of class. Top notch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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