Longmayyourun Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 A couple of pictures of my latest effort - 34 inch scale fretless, Bart MM pup. Body is Wenge on Sapele, fingerboard Wenge with Ebony binding, neck Sapele/Wenge/Sapele. Oil and wax finish [attachment=18941:IMG_1280.JPG] The back is particularly pretty: [attachment=18942:IMG_1281.JPG] Hope you like it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budget bassist Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Very nice, you made that yourself? We seem to be attracting some good luthiers recently! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longmayyourun Posted January 20, 2009 Author Share Posted January 20, 2009 Thank you. This is kind of a hobby for me - I make furniture for a living.(but I know what I'd rather be doing) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budget bassist Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Well hey, that's pretty damn good for just a hobby! Build a few more on the side and sell them, i'm sure some of the guys on here would like a bit of that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 That looks the business, you should be proud of yourself. Really impressive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GCYPbass Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 I would like to be able to do that... best hobby ever [quote name='budget bassist' post='386140' date='Jan 20 2009, 02:28 PM']Well hey, that's pretty damn good for just a hobby! Build a few more on the side and sell them, i'm sure some of the guys on here would like a bit of that [/quote] +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjb Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 (edited) Whoa, that's brilliant. How much would one cost if you DID decide to sell them? It would sit snugly between my Thumbs. :brow: I'm loving this bass because it fills a very specific niche - a simple, elegant fretless. I'm sure you could sell a few on here. I can see a little Thumb/SR505 influence in there, by the way.... Edited January 20, 2009 by rjb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longmayyourun Posted January 20, 2009 Author Share Posted January 20, 2009 Thanks for your kind words all of you. Rjb you hit the nail on the head - simple and elegant is what I was hoping for. If I did decide to sell one of my bases? Well I think I'd need to make a few more first to fine tune the design and execution. (i've started a on a neck through version already) I make my living making things in my workshop, and it would be nice to think that one day a customer would consider my work (guitar wise) good enough to part with money for. If you were in my neck of the woods I'd be happy to show you what I've done. Thanks again for the interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budget bassist Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 (edited) [quote name='Longmayyourun' post='386660' date='Jan 20 2009, 08:15 PM']i've started a on a neck through version already[/quote] Awesome, a neck thru version would look really nice, i'd want to see it up close, but that looks really well built to me. Well, it would be if you make your living through carpentry! It certainly looks like something i'd be interested in if the pickup was moved slightly south, it was fretted and if it had an active EQ. I wish i could make stuff like that, i'd have far too many basses though! Edited January 20, 2009 by budget bassist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdphysio Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Wow. Absolutely stunning! Can you post some close-up/more details pics please. Karl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josh3184 Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 looks quite cort curbow-esque. Very nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longmayyourun Posted January 20, 2009 Author Share Posted January 20, 2009 [attachment=19009:IMG_1284.JPG][quote name='kdphysio' post='386765' date='Jan 20 2009, 09:27 PM']Wow. Absolutely stunning! Can you post some close-up/more details pics please. Karl[/quote] [attachment=19004:IMG_1115.JPG] In the workshop, before angling the neck pocket [attachment=19005:IMG_1253.JPG] Woodwork finished [attachment=19008:IMG_1269.JPG] [attachment=19010:IMG_1284.JPG] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Heeley Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Beautiful! I love the look of oiled wenge, its stunning, but I hate working with it as I get my fingers full of splinters. Lovely work! Classy, not over-flash but very tasteful pieces of wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfoxnik Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 [quote name='Al Heeley' post='386845' date='Jan 20 2009, 10:27 PM']Beautiful! I love the look of oiled wenge, its stunning, but I hate working with it as I get my fingers full of splinters. Lovely work! Classy, not over-flash but very tasteful pieces of wood.[/quote] +1 Simple and elegant, definitely.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budget bassist Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 some lovely pieces of wood there, i love the grainy but consistant look of wenge, gorgeous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodster909 Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 that looks stunning, well done nice shape too how does it sound/play? anything you'd do different next time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 Nice.....keep it going Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longmayyourun Posted January 27, 2009 Author Share Posted January 27, 2009 [quote name='woodster909' post='392102' date='Jan 26 2009, 08:40 PM']that looks stunning, well done nice shape too how does it sound/play? anything you'd do different next time?[/quote] Thank you Woodster. I'm pleased with the shape - the body is really quite small - (the neck joins at the 24th position on the Gstring side to give you an idea of proportions) How does it sound/play? Well it's very hard to be objective with something you've made yourself. There's plenty of that lovely fretless woody thing going on and it seems pretty even all over the 'board. I'm enjoying the flats as I usually play roundwounds - it feels very slick and the action is low and eay to play. But I'm no great shakes as a bassist - What I really need is for someone who knows what they're on about to try it out and give me an honest opinion. Maybe if a SW bash comes together I'll pluck up the courage to bring it along. Different next time? A few things - the headstaock needs to be very slightly bigger so the machines don't look so crowded. The electrics need playing with - different pots and cap values to tweek the tonal possibilities, maybe a series/parallel switch. For the deep sound I was hoping for I think the pup is too close to the bridge. Anyway, I'm happy for now. Thanks for your interest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golchen Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 Wow - very nicely done. I'd love to take a crack at making instruments, I'm sure that I have a reasonable set of skills for the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longmayyourun Posted January 27, 2009 Author Share Posted January 27, 2009 Then I think you should go for it. It's incredibly satisfying to play an instrument you have made yourself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedontcarebear Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 Don't you need a lot of tools to build a bass though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longmayyourun Posted January 27, 2009 Author Share Posted January 27, 2009 Well yes - a lot of tools certainly helps, but after machining and jointing the neck and body blanks, which you might be able to get a local woodwork shop to do for you, I used a router, pillar drill, spokeshave, block plane, a fine hand saw and an electric drill. And a selection of cabinet scrapers and chisels,marking knives etc.... Sure you need some tools, but there are plenty of guys on here who do lovely work in their front rooms / garages / back yards with the minimum of stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tait Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 [quote name='Longmayyourun' post='392845' date='Jan 27 2009, 03:54 PM']Well yes - a lot of tools certainly helps, but after machining and jointing the neck and body blanks, which you might be able to get a local woodwork shop to do for you, I used a router, pillar drill, spokeshave, block plane, a fine hand saw and an electric drill. And a selection of cabinet scrapers and chisels,marking knives etc.... Sure you need some tools, but there are plenty of guys on here who do lovely work in their front rooms / garages / back yards with the minimum of stuff[/quote] true, when i built my taitycaster on my shuker 5 day course, although there were a lot of big machines jon used, i only used 3 of them, and there would be easy, much smaller alternatives. for example jon smooths out the bodies to make sure the wood was flat with this huge machine that you put the body in one side and it sort of smoothed the top layer, but that could also be done with sandpaper. another obvious one is that jon uses a bin pin router for cutting bodies, but i used a plunge router - much smaller and easier. i think it would be quite easy to build a bass without huge tools, the only one i think you probably would need is a bandsaw(? - a big electric one that has a vertical blade). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golchen Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 [quote name='Longmayyourun' post='392845' date='Jan 27 2009, 03:54 PM']Well yes - a lot of tools certainly helps, but after machining and jointing the neck and body blanks, which you might be able to get a local woodwork shop to do for you, I used a router, pillar drill, spokeshave, block plane, a fine hand saw and an electric drill. And a selection of cabinet scrapers and chisels,marking knives etc.... Sure you need some tools, but there are plenty of guys on here who do lovely work in their front rooms / garages / back yards with the minimum of stuff[/quote] I'm lucky, I have all of that at my disposal! (as well as a band saw and a metalwork lathe!) My dad is something of a master craftsman and has an extremely well kitted out garage. Incidentally, the Lathe is about 7 ft long and cost 50p - purchased as scrap from his old job at british aerospace, dismantled completely and then put together again at home. Time is my biggest issue - job can be demanding, 1.5 - 2 hrs driving per day and 4 kids + wife to entertain! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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