Al Heeley Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Here's some pics of my first neck-thru bass build, a Zebrawood 4-string with Jazz Bass pup config. 34" scale, 4-string 24-fret with a core of maple and walnut. Wenge fretboard from Simo [UK GB forum], wings of the body yet to be decided, but I'll probably end up with mahogany. The body shape will be a slightly scaled-down Warmoth Gecko style. Electrics will be jazz bass or similar pickups using the P-J blend wiring with a simple 3 knobs for master vol, master tone and blend pot from neck to bridge pup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Heeley Posted February 5, 2009 Author Share Posted February 5, 2009 Got the wood for the body wings. They had a 30% off sale on american mahogany plus a couple of planks of Zebrano, so this shows them sandwiched together and the rough shape cut out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Heeley Posted February 5, 2009 Author Share Posted February 5, 2009 Grain's starting to come up nice... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Heeley Posted February 5, 2009 Author Share Posted February 5, 2009 End-on, body wings contoured, sanded and Danish-oiled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Heeley Posted February 5, 2009 Author Share Posted February 5, 2009 Here she is fretted and position markers fitted. First time fretting for me so a bit nervous but it went smoother than I dared to imagine. No fancy tools just a hammer with a good few folds of cloth over the head, seemed to do the trick quite nicely. Once the bridge position is finalised and the nut filed down, I can add a tiny bit of camber to the neck if I need to, before gluing on the wings. Ctrl cavity now routed plus jack socket and walnut cover fashioned from a left over piece of the neck laminate, routed down to 4mm thick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Heeley Posted February 5, 2009 Author Share Posted February 5, 2009 Sanding and shaping continues. Small recess routed for bridge. Another 1/4 cm taken off the neck thickness, body/neck join tidied up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Heeley Posted February 5, 2009 Author Share Posted February 5, 2009 Pickups finally arrived this afternoon. (GFS Jazz Pro set) Got the body routed for them, lined the ctrl cavity with copper shielding and got her all wired up. She'll be taken thru her paces at tonight's rehersal. Really looking forward to hearing how she sounds. Nice and comfortable playing position, neck could be a little thinner up beyond the 12th fret but on the whole I'm really pleased how this one came together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Heeley Posted February 5, 2009 Author Share Posted February 5, 2009 One final pic of the front Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Nice work! You're making me feel guilty, especially with that zebrano. Going to have to get my projects back on track, but been too busy what with joining a band and practising. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prosebass Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Great work again Al. Looking forward to a natter next weekend. Its interesting to see how builders approach basses differently. One of my main considerations is cost which I try to keep as low as possible with most of my builds including the few commissions I have done of the the Jazzes and precisions. Will you be bringing any of your recent builds to Harrogate ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Heeley Posted February 6, 2009 Author Share Posted February 6, 2009 (edited) I've been requested to bring the fanned fret five and the 'Baker work-in-progress. Will be happy to do that as they all like to be stroked, but I'm a bit in awe of the 'proper builders' that will be present at the bash! I spent some time rewiring the zebra, went for a master tone, master vol, pickup blend, had a big search for a proper blend pot and learnt a lot of geeky stuff about why they never really work very well on passive circuits, the great John East then very kindly sent me a 'proper' blend pot and I also added a series/parallel mini switch. I thought the blend pot thing would be an ideal config for this sort of guitar but found out that its too much of a compromise - much prefer the classic jazz bass controls. Will be switching back to them again at some stage. i may also get round to slimming the neck down a bit more when the 'baker is finished. Edited February 6, 2009 by Al Heeley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noisyjon Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 I like the egg with the face drawn on, in post #5!!! Al, where do you buy the tone wood from please fella? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 The return of the eggs! They've been sadly missing from your RickenBaker build! As always cool stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prosebass Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 (edited) [quote name='Al Heeley' post='401765' date='Feb 6 2009, 09:09 AM']I've been requested to bring the fanned fret five and the 'Baker work-in-progress. Will be happy to do that as they all like to be stroked, but I'm a bit in awe of the 'proper builders' that will be present at the bash![/quote] Thats great and I certainly wouldn't be "in awe" at what you term the "proper builders" your basses look superb. The way I look at it is providing that you have the equipment and skills it then comes down to a matter of time and cost. I could happily beaver away for a week or two solid on each build and the basses would be priced appropriately for however many hours work is put in plus materials and overheads. I don't want to spend 50+ hours on one bass and prefer to make a bass in a couple of days hence most of my basses are in the £200 - £250 range and I have had 25 + happy customers in the last 6 months. Horses for courses as the saying goes.... It also depends why you are doing it ? Profit / Hobby / Philanthropy etc. Many of the big bass names started off as small repair shop / specialist builders and now have bass empires (Sadowsky / Lakland) spring to mind. They are now making their money from off the shelf built in the far east models because that is the best way to offer "best in class" for the money. [quote]Lakland Skylines are designed in Chicago but made in a state-of-the-art overseas factory. Lakland determines all specifications and anything that can be done by machine is done by machine, including the fretting. Basses are manufactured in lots of 30 (or more) of each model.[/quote] Plus don't loose track of the most important aspects in a bass, playability and sound ! otherwise it is just a piece of furniture Edited February 6, 2009 by Prosebass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Heeley Posted February 6, 2009 Author Share Posted February 6, 2009 (edited) Thx for the encouraging comments, Prose. Of course I remain a garage-based enthusiast builder, but each one I build really extends the knowledge and the practice. Not yet able to give up the day job but its worth a dream ain't it? [quote name='jonthebass' post='401767' date='Feb 6 2009, 09:16 AM']Al, where do you buy the tone wood from please fella?[/quote] Almost exclusively from John Boddy Specialist Timber up in Boroughbridge. Very cold warehouse this time of year but a huge selection of exotic and interesting woods. [quote]The return of the eggs! They've been sadly missing from your RickenBaker build![/quote] I have been aware of the absence of comedy eggs during the 'Baker build. It's a combination of prolific omelette eating in the household together with supply shortages at the village shop brought about by adverse weather conditions. I hoipoe to address this issue shortly after the routing has begun. Edited February 6, 2009 by Al Heeley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey R Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 AHH, he's at it again! Good stuff as always, man do you build these quick! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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