Isolation Build - time to experiment!

[Chopthebass]

I always fancied a Mayones Cali 4 mini bass. Great build and great looks. And they sound good too. But thought I would make my own five string mini bass with a few differences. The Cali is 17" scale,  same as 12 fret onwards on a 34". I am going for an 18.5" scale (equiv to a 37"). Like Mayones, I am using offcuts that are too small to make a full size bass.

[rubis]

Love it, very interesting project. 

Best of luck with it 

[songofthewind]

Sounds very cool. Looking forward to seeing this come to pass.

[Andyjr1515]

I look forward very much to seeing this develop

 

[Chopthebass]

I made the wings using alder, black veneer and cottonwood burl top. I have to rout the battery boxes. What you see here are cavities for the controls, and the headphone amp.

[Chopthebass]

Figuring out the headphone amp installation. The two mini jacks will be accessible on the top wing once I undercut a slot with my router. You may notice this is black walnut. I decided to make two basses. I’ll do the walnut first before I work on the burl

[Chopthebass]

Mocked up to see how it looks. I’m liking the proportions! 

[Andyjr1515]

7 minutes ago, Chopthebass said:

Mocked up to see how it looks. I’m liking the proportions! 

Looks great - but what are we looking at here ref the two wings in the previous pics?

[Jabba_the_gut]

That wood has a lovely grain. Looking forward to seeing this progress. What is you plan for the strings for this? Cheers

[Chopthebass]

5 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said:

Looks great - but what are we looking at here ref the two wings in the previous pics?

I’m building 2 Basses. The first pics are alder back with cottonwood burl top. I decided to finish the solid black walnut bass first. So pics are now walnut wings.

[Chopthebass]

Here’s the two basses mocked up. 

[Andyjr1515]

Ah - got it.  I hadn't picked up it was 2 basses

They look good.

 

[Chopthebass]

4 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said:

Ah - got it.  I hadn't picked up it was 2 basses

They look good.

 

Thanks Andy. Its frustrating waiting for parts to be delivered. Can't do much without truss rods! 

[Chopthebass]

Fret slots cut in the flame maple fingerboard. It’s going to be bound in the same wood so I cut sides off first. I’ll glue them back on and it should be pretty seamless. 

[Chopthebass]

Edges glued back on

[Chopthebass]

Perfect join! 

[Chopthebass]

Couldn’t resist mocking it up to get a feel for it. Still deciding between chrome or black bridge and tuners

[Chopthebass]

i Decided the black walnut top was a bit bland so I hit the bandsaw, and stuck a rosewood top on! 

[stewblack]

Good grief. There are some talented folk around here. 

[Chopthebass]

Started roughing the neck shape. I’ll do most of the shaping before glueing the wings to the neck. No quick way to do a single cut!

[Chopthebass]

Finished rough shaping. Can’t glue the wings on as I’m waiting for a delivery of wire. I need to extend the headphone amp wires and need to thread through holes though the neck laminates. 

[Geek99]

I get so sick of all this perfection with total ease ....

[Chopthebass]

Fingerboard now has satin lacquer, then the frets were installed. I pre-polished them, and I’ll do them again after they have been levelled. 

[EBS_freak]

That is super cute!

[Slappindabass]

10 hours ago, Chopthebass said:

Fingerboard now has satin lacquer, then the frets were installed. I pre-polished them, and I’ll do them again after they have been levelled. 

Do you always paint before fretting? I have bern fretting then lacqeur. Git getting it off the frets!😥