MattW Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 Hi All, Am new to the Forum but I have just ordered a custom 5 string Zoot Funkmeister from Mike Walsh so thought I'd document the progress here! It's my 40th Birthday present to myself, and can't wait to see it start taking shape. Spec is: Body: Funkmeister shape in American swamp ash, Bookmatched flame maple top with high gloss sunburst finish. Leo Quan Badass bridge with string through. Jazz style Tort Scratch plate and chrome control plate and hardware. Neck and Fingerbaord: Canadian Rock Maple, Black blocks inlays and binding. 47mm nut width, 3+2 headstock, Warwick MK1 Brass Just-A-Nut. Electrics: Aguilar AG-5J-70 pick ups. Klaus Noll 3 band EQ with Parametric mid, Bass, treble, pickup blend and active/passive options. 18vdc via a Gotoh 18vdc double quick change battery box. We may make some tweaks to that as we progress, but thats the starting point. Mike is pretty busy at the moment but hoping it will be ready before the end of the year. Thankfully I am only about 15 minutes from Mike's workshop so will be able to pop in regularly. Updates to follow... 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 (edited) Mike has a four string for sale on eBay currently...I think that whoever commissioned the bass paid the deposit then couldn't afford the rest of the payments. Their loss I suppose (not only financially).. I'm sure you'll enjoy your new bass... Edited May 14, 2020 by TheGreek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattW Posted May 13, 2020 Author Share Posted May 13, 2020 Indeed. I was really tempted but it's 32" scale 4 string and I really want a 34" 5 string! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmicrain Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 2 hours ago, TheGreek said: Mike has a four string for sale on eBay currently...I think that whoever commissioned the bass paid the deposit then couldn't afford to the rest of the payments. Their loss I suppose (not only financially).. I'm sure you'll enjoy your new bass... Hi, and thanks for mentioning the bass that was for sale on eBay earlier this week. This particular bass was in fact a bass I built as a demo/stock bass and was not a commissioned bass. Regards, Mike. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joebethell Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 Mike is great your in safe hands 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattW Posted June 24, 2020 Author Share Posted June 24, 2020 Mike has made a start on my neck so thought I'd share some photos! Looking great @Cosmicrain 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattW Posted August 2, 2020 Author Share Posted August 2, 2020 Some more build photos from Mike this weekend, all taking shape nicely!! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joebethell Posted August 2, 2020 Share Posted August 2, 2020 Looking great 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattW Posted August 5, 2020 Author Share Posted August 5, 2020 Mike is on to shaping the body now!! Love the detail of adding the dark veneer between the body and the bookmatched top! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
songofthewind Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 Sharp looking bass. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted August 6, 2020 Share Posted August 6, 2020 It’s going to be great, love my Funkmeister Looking forward to seeing it develop! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattW Posted September 1, 2020 Author Share Posted September 1, 2020 More progress from Mike - neck pocket and pick up recesses hand carved using the template seen in the pics: 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass Culture Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 True to form, this is going to be fabulous. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmicrain Posted September 3, 2020 Share Posted September 3, 2020 13 hours ago, Bass Culture said: True to form, this is going to be fabulous. Yes, so far this has been a great bass to build. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmicrain Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 Been busy with my CNC, programming and cutting Matt's black block inlays. Note the small tabs to stop them flying across the workshop. In all a good job. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattW Posted September 4, 2020 Author Share Posted September 4, 2020 Looking good Mike!! 3 hours ago, Cosmicrain said: Been busy with my CNC, programming and cutting Matt's black block inlays. Note the small tabs to stop them flying across the workshop. In all a good job. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmicrain Posted September 6, 2020 Share Posted September 6, 2020 I had a chance this morning to fit the block inlays. Here they are being fitted and glued. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmicrain Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 Here's a few pictures of the black edge binding and white side dots being fitted to the neck. All I need to do now is the fingerboard radius and fretting job, and that part of the neck/fingerboard is done. 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattW Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 Looking Awesome Mike, that's for these!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmicrain Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 The headstock has now been reduced and radius-ed up to the top nut position. I have also, using two different radius blocks (24" & 16") given the fingerboard a compounded radius. It's now ready for a thin clear sealer coat on the fingerboard and then the fretwork begins. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmicrain Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 (edited) A couple more pic's, this time from the bass side of the neck. Edited September 24, 2020 by Cosmicrain 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattW Posted September 25, 2020 Author Share Posted September 25, 2020 22 hours ago, Cosmicrain said: A couple more pic's, this time from the bass side of the neck. Thanks Mike, really appreciate the update - looks fantastic! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmicrain Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 Fret work done. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmicrain Posted December 12, 2020 Share Posted December 12, 2020 When Matt visited my workshop, he decided to go for a sunburst type finish and he also decided to give the bass a retro vintage look with a chrome control plate and Tort' scratch plate. Well today I finished the base colours and sealer coats. I now only have the top clear polyester coats to do and then a flat and polish to finish the paint job. Here's how the sunburst colours went. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattW Posted December 12, 2020 Author Share Posted December 12, 2020 Loving it Mike - great work!!! 👍👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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