Jabba_the_gut Posted May 23, 2020 Share Posted May 23, 2020 This will be a little less detailed build diary as it is very similar to my previous build. I'm really enjoying playing the other bass so I'm making another 27" headed fretted mini bass with a spalted beech body, maple neck and ebony fretboard. This one will differ as I will use a different type of pickup and will fit LED side dots. I was trying to decide which colour LEDs (red, white or blue) but was told quite clear by Mrs_the_gut that they must be white. So that bit of the specification is fixed!! there will be a couple of other little differences but I'll detail them when it gets to the appropriate stage in the build. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted May 23, 2020 Share Posted May 23, 2020 Why not green and red so you’re ready for Christmas? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted May 23, 2020 Author Share Posted May 23, 2020 (edited) Probably because she knows I'm all 'Bah-humbug'.... And this was my previous attempt at a Christmas tree... Edited May 23, 2020 by Jabba_the_gut 3 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted May 23, 2020 Author Share Posted May 23, 2020 I started detailing the new build in the other thread - this is what I'd written previously: Nice to have a day off today. Been working on another 27" bass in spalted beech again. Had a piece left from the previous bass so marked it up for cutting - odd shape but sufficient for his build. First, I placed the templates on to work out which was would avoid any of the knots or faults in the wood and look the best when done (always a bit of a guess with spalted beech when you are going to carve some of it as it changes pattern throughout it's thickness) Then marked the line to cut: and ended up with this which lines up quite nicely across the join: I've also been practicing making scarf joints and have a nice selection of blanks for a neck: I've got another body glued up made from ash which may also get turned into one of these. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted May 24, 2020 Author Share Posted May 24, 2020 (edited) I am planning on using plain maple for the neck and an ebony fretboard but the last photo has the necks I'm making next to the spalted beech body so I thought it might be good to look at what goes together as I keep eyeing up the padauk one,, I suppose this is the process we all go through to decide what looks good together. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but somethings go better together than others!! Here's a bunch of pictures of some different woods I had to hand just to give an idea. Stuff that looks nice (to me): Spalted beech / maple / ebony (my plan) Spalted beech / padauk / ebony Spalted beech / birds eye maple / ebony Spalted beech / maple / marble wood Spalted beech / maple / wenge Spalted beech / maple / ovangkol Other combinations of woods: Spalted beech / maple / flamed maple (fretboard just looks wrong to me) Swamp ash / purple heart poplar burr / Sapele? unknown hardwood (from Frank Blank) / flamed maple / birdseye maple / ebony / maple Frank's wood / ovangkol / pafdauk / purpleheart / maple As an example, to me the burr, flamed maple and swamp ash in this picture just shouldn't be next to each other (too much going on): I like the flamed maple next to the Sapele but not next to the spalted beech Edited May 24, 2020 by Jabba_the_gut 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted May 24, 2020 Share Posted May 24, 2020 15 hours ago, Jabba_the_gut said: Probably because she knows I'm all 'Bah-humbug'.... And this was my previous attempt at a Christmas tree... I’ll show my kids - take a straw poll... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted May 24, 2020 Share Posted May 24, 2020 (edited) My tuppence worth... With such a highly figured body too much coloured/figuring could be too overpowering. I think the ebony board and maple neck is the "best" permutations - similar colour palette. IMO, the Bloodwood and Paduak, though very decorative, don't add anything - they detract because they colours are featured in the body. If you are committed to using them maybe introduce the colours as a sunburst?? Or by adding the Paduak tone to emphasise the grain? Edited May 24, 2020 by TheGreek 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted May 24, 2020 Author Share Posted May 24, 2020 Cheers Mick. I'm not thinking of doing anything in terms of adding colour to the body - I've not tried a sunburst yet but I'll save that for another time. Looking like sticking with the plan of a plain maple and ebony neck. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HazBeen Posted May 24, 2020 Share Posted May 24, 2020 4 hours ago, Jabba_the_gut said: I am planning on using plain maple for the neck and an ebony fretboard but the last photo has the necks I'm making next to the spalted beech body so I thought it might be good to look at what goes together as I keep eyeing up the padauk one,, I suppose this is the process we all go through to decide what looks good together. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but somethings go better together than others!! Here's a bunch of pictures of some different woods I had to hand just to give an idea. Stuff that looks nice (to me): Spalted beech / maple / ebony (my plan) Spalted beech / padauk / ebony Spalted beech / birds eye maple / ebony Spalted beech / maple / marble wood Spalted beech / maple / wenge Spalted beech / maple / ovangkol Other combinations of woods: Spalted beech / maple / flamed maple (fretboard just looks wrong to me) Swamp ash / purple heart poplar burr / Sapele? unknown hardwood (from Frank Blank) / flamed maple / birdseye maple / ebony / maple Frank's wood / ovangkol / pafdauk / purpleheart / maple As an example, to me the burr, flamed maple and swamp ash in this picture just shouldn't be next to each other (too much going on): I like the flamed maple next to the Sapele but not next to the spalted beech Spoilt for choice 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted May 28, 2020 Share Posted May 28, 2020 I get and understand the ebony maple combo. But the Purpleheart brings THE FUNK! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted May 29, 2020 Share Posted May 29, 2020 No idea - they all look good. But - wow again for that spalt!!! Looking forward to seeing how this fares Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted June 4, 2020 Author Share Posted June 4, 2020 Going with the maple and ebony option! I made a couple of scarf jointed neck blanks in a previous thread one of which was maple and has now been ear marked for this build. First task with the neck blank was to add spalted beech veneer to the front and rear of the headstock. I really liked how this looked on the previous build so I'm doing on this build. On the previous build the veneer was really an after thought and was added after I had routed the channel for the truss rod and adjuster. This time it is going on before any of that is done - the only reason being the truss rod adjuster channel will look nice (even though it will be covered). But that's just me, even if something is hidden I still like it to be made well. The veneer was on for a few days and I kept looking at it and kept trying to decide if it was a good enough match to the front of the body. I got a leftover bit from cutting out the body and cut that into slices a couple of mm thick. Book matched, these are just big enough to make the veneer for the headstock. I picked a pair, glued them together and sanded them to about 0.8mm thick. I was quite pleased how they looked so I removed the veneer I'd stuck to the headstock and sanded it flat again ready to take the new veneer. I think this looks a much better match to the body than the previous veneer and was worth the effort. Now I can get on with the fretboard and those fussy little LEDs..... 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted June 7, 2020 Author Share Posted June 7, 2020 (edited) Fancied a quiet little job so decided to make a couple of truss rod covers. I've used mother-of-pearl and ebony again as it has such a nice contrast and looked good on my last build. First task, printout the logo, cut it out and stick it to the mother-of-pearl the cut it out using a jewellers saw (with a vacuum and a dust mask). Then stick another paper logo onto the ebony and cut the recess using a Dremel. The inlay pits into the recess and any gaps can be filled with ebony dust and glue. Once dried, the whole thing can be shaped and sanded. Edited June 7, 2020 by Jabba_the_gut 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
songofthewind Posted June 7, 2020 Share Posted June 7, 2020 Lovely work all round! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted June 8, 2020 Author Share Posted June 8, 2020 I've cut the fretboard to its final shape and marked it up ready for drilling to fit the side LEDs. Always good to mark it up and double check before drilling. Next was a few test holes to determine the correct positioning of the markers using one of the offcuts from the side of the board. That way I can ensure my drilling guide is correct and all of the holes will be in the same place; as soon as you have two contrasting materials such as the markers and the ebony, anything that is even slightly out of line stands out in a bad way!! Next task is to route the slot on the inside of the fretboard that the LEDs will sit in. Fitting LEDs really is quite a faff......but they are bright and shiny! (I'm actually thinking they might be a bit too bright so a three position off-dim-bright switch might be required). 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si600 Posted June 8, 2020 Share Posted June 8, 2020 LEDs as face dots as well? *runs away and hides* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted June 8, 2020 Author Share Posted June 8, 2020 (edited) 15 minutes ago, Si600 said: LEDs as face dots as well? *runs away and hides* Nope, only side dots. Face LED dots are just too much!! Edited June 8, 2020 by Jabba_the_gut 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted June 8, 2020 Share Posted June 8, 2020 Who needs face LEDs when you have those beautifully inlaid numbers there? 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted June 8, 2020 Author Share Posted June 8, 2020 9 minutes ago, owen said: Who needs face LEDs when you have those beautifully inlaid numbers there? Took me ages to get the hand written effect..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted June 8, 2020 Share Posted June 8, 2020 2 minutes ago, Jabba_the_gut said: Took me ages to get the hand written effect..... As I have to remind my wife when she looks at me, fabulous does not just happen. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted June 14, 2020 Author Share Posted June 14, 2020 (edited) What a faff these LEDs are!! This really is quite time consuming and you really have to be patient to get everything carefully soldered and lined up. I've got some fine multicoloured wire from an old SCART lead that is perfect for this job and a very small soldering iron. The LEDs are wired in pairs in series with a resistor for connecting to a 9V battery. All the LEDs are now installed in the fretboard. They're connected to a battery and I'll leave it on for a while just to make sure everything works ok before I glue them in which is the point of no return. As soon as I'm happy with these I'll glue the fretboard on and start shaping the neck. Edited June 14, 2020 by Jabba_the_gut 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted June 18, 2020 Author Share Posted June 18, 2020 This has been really time consuming and quite fiddly but it's done. The LEDs are installed in the fretboard, glued in place and the clear plastic installed and trimmed to get the light to the edge of the board. It's always quite a bit of faff as you need to ensure that the (really thin) wires are away from the fret slots in case they need to be cut a little deeper after the board is radiused. Everything also has to fit in the channel in the back of the fretboard so it s flat and level ready to be glued onto the neck. It's always nice to get to this point as almost everything is now robust whereas prior to gluing everything is quite delicate. I've installed the truss rod so next task is to drill the hole through the neck for the wires then this can all be glued together. The last item to make the LEDs completely robust is to get the wires soldered to the connection on the back of the neck. Once that is done nothing is left exposed or vulnerable and I can get on with the basic shaping of the neck. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard R Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 Question: rather than LEDs at each position, is there any manufacturer using a single brighter LED and running optical fibres to the position dots? I suspect not, but it would be interesting if anyone has. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted June 18, 2020 Author Share Posted June 18, 2020 4 minutes ago, Richard R said: Question: rather than LEDs at each position, is there any manufacturer using a single brighter LED and running optical fibres to the position dots? I suspect not, but it would be interesting if anyone has. It is an option I've consider trying as there would be less fiddly wiring and it would be possible to use something like a tri-colour LED for more tarty options! The downside would be more fine routing on the back of the fretboard to accommodate each piece of optical fibre but also to ensure the light from the LED was evenly distributed as not to end up with one side dot being brighter than another. I might try this on a bit of scrap at some point to see how do-able it would be. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard R Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 I wasn't going to mention the tri colour LED, in case I thought shallow and flash, but clearly that's where this should be headed. 😁 "FS/FT: Jaba 'lockdown fibre rainbow bass.' Control plate knobs are volume, pickup pan, stacked bass/trebble, and individual RGB intensity. Not good for metal, but great for Blues. Or Greens. Or Taup if you must" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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