yorks5stringer Posted March 22, 2009 Share Posted March 22, 2009 (edited) A little while ago I picked up a smashed Hohner B2 headless Bass. As the electrics were goosed I decided to use it as the bas(s)is for a Single Cut project. [attachment=22533:S5000383.JPG] One side sawed off [attachment=22532:S5000382.JPG] This is the split side [attachment=22534:S5000386.JPG] Body now glued up, you can seee old control cavity [attachment=22535:S5000393.JPG] Quite a small single cut [attachment=22537:S5000392.JPG] Forgot to mention filled in the old pickup holes with wood, glued up, and made a template for the new ones [attachment=22536:S5000394.JPG] Am keeping the existing rear tuners/bridge [attachment=22538:S5000391.JPG] Mock up with pick ups, am waiting until got body wing wood shaped and glued on before routing as the pickups go right to the edge. Got a steve bailey fretless circut to add as well. Next job to get the body wood and shape before glueing. Will keep updating as I make any progress.... Edited August 4, 2009 by yorks5stringer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-soar Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 Brilliant, don't forget your dowels. IMO, the lower horn could be a tad bigger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 subscribed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peted Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 What an interesting project. Good luck, I'll be following this one too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeavyJay Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Good to see you're using your retirement productively! Looking good so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted March 24, 2009 Author Share Posted March 24, 2009 [quote name='HeavyJay' post='443905' date='Mar 24 2009, 03:53 PM']Good to see you're using your retirement productively! Looking good so far.[/quote] Hi J Getting the wood tomorrow so maybe ready for the gig (unpainted) at the SSB in Bingley on Sunday night, starting 8.00ish! Cheers K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted March 24, 2009 Author Share Posted March 24, 2009 (edited) I got some plywood today ( don't go to Lavers between 12-1) as they don't cut it when there's only 2 staff on....! Anyway did a quick rough cut of the body templates and took this photo: am getting the real wood tomorrow! [attachment=22704:S5000400.JPG] Needless to say, the finished item will not have the gap between top "horn" and neck and the bottom will be a better fit too... Edited March 24, 2009 by yorks5stringer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 Nowt wrong with headless, mon ami! I'm liking the way this is going. Keighley Timber are really handy if you happen to be up there. It looks like North Bradford is the home of headless ingenuity! This is my project: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=44673"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=44673[/url] HUGH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted March 30, 2009 Author Share Posted March 30, 2009 Well, here are some photos of some lumps of mahogany: it's hard to believe they are both from the same piece! [attachment=23033:S5000401.JPG] [attachment=23034:S5000402.JPG] [attachment=23035:S5000403.JPG] [attachment=23036:S5000404.JPG] I've rubbed them down with 80, then 120 grade, wetted the wood and used 120 again. next is on to finer grades still! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josh3184 Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 its like a mini streamline! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stag Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 this is a quite intriguing little project... will be keeping my eyes peeled! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted March 30, 2009 Author Share Posted March 30, 2009 "its like a mini streamline! " but not unfortunately made of graphite. I've actually thinned down the top body wing considerably since the photo and will be doing the same to the bottom too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted April 11, 2009 Author Share Posted April 11, 2009 (edited) Done quite a bit of body shaping and the pickups have been routed out. Bottom body yet to be thinned down : am waiting to do the control cavity and see how much wood that takes up. [attachment=23625:S5000420.JPG] [attachment=23626:S5000421.JPG] [attachment=23624:S5000419.JPG] Due to the amount of wood filler this will be a coloured finish...... Edited April 11, 2009 by yorks5stringer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 Heh, cool. Any colour of the idea yet?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted April 11, 2009 Author Share Posted April 11, 2009 I'm going down the Henry Ford route or maybe a dark blue or green..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 [quote name='yorks5stringer' post='460170' date='Apr 11 2009, 10:21 PM']I'm going down the Henry Ford route or maybe a dark blue or green.....[/quote] I think black could look pretty cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanOwens Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 How did you shape the contour where the upper horn meets the neck? I was trying to picture it (before you posted the pic of the back) and I just couldn't imagine it! Thanks. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 British Racing or else Oak Leaf Green! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderthumbs Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 Looking good that Keith. The bottom horn reminds me of a Warwick Thumb a little. Looks to me like you'll end up with a better bass than the one you bought. Well done that man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 This is a great build thread, I'll be interested to see how it turns out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted April 17, 2009 Author Share Posted April 17, 2009 (edited) "How did you shape the contour where the upper horn meets the neck? I was trying to picture it (before you posted the pic of the back) and I just couldn't imagine it" With great difficulty: it looks good from the front and back but when you look directly down it goes off at an angle. When I decided to do the conversion I spoke to a couple of luthiers who both said "Dont do it" as the angles are all wrong on the donor bass. Also I shaped quite a lot of the body before glueing it on: big mistake, as the contours flowed better once you have it as a whole. A lot of the shape was just my imagintion and "following the wood": many a time I've gone back and just shaped it a bit more. If you compare the earlier photos to what I have now you can see the difference..... Oh and thanks for all the feedback folks, its nice to know people are appreciating what I'm doing. Re the control cavity: my router bit was too long so had to shim the template, which slipped at one stage( always double side tape both surfaces!!) but all in all quite pleased with the result. I had to use some wood filler in places and you can see where I'm touching in tiny holes prior to final sanding. [attachment=23951:S5000423.JPG] [attachment=23952:S5000424.JPG] [attachment=23953:S5000425.JPG] Edited April 17, 2009 by yorks5stringer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7string Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Great piece of work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rogerio Rosario Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 . we want to see more pics of the job...this is great !!!! [url="http://www.MakeMusicNews.com"]Some News for Musicians[/url] ç Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted August 3, 2009 Author Share Posted August 3, 2009 [attachment=30199:S5000494.JPG] [attachment=30200:S5000495.JPG] [attachment=30201:S5000496.JPG] [attachment=30202:S5000497.JPG] [attachment=30203:S5000498.JPG] [attachment=30204:S5000499.JPG] This is now the Blue Peter Bass.....in other words I'm posting completed photos without showing any further steps. I've just got to the bottom of some electrical gremlins , it seems my faraday cage was too effective! Anyway it sounds very powerful and I think looks pretty cool too: the carbon fibre scratch plate and control cavity cover is actually lookalike foil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peted Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 Makes me think of a Status Streamline crossed with a Musicman Bongo. I likey Top job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.