First Bass build

[JGTay]

Progress was slowed slightly over the next few days due to the first heat wave, my workshop was actually quite a bit warmer than outside even with both doors and window open.

 

I did manage to get the neck profile sanded up through the grades and also did the transition between neck and body, then moved onto the back bevels.

 

 

 

All the bevels match up top and bottom, including the arm bevel as I do like a bit of symmetry.  

 

 

 

 

[JGTay]

The next few days were spent tidying up my workshop ready for finishing. Still need to find some space for all the stuff at the back, but much better now. Even mounted some of my Kef speakers to replace some old dodgy shelf speakers and hung up some cat pics my daughter gave me.

 

 

I then marked out and drilled for the tuners.

 

 

Tested them in place.

 

 

And then tidied up the headstock.

 

 

Next up was the first coat of Danish oil on the back, cavity cover and sides. Didn't do the neck at this point as I was doing flood coats to start and needed to be able to wipe off any runs going over the sides to the front.

 

 

 

 

 

[JGTay]

The next few days were spent oiling the back, sides, neck, back of headstock and cavity cover, getting plenty of coats done with sanding in between every 3 coats.

 

 

The back, sides, neck and headstock are ready for another light sand before the next coats.

 

 

 

 

 

I was getting ready for the sanding, but then had a delivery of items, which included the bridge. I decided to go with a high mass bridge, for no other reason than I liked how it looked, was in my price range (not too cheap/nasty and not overly expensive) and also it had 18mm string spacing which was within the range I had been looking for (between 16.5mm and 18mm at the max).

 

The only thing I hadn't taken into account was the size of the base plate and saddles, the base plate is just over 5mm and with the saddles it lifts the strings 17mm above the body. The fretboard is only 7mm in the centre and the frets are less than 0.9mm, which would give a string height of 9mm at the final fret... the options became obvious, either get a different bridge or sink it into the body.

 

I went with the second option 😃

 

Firstly cut a couple of bits of thick cardboard for the body to sit on so that it had protection and could compress down with clamps without damaging the back, put some masking tape around the area for the bridge, then marked out the scale length, moved the treble side saddle to the edge of the bridge plate, lined up the string break point with the scale length and marked the position of the bridge.

 

 

 

Then scored the lines with a Stanley knife and went round it with a chisel.

 

 

And then gradually started chiselling out the wood.

 

 

 

 

Once it was to the correct depth and level all the way across, the bridge slotted in nicely. The base plate is just below the surface and the lowest position of the saddles gives just under 1mm string clearance at the final fret.

 

 

 

Next up I needed to decide on the control positions, had a few options....

 

 

 

 

And after speaking with the wife and daughter, decided to go with the first option with the switch towards the back, but inline with the pots. It is more aesthetically pleasing and keeps the switch away from accidental knocks when playing.   

 

[JGTay]

Managed to get the holes drilled and test everything in place.

 

 

 

Very happy with the layout.😁

[PaulThePlug]

Classy...

[JGTay]

Moved on to lightly sanding the cavity cover, back, sides, neck and headstock ready for the next coats of oil. Hopefully this should be the final coats for the body, cover and sides, but the neck and headstock still need some more to catch up with the amount of coats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It then got a few days to harden. Once it was oiled with enough coats all over I could do the final higher grade sanding and buffing all over in one go.

[JGTay]

The next week was spent oiling the front, getting enough coats on there to match up with the rest of it. Also drilled for the bridge earth.

 

This was before final sand and buff.

 

 

 

 

Next up was the final sand and buff, no pics for that as it will show in the final pics at the end and will have a final polish.

 

Then it was the magnets for the cavity cover, ran out of my biggest ones, had to put a mix of smaller ones in and with the cover being mahogany it is a bit of weight so I had to add a few extra to get it to hold firmly in place. Also drilled for the jack and got the plate in place.

 

I then got on with the shielding.

 

 

And then it was in with the pots and 3 way switch.

 

 

Next up was putting the tuners in, screwing the bridge in place and also the strap locks.

 

 

 

 

[PaulThePlug]

Can't beat a bit of Screw Fix No Nonsense Danish Oil...

Although your results and vastly better than mine...

[JGTay]

Managed to get the final bits done next.

 

The spaghetti wiring. I had some left over copper sheet, so put it over the soldering on the back of the pots.

 

 

Made a truss rod cover next.

 

 

 

 

And tested in place.

 

 

Then gave it a coat of oil. It will need more but it will do for now.

 

 

I then got it all strung up and everything in place for the weigh in, the screen on our scales is a bit dim, time for a new set.

 

 

It shows 7.3 1/4 lbs. which isn't too bad. Happy with that.

 

Glamour shots coming up next.   

[JGTay]

4 minutes ago, PaulThePlug said:

Can't beat a bit of Screw Fix No Nonsense Danish Oil...

Although your results and vastly better than mine...

Thanks Paul.  

 

I do like the No Nonsense stuff, much cheaper and you can get the same results as the higher price brands.

[JGTay]

Here we go, final pics... sorry there are quite a few.  😁

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Extremely pleased with how it has come out. I am not a bass player, this is the one I will be learning on, so no sound clips just yet.  

[SpondonBassed]

That's a lovely piece of work and a great thread to illustrate it.  Cheers!

[JGTay]

1 hour ago, SpondonBassed said:

That's a lovely piece of work and a great thread to illustrate it.  Cheers!

Thank you. 😊

[AndyTravis]

I’ve really enjoyed this process mate - and your skills will be much appreciated here.

 

might give @Andyjr1515 a break 😂

[JGTay]

16 minutes ago, AndyTravis said:

I’ve really enjoyed this process mate - and your skills will be much appreciated here.

 

might give @Andyjr1515 a break 😂

Thanks Andy.  😀

 

I know Andyjr from some guitar forums, his skills are much better than mine, really love his work. 

[AndyTravis]

1 hour ago, JGTay said:

Thanks Andy.  😀

 

I know Andyjr from some guitar forums, his skills are much better than mine, really love his work. 

absolutely skilled gents! Wonderful stuff 

[Andyjr1515]

2 hours ago, JGTay said:

 

I know Andyjr from some guitar forums, his skills are much better than mine. 

I very much doubt that, judging by this build.  Maybe I've used them more often ...

...so far 

[Bassybert]

What a fantastic thread and an amazing result, I thoroughly enjoyed reading through this build. 

 

Well done @JGTay you’ve got a fabulous set of skills there, the finished bass is something to be incredibly proud of!

[3below]

Inspirational! A great reminder of what can be achieved with chiselling skill.

[Richard R]

17 hours ago, JGTay said:

 

Extremely pleased with how it has come out. I am not a bass player, this is the one I will be learning on, so no sound clips just yet.  

That's your idea of a "beginner's bass"??  Looks fantastic, will no doubt soung excellent as well.

[Archy]

That's gorgeous, what a great build!

I've always been a fan of the mockingbird (and eagle btw) shape  

[JGTay]

5 hours ago, Richard R said:

That's your idea of a "beginner's bass"??

😂

I think most people would like a custom build when first starting out learning, but the majority of people buy something cheap just in case they don't get into it.

As the wife said, with this we can at least have it on display in the front room if I don't enjoy it. 🤣

 

1 hour ago, Archy said:

I've always been a fan of the mockingbird

 

My last guitar build made me a fan, hadn't considered one before and I am glad someone asked me to build one. It is such a good shape to carve and I love the bevelled edges. It is very comfortable to play as well. 

 

[Richard R]

15 minutes ago, JGTay said:

with this we can at least have it on display in the front room if I don't enjoy it. 🤣

Or you could sell it here pretty much instantly.

But I hope you play it and enjoy it.

[JGTay]

43 minutes ago, Richard R said:

Or you could sell it here pretty much instantly.

But I hope you play it and enjoy it.

I am playing it whenever I get a chance at the moment, it has been at least a couple of hours each afternoon and around 4 hours every night when the wife goes to bed. 😂

I am surprised how much I am enjoying playing bass. 😁

Can't afford to buy a bass amp yet, so it is Rocksmith on PS4 through the 5.1 surround. 

[3below]

Build and sell a few more basses of that quality. The bass amp of your dreams will then be yours