Finished! Single cut bass - Alder and Camphor

Andyjr1515

paulnb57 said:

I'm alot of things Andy, sweetie? mmmmmm

For the avoidance of doubt, you're all sweeties, folks ) Seriously, though, the encouragement and advice given on the forum is a major factor in getting me up the learning curve of this challenging but fascinating hobby - if that doesn't make you all sweeties, I don't know what does

paulnb57

Fairy nuff, Andy, now, don't you have just one more coat of varnish to apply?

Carry on sweetness, carry on!

Andyjr1515

paulnb57 said:

Fairy nuff, Andy, now, don't you have just one more coat of varnish to apply?

Carry on sweetness, carry on!

Yes - just put what I hope is the final coat on the back and neck.  

As it was bright this morning, just before I did what I hope is the final pass, I took a few semi mock-up photos.  I hope this is going to sound as good as it's beginning to look!

Winny_Pooh

Beyoootiful

Andyjr1515

Winny_Pooh said:

Beyoootiful

Thanks, Winny 

Frets are now levelled and polished and tuners fitted.  I'm using Hipshot Ultra-lites with a drop D.  Pricey but seems like the biz to me.  Here they are from the front:

Here's the back in 'E' position:

...and in 'D' position:

And a quick mock-up for good luck 

Still quite a lot to do, but it's really coming together now 

Shark_Eyes

That's such a beautiful bass. Love that the pickup covers have become a feature and serve to soften the rest of the black hardware.

Andyjr1515

Shark_Eyes said:

That's such a beautiful bass. Love that the pickup covers have become a feature and serve to soften the rest of the black hardware.

Thanks, @Shark_Eyes ;

I tried them originally as just plain camphor, but it actually took something away from the look of the body rather than enhancing it.  The ebony idea was a bit of a lateral thinking moment but I'm very pleased with the result.

Shark_Eyes

Andyjr1515 said:

Shark_Eyes said:

That's such a beautiful bass. Love that the pickup covers have become a feature and serve to soften the rest of the black hardware.

Thanks, @Shark_Eyes ;

I tried them originally as just plain camphor, but it actually took something away from the look of the body rather than enhancing it.  The ebony idea was a bit of a lateral thinking moment but I'm very pleased with the result.

It was a good move, whichever direction you went in   

I'm looking forward to hearing some clips now. I've got the word 'Thunderous' floating round my head.

paulnb57

Do I need to say what I thInk, Andy?….Again?

Have another WOW for the overflowing wow cabinet……awesome!

Andyjr1515

paulnb57 said:

Do I need to say what I thInk, Andy?….Again?

Have another WOW for the overflowing wow cabinet……awesome!

)

Andyjr1515

The electrics are now fitted and I've been doing some work to balance the pickups at their lowest acceptable height.  Why?  Because of the very large covers that I need to get well away from picking fingers or picks - particularly around the P pickup area.

By necessity, the J pickup is going to be higher, but I quite like that to give it a bit of balance.  I wanted also to avoid drilling holes in and screwing the slugs out through them, although that was an option.  Nevertheless, I cut some channels to within a gnat's whisker of break through to be able to screw them as high as possible with a cover as slim as possible:

Getting to the ebony = sub 1mm to fresh air.  Yikes!

However, it worked.  I have low but acceptable volume and good balance with this thickness of covers:

Other than fixing the covers on and adding the strap locks, that's the body pretty much done.  Now the varnish is hard enough, I'm going to satin the neck and then play it on a strap to check the feel of the neck.  I'll also double check against the templates of the guy's favourite bass.  To me it feels a little bit chunkier than my own PJ neck - it might be just his preference or I might need to just tweek it down a little.  If it's OK, it'll be ready to collect in a week, if it needs a bit of a profile tweak, 2 weeks.

By the way, can't remember if I said, but the guy was hoping for a light-ish bass, in spite of it being a single-cut.  It's coming in at 7lb 13oz (c 3.5kg).  He's well chuffed....and so am I 

nutbox

Wow Andy you have out done yourself this time buddy. That is amazing

Andyjr1515

nutbox said:

Wow Andy you have out done yourself this time buddy. That is amazing

Thanks, @nutbox !  

strtdv

That's exceptionally light!

My Warwick, albeit a 5 string with one of their famously huge mid-2000s necks, is over 10lbs and it's a doublecut.

Andyjr1515

strtdv said:

That's exceptionally light!

My Warwick, albeit a 5 string with one of their famously huge mid-2000s necks, is over 10lbs and it's a doublecut.

Yes - I'm well pleased.  It's lighter even than ANY of my 6-string electrics...even the basswood double cut ones.  

Andyjr1515

I know the underside of a rough-machined and chiselled pickup cover isn't the most glamorous shot, but pretty much the last thing I do is put the label on. 

 It's finished!!!!!

I'll do a few arty-farty shots tomorrow when it's light, and then you'll be pleased to know no more same-old same-old photos of a process that takes considerably longer than watching paint dry.  

Andyjr1515

OK - Finished 

Here are some of the final shots:

Thanks for all of the encouragement along the journey, folks  

Andy

BigMonka

I know that the top is an impressive piece of wood... but for me the back is just beautiful! The contrast of the different woods is stunning, the subtlety of the wings of the headstock being in the dark wood is really classy.

Amazing work again Andy.

PVO_Dave

Top work Andy - looks absolutely amazing!!

Andyjr1515

PVO_Dave said:

Top work Andy - looks absolutely amazing!!

Thanks @PVO_Dave !