Yup, it feels like the time is right. I've barely played bass for probably over 5 years now. I switched to 4 string, but my interest waned, so I'm thinking of resurrection things by getting back into 5 string.
I'm not going to be that original. Having been massively taken by Hadrien Feraud's signature bass, I have basically nicked the shape and headstock of that (but different controls/pickups).
There aren't that many free 5 string bass plans out there (that I could find!) So I have basically drawn it up from scratch. On one hand, as a graphic designer I have the skills for that, but on the other hand, if I get things wrong anywhere then the whole thing will end up as firewood!
Anyway, here's the basic plan so far
- Bare wood body rather than colour. Looking a bit aged rather than new.
- Ebony or dark fretboard, white/MoP inlays
- The controls may look a bit close, but they have to be like that as I an going to drop in an Eastman J-Retro 01 unit that I have, which is pre-spaced on a circuit board to fit a Jazz bass.
- There will be a scratchplate but I haven't figured out the shape yet. Now sorted
And here's the drawing as it stands so far, created at 100% size. I have a big and very accurate plotter at my disposal to print it. I will probably revise the Bridge and pickups depending on what I purchase but otherwise it's mostly done. I'll be knocking up templates next.
Comments
One thing that Fender got exactly right on the RH models was the placement of the P pickup, arguably, at the expense of the visual æsthetics of the instrument.
Watching with interest !
Reducing fretboard depth
Routing trussrod hole
and shape trimmed with router/template
Then I had an idea. I butted them up flat against each other and gave one pass across the top with an electric planer. Amazingly that did the trick in two seconds! Doh, spent a lot of time faffing for days before that ....
I made an alu template for the tuner holes. This is the only way to go as far as I am concerned. I used to drill without a template and the result is never good enough, then it's a major faff to fix. It's a 5 string but I only need the 4 holes aligning. I just drilled the other hole in the right place without a template.
Holes sorted.
The body is too thick for my dad's bandsaw, and it doesn't have the best blade on, so I reduce the wood depth with a Forstner bit first.
Surface flattened, depth sorted.
Body shape sorted
Made a template to cut the neck pocket.
Hole drilling fo the controls
Ran around the edge with a roundover bit
Neck holes drilled
Routing sorted, plus bridge holes
scratchplate paper template
White plastic trimmed
Basic routing of fret marker holes
Tidy up with Dremel
All inlays in place. I painted the wood so that I could scratch the edges on in a way that they could be seen clearly