I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

[CTN]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

Yes - thank you.

Now that I have looked at 10,000 pictures of bass shapes, I can say: "how in the hell did the Jazz become a household name?" After looking at all those shapes, the Jazz is seriously weird / ugly / boggling. I know it's subjective, but man, it looks like a wavy noodle.

Anyways, yes, very special care will be given to the blending of the curves.

you bastard. you take that back! (I kid, I kid!) The Jazz one of my favourite basses for comfort and playability. I love the thinner nut width.

also, they (along with P basses) probably became household names because they looked so much cooler than gibson basses and more sleek than rickys. (although a 4001 bass is on my life's list of things to get/do)

seriously though, I know you'll do a great job and your dad will be thrilled. Looking forward to the build thread

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

you bastard. you take that back! (I kid, I kid!) The Jazz one of my favourite basses for comfort and playability. I love the thinner nut width.

also, they (along with P basses) probably became household names because they looked so much cooler than gibson basses and more sleek than rickys. (although a 4001 bass is on my life's list of things to get/do)

seriously though, I know you'll do a great job and your dad will be thrilled. Looking forward to the build thread

You're in it!

Sawdust starts flying tonight - will be starting the templates tonight.

I'll draw the shape on cardboard, and refine it until I'm ready to cut it out (with scissors), then I'll trace it onto 3/4" MDF.

From there, I'll jigsaw the rough shape and actually shape the template with a laborious combination of oscillating spindle / belt sander (god bless this tool!) and hand sanding.

The slab is supposed to be delivered today, so after that, I'll just rough-cut the slab, screw the template to the slab and boom, we have something that looks like a bass!

You probably knew all that stuff, but for others who are reading - that's what happens next - I will keep you updated in pictures!

 

[CTN]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

you using P/J plans/blueprints or just winging it?

 

[o.p-i.v]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

looks like a stratocaster

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

you using P/J plans/blueprints or just winging it?

Winging it.

I have a P-bass at home I can trace for the upper bout, and I have this for the Jazz portion (PDF link). Edit: I also have this for the P-Bass portion, if I want to go all paper, no tracing

So, I'll print up a few pages at 1:1 scale, tape them together, and blend that in with my P-Bass tracing.

Not exactly scientific, but I'm going to shape the template freehand on a belt sander after all :laughing:

 

[CTN]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

Lol, those are pretty much build plans bro, you ain't winging nothing. hahaha.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

Lol, those are pretty much build plans bro, you ain't winging nothing. hahaha.

I know, right?

I am superlatively lucky (the luckiest?) to be starting building in the era of internet forums.

Edit: I literally found those 2 PDFs after you asked me that question. I Googled it, downloaded the PDFs, hosted them on my Dropbox, and linked to them here in this thread in what, 5 minutes? It's amazing.

 

[AlleeCat]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

I6 how cool of you to build this for your Dad! It looks very nice!

More pic's, please, want to hear the end result!


AlleeCat

 

[tone4days]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

very cool, indeed

will be interesting to get your take if/when you sample the active electronics

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

I6 how cool of you to build this for your Dad! It looks very nice!

More pic's, please, want to hear the end result!


AlleeCat

Thanks a lot - will be updating with pics as I work through the project!

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

very cool, indeed

will be interesting to get your take if/when you sample the active electronics

Hey, yeah, I haven't forgotten!

I just realized that I have not decided on pickups for this bass.

Another great benefit of home building is that I can put anything I want in there.

So, what say ye members of the bass community - what pickups should I be looking at?

Right now my default is Duncan Basslines Jazz pickups (passive or active TBD after I test drive some active basses), but I could put a Rick pickup or a Lace Alumitone or an EB-0, or a...

 

[dd12939]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

So, what say ye members of the bass community - what pickups should I be looking at?

However, I also want to try these soooo bad

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

So I got the slab in yesterday. It's alder, and it's pretty heavy. I'm not worried about it though, because I'll be cutting nearly half of it away, plus you want a body that can counterweigh a big 5 string neck. Not sure if counterweigh is a word.

I talked to my dad this morning, and he said he fell in love with that deep red stain finish that happened to be in my mockup, so he wants me to do that.

Fun! I thought it was cool that he just saw that by chance, liked it, and went for it.

So, anybody know how I would do a "hand rubbed stain" finish like this? Would I use dye?

 

[CTN]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

badassery.

a dye or a regular wood stain (like the minwax stuff at home depot) will do. All you gotta do is get some clean rags, wad them up, dip in stain, and apply to the wood, making sure to apply the stain lightly, evenly in thin coats. Wipe off the excess if there is any.

Once the stain has set in (check the instructions on whatever you decide to go with), then a light sanding and application of grainfiller/sanding sealer will set up you up for the clear coat.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

If you're gonna hand rub it (heh), then you might read up on French Polishing, and do that. You'd just have to find the right hue of dye.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

badassery.

a dye or a regular wood stain (like the minwax stuff at home depot) will do. All you gotta do is get some clean rags, wad them up, dip in stain, and apply to the wood, making sure to apply the stain lightly, evenly in thin coats. Wipe off the excess if there is any.

Once the stain has set in (check the instructions on whatever you decide to go with), then a light sanding and application of grainfiller/sanding sealer will set up you up for the clear coat.

Awesome, thank you A LOT!

Sounds pretty simple.

 

[CTN]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

it is

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

However, I also want to try these soooo bad

Wow, that's an awesome looking pickup!

I have also been considering a Music Man styled pickup --- how do those sound?

 

[dd12939]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

Wow, that's an awesome looking pickup!

I have also been considering a Music Man styled pickup --- how do those sound?

In MM basses or copies (the only places I've tried the MM pickups), they are always have just a little too much bark for me, especially in 1-pickup models. In my Spector I use the neck pickup as the main tone and blend in the bridge as needed, so I've kind of steered clear of the MMs. YMMV. That said, the models that have Series/Parallel/Split offer quite a bit of tonal variation which is really cool.

Regarding the NYC's, Frank Falbo had this to say:

My personal experiences:

P-Bass and Jazz Bass (doesn't matter vintage or hot, active or passive) are tools for specific sounds. I choose P and J when I have a track that needs that sound and feel. But when I'm NOT in need of P or J, I literally feel that the NYC is one of the best bass pickups I've ever heard. Series/Split/Parallel is almost a must because all three of those sounds are amazing. Full frequency, lots to work with, great dynamics.