New bass project

[chuckocaster]

as much as i love my ric, i can't play it the whole night due to it's ergonomics. so i've been mulling an idea over and finally am getting it started.

the body is going to be cut from a 2 piece center joined maple blank. shape is probably going to be either a slab bodied jazz, or maybe a 51 tele bass. the blank is coming from USA customs, they said it should ship out monday or tuesday. HOORAAY!

i'm going to be using a custom set of vintage vibe pickups. one of these in the bridge:


and one of these in the neck:


both will be tortoise shell covered. haven't decided on the magnets yet, but they both come with an extra set. i guess it's now time to do some homework and see what ric uses. what's really cool about these pups is that they fit in a standard HB route, and pete makes several different models. so i can always mix and match them. of course the pup spacing will be what is on the ric.

i have a nice G&L all maple neck, and will cut the guard out myself so it will be custom and not look like anything else.

now it's time to make or get some templates, and do some research. i'll post pics as i progress.

[chuckocaster]

ordered the template when i got home today. got the j bass.

[cwilliamrose]

Are you going to modify the shape at all? Not that there's anything wrong with a stock shape......

[chuckocaster]

i'm gonna use the stock body shape, there will be NO contours though. slab body baby. then i'll go about mixing the jazz guard with the ric guard. i'll use the three hole jazz plate with stack knobs. i'm think i'll call her the "frankenbacker".

[ziess]

Slab body Jazz Bass? I like it! Pink?

[pseudocat]

Wow, looks like fun! I can't wait to see this one.

[chuckocaster]

thanks guys. i haven't been this excited in awhile now. i hope it turns out as nice as i'm planning.

pink? unless it's bass boat flake, i'd say no. i haven't even thought about the color yet tommy. i guess i still need to contemplate that.

[Kap'n]

Sounds like a cool project.

Maple....what's the weight looking like?

You should do a nice, transparent color with sufficient 'yow' factor for those tortoise pickups. Pete builds some nice stuff.

[FrankJohnson]

HEY!


How did I miss this...?????



Pics Chuck.....Pics......

[chuckocaster]

no pics yet, body blank and template should be here this week sometime. and the pups are a little ways out cause i have to send the money for them.

[chuckocaster]

both the blank and template showed up this week. will post pics either later today, or maybe tomorrow. pups have been ordered, i think pete said we're looking at a 2 week turn around? maybe? i don't really remember.

oh yeah, kap, we're looking at just shy of a 73 buick riveria. guess i better buy a padded strap!

[chuckocaster]

skipped out of work early and shot these:

[Custom 5]

nice wood! have you considered putting some small chambers in the body to make it lighter? ya might try hollowing out the horns and leave the back end sold. it will make the bass lighter and help keep the balance good.

[chuckocaster]

good idea! i'll do the math and see what the actual final weight is. my 73 ricky is a monster on the strap, i can deal with that. i think best to weigh it all out and see what's what.

by the way, pete emailed me today and said he's starting on the pickups tamale!

[Gris]

Cool beans. I can already hear you thumpin out the into to 'Morning Dew' Nazareth style, LOL.

[chuckocaster]

LOL. either that or "roundabout"!

pup shipped friday, processed in stockton (one town away) sunday. should be here either today or tomorrow! wow, i guess i need to go dust off the router and pull out the eye and ear protection.

things are coming together.

[chuckocaster]

pups arrived.

i will post pics when i get home, they look very nice!