i need some help gang - Colby Bass

drbassman · October 23, 2010, 05:26:03 AM

Very cool CW, she's beautiful! My kids aren't married yet, but I'm looking forward to grand kids some day!

drbassman · October 23, 2010, 07:21:06 AM

Did I mention that spring doesn't come to Upstate NY till May???

sniper · October 23, 2010, 10:30:59 AM

as long as i don't have to pay extra for an extended "break in" period its cool.

drbassman · October 23, 2010, 12:48:40 PM

Quote from: sniper dog on October 23, 2010, 10:30:59 AM
as long as i don't have to pay extra for an extended "break in" period its cool.

No sweat, I'll break her in for ya!

drbassman · October 28, 2010, 06:34:53 AM

Update: clamps come off tonight on the top wood. Here's the basic layout. Neck will rest on the body at the 15th. fret, just as it did on its previous body. The bridge is in appropriate spot for a 32" scale. Pup placement is just approximate. The body will be chambered with a center piece running down the middle.

gearHed289 · October 28, 2010, 08:45:30 AM

That's lookin cool!

drbassman · October 28, 2010, 02:35:14 PM

Thanks! Sniper gave me some nice stuff to work with.

Highlander · October 28, 2010, 03:44:49 PM

Ahh...

audience participation...

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sniper · October 28, 2010, 07:23:45 PM

now spring has been moved up to next week don't ya know!

looking good Doc.

believe it or not, i had never done a layout when i had the parts here. i did do a partial when i traced the body shape on the Maple is all.

AND...i'm seriously diggin those body shapes you posted in the other thread.

my favorite finger picture:

Colby Marie at 3 days old

drbassman · October 29, 2010, 06:54:19 AM

Wow, she looks great there!

So, I was planing the back of the body down and you have an obvious dark streak that won't go away, even as I get down to 1" thickness.

I was wondering, what if I use your walnut as a cap on the back rather than under the maple? I think it would look really cool. Let me know what you think. It's your call!

jumbodbassman · October 29, 2010, 10:08:58 AM

walnut always look good...

sniper · October 29, 2010, 10:29:03 AM

go ahead and cap away as you wish. i think that is a great idea. it looks like you have found a great tracing that looks good grain wise. the skunk stripe idea was a solution to the body splitting on the original glue joint anyways.

did you get my email asking about the overall length, fitting the case and my left shoulder arthritis? (did any of it make sense ... sometimes i miss the mark with my descriptions)

drbassman · October 29, 2010, 11:37:20 AM

Quote from: sniper dog on October 29, 2010, 10:29:03 AM
go ahead and cap away as you wish. i think that is a great idea. it looks like you have found a great tracing that looks good grain wise. the skunk stripe idea was a solution to the body splitting on the original glue joint anyways.

did you get my email asking about the overall length, fitting the case and my left shoulder arthritis? (did any of it make sense ... sometimes i miss the mark with my descriptions)

Email read and answered!

sniper · November 02, 2010, 05:22:23 PM

DrBassman

a 30.5" scale Epi meets the body almost (not quite) at the 16th fret.

it is a comfortable bass to play although the upper register reach is not that great but i really don't mind. it has to fit the case unless you want to modify the case neck rest by scooting it closer to the body section. (that is a 60's Gibby pup under that Epi chrome pictured here.)

i'm thinking a 32" neck would be super and would fit the case as is.

this is the bass i put that T-Bird tailpiece on that i traded that Mosrite bridge for. this Epi is going to get modified in the future to an EB3 pup set, a thinned body and a set neck. i'll leave the control holes and make the input a three way switch with the input jack on the side and simply have a master tone/volume setup. i have a set of Grovers for it but that is in the futures wishing. it should make the upper register access a lot better.

(as i stare at the 1" thick Mahog 6' planks leaning against my wall...sigh.)

sniper · November 04, 2010, 06:32:07 PM

the Doctor sent some pictures of the final layout today that i thought i would share.

these pics show how it will layout, fit the case and how it compares to a 34" scale fretboard and finally how it will balance.
the neck goes into the body towards the bridge almost an inch more verses the earlier shot showing it with a 34" fretboard and how it would lay. it was decided to move the pup a bit closer to the heel as a Dark Star has not got the mud a Gibby mudbucker has and is more clear than a mudbucker so pay no attention to the outline of the humbucker route showing. it was a guitard body and had the outline on it when i got it. the back will be Walnut and it will have front controls mounted on Ebony inset into the spalted Maple looking like a Hobbit.
the spalted Maple layout is glued like in the earlier pictures.

great job Doctor.