1021
Gibson Basses / Re: Badbird designer interviewed on TV!
« on: July 28, 2015, 08:16:21 PM »
Awesome job...really cool!
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1022
Fender Basses / Re: Pino modded his P-Bird
« on: July 28, 2015, 08:00:02 PM »
That's really cool.
I'm intrigued by the pickup spacing.
I think I'd have to move them all just a bit just to be happy with the cosmetics.
I'm intrigued by the pickup spacing.
I think I'd have to move them all just a bit just to be happy with the cosmetics.
1023
Other Bass Brands / Re: New two-pickup Starfire by Guild
« on: July 11, 2015, 08:39:50 AM »
Has anyone done a build with one of these yet?
Readily available for $100 at Best Bass Gear.
http://www.bestbassgear.com/guild-bisonic.htm
Readily available for $100 at Best Bass Gear.
http://www.bestbassgear.com/guild-bisonic.htm
1024
Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs / Re: A couple basses finally ready
« on: May 20, 2015, 09:21:17 PM »
Definitely a bummer, and a big +1 to following the manufacturer's finishing schedule recommendations.
Basecoat/clearcoat systems can be very finicky, and it seems as though there are infinitely many ways to mess things up.
Basecoat/clearcoat systems can be very finicky, and it seems as though there are infinitely many ways to mess things up.
1025
Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs / Re: A couple basses finally ready
« on: May 14, 2015, 04:58:37 PM »
I like those a LOT!
1026
Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs / Re: Lowe Shop Notes
« on: April 26, 2015, 05:19:48 AM »
I ream out all of the neck mounting holes by hand. It clears out the extra paint and allows a little wiggle room during assembly.
I’d say these bodies are average to light overall:
I’d say these bodies are average to light overall:
1027
Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs / Re: Lowe Shop Notes
« on: April 26, 2015, 05:19:22 AM »
I’ll get some assembly shots of Ridler #1 up later today.
In the mean time, I’ve been working on a new project.
I have sourced some swamp ash, imported, pre-finished bodies and I am routing them out with a swimming pool pickup cavity to allow a P, Thunderbird, Fralin Big Single in a P90 case, or a TV Jones Thunder’Blade to be swapped out at will.
Setting up the routing and bridge placement template:
The screws hold the template in place and also establish the outer string-through bridge holes:
The neck stays in place while routing:
A bridge is held in place with the outer string-through holes, and the center two are drilled. Then the outer two are enlarged:
The ferrule holes are drilled with a Forstner bit and a locating pin keyed to the holes drilled on the front:
In the mean time, I’ve been working on a new project.
I have sourced some swamp ash, imported, pre-finished bodies and I am routing them out with a swimming pool pickup cavity to allow a P, Thunderbird, Fralin Big Single in a P90 case, or a TV Jones Thunder’Blade to be swapped out at will.
Setting up the routing and bridge placement template:
The screws hold the template in place and also establish the outer string-through bridge holes:
The neck stays in place while routing:
A bridge is held in place with the outer string-through holes, and the center two are drilled. Then the outer two are enlarged:
The ferrule holes are drilled with a Forstner bit and a locating pin keyed to the holes drilled on the front:
1028
Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs / Re: Lowe Shop Notes
« on: March 29, 2015, 08:56:33 PM »
Here it is, Ridler #1 ready to go:
1029
Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs / Re: Lowe Shop Notes
« on: March 29, 2015, 08:40:32 PM »
Thanks...we'll see how it goes.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
So, here’s a little bit of fun…the first Lollar Thunderbirds for five string.
They look just like the four string model, but the bobbin and magnets extend the length of the cover:
A few sets of plug-and-play pickups:
The P bass body with the swimming-pool rout completed:
Ridler body #2 mocked up with TV Jones Thunder'Blade pickups in Filter'Tron cases:
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
So, here’s a little bit of fun…the first Lollar Thunderbirds for five string.
They look just like the four string model, but the bobbin and magnets extend the length of the cover:
A few sets of plug-and-play pickups:
The P bass body with the swimming-pool rout completed:
Ridler body #2 mocked up with TV Jones Thunder'Blade pickups in Filter'Tron cases:
1030
Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs / Re: Lowe Shop Notes
« on: March 28, 2015, 02:27:55 PM »
So, I'm not a big fan of swimming-pool routs and pickguards, but I've been looking for a way to expand my "palette" and introduce some more affordable options at the same time.
To that end, I’ve sourced some economical, pre-finished, import bodies made out of swamp ash and available in a wide variety of colors.
These will be distinguishable from my US-made bodies in a few different ways:
- Standard neck plate
- Swimming pool rout
- NO faux binding
I am pre-drilling these for interchangeable, string-through bridges:
- Allparts BB-3575-010
- Fender 005-8396-000
- Lowe Design by Hipshot
Allparts:
Fender:
Lowe:
A swimming-pool rout will replace the standard “P” rout, and pickgurads will be available to accommodate Thunderbirds, P90s, TV Jones, and Darkstars.
Here is the first body in black being mocked-up:
You can get a sense of how everything works together here:
To that end, I’ve sourced some economical, pre-finished, import bodies made out of swamp ash and available in a wide variety of colors.
These will be distinguishable from my US-made bodies in a few different ways:
- Standard neck plate
- Swimming pool rout
- NO faux binding
I am pre-drilling these for interchangeable, string-through bridges:
- Allparts BB-3575-010
- Fender 005-8396-000
- Lowe Design by Hipshot
Allparts:
Fender:
Lowe:
A swimming-pool rout will replace the standard “P” rout, and pickgurads will be available to accommodate Thunderbirds, P90s, TV Jones, and Darkstars.
Here is the first body in black being mocked-up:
You can get a sense of how everything works together here:
1031
Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs / Re: Lowe Shop Notes
« on: March 17, 2015, 04:25:09 PM »
Those clamps have garnered a lot of interest, for sure!
1032
Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs / Re: Pressing project
« on: March 17, 2015, 04:23:45 PM »
Looks great!
Your work over at Reranch was definitely among my earliest inspirations/influences.
Your work over at Reranch was definitely among my earliest inspirations/influences.
1033
Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs / Re: Lowe Shop Notes
« on: March 14, 2015, 08:20:18 PM »
So, most of me energy over the last month or so has been focused on bringing the 32" scale conversion bass necks online.
Now that project is in production, it's back to building.
I should have some updated pics tomorrow, but in the mean time, here are shots of the necks as of today:
Now that project is in production, it's back to building.
I should have some updated pics tomorrow, but in the mean time, here are shots of the necks as of today:
1034
Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs / Re: Next step
« on: March 14, 2015, 10:29:26 AM »
Others have covered the basics pretty well, but here's a some more ideas.
Doug Kauer (www.kauerguitars.com) uses squarespace.com and I use bluehost.com with a Wordpress template.
Here is an interview with Doug Kauer with a few gems to share: https://jon-sullivan-a7vp.squarespace.com/news/2012/9/17/doug-kauer-on-building-guitarshtml
For self promotion, I'm on TalkBass, ReRanch, The Gear Page, ebassist, OffsetGuitars and LBO.
I post classifieds on each of these sites and also have some form of "Shop Notes" thread running in each.
I sell on ebay and Reverb.com and I have a personal and business Facebook page.
If you Google "Lowe Custom Guitars" I'm pretty easy to find.
Doug Kauer (www.kauerguitars.com) uses squarespace.com and I use bluehost.com with a Wordpress template.
Here is an interview with Doug Kauer with a few gems to share: https://jon-sullivan-a7vp.squarespace.com/news/2012/9/17/doug-kauer-on-building-guitarshtml
For self promotion, I'm on TalkBass, ReRanch, The Gear Page, ebassist, OffsetGuitars and LBO.
I post classifieds on each of these sites and also have some form of "Shop Notes" thread running in each.
I sell on ebay and Reverb.com and I have a personal and business Facebook page.
If you Google "Lowe Custom Guitars" I'm pretty easy to find.
1035
Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs / Re: Lowe Shop Notes
« on: February 03, 2015, 01:51:09 PM »
Thanks, I really appreciate it!