The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs => Topic started by: Basvarken on July 21, 2023, 05:52:44 AM

Title: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: Basvarken on July 21, 2023, 05:52:44 AM
Drumroll...

... a new Brooks bass was born today!
The Brooks UV (aka Thundervee).

Built for our very own Uwe.

- Neck through with Korina body wings
- Nine ply Korina/mahogany neck
- Ebony faceplate on headstock
- Red Mahogany stain. Gloss transparent acrylic finish
- Rosewood fretboard
- 24 Jumbo frets
- 34" scale
- Handcut Buffalo horn nut
- Three ply black-white-black pickguard
- Wide travel Thunderbird bridge- String through body ferrules
- Hipshot Ultralite nickel plated tuners
- Hipshot Bass Extender for the E-string
- Spokewheel double action trussrod
- 2 x Sixties repro Thunderbird pickups nickel. 9.2 K Ohm
- Di Marzio EP111 toggle switch
- 2 x Volume pot CTS 500 kOhms lineair
- 1 x Tone pot CTS 500 kOhms logarithmic
- 47 nF capacitor
- Rotosound RB45. Nickel on steel roundwound 45-105

#brooksbassguitars #thundervee #flyingvbass #brooksuv



(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-full-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-body2-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-headstock-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-bridge-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-body-back-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-headstock-back-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-pickup-ring-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-volume-knob-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-tailview-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-full-vertical-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-head-to-toe-1500_orig.jpg)
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: Dave W on July 21, 2023, 05:57:26 AM
That's gorgeous!  :toast:
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: morrow on July 21, 2023, 08:05:54 AM
You hit that right out of the park , Rob. That’s a beauty.

Congratulations Uwe!
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: Pilgrim on July 21, 2023, 09:55:38 AM
Absolutely beautiful work.
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: Alanko on July 21, 2023, 01:32:25 PM
Good grief, that is gorgeous!
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: godofthunder on July 22, 2023, 03:58:41 AM
 Uwe is a very lucky guy! That's a beauty!
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: lowend1 on July 22, 2023, 05:09:14 AM
Love the grain and color! You've done justice to the concept of a V bass.
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: TBird1958 on July 22, 2023, 11:57:37 AM

 That's simply fantastic Rob!

Are you sending Uwe some Spandex trousers or perhaps some Assless Chaps as a complimentary gift with purchase?  ;)
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: Basvarken on July 22, 2023, 01:22:51 PM
I'm quite sure he already has those... :popcorn:
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: ilan on July 23, 2023, 04:16:19 AM
It looks amazing.
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: exiledarchangel on July 23, 2023, 07:42:29 AM
I like what you've done with the ferrules and the Tbird influence (risen central block). Very nice.
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: BTL on July 23, 2023, 07:32:01 PM
That is insanely cool, congrats to both of you!
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: Grog on July 24, 2023, 06:16:28 AM
Beyond Awesome!!
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: Rob on July 25, 2023, 12:20:27 PM
Wowee!
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: wellREDman on July 29, 2023, 01:30:08 AM
breathtakingly beautiful
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: Chris P. on August 07, 2023, 02:08:41 AM
Love it!
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: OldManC on August 08, 2023, 04:12:01 PM
Absolutely beautiful! That should take pride of place in his collection. We need sound clips!
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: Basvarken on August 09, 2023, 12:51:20 AM
Of course I made the traditional quick (grumpy faced) video demo. ;-)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBkSUpuCuVA
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: OldManC on August 12, 2023, 12:51:29 PM
What a GREAT sounding bass (we already knew how great it looks)! You're a true artist, my friend.
Title: Ze UVee ...
Post by: uwe on August 16, 2023, 03:12:15 PM
Look what this extremely talented Netherluthier made for me  ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBkSUpuCuVA

So far I've only played it "dry", i.e. unplugged, but:The fret job, the neck, the high register accessibility and the set-up are of a quality I have not encountered on any other bass yet - and I have a few.  And it looks and feels gorgeous.

Hey Holländer, post some pics how it came about!
Title: Re: Ze UVee ...
Post by: Basvarken on August 16, 2023, 03:19:45 PM
pssst Uwe, we've already been discussing your bass here:


https://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=12410.0
Title: Re: Ze UVee ...
Post by: morrow on August 16, 2023, 03:42:34 PM
turn it up
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: uwe on August 16, 2023, 07:49:04 PM
Oh, I didn't know it was here ...  :-X :mrgreen:
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: uwe on August 16, 2023, 09:24:49 PM
What is that song again you're playing? Led Zeppelin? Sounds familiar ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSngzjqMF38

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noTV6s8JzTM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyuiAvSCD4c

Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: Basvarken on August 17, 2023, 12:34:36 AM
Per request of Uwe I'll post pics of the entire build process here.
It's copy/paste from a thread in Talkbass where I've already shared this.


Had my wood supplier make me a nice ply neck blank of White Limba (akaKorina) and mahogany veneer strips in between

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-neck-blank_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-neck-blank-close_orig.jpeg)

 
Plus two slabs White Limba for the body wings

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-wing-blanks_orig.jpeg)


A nice start for this project

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-blanks_orig.jpeg)


Routed the trussrod slot. And cut out the part for the spokewheel

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-routing-trussrod-slot.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-trussrod-slot_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-spokewheel_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-trussrod_orig.jpeg)
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: Basvarken on August 17, 2023, 12:35:31 AM
Sawed the headstock angle

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-headstock-angle_orig.jpeg)


Drilled holes for the position markers

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-drilling-for-inlays_orig.jpeg)


Glued the postion markers in and sanded them flush to the radius of the fretboard

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-inlays_orig.jpeg)


Hammered the frets in

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-installing-frets_orig.jpeg)


Cut out the opening for the trussrod access

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-trussrod-cover-slot_orig.jpeg)


Made the trussrod cover to fit the access slot

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-trussrod-cover-in-place_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-trussrod-cover_orig.jpeg)


Fretboard ready to be glued onto the neck

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-fretboard-ready_orig.jpeg)


Checked the neck/body angle before I glued the fretboard on

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-body-angle_orig.jpeg)


Sawed the rough shape of the neck

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-sawing-headstock-angle-back_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-headstock-paddle_orig.jpeg)


Glued the fretboard onto the neck

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-glueing-the-fretboard_orig.jpeg)
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: Basvarken on August 17, 2023, 12:36:45 AM
Fretboard in place

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-fretboard-onto-neck_orig.jpeg)


Filled the little gaps under the frets with a mix of rosewood sawdust and wood glue

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-filling-the-gaps-under-the-frets_orig.jpeg)


Glued the first body wing on

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-glueing-body-wing_orig.jpeg)


And then the other wing

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-glueing-other-body-wing2_orig.jpeg)


Sawed the outline roughly (sorry no pic)
Then routed along the MDF template for the first outline

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-routing-body-outline_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-body-outline_orig.jpeg)


Second step was to route the outline for the recessed "armpit" of the V

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-recessed-armpit_orig.jpeg)


Used the same template for the pickup cavities and the controls cavity

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-routing-cavities_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-routing-done_orig.jpeg)


Then shaped the neck and heel

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-shaping-the-heel_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-shaping-the-neckprofile_orig.jpeg)
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: Basvarken on August 17, 2023, 12:37:56 AM
Drilled the bridge stud holes

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-drilling-bridge-stud-holes_orig.jpeg)


And the holes for the string through body ferrules

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-drilling-ferrule-holes_orig.jpeg)


Shaped the headstock and the volute

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-headstock-shaped-front_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-headstock-shaped-side_orig.jpeg)

Starting to look like a bass

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-body-on-the-couch_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-on-the-couch_orig.jpeg)


Put the ground wire in and hammered in the inserts for the bridge studs

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-bridge-stud-inserts_orig.jpeg)


Forgot to do the side position markers before I glued the body wings on. Luckily the wings are not very wide at the end of the fretboard, so I could drill holes there without a problem...

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-drilling-side-marker-holes_orig.jpeg)


Made the side dots

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-glueing-side-markers_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-side-markers_orig.jpeg)


Scored a nice water buffalo horn for the top nut

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-buffalo-horn_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-buffalo-horn-2_orig.jpeg)


Cut the topnut

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-buffalo-horn-2_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-buffalo-horn-topnut_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-buffalo-horn-topnut-filing-slots_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-buffalo-horn-topnut-slotted-and-polished_orig.jpeg)
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: Basvarken on August 17, 2023, 12:38:39 AM
Made the control plate / pickguard

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-cutting-pickguard_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-pickguard-ready_orig.jpeg)


Made the faceplate for the headstock and glued it on

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-clamping-faceplate_orig.jpeg)


Drilled the tuner holes

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-drilling-tuners-holes_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-tuners-holes_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-headstock-ready_orig.jpeg)


After that the bass was ready for staining.
First did a layer of yellow (still think this would have been a great colour for the end result too)

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-yellow-stain_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-yellow-stain2_orig.jpeg)


Then did the reddish mahogany stain

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-first-layer-red-mahogany_orig.jpeg)


And a darker layer

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-darker-layer-red-mahogany_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-darker-layer-red-mahogany-back_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-darker-layer-red-mahogany-back-full_orig.jpeg)

Stained the recessed bit in the "armpit" dark.
And sprayed a few coats of clear

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-body-back-few-layers-of-clear_orig.jpeg)
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: Basvarken on August 17, 2023, 12:39:18 AM
More layers of clear

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-body-few-layers-of-clear_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-full-back-few-layers-of-clear_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-head-few-layers-of-clear_orig.jpeg)


Put the decals in place

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-decals-back2_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-decals-front_orig.jpeg)


After lots of layers and lots of sanding in between she was ready for final sanding and polishing

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-polished-bass_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-polished-body_orig.jpeg)


Made the black spacers that go under the nickel pickup rings

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-making-black-spacer-ring_orig.jpeg)


And then mounted all the hardware

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-almost-ready_orig.jpeg)
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: Basvarken on August 17, 2023, 12:41:11 AM
This bass is quite large. A standard case won't fit.
The Warwick Rockcase for BC Rich The Beast fits.
I made a special insert for  the V body shape to keep it in place.

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-in-case-1500_orig.jpg)
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: uwe on August 17, 2023, 06:13:05 AM
I’m citing Edith’s - daughter of a locksmith - comment on your work, Holländer, "Der kann was!"

And she says hi too!
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: uwe on August 17, 2023, 06:22:35 AM
I love its length, short scale Flying Vs are really a crime. It looks extremely elegant and sleek, not so much just "large". And the winged body extends the center of gravity so far back, it balances perfectly! It’s the way a proper Flying V should be done.

It’s also much lighter than I expected, yet not too light to seem insubstantial.
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: exiledarchangel on August 17, 2023, 03:39:53 PM
"The armpit bass" :D
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: uwe on August 17, 2023, 04:37:08 PM
You mean I should play it like Dave Davies?

https://youtu.be/UUALoD2E70s

Or like "I need to take a leak real quick"-Michael Schenker and his legendary Flying Pee?

(https://i.pinimg.com/550x/a6/1e/9d/a61e9d281b30d9b529bbba1be55b4d5b.jpg) (https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSe6o7NdgFOZseruq-gQ6UrH33K2jb4vSfQ2oM1lSmZ1f-kK0w-3UZly0QtpWyqFDMHh_Y&usqp=CAU)
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: exiledarchangel on August 18, 2023, 08:43:03 AM
I hope you got free deodorant with that! :P
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: uwe on August 18, 2023, 09:31:54 AM
Now that you mention it, I did wonder about the talented netherluthier's case candy ...

https://www.songmile.com/de/product/sr-rob-14-roll-on-bottle/
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: Basvarken on August 18, 2023, 10:08:56 AM
Haha, I did put in a little bit of case candy. But not a deo-roller  :mrgreen:
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: amptech on August 18, 2023, 11:49:27 PM
That is the nicest V i have ever seen! Great post!
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: uwe on August 20, 2023, 06:29:52 PM
It's the kind of low-key instrument, not clamoring for attention, that a 62-year-old should reasonably play. Nothing says "Hey, I'm immature!" like turning up with a Flying V at an audition. It's the Corvette of guitar shapes.  :mrgreen:

"You don't have any other basses, do you?!"
Title: Re: Oooweee it's an UV!
Post by: Basvarken on August 26, 2023, 05:40:57 AM
Have you plugged it in yet, Uwe?