The Last Bass Outpost

My brother's '57 Esquire case was passed along to Steve 'ThunderBucker' Soar in the early '80s along with the neck (he died while he was in the middle of refinishing it and the body,etc. disappeared).

Steve sent me the neck/tuners about eight years ago along with a story: The tweed case was really beat up and missing a latch.  He was going to just toss it but decided what the hay and ebayed it with no reserve or opening bid.  It sold for just under $500.  Dog knows how much it would have brought with all both latches. 

Me, I sold a blonde'55 Precision with ITS original tweed case in '77 for $400.  I'd paid $250 for it in'74 and was satisfied with that. I had a new TBird on layaway.

That is one ugly POS IMO BTW.

Cool concept!
I’d put new tuners on though. The rusty ones don’t do it justice.

Thanks!
I wouldn't put those tuners on a customer's bass but this one isn't for sale.  It originally just a chance to try out some ideas:hollow body, cheap plywood, and finish techniques.

Sweet! Does it make much sound acousticaly?

Thanks! I strung it up an played it for a while, then cut  the holes.  It was immediately louder.  A fresh set of strings and some scientific tuning of the holes might make it louder but it's audible enough unplugged so an amp isn't necessary for practicing. I'll do an unplugged clip if I ever get around to recording it.

Pretdamn near full hollow.  There's a block for the pup to screw into and one for the bridge/tail. The sides are about 3/8" thick when the perimeter is routed to final size.

This was mainly going to be a 'proof of concept'.  The sides were built  from pieces.  All my other basses use a standard 14 x 20 blank.  I'll draw the perimeter on it and remove everything that's not necessary.  This frame took a 4' x 8" wide board and 2-3 hrs to build,probably more. Entire bass weighs

Bridge and neck are modded from an 8 string Rogue.  Cataldo tailpiece. I forgot the block under the tailpiece so I through glued front to back 1/2" dowels for each screw.  Worked out, no tailpiece tilt.

Bass weighs 7.8 lbs.  Top and bottom are from Lowes, I went through a stack of about 25 2'x 4' pieces ($17, void free, thus the faux binding).

Here's some more pix of the build.

Cheap quick connects, pot fits thru the larger triangle. Endpin jack, seems appropriate. Bridge is adjusted for height with shims under it or the neck, none were needed.





I can probably reduce the weight by a quarter pound. Trans white toner top, trans black sides and neck, natural "binding". Three separate tapings.

OXbird waiting for the check to clear.



Satin Metallic Black LH Twelver on schedule.





Factory refurb Canon Color Laser Printer and toner for $185, less than $4 a pound. No more shlepping to the copy shop for my crappy graphics.

Do you have imagery of your past life in carpentry...?
So much artistry...

Thanks, Ken, and everyone else. This is my most ambitious attempt in wood, around 1987. It was a little too springy.  If I did it today it would have some carbon fiber in the arm/leg laminations. Back then it was basically unobtanium.

One NR just needing finishing touches..



and 32" set neck  getting close

Gotta love hurricane season. Days of anticipation, hype, and preparation only to (hopefully) be a near miss. Take care in Kissimmee, Bob!

Routing the 1" increased width body. It will still fit in a standard Precision case.


Veneering.






Bound for glory.


Checking dimensions and color test.  I'll be aiming at a 'Pelham Blue' shade of stain.


Inverness Green curing. Setneck MAX41 in foreground.

Interesting to see a Junior with neck binding.  That's very uncommon.  Traditionally, Juniors had silkscreen logo and unbound neck, Specials had pearl logo and bound neck.

That Jr. had a stock Vibrola.  That and the Polaris white put it a step above a standard Junior. So I'm guessing Gibson just did the neck like they would have on a Polaris SG Custom.

Thanks to everyone for the kind words! Working on an NR, set neck MAX, and a through neck bigger body EB0 32"12 string, that one's for me.








This one gets a bound flame maple top