The Last Bass Outpost

Quote from: Ken on May 15, 2024, 08:14:45 AM
Carlo, what's that PAF DiMarzio like?  I have a Carvin LB20 that I really love because of its neck.  It's been living at my friend's place for when we play together.  It's got their J99 single coils in it and I'm thinking of putting in beefier pickups and taking it out more.  Looking at options.

The split coil magnets are ceramic so they're more agressive alnico. To me the parallel wiring option is just slightly hotter than a Fender Jazz and the series option adds meat. Scott's the expert on Dimarzios IMO!

Thanks, Veronica.
It's not so rred IRL. Plus I had the wrong WB setting on that early AM shot. A bit rusty on the photo skills.

Bought this maybe 8 years ago. Baz has been inquiring about it ever since. No doubt he'd do a good job on it but I'm finally gettin around to a plan. That being: converting this hot mess to a Polaris White '64 II clone, or as close as can be done  to that. Then I'll sell off my original '64s.



Somebody wanted an Explorer? The neck is intact, no breaks.



also, control cavity, and cover are not harmed.

The model and spare '64 parts from the bin except the P/G. Scott has kindly volunteered one of his priimo replicas to the project. I'll also be using a GOT Tailpiece.



Full scale on a greid, sadly CAD deficient. The BICEN perimeter compared to a '64. More 'Telecaster ' style upper horn for one thing. Bottom horn is also different judging by what was left. II no longer own an intact BICEN to compare.



Hold my Beer.


So, new top horn/wing is in order and I'll attempt to use the cutoffs to replicate a '64 bottom. I'll also be routing the neck center down 1/4" until its below wing heigt and inlay a 3/8" thick new center to clean up the mess that now there.



Lots of Honduras to choose from:


Wish me luck!

Thanks, guys!  This was the starting point, an under $100 Glarry. At thispoint everything has been modded or replaced from the parts bin except the body and strap buttons. I'tried a dual rail strat pickup but it wasn't doing the job. The DiMarzio does sound great, series or parallel.





Exposer, first customer bass post Pandemic. African "Mahogany'. Going to be SilverBurst.


And this Stu Hamm, sent yesterday to its new owner. This was Hamm's Wasburn serial #001. I added a separate passive circuit Duncan soapbar and pots to the sound hole.




Mods are completely reversible. Jack is on a plate where the battery box was. Battery moved to the control cavity.

'Cayuse' (Little Horse) Prototype

30" Scale, Split Coil, Series/Parallel option.


PAF DiMarzio and SX Bridge/tuners from the parts bin.
Probably go with a push pull pot instead of a switch for series/parallel. That's a modded Jazz control plate. P/G is cut from a self stick vinyl floor tile

So, what did I miss?

Back in the saddle with a mini Explorer(ish) cut from a MAX bass. Fits in a standard case and will use a standard body blank.

Mock up.


Original MAX prototype of eight years ago in current state of undress.


Trimmed, the rest is sawdust.




Medium and short scales are going to be fun.

Nice! Better Late than Never.

Now with quick release integrated tailpiece,8 and 10 string. Black and gold options.



E saddles not split in the correct spot.



Fairly enthused with the results and planning a small run.

Second prototype 8/12 bridge.  Basically sawing in half the saddle carriers of an ABM type 4 string bridge. Then drilling and tapping a hole in the now 8 saddles for height adjustment and using the existing grub screw to lock each saddle pair in place.

Quote from: Highlander on November 22, 2020, 04:04:53 PM
Does anyone know where Carlo is...?

Thanks for asking, Ken...Here:



I've spent much of the last 6 months getting my house in order in preparation for the coming chaos.  Built a six foot fence around the place, installed a new roof, major cleanup, etc.  All with the help of my next door neighbor.



Finished this and sent it to Hamburg.




Started this but I'm stalled due to severe arthritis. Can't build and can't play.



CBD seems to help, hope to be back in action in 2021. 

Stay healthy, guys!

(EDIT)Oh, yeah...here's a first prototype of a new 8/12er bridge since the Schaller 471-8 is discontinued.

Finally getting these guys dialed in, both a lot of fun!



'64 Gibson neck pup in the 12er, lots of chime. ThunderBucker Max (12+ ohms) in the Eighter, very grindy. I'm digging the upsized Doublecut with 32" neck, proportions are a lot better, IMO.

Color sanding on this one started with 220 dry and a block


Up to 400 and then Meguiar's Ultimate Compound



Through neck is attached with 5 screws, three tailpiece (standard Fender 1-3/4" neck screw) and 2 countersunk 1"x 6 under the bridge.

Set neck one piece Honduras body gets mated to neck as soon as the weather cooperates so I can shoot it.

Quote from: Highlander on May 23, 2020, 02:24:15 AM
Trrrradionally boiled in a sheep's stomach... aye, the Scot's have some fine trrrraditions... 

If you go back far enough (and not very far for most), all cultures, except for the ones with nutty dietary rules, ate every part of the animal, or made use of it in some way. It's only 'moderns' who consider anything they don't eat as strange.

I'll take a bowl of beef tripe cooked in tomato sauce any day vs a steak.

Quote from: Highlander on May 22, 2020, 05:01:30 AM
Putting my disaster area to shame, my Don...
I was talking to Scott the other day about some old mahogany I have acquired from a scrapped door frame from an old house in Inverness, big enough for a through-neck, and how I could find a luthier locally that I could help me build my own (i.e. use their workshop) but there is nobody local... and also discussed required tools, or speaking to a furniture-maker...
Last comment was how I could re-locate Carlo and his entire workshop to the Highlands...

That's quite a find, Ken!  Maybe someone on Basschat UK could help with locating what you need.

Free haggis for life?

Thanks, Ken.  Having fun with this one, weight with its bag of components is 8.1 lbs.



Can't wait to buff and polish it in the newly cleaned and rearranged shop!

Great review,Mark! Thanks.