4005 facsimile-final shots

[drbassman]

Very cool!  Are you going to leave the center block solid it's entire length or will will you hog some out between the pickups to allow for some airflow? Just curious?

I'm thinking about routing out some of the area where the pups won't be located.  Primarily for weight reduction.  The back will be 1/4" mahogany and the top about 1/2" maple to allow for the tail piece ramp routing.  It's a lot of maple, so I want to it be reasonably light weight.

I glued the neck piece up today.  Two beautiful pieces of birdseye maple with a 1/4" mahogany strip down the middle.  Also a couple 1/4" mahogany stripes in the headstock.

[Lightyear]

Ahh, didn't think about the weight issue, makes sense. 

[drbassman]

Ahh, didn't think about the weight issue, makes sense. 

Actually, I was thinking about it and I realized that if I use the TV Jones top mount DeArmond RI pups, I won't have routs for them so I can hollow out a good sized portion of the center block.  So I'll probably go that route. 

Here's the neck so far.  I still have two more maple strips to add to each side of the headstock and I'm building the heel separately for attachment later on.

[drbassman]

I planed the body frame and neck parts today.  Looking good!

[eb2]

I am liking this a lot.

A few years ago on ebay there was a guy who took a broken Rick bass and a broken 330 and made a bass out of it.  I like the 330 body a bit more than the more rounded ones, and that thing looked pretty cool.

[drbassman]

I am liking this a lot.

A few years ago on ebay there was a guy who took a broken Rick bass and a broken 330 and made a bass out of it.  I like the 330 body a bit more than the more rounded ones, and that thing looked pretty cool.

A 330 style one might be on my list after this one is finished................

[drbassman]

OK, 2 questions.  What do you guys think of a 2" wide mahogany stripe running down the middle of the body, sort of mimicking the stripe in the neck?  I was also thinking about using the Ric guitar gumby style headstock instead of the usual 4003 wave style.  What do ya think?

[Chris P.]

I don't know about the stripe, but the headstock sounds like a nice idea to me!

[drbassman]

Here's an idea of the headstock shape I'm talking about..............



And the stripe..................



And not.............

[Chris P.]

I think this guitar style headstock fits the design better than the waved one on my 4005. I stil don't know about the stripe. But you want to give the bass a uniqye touch, so if you like it, do it!

[Dave W]

I like the headstock idea, not the body stripe, unless you were doing it for tonal reasons.

[drbassman]

Yeah, I like the guitar headstock better.  I'm still thinking about the stripe!  Can't decide.

[drbassman]

I like the headstock idea, not the body stripe, unless you were doing it for tonal reasons.

Nope, no tonal reasons, just trying some different looks.  Although, I do think the 1/4" mahogany back will soften things up a bit.

[shadowcastaz]

I like the guitar head better . Im not sure on the stripe. I agree on the maho back. Real nice project. your really steppin it up Doc!

[drbassman]

Yeah, I'm still thinking about the mahogany stripe. Part of me likes the idea. just can't decide!