Short Scale 8 String '60 EBO

dadagoboi · May 09, 2013, 04:43:15 PM

With the demise of Hamer and a (very) few requests, I decided to build a shorty Eighter based on my '60 EBO.

Finally found a usable neck, 1 3/4" wide at the nut. Traced the body and did 2 mockups last week. Then I got distracted by a new amp (Oliver P-500), the return of my rebuilt B-15 head from Steve and some routine doctor stuff. So here 'tis so far::

Single pup

and 2 pup, 1V, 1T, 1 blend ala Hamer at the moment.

That's a 22 fret neck. Don't know how much time I'll be able to devote to this with current build load but I'll be thinking about it. 1 3/4" thick Honduras mahogany body with '63 ThunderBucker(s) is the plan. The scale is real short, 28.5 inches...just to make it more interesting.

Dave W · May 10, 2013, 08:25:40 AM

Not an 8-string guy but I've always loved the doublecut Junior shape.

drbassman · May 10, 2013, 08:37:34 AM

Quote from: Dave W on May 10, 2013, 08:25:40 AM
Not an 8-string guy but I've always loved the doublecut Junior shape.

i think an 8 string could be fun once in awhile. And I too love that shape!

gearHed289 · May 10, 2013, 08:48:43 AM

Cool! I love that body style too.

Does a bland knob work well with passive pickups? I remember reading somewhere that there were potential issues. Where did you get the neck?

jumbodbassman · May 10, 2013, 08:57:47 AM

blend pots seem to work fine with passive fender style pups. Actually IMHO better than the VVT on a j bass except that its different and i have been playing fenders since 1971. they both have the volume drop issue when both on full as they become HB. Can't speak to the thunderbuckers except there is some volume drop but appears not as much to me anyway but i tweak the thunderbuckers much less than the fenders as they just sound so great when both are on and just tend to move mind fingers when wanting more bite or bass.

dadagoboi · May 10, 2013, 10:19:57 AM

Quote from: drbassman on May 10, 2013, 08:37:34 AM
i think an 8 string could be fun once in awhile. And I too love that shape!

Steal from the best is my motto

Quote from: gearHed289 on May 10, 2013, 08:48:43 AM
Cool! I love that body style too.

Does a blend knob work well with passive pickups? I remember reading somewhere that there were potential issues. Where did you get the neck?

Works fine on my Ibanez Destroyer w/ DiMarzio P/J. Neck is an Ibby Mikro 5er. While I had it on the body I tuned all 5 strings up (Bto D, etc). Didn't seem to mind. Like everything else I do this is an experiment. Pretty sure I could make or buy necks for close to this one cost me plus my labor to convert the headstock. Main thing is the width is OK at the nut.

Quote from: jumbodbassman on May 10, 2013, 08:57:47 AM
blend pots seem to work fine with passive fender style pups. Actually IMHO better than the VVT on a j bass except that its different and i have been playing fenders since 1971. they both have the volume drop issue when both on full as they become HB. Can't speak to the thunderbuckers except there is some volume drop but appears not as much to me anyway but i tweak the thunderbuckers much less than the fenders as they just sound so great when both are on and just tend to move mind fingers when wanting more bite or bass.

I guess the blend pot might be an issue with the ThunderBuckers, they do have a good bit of cancellation with both pups full up. My stack pot Jazz has a resistor on each pot that eliminates the volume drop problem when they are both full up.. When they switched to 3 pots it wouldn't work.

Highlander · May 10, 2013, 03:36:54 PM

Quote from: dadagoboi on May 10, 2013, 10:19:57 AM
.. Pretty sure I could make or buy necks for close to this one cost me plus my labor to convert the headstock.

DIY = time you haven't got...?

dadagoboi · May 10, 2013, 03:48:49 PM

Quote from: HERBIE on May 10, 2013, 03:36:54 PM
DIY = time you haven't got...?

Keep me from doing things I shouldn't.

Stjofön Big · May 11, 2013, 01:29:47 AM

That bass, the EB0 of that model, is in my opinion the nicest looking bass to find. And as an eighter, wow!

Highlander · May 11, 2013, 06:26:39 PM

Quote from: dadagoboi on May 10, 2013, 03:48:49 PM
Keep me from doing things I shouldn't.

You could build Uwe his dream Gibson doubleneck...

Chris P. · May 12, 2013, 05:31:14 AM

Cool!

godofthunder · May 12, 2013, 07:08:38 AM

I have always loved the '59 EBO shape! That is going to be sooooooooooooooooo cool. As always I vote one pup.

Bionic-Joe · May 12, 2013, 11:27:02 AM

One overwound Thunderbucker Maxx will do it.
Trust me I know...

dadagoboi · May 12, 2013, 12:19:44 PM

Quote from: Baz Cooper on May 12, 2013, 11:27:02 AM
One overwound Thunderbucker Maxx will do it.
Trust me I know...

This one has a MAX but I may go for a special wind on the shortie.

Stjofön Big · May 12, 2013, 01:55:12 PM

That Cataldo bass is so nice looking, so fantastic beautiful, and so great in colour, that I would love to own it!!! Beauttttttifulll!