CURRENT CATALDO

[Rob]

Wow Carlo I thought Kinko's had a special place in your heart.

[dadagoboi]

What I did on my Covid Vacation.

[Highlander]

 

[shadowcastaz]

 

[Rob]

That is why they call you lightnin'.
That is freaking awesome!

[slinkp]

That is GORGEOUS.

Stacked vol/tone behind the bridge? That's a cool look...

I know we've seen that bridge before, but I forget, what is it?

Something about the cut-out decoration makes me wonder is it semi-hollow or chambered?
Or the middle slab is solid all the way?

[gearHed289]

 

[dadagoboi]

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.

[FrankieTbird]

Looks great!  Curious why you didn't change the neck pitch instead of sinking the bridge?  Is there a benefit?

[dadagoboi]

Looks great!  Curious why you didn't change the neck pitch instead of sinking the bridge?  Is there a benefit?

Thanks. Bridge is made to be inset, it's about 3/4" tall. Since it matches the neck I knew that if I made the neck pocket the same depth as it was on the donor bass and made the bridge route the same relative depth as the donor body I should be OK. I strung up and played the bass before disassembling for finishing, including testing the wiring.  Standard for any prototype...that's how I discovered I needed to do something about the lack of a block under the tailpiece.



Unrepaired divot from router miscue is visible. Original Rogue headstock, meh.

[Basvarken]

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

[clankenstein]

Sweet! Does it make much sound acousticaly?

[dadagoboi]

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.

[Highlander]

 

[OldManC]

Very cool!