Bass Guitar Rebuild...

G-Man · 2013-12-12T15:55:20+00:00

Ages ago I repaired my boss's neglected and abused bass to a playable state and all was well. He informed me that his kids broke it again and said that if I wanted it I could have it. It's a cheapo Carsen bass. So the plan is to make a new neck and shape the bass into a cool new design. Here it is... [/URL] Bought a solid plank of rose wood for 50 bucks, looks stunning! Will post pics soon.

Chocklit_Thunda

Is that a light spot next to the neck cavity or is the pickup just a little off centre? ??? unless it's the angle of the photo, then you may proceed as normal

G-Man

Yeah its a repair I had to do, after today I don't think you'll notice it because I'm cutting some excess from the body.

This is my first attempt at wood working so expect many more mishaps from me! ?

I'm hoping to use this as a stepping stone into another build, this is just for me to prove to myself that I can finish a build, hopefully I end up with something playable ?

Psean

G-Man wrote I'm hoping to use this as a stepping stone into another build, this is just for me to prove to myself that I can finish a build, hopefully I end up with something playable ?

Looks like you're on your way :goodtimes:

Chocklit_Thunda

Ah I see it now. It's a filler. Did you rout the neck pocket too wide?

It's looking really good so far so don't worry about anything too much...

AlanRatcliffe

At what point do you stop calling this a rebuild and start calling it a build though? ?

G-Man

Psean wrote
G-Man wrote I'm hoping to use this as a stepping stone into another build, this is just for me to prove to myself that I can finish a build, hopefully I end up with something playable ?
Looks like you're on your way :goodtimes:

Thanks man ?

Chocklit_Thunda wrote Ah I see it now. It's a filler. Did you rout the neck pocket too wide?

It's looking really good so far so don't worry about anything too much...

Yeah, waaaaaaaay too wide. Incrementally, and millimeter by millimeter. I don't know how I made that stuff up haha.

Alan Ratcliffe wrote At what point do you stop calling this a rebuild and start calling it a build though? ?

Give that man a Bells. Yeah I guess you are right. ?

Behold, my morning off has born fruit! And sawdust...

The pickups appear a bit squiffy because they are not screwed down, just a quick mock up to boost my moral. I reshaped the body and made sure the pickups are bang in the middle of the body, width wise anyway.

Next is the control cavity and finishing its cover. Time to order my pots and caps and then the sanding and filling can start.

AlanRatcliffe

BTW: A nice thing about the EMG bass bucker design is it uses rail polepieces, so it's not too fussy about string positioning and string spacing, etc.

G-Man

Alan Ratcliffe wrote BTW: A nice thing about the EMG bass bucker design is it uses rail polepieces, so it's not too fussy about string positioning and string spacing, etc.

The less fussy, the BETTER.

Thanks Alan.

G-Man

More sanding......... meh.......

Anyone know where I can buy copper tape or paint for the pickup and control cavities?

peterleroux

Aluminium foil tape works fine, and you'll get a roll at a hardware store much more easily than the copper

flatfourfan

Good stuff.........I like this build.

Look for the Air Con vent tape. it's cheap and is backed.

G-Man

peterleroux wrote Aluminium foil tape works fine, and you'll get a roll at a hardware store much more easily than the copper

flatfourfan wrote Good stuff.........I like this build.

Look for the Air Con vent tape. it's cheap and is backed.

Thanks guys, I'm attacking the hardware store today! ?

G-Man

Some mixed progress...

G-Man

I'm done! ? ?arty:

I am going to drag it to Slyd at The aXe Workshop and ask him to add the finishing touches for me because I am out of time.

Here are some pics. I only have 2 strings lol...

DDR4LYF

That is looking so so cool!!!

G-Man

Thanks man, I'm surprised I got this far. ?

Will post the finished pics after Dr Slyd has given it the final setup it needs. ?arty:

G-Man

Hi guys

I took my bass to Slyd for finishing up and man i didn't realise how much I had gotten wrong. So big props go to him for all the hard work of setting up and fixing my screw ups at The aXe Workshop.

Played the bass at practice on Sunday through a monster bass amp and WOW it sounds soooooo good.

I just wanted to thank everyone especially Alan for the pickups and everyone who encouraged and advised me on this build, I have learned a lot.

Here it is next to my Ibby

Sound clip

https://app.box.com/s/qkjigda50fvk34kohpwd

Psean

Well done man :goodtimes:

G-Man

Psean wrote Well done man :goodtimes:

Thanks man, glad it all worked out. Next build will probably be a headless guitar but that is far off.

Cheers

slyd

G-Man wrote Hi guys

I took my bass to Slyd for finishing up and man i didn't realise how much I had gotten wrong. So big props go to him for all the hard work of setting up and fixing my screw ups at The aXe Workshop.

Played the bass at practice on Sunday through a monster bass amp and WOW it sounds soooooo good.

I just wanted to thank everyone especially Alan for the pickups and everyone who encouraged and advised me on this build, I have learned a lot.

I Must say, . . . for a very different bass, it sounds and plays reeeel nice. Good stuff, G-Man!

8)

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