2 new bass builds

[greywolf]

Just started this commission ,  maple neck / flame maple fretboard with abalone dots . The body has a lacewood core with killer flame maple top , the back will be flame maple as well . Bookmatched the core and rough cut the top 

 

[greywolf]

Lacewood body wings bonded , now for the routing

 

[greywolf]

final sanded Claro walnut core / black walnut 24 fret neck through with ebony fretbiard / paua inlays.

  pic of the curly  Koa top

 

[greywolf]

got the neck on and cleaned up the profile a bit .  Asymetric heel carved , and planed the neck to 1" thick to allow for the 3/8" koa top  .

Despite it being all walnut at this point , it isn't much heavier than the lacewood /maple one

 

[dmraco]

nice piece of lumber....that scale looks LONG!!!!!!

 

[greywolf]

shaped the asymmetric heel and routed the control / pickup  cavities  on "Ying" .

Now for a bit of relief routing on the top plate for the controls and cut the control cover from  the back plate and it'll be ready for finally body assembly

 

[greywolf]

maple top on and rough sanded
brought it over to the client and he was thrilled , he's thinking of having me build another for him!  :toothy10:

 

[bagman67]

A handsome piece, as usual.  Looking forward to seeing that koa top pop when you get a finish on 'er.

 

[greywolf]

got the pickup cavities routed , the client wanted the P pickup further back than normal so it was a bit tight.  Now for final sanding ...

 

[greywolf]

got flame maple back on, starting to look like a keeper

 

[greywolf]

back sanded the top .. oh yeah ..can't wait to see it with lacquer on it .. I'm pleased :cool01:

 

[PeteNelson]

Really beautiful.

 

[Great Ape]

TRULY STUNNING! :icon_thumright:

 

[greywolf]

Finally got time for the Walnut /Koa bass  cut the control cavity / routed for the control cover and rough cut the curly koa top .. a busy day in the shop .. my so called "vacation" from my regular job.  The Stew Mac cavity templates make the job fairly easy.

 

[greywolf]

the Curly Koa top . rough cut .. I've been waiting for over 3 years to use this special set on a project ..it was worth it.

 

[greywolf]

Pickups cut, flame maple / paua abalone inlay finished and general cleanup sanding

 

[dmraco]

i like that wood/inlay a lot.

 

[greywolf]

Thanks , that set of Koa has been in my cache for 3 years waiting for just the right project .
Normally I use stew-mac binding for the center strip , this time I cut of a strip of the 3/8" flame maple from the other bass leftover , it's 50% wider and has great figure.

The pickups on the Koa are a departure from my norm , I'll still have the Bart soapbar in the neck, but have opted to try a TV Jones Thunderblade for the bridge, black soapbar with gold blades  ( bass supertron) .  It should be interesting.

 

[Great Ape]

That is STUNNING!

 

[greywolf]

6 coats of french polish , sanded down to 600 , then 4 coats of lacquer .  I more round and she'll be done.