Eight String Custom T bass build > to Z Bass

[DangerousR6]

Beautiful bass by the way... :headbanging:

 

[Cagey]

It's pronounced "wen gay". It's just that whoever invented that wood didn't know how to spell, so it confuses the rest of us. Its official name is "Millettia laurentii". Don't ask me how to pronouce that. But, I have it on good authority that if you say it three times while standing in front of a mirror in a dark bathroom, Fonzie will appear and belt you a good one.

 

[rgand]

I don't care, I know it's wrong but I'm still going to call it Wenge to rhyme with henge,  as I just like saying it.  :evil4:

I'm just surprised it's not Bubinga, as that what comes up on the custom builder. Can't see it would make much difference in strength or "wood tone".

I agree, weeeeengie just sounds stuuuuuupid....I like my henge with wenge...

I dunno, wen-gay is OK.

 

[amigarobbo]

I'm not sure in terms of the tone it's a bit too good, the hollow body imparting a richness and fullness to the tone, that a solid body wouldn't, you know it sounds great, but something like a solid walnut or maple body would have a 'simpler' more direct sound. Maybe. that would suit a 8 string better. Possibly! Also it would fix the neck heaviness of it. Which I think is due to the shape rather than a really heavy neck.

I suppose the advantages of a bolt on neck, I could get a new solid body, Walnut with a high gloss finish, and something like a fretless tele neck for the body! Hmm.. the possibilities!  :toothy10:

Actually, I probably won't.  :guitarist gif:

That sounds like a  challenge! :evil4:

I'm doing it!

I've ordered an all Maple Z bass body, I tried to get a one piece, but they're not available at the moment, possibly in the future, but no guarantees etc..

I'm going to move the neck and all the vintage copper to the Z body once I've Tru oiled it a suitable finish, assuming I can get the top off the bottle..  :-\

And I'm going to fit some EMGs, I'm thinking of 2 EMG pickups,  a 35J for the bridge, something really toppy and aggressive for the bridge, and 35DC, which is their brighter/traditional EMG sounding humbucker/double coil.

Possibly the X versions. I'll go for the traditional tone roll off tone control, they don't do stacked Vintage copper knobs for active bass and treble controls. And I've had *mixed* results with that sort of thing.

The 8 strings with the hollow bodied Custom T sounds great, but I just don't think that slight tubbyness to the sound works for an 8 string, the higher strings are drowned out, and I want it [Holds fist about 2mm away from nose] MORE IN YOUR FACE.

I'm still thinking about what to do with the body. But I have plans.  :evil4:

Re-upload of a the dead link

[youtube]0MJohCOgRU0[/youtube]

And the Distorted one, I think.

[youtube]dgCetnpAE28[/youtube]

 

[Fat Pete]

Sounds like a fun re-jig. I was just messing around doing some mock-ups with a (short scale) Z bass body. It's a cool shape and I'm surprised we don't see more of them.

 

[amigarobbo]

Right, pickups ordered,

I've gone for 35JX,for the bridge, and 35TWX for the neck. *

Clangy clangy for the bridge and warmer, more rounded for neck, with option for Humbucking sound, should work. but until they're in who can say?

Two questions, should I open a new thread when the body turns ups?

And can I re-enter the new bass (es) in the guitar of the month?


*I also ordered a schaller chrome 3d4 bridge, jack plate, knobs and strap locks, they'll go onto the Custom T body, straight swap for the Vintage copper on it presently. While I think about what neck I'll fit on it...  :bananaguitar:

 

[Cagey]

You can enter the GOM as many times as you'd like. You can even enter instruments you've entered before if they didn't win.

 

[amigarobbo]

Blimey, that was quick, the new Z bass body in Maple already shipped and is now in UK customs, It getting closer to the day that

No, Emma, when 1 becomes 2. Not the other way around. Like I'd know anything about that..  :sad1:

Also, one of the EMG pickups turned up, the solderless connectors were so handy I could stick it together give it a quick test by holding the pickup to the strings, probably my imagination but I think I could hear the higher octave string clearer then the original pickup.  :icon_thumright:

 

[amigarobbo]

Blimey, I think that took longer to clear UK customs than to build,

:icon_thumright:

 

[amigarobbo]

3 coats on:

6lb, not too sure about the accuracy of the scales to be honest.

 

[amigarobbo]

About 6 coats on, compared to the old shape,

It's up to about 10 coats now, and I think I'm going to stop at this stage, my bottle of Tru-oil is getting a bit low, and coming out a bit gloopy, obviously I needed to to shake it more, although I shouldn't complain, it's already done 2 guitars.

So I probably be at the transferring of bits stage, tomorrow.

Still not quite decided what to do with the body, but I'm leaning towards a maple Fingerboarded fretless neck, possibly from M*sikraft.

Of course if it all goes a bit pear shaped and I prefer the old hollow body I'll just put everything back to how it was; And have another think about the neck.



Edited to add:

I'm glad I went for the 7/8 hole, the EMG stereo jack only just fitted, lucky no need for copper EMF shielding with those.

 

[amigarobbo]

The highly technial bass body transfer is completed!

First impressions, the EMGs have a much better balance between the low and high strings, the bridge pickup helps a lot too. Balance better, I think this is going to work...  More testing required!

 

[amigarobbo]

[youtube]0MJohCOgRU0[/youtube]

And with the solid Z bass/EMGs

[youtube]QecWQAWhP3w[/youtube]

Same strings as last year,  :toothy11: I've had to practise my aimless noodles to match the old video.  :tard:

Both pickups on full, JX on bridge, 35TWX in the neck, in single coil mode only, ie two jazz style pickups.  If I pull the neck volume pot up it gives a slightly thicker humbucker/dual coil sound

I prefer the balance between the high and low strings, and I like the lack of  the 'semi-hollow tubbyness' on the old one. But I will say that the Lace Alumatone pickup sounds more 'active' than the active EMGs. Maybe two Lace alumatone bar pickups would have been way to go?

But I'm really happy with changes. Even the vintage copper bridge looks better against the maple, compared to the bubinga.

The Physical balance is better, it is heavy, but I'm a real man with strong back and core muscles from all my Zumbalates classes so I can cope.    :-\

 

[Axkoa]

I thought that T Bass looked cool. That Z bass is killer! Sounds nice  :icon_thumright:

 

[amigarobbo]

The T-bass body shall live again....


I've already fitted the chrome bridge, and other assorted chrome hardware,

On those scales the Z-bass bridge was 8lb, but I suspect they're not the best scales I could have used.

I've also bought the neckplate, which should give you some good idea where this going:

:bananaguitar:

 

[amigarobbo]

Anyway, it's great! I'll finally shut up now except to say, 8 sting fretless?  :laughing7:

I've just bought one off ebay....

Warmoth neck, dunno about the body, was cheap though, wonder where you can get flatwound 8 string from?

 

[Axkoa]

Warmoth neck, dunno about the body, was cheap though, wonder where you can get flatwound 8 string from?

Two sets of flatwound 4's?

 

[Fat Pete]

Warmoth neck, dunno about the body, was cheap though, wonder where you can get flatwound 8 string from?

Two sets of flatwound 4's?

Might be tricky tuning them an octave up!

 

[amigarobbo]

Pyramid do custom builds, so I could probably lash something up using that.

http://pyramid-saiten.de/de/custom-shop/custom-shop.php

 

[amigarobbo]

Very happy with the Z bass body, balances nicely, not too heavy, well, compared to a Peavey T-40/70s Norlan era all Maple Gibson bass, and the two pickups really bring the high octave strings, the EMGs sound great, but not much more 'active' sounding than the Lace Alumitone pickup that was on the hollow body. And it does have a more direct 'solid body' sound, less hollow bodied 'tubby' sound.

Oh... my... Lordi! I think I've just outted myself as a tonewood believer!?  :help: Well, construcionwood believer anyway...

I also replaced the strings with a fresh set of Rotosounds 66 Swing Bass (40-100 for the standard strings) and it, well you know that the new Rotosound 66 Zing, with the octave strings, it almost fizzed with that zing,  :icon_thumright: It's wearing off now, but it was addictive, can't wait to put some new strings on  :turtle:

[offsubject alert!]

The strings from Pyramid have turned up, the .0020 flatwound string is a bit odd, like an overgrown violin string or something.


My 8 string fretess is at the experts, getting some some attention at the neckpocket, it's fine at the moment, but I'm a bit paranoid about the tension of 8 bass strings, so it's getting neck bolts with threading inserts and a general tidy up of the socket, so it'll be a while until I know how they sound.  :-\

[/offsubject alert!]