ghotiphry
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First build - Jazz bass
- Thread starter ghotiphry
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ghotiphry
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Planning details:
Neck: 2 possibilities
Warmoth roasted maple with ebony fretboard? Mother of pearl dots?
Warmoth roasted maple with pau ferro fretboard? Black blocks?
Pickups: Nordstrand NJ4SE in bridge and neck positions
Electronics: Audere Pro-JZ6D Vol+Bal, 4 band EQ, 6 mode Z
Hardware all in black:
Babicz FCH-4 bridge
Hipshot HB6 tuners
Opinions on my selections, anyone?
Neck: 2 possibilities
Warmoth roasted maple with ebony fretboard? Mother of pearl dots?
Warmoth roasted maple with pau ferro fretboard? Black blocks?
Pickups: Nordstrand NJ4SE in bridge and neck positions
Electronics: Audere Pro-JZ6D Vol+Bal, 4 band EQ, 6 mode Z
Hardware all in black:
Babicz FCH-4 bridge
Hipshot HB6 tuners
Opinions on my selections, anyone?
stratamania
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Good choice on the ebony, the blocks with the really nice flame might have been a little busy.
Fat Pete
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Congratulations on the decision to pull the trigger on that body - it certainly caught my eye on the RSS feed. It should make for a really classy build. Not needed now I know, but I'll third the ebony and black hardware choices.
You've also obviously got past your concerns about the scratchplate, but if there's any lingering doubt, don't sweat it. You know what that (admittedly very pretty) wood that's going to be hidden under the plate looks like? Exactly like the wood that won't be under the plate. It's quality, not quantity that counts and the scratchplate just belongs.*
*Perhaps I should confess that I really like scratchplates, and will attach them to anything - even where they don't usually belong. But hey, it's my cat.
You've also obviously got past your concerns about the scratchplate, but if there's any lingering doubt, don't sweat it. You know what that (admittedly very pretty) wood that's going to be hidden under the plate looks like? Exactly like the wood that won't be under the plate. It's quality, not quantity that counts and the scratchplate just belongs.*
*Perhaps I should confess that I really like scratchplates, and will attach them to anything - even where they don't usually belong. But hey, it's my cat.
ghotiphry
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Thanks, guys. Yes, I got over my hangup on the pickguard. I just hope eventually I'm not looking over the fence at rear routs and thinking that grass is greener. But it just looks right.
You have a pickguard on your cat? That just raises all kinds of weird questions.
I should say one of the pickguards I'm thinking of is made from this tinted acrylic (in addition to a borderless black.) I'll probably order them both and see which one works the best overall. I'm not giving up easy...
You have a pickguard on your cat? That just raises all kinds of weird questions.
I should say one of the pickguards I'm thinking of is made from this tinted acrylic (in addition to a borderless black.) I'll probably order them both and see which one works the best overall. I'm not giving up easy...
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BigSteve22
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Love that flame! I'd try to go with the tinted acrylic and let the fire show through, but I'm also kinda fond of plain black. Can't wait to see what you decide. Keep those pix coming.
ghotiphry
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My original plan, before this piece of flame maple came up, was a 5 string flame without a pg. I was watching the unique choices for a piece of flame maple I couldn't live without. Warmoth decided to make this 4 string front rout. Now that I'm doing a 4 string flame, I don't know what would be next. Let me get through this one first! :doh:MikeW said:
(Mike, I purposefully avoided commenting on the smell of GAS. I'm not sure yet how sweet it is.)
ghotiphry
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The body arrived as scheduled to much rejoicing (cue Monty Python.) The first thing I did was to start dry placing parts in place. I'm liking this very much. Very nice.
On a whim I decided that I might start with the bridge. So I started to insert a screw into the bridge routs. And, as predictable in hindsight as an episode of Scooby Doo, ever so slightly I lifted the finish. I'm not worried about it. Once I've actually made sure the holes are in the right dimensions, and I've done the tricks I've read about with a countersink bit and super glue, it will be fine. It will also be covered by the bridge. However it made me realize one thing: there is no such thing as low hanging fruit. From now on I double and triple check things before attempting something simple. Everything is subject to planning, no matter how small.
So I stuck the body back in the box and put it in solitary confinement to think about what it has done. (Those aren't my words, I read them here, but it seems appropriate.) I need to get over my initial excitement and settle down, and I think the bass does too. I also need to accumulate some materials, like super glue and beeswax.
On a whim I decided that I might start with the bridge. So I started to insert a screw into the bridge routs. And, as predictable in hindsight as an episode of Scooby Doo, ever so slightly I lifted the finish. I'm not worried about it. Once I've actually made sure the holes are in the right dimensions, and I've done the tricks I've read about with a countersink bit and super glue, it will be fine. It will also be covered by the bridge. However it made me realize one thing: there is no such thing as low hanging fruit. From now on I double and triple check things before attempting something simple. Everything is subject to planning, no matter how small.
So I stuck the body back in the box and put it in solitary confinement to think about what it has done. (Those aren't my words, I read them here, but it seems appropriate.) I need to get over my initial excitement and settle down, and I think the bass does too. I also need to accumulate some materials, like super glue and beeswax.
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! That is definitely a looker.
ghotiphry
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Thanks, Glimmer. By the way, I've read all the way through your jazzmaster build thread. Actually, thanks everyone for speaking up about what I'm doing here. Votes of +1 confirmations are always welcome. Also, I'd like to hear anything you'd be doing different...
So far this particular thread is also, as someone else put it, an accumulation thread right now. My wife is getting tired of all the packages. Today there were three: tools, superglue and tips, beeswax, wire, shielding... I've had some problems laying my hands on Hipshot Ultralight tuners, finally found a new non licensed set at Ebay. These were actually cheaper than I was finding elsewhere. Pickguard ordered through Chandler guitars is still a couple weeks out. I've used Chandler to replace a badly warped pg before, so I removed that one from the bass it was on and tried it. It lines up perfectly, so I just duped the order in a solid black. Neck is still at least a couple weeks out. Audere only ships their stuff with chrome control plates. I had ordered a replacement in black and am just not happy with the quality, so I've ordered another control and neck plate. (This won't be mounted before I have the pickguard in hand, anyway, which in turn won't be mounted until i have the neck, sigh.) It seems to be impossible to find a stereo jack in black, so i just ordered some black replacement washers and nuts, and the barrel will just have to be chrome.
Well, anyway, there's some things I can get done this weekend. It's hard to believe that it's already been two week since I committed. Honestly, I can't see completing this before the end of May, even probably into June. :dontknow:
So far this particular thread is also, as someone else put it, an accumulation thread right now. My wife is getting tired of all the packages. Today there were three: tools, superglue and tips, beeswax, wire, shielding... I've had some problems laying my hands on Hipshot Ultralight tuners, finally found a new non licensed set at Ebay. These were actually cheaper than I was finding elsewhere. Pickguard ordered through Chandler guitars is still a couple weeks out. I've used Chandler to replace a badly warped pg before, so I removed that one from the bass it was on and tried it. It lines up perfectly, so I just duped the order in a solid black. Neck is still at least a couple weeks out. Audere only ships their stuff with chrome control plates. I had ordered a replacement in black and am just not happy with the quality, so I've ordered another control and neck plate. (This won't be mounted before I have the pickguard in hand, anyway, which in turn won't be mounted until i have the neck, sigh.) It seems to be impossible to find a stereo jack in black, so i just ordered some black replacement washers and nuts, and the barrel will just have to be chrome.
Well, anyway, there's some things I can get done this weekend. It's hard to believe that it's already been two week since I committed. Honestly, I can't see completing this before the end of May, even probably into June. :dontknow:
stratamania
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Have you tried sporthitech for your tuners ?
They have a web site and e bay store and a large range of Hipshot. If they don't seem to have what you are looking for send them an e mail. Very helpful when I've needed stuff.
They have a web site and e bay store and a large range of Hipshot. If they don't seem to have what you are looking for send them an e mail. Very helpful when I've needed stuff.
