G4: From black to Korina - to DIY chambering

[MortenB]

Thanks Cagey - I will be watching..!  :icon_thumright: 

What's not to love..? Good question..! I can't think of anything, but maybe the work involved drilling, routing, gluing etc is not to love for everyone. I will say though, that this is a fairly easy DIY project. Basic wood working skills and knowing how to use a router is all that is needed.

This was actually a really cheap modification also, I bought this beautiful book matched set of walnut for just 10 bucks on e-bay. There is a seller in California who sells beautiful woods and they are dried and planed, so ready for use. He is ''onemill101'' on e-bay. Sometimes he runs auctions and walnut like this goes for 10 - 20 bucks. Everything he sells is top quality.

 

[dmraco]

Nice work. 

I think that is who I bought my book matched spalt/flame maple cap from.  Good stuff and great prices.

 

[MortenB]

I'm building up the oil finish and things are starting to look good... I like this Danish Oil better than Tung Oil because it's so much faster to work with and it gives a nice look/feel. I also did the holes for the neck bushings. It's cool how the holes kinda work together with the area where the black veneer fans out.

I need to add one more screw to the cover. It tips up ever so slightly at the end towards the neck - as you can tell it's not as ''tight a fit'' at that end right now. This will mean a bit of re-work in the battery compartment, and of course I still need to route for the bridge on the back also.

 

[dmraco]

Really nice work.  I may have missed it but what bridge are you using??  One of those Babzzick (spelling sorry)?

 

[MortenB]

2TEK bridge... And that is part of the problem with this body.... See the first post on the first page for the story on this body.

 

[MortenB]

Almost done... I have routed for the 2TEK bridge, installed the batteries so they are held by foam blocks that I have glued in place, and I have installed the preamp. Just need to install /solder the jack, but I will do that tomorrow when the final coat of Danish oil I have just applied is dry.

Here a few pictures showing the latest work. I think this walnut cap is looking even better now that it has several coats of oil... It's totally dark here now, so the light is a bit different in these pics...

 

[stratamania]

Great job...

 

[SustainerPlayer]

Looking good Morten.  :icon_thumright:

 

[MortenB]

Thanks 

I'm almost done now, just need to install/adjust the pick ups and put some strings on it - but here are some pictures of the back... What started out as a chambering project turned out to be both a chambering project and a re-work of the back of this bass project. I'm so pleased with the result... Maybe it's because I made this myself, but I think it's BEAUTIFUL and soooo clean looking compared to before.

Instead of reworking the battery compartment to make room for one more screw holding the end of the lid down I used small neo magnets as can be seen in the close up picture. It works perfectly and the cover now has a snug fit all the way around. Actually before drilling the holes for the screws I was thinking about using magnets instead of screws all around for an even cleaner look, but I thought the cover was too big, and that it would slide off to easily. I'm happy with this.

Another small detail is a knot in the wood positioned on the side of the horn. I decided not to fill it completely and make it smooth, instead I just stabilized it with a bit of epoxy and let it keep a more ''natural'' look. I like it..! And I really, really like walnut... (We don't have this kind of walnut here).

 

[dmraco]

looks fantastic.  I like the knot.....I have used them on top horns too!!!!

 

[MortenB]

Thanks man - I'm really pleased with the result. I know it's ''just a bass'' and that they don't create as much attention in this forum as the guitars, but maybe this can be an inspiration for others. I was a bit concerned if the new back would look good on the bass, but I think the result looks much better than before. The new walnut cap has beautiful figuring, the binding works great and the new cover is perfect.

I have now played it, and at first I thought there was a small sonic difference, but after fine tuning the pick up positions to the exact heights they were before I honestly can't hear any difference. So at least on this bass there seems to be no sonic impact from chambering.

Regarding the weight it's down by almost 300g and I can really feel that. The bass is still heavy at it's 4.35kg / 9.6pounds, but the damn 2TEK bridge is 495g / 1.1pound. With another bridge the weight could be around the 4kg mark. I hope this weight saving will work out for me, otherwise I might have to drill some more holes in the 2TEK to make that beast lighter too 

Done for now! It's been quite a journey with this body, here are some ''before and after'' pics, but I really, really like this bass, so it has been worth the effort.