Mooncaster bass #2

[ghotiphry]

Thanks, Mike.  I agree!  That's why I'm swapping necks around.

 

[dmraco]

Mother of God...  The pic doesn't do it justice.  It has depth and shimmers when you move it around.

Thats thing is amazing.  Good call.  The coloration in the center really adds to it.

Warmoth did this AFTER the bass was originally cleared?  Correct?  If you do not mind me asking what did they charge?  IM me if you do not want to post.

 

[ghotiphry]

No, the pic i posted was before paint was applied.  It was an unpainted body when I got to it.  It just looks clear coated because it was wet.  So, standard paint job rates.  See alternative showcase pic below.  And thanks, DMRACO!  The mooncaster body you bought for your son was the inspiration!

 

[ghotiphry]

I should probably update this.  Almost together, except...

I paired the new wenge/ebony neck with the flame maple topped moon.  And immediately I could tell I made a huge mistake.  It's not that it played any worse, I think.  It's just that there was an intangible "what the hell" moment.  The guitar wasn't the same, like I just sucked all the mojo out of it.  I don't think I've experienced that before.  I swapped the pau ferro back in, and all was well.  That was just weird.

So, I put the wenge/ebony on the new quilt maple top.  I'm not sold on this yet.  Most of it is together.  However, snafu number 2.  I absolutely hate the TV Jones Thunder'Mag pickups.  Or it could be the wiring I've chosen to implement.  In any case, I put it away.  Need to think a bit about what to do.  I may end up buying a second set of the Thunder'Tron pickups.  Or trying several wiring schematics searching for that mojo.  No pics as yet.  Feeling my way through this one.

 

[rgand]

You may want to review what instrument(s) you've really liked in the past and borrow an idea or two from one of those to try.

 

[Verne Bunsen]

It’s tough when something you are expecting to really cook just goes “meh”. I’ve experienced that with some of the pickups I’ve wound: I come up with a recipe that I think will be the bee’s knees for some application and finally get it installed and it’s just terrible, haha. Takes a while to admit it  :tard:

 

[ghotiphry]

In that case, I need to get another set of Thunder'Trons and wire it up with a 50's Les Paul scheme.  I would be echoing my first moon bass.  On the chance that I can duplicate that mojo, I'd be ecstatic.  I was just kinda hoping for a little different sound from each.  I can't give up on the mags yet.  I'm going to try the wiring first, but I think those pickups are just not for me.

 

[dmraco]

Those are the pickups I used.    I used the traditional les Paul type of wiring they had listed on their site.  Sound great.    My neck was roasted maple but I don’t think it would change the tone too much. 

 

[ghotiphry]

Okay here's some progress.  A lot actually.  Um... Let's start with the wiring.  I've got it wired up with the 50s wiring schematic.  I still need to experiment, I'd like to try it with the modern style wiring as below.  This bass has too much top end to it, which I know has a lot to do with the pickups themselves.  But there's also a whole lot of finger noise coming through.  Now, I can get rid of much of it by dialing back on the tone controls, but I'd like to not have to do that.  I don't know if i can change things up with wiring as yet, but supposedly the modern style wiring has a larger bump to low/mid.

As built, wired in 50s style.  That little green thing is a grounding bus of my own making.  All grounds route there.

And the pups.  I'm an idiot and didn't order enough screws in chrome for the pickup rings.  But I have a couple black ones that I'll use for now, and I'll get more chrome with my next bass (the burl one.)  Doesn't make sense for shipping just for a couple screws, and I'm not sure what I'm doing for rings on the burl yet.

 

[ghotiphry]

Now the neck.  I like the wenge, but not as much as pau ferro.  Too bad PF is not a standard custom option, and PF necks hit the showcase pretty infrequently.

And the mounting plate.  I'm not sure I like the aluminum.  May have to order black anodized.

 

[ghotiphry]

A few overall shots.

(This looks way too red to me, but you get the idea...)

 

[ghotiphry]

She's a looker, but my favorite is still the clear finished flame maple in my signature.  I'm still playing around with things.  I'm trying to see if I can't change that.

 

[rgand]

Boy, that sure is fine looking. What a beauty. I hope you get it dialed in the way you like.

 

[Logrinn]

Man, that is beautiful.
You, Sir, make stunning basses ccasion14:

 

[ghotiphry]

I thank you, I thank you, I thank you.  Validation feels so good.  ccasion14:

 

[Cagey]

I know you make me wanna play bass  :icon_biggrin:

 

[dmraco]

I think you already know I love it.  The chrome knobs and toggle are  :icon_thumright:

 

[ghotiphry]

I know you make me wanna play bass  :icon_biggrin:

My primary goal for making basses is to get you to play one, Cagey.

I think you already know I love it.  The chrome knobs and toggle are  :icon_thumright:

Thanks for the inspiration DMRACO.  (I keep the chrome and black knobs on hand anymore, they are pretty much my "go to" knobs.  I try them out and judge.  The chrome ones looked better to me.)

 

[Cagey]

I knew it!

 

[Michaelga]

That's a beautiful bass guitar!