OK getting more serious about a bass build

[TBurst Std]

As my weekly engagement has me on bass for the foreseeable future, as well as I have been wanting to:
It's time for a bass build.

Going to be a Gecko 5 string medium.
Going to have a select Flame Koa top
Need to place a call to make sure it can be done, but thinking chambered BK body

Neck will be wenge/bubinga with a black ebony board. No gecko.
Hipshot UL tuners.
Flamed Koa headstock veneer.

Thinking of just finishing it myself with Tru Oil.

For electronics, leaning towards Nordstrand.
3b-5a preamp
Fat Stack neck pup splitable
MM5.4 in the "sweet position" Will set this pup ala Lakland with a 3 way switch.

Bridge would be Takeuchi TG5W.

Hardware will be in black.

Thoughts?

Anyone with a gecko - can you tell me if I can get 5 pots, 2 mini switches and the preamp in the control cavity?

Figured I could either buy a Lakland 55-02 Deluxe, or for a few dollars more, build something nicer and get the enjoyment of a build.

 

[tubby.twins]

Thoughts?

Anyone with a gecko - can you tell me if I can get 5 pots, 2 mini switches and the preamp in the control cavity?

From what you've described, it sounds like it should be a great bass.  You're going to have a blast with planning and executing this build.

If you're willing to try other pickups, I've got a SGD Lutherie dual-coil Neo pickup (using blades, not polepieces) which should be the same size and shape (with ears).

You may not have enough room for a P2 shape pickup in the neck position as well as a MM pickup in the sweet spot.  I'll measure my own Geckos to make sure.  If the MM pickup goes in the bridge position instead, then it should be possible.

Regarding pots and mini switches, I guess it depends on how you lay things out.  If you're going to cram in that much, you should omit any controls from your Gecko body build, and drill them by yourself.  Once your pre-amp arrives you can measure the pots, figure out how much space needs to be between them, and then work on a custom layout that fits in the cavity.

I've also found that the "preamp" area of the rear cavity can be both an annoyance and a blessing, depending on how you use it.  I have found that this area works well for mini-switches since the wood is thinner here, and most mini-switches don't attach properly to the wood in the rest of the cavity (which is 0.25" thick).

Measure twice, drill once...

 

[TBurst Std]

Already some changes:
Preamp is going to be a John East U Retro 4 knob Deluxe it seems
Bridge is going to be a Hipshot A it appears

 

[Patrick from Davis]

I have a Nordstrand 5.4, I really like it.  With a mini switch on it for parallel/single/series I can go from electric bass to slap to morphine overdriven.  Not like a pedal with the high end nasties, just growl-ly.  Very fun.
Patrick

 

[tubby.twins]

Uhm... In my previous post, I typed "S G D" (without spaces), not "Short HornD".  Something got replaced on me.

Wyliee?

 

[swarfrat]

This is just a DISGUSTING and MISGUIDED attempt to avoid the appearance of any TRANSGRESSIONS against Gibson. If I had any MISGIVINGS about buying a Gibson before, my DISGRUNTLEMENT is now UNDISGUISED.

 

[Cagey]

Hehe! Good one.

Somebody needs to learn how to write filters. I know Regular Expressions are a pain in the shorts, but that's no excuse. Doing it wrong causes more harm than good.

 

[TBurst Std]

And we have bad and good news on the bass.
Bad news 1: the wife did not like the 2K price tag, and I was not willing to compromise the build.
Bad news 2: the timeline got shortened as I have to return the borrowed bass in 4 weeks.

But there is good news. Got a 2007 Lakland 55-02 Deluxe Ltd. Should be shipping out Fri.

Check out the link and you will recognize one of its former owners.
Make sure to click on the pics then bring them full size.

http://www.gbase.com/gear/lakland-5-string-bass-amber#

 

[TBurst Std]

Received yesterday. Worked on the relief, action, pup height and intonation.
We have a winner here.