Slashin Velvets Warmoth Exotic Jazz Bass - 1st ever build

[slashin_velvet]

http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=19852.msg293153#msg293153

Hey Guys - My "Just out of the box" thread can be found above.

Ive settled on my electronic config - im going to do Master Vol - Blend - Master tone (with 2 caps so i can push pull for tone switching using a deeper 0.1 cap and a .047 in normal mode)

The oiling is going well. Ive gone with tru oil and have been doing many small layers.

Some pictures of my progress:

 

[bagman67]

That's purty swanky.  I really like the even striping of the top on that bass body.  Excellent work.


Bagman

 

[slashin_velvet]

Thanks Bagman,

I was just oogling your tele yesterday, im glad i could return the favour.

Now ive just got to be patient. Ive only got a few coats to go...but if i lather it on too thick...ill ruin my work. And the 2-3 weeks to let it cure is bound to do my head in. At least ill be able to divert my attention to the electronics.

 

[slashin_velvet]

Well shes all done.
I had 2 shots at the electronics (after not being satisfied with my first shot).
Its now wired V/V/T with 2 caps (0.047 and 0.1 switchable by push pull)
Some piccies:

Unfortunately I could only take photos with my phone - so quality aint the best.

Thanks everyone for all of your help...im really happy with the result.
Also wanna give a big shoutout to mick brierley who has been super helpful over the course of the build. I would strongly reccomend him.

 

[kurcatovium]

Did you finish the neck? Didn't you like raw goncalo?

 

[greywolf]

Nice work , enjoy playin it!

 

[slashin_velvet]

Did you finish the neck? Didn't you like raw goncalo?

Hey man,

Yeh...I did eventually decide to finish the neck. Whilst I like the feeling of goncalo...ive had issues with neck warp in the past (on much more expensive instruments) and didnt want to risk it with this one. The finish is purely to seal the neck, and hopefully in a week or two, ill buff it back with some sandpaper and steel wool to find a happy medium of raw wood/sealed neck.

 

[AutoBat]

 

[kurcatovium]

Did you finish the neck? Didn't you like raw goncalo?

Hey man,

Yeh...I did eventually decide to finish the neck. Whilst I like the feeling of goncalo...ive had issues with neck warp in the past (on much more expensive instruments) and didnt want to risk it with this one. The finish is purely to seal the neck, and hopefully in a week or two, ill buff it back with some sandpaper and steel wool to find a happy medium of raw wood/sealed neck.

OK, thanks for clarifying. Although I think raw wood is better choice ;-)

 

[Tipperman]

+1. Looks great, but raw Goncalo wouldn't warp if you shoved it up Hurricane Floyds bunghole.

 

[slashin_velvet]

+1. Looks great, but raw Goncalo wouldn't warp if you shoved it up Hurricane Floyds bunghole.

They said the same thing about two warwicks with wenge and ovankol necks that warped/twisted. Ive found a happy medium now that ive steel wooled back the wood. It feels just like the raw wood that came from the factory...but its sealed so it has the moisture protection.

(Probably worth noting that im not located in the states, and where i live can have quite dramatic changes in weather (even in a 24 hour period)).

 

[Cagey]

It's possible the woods used on the instruments you worked with weren't properly seasoned. You can't just cut down a tree and shape it into a magic wand. You gotta wait for it to be ready. Typically, Goncalo Alves and Wenge are very stable once they're good and dead, even in challenging environments.

Of course, that doesn't mean you can't finish exotic woods if you prefer that feel. It's a bit more trouble, but it's doable.

 

[slashin_velvet]

It's possible the woods used on the instruments you worked with weren't properly seasoned. You can't just cut down a tree and shape it into a magic wand. You gotta wait for it to be ready. Typically, Goncalo Alves and Wenge are very stable once they're good and dead, even in challenging environments.

Of course, that doesn't mean you can't finish exotic woods if you prefer that feel. It's a bit more trouble, but it's doable.

You would expect the wood in an instrument worth over $2k has been treated properly. Wood iss till wood...and changes in moisture/humidity can have an affect on the wood. I didnt want to risk it after learning the hard way - and this ties in with what most members ona  local forum suggested (as they too understand the weather conditions here and its impact on instruments)

 

[Cagey]

Lotsa instruments cost a great deal for no apparent reason. Look at Gibsons and Fenders. You'll notice the vast majority of them are painted solid colors. I'll give you one guess as to why that is. And if you don't want to believe your own intuition, try stripping one once. Chances are much better than good that you'll find it looks more like a gym floor than a slice of tree.

But, you're right. No matter how good the wood is, climate can have an effect. It's just much less likely with a premium piece of wood that isn't sensitive to such things. Warmoth believes it so deeply that they'll warrant parts made of some woods for two years without without a finish, so they're putting their money where their mouth is. That's not marketing, that's knowing how things work.

Of course, if you're Spongebob Squarepants living in a pineapple under the sea, then all bets are off <grin>

 

[slashin_velvet]

2 years isnt really all that long in instrument years...so I get that they believe in their product...but so did warwick (the warranty was 3 years from memory - and the neck warped at about the 5-6 year mark - this was a proper german made bass).

As much as people here might think finishing it was a bad idea....ive managed to find a happy medium between the feeling of raw...but with some moisture protection from a few coats of tru oil which means ill have a good feeling neck that should have soem protection against the elements (should it need it).