Oh yeah. My “decals” are Cricut cut vinyl with a coat of clear over the top.
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Oh yeah. My “decals” are Cricut cut vinyl with a coat of clear over the top.
So, it's not invisible everywhere (especially with the coat of clear after sanding the bits I could still "feel")... hopefully that doesn't mean I have done something wrong.
https://i.imgur.com/X3XIDik.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/sLekXan.jpg
Good recovery. Once the guitar is together only you (and a few of us) will know!
Yeah, I would be surprised if anyone would be able to tell without a close inspection.Quote:
Originally Posted by Trevor Davies
Also, in more good news, the gaps between the tuners was not as big as the mock up would have led me to believe... the tuners went in no problem!
https://i.imgur.com/50W0aRz.jpg
So far, so good. In fact, it looks like at least one of my wildest dreams has come true. The low E string when wound to pitch has none of the "large part" of the wind actually on the machine head. This should be a significant improvement over the previous JZ-6 I made.
https://i.imgur.com/ALF7UXb.jpg
Good news! Though in my experience a lot cones down to the individual strings, as I find the length of the thick part can vary significantly.
Oh interesting. Even amongst the same brand / gauge?
I’ve now got it strung up with a basic set up (no electronics yet) and it’s pretty good. I might need to make the nut slots a little deeper, but they are close to how I want them.
I made “files” from pieces of the strings themselves, glued onto popsicle sticks. Heh. Easier to keep straight than just using a string like I did on the last one.
Ideally all the strings should have the same length of 'fat' string, but on most sets that length is all over the place. I'm primarily a guitarist, so my basses don't see a lot of use, but I do set other people's bases up so see a reasonable number of strings and I notice things like that.
I normally use the point of a round needle file for the wider nut slots, and can use guitar nut files for the thinner ones, but I have found my old set of someone's handmade nut files (from eBay some years ago) that go up to bass string sizes, including .105 and .125" files.
I had a strange thought. I would have no issues with taking a guitar I just bought in to get set up, yet somehow I would with one I built. Is that because setting it up is “part of it”? Anyway…
Last mock-up before electronics...
https://i.imgur.com/DBId4sN.jpg?2
That looks very cool!
Some guitar shops/luthiers can be very snooty over setting up a kit guitar. Some just refuse. Probably because a lot they see are badly assembled and require a lot more time to set up than their standard set-up fee allows.
Makes sense, but hah. Considering some of the Jazzmasters I have come across, this would be a delight to work on…
Small set up tweaks and strap buttons left, but the electronics are done.
It’s just one DiMarzio Virtual Vintage ‘54 in the neck (though it is wired like a jazz bass, so it could have another pick up later). The other two pickups in the guard are not connected and just there as hole fillers ;)
Calling this one "done".
JZ-6 modified to be a Bass VI.
Mods include: .024 - .100 Fender Bass VI strings, a single DiMarzio Virtual Vintage '54 pickup in the neck, CTS pots, Switchcraft jack, paper-in-oil capacitor, cloth wiring, a Faction hardtail Bass VI plate, Gotoh SD91 kluson style split post tuners, Jazz Bass knobs and control plate, and a painted pick guard.
About the only hardware left from the kit is the bridge, the pick guard (painted), the string tree, and two pickups that aren't even wired up, just hole-fillers :)
It plays and sounds sooo good. I moved the Virtual Vintage '54 from the "bridge" to the neck in her sibling (the white one I made first) and now they are almost like non-identical twins. I can grab either one and they will sound the same. Perfect live back ups for each other, or "change is as good as a holiday" inspirational switch-ups.
https://i.imgur.com/Lr7Rp3m.jpg?1
https://i.imgur.com/HoiqIAm.jpg?1
Thanks SOOO much for everyone's help.. .especially when I thought I had blown it with the headstock crack/break.
Well done.
There is very little that can’t be repaired on a wooden guitar/bass. Sometimes it isn’t pretty without some major refinishing, but it works.
Next, maybe a Bass VI with three pickups in all the right places, which means some routing and making a pickguard.
Yeah, routing and pickguards are for sure the next thing I would need to learn. Though I am not really a "bridge pickup" kinda person (even my Squier only has the neck and middle positions since I upgraded to a set of Pure Vintage '65 Jag pickups). But I would really like my next build to be from something more... "blank".
Looks great. I really like the colour combo and the subtle grain texture.
Can't wait for the "blank" build.