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5 Attachment(s)
I have strung the bass with the kit strings (which are not too bad btw, round wounds) and played for about a week or so.
The set up was relatively straight forward this time, and I'm not complaining about that.
The bass didn't have any side dots at that point, and it's always a good ear exercise for sure to play a plank of timber like that. The instrument is very pleasant to play, it has a lot of presence, don't know how else to describe it. The low string has a great tone, and it's easy to reach the highest notes on the fretboard especially on the G and D string .
With a cheap shoulder strap, there's a bit of neck dive. This was easily resolved with a nice shoulder strap with some comfy friction and padding. I noticed that I like to play this bass lower than my usual instrument height.
The pickups controls and switch offer a good selection of sonic choices, my personal fav is both pickups on, or just the neck pick up on.
The strings I've ordered (super long scale half rounds) have been stuck for a week in a post office somewhere between the seller and me. Not sure when they'll get here.
After some fine tuning everyday, the instrument felt very stable for a few days.
Yesterday I decided to go ahead and mark the side dots on the fretless position (in line with the frets).
I have put some masking tape on the side of the fretboard, tuned the instrument very carefully; then proceeded marking in pencil the position of the 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 15, 17, 19, and 21st fret with a vertical line, using a tuner, checking across all 4 strings.
I have clamped the neck gently to a simple jig I made, and with a square ruler I drew a horizontal line across the side of the fretboard so that all the new side dots are sitting at the same distance.
Attachment 43724
Attachment 43725
After that, the process is somehow similar to what I have done at the beginning of this build to take the side dots out.
I found a suitable drill bit.
Attachment 43726
drilled all the side dots in the marked position, removed the masking tape and inserted the pins, which were shortened to bite in the timber only about 1mm.
Like I did for my last build, I am going with metal pins slightly protruding out for a tactile and visual feel because I have received good feedback from those ones who tried the instrument and because I like it. I fell like this time I really fine tuned this technique.
Attachment 43727
Attachment 43728
Photos of finished instrument coming soon, although I would love to get the strings I have in mind first and record a short clip.
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Getting there!
Over the past 3 months I have lent this bass to some local musicians and have received an equal amount of valuable feedback and great compliments.
Now I am finalising the set up and fine tuning some bits and pieces:
Adjusted the neck pick up height which was sitting on a weird angle. Now it sits parallel to the strings.
Attachment 43977
Shortened the screws that were protruding out the floating bridge (the bridge will never get higher than that)
Attachment 43978
Added my logo to the neck plate
Attachment 43979
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bass finished a few months ago but haven't had the chance to upload some photos yet, here we go
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Attachment 44956
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some videos captured with my mobile phone. Not a perfect representation of the sound but pretty close, for now this would do!
https://youtu.be/s5T_3wb2uNU?si=vVbJvQlunlAwEkxT
https://youtu.be/b5VOa_79kiU?si=X3LdRl6CVHnuYbBw
https://youtu.be/_1mxMEv0eMM?si=BTC35X4eR6sYqrQz
it plays wonderfully with half round strings, very warm sound and smooth tactile feel.
the pickup selectors does a great job offering a variety of tones from super warm, round and bass-y (neck pick up) to very bright, very present attack and mids (bridge pick up only), otherwise selector in the center position for both pickups and both goodness at the same time.
Everything stock except the strings!
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Looking good! The extra work will be well worth it in the long run.
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+1 for looking good. I love the colours on the body and neck.
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Looks great. It also sounds great. that is some pretty impressive playing, particularly on a fretless ;-)
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Sounds great, nice bass, the looks of a lez paul body, fretless is something Ive never attempted, maybe I should. Sounds awesome nice playing.
