Build #4 Custom HB-4

[fender3x]

I know people who love their active tone controls, but I just don't like the idea of leaving a battery in a bass.

Just to be clear. I realize this is a personal idiosyncrasy of mine, and is definitely not a recommendation.

[Alexej]

Actually I also thought about the battery thing... Maybe for other reasons than you, but I also somehow don't like it. Especially in the hollow body...would have to build a pocket inside, to put it in...little space and so on and so on... 🙂 For the explorer it was necessary, but here...no need for that...

I will check the options of different circuits...my problem is, that I don't know how all the different circuits sound like and how the things affect the sound and give varieties 🙂 I am definitely better in sanding and crafting than playing 😂 much much better...

What I am going to use are the mini humbuckers for this model...it is all about the optical thing...
Do I understand it right, that the two Höfner switches for bass/treble are like a 3way toggle switch? Then I would just use that one...
And rhythm/solo is just like a tone pot? Then I can keep it simple and have a nice visual solution in mind.

The two recommended wirings sound also interesting. Have to check the book 🙂

[fender3x]

...I will check the options of different circuits...my problem is, that I don't know how all the different circuits sound like and how the things affect the sound and give varieties 🙂 I am definitely better in sanding and crafting than playing 😂 much much better...

...What I am going to use are the mini humbuckers for this model...it is all about the optical thing...
Do I understand it right, that the two Höfner switches for bass/treble are like a 3way toggle switch? Then I would just use that one...
And rhythm/solo is just like a tone pot? Then I can keep it simple and have a nice visual solution in mind.

The two recommended wirings sound also interesting. Have to check the book 🙂

Reading will only get you so far. The OEM tone circuit in a Höfner is a bit odd. It's like a 3 way toggle switch...sort of. The switches turn the pickups on and off, but also activate/deactivate an array of capacitors and resistors. I can get a sense of what they do in general terms, but I think you'd have to play it to decide whether you like it or not. The solo-rhythm switch is simpler...and is like a tone pot, but without the nuance. It's either all the way on or all the way off.

The OEM 500/1 "staple" pickups are a kind of mini humbucker. You might see if you can find a Höfner in a music store to see whether you like the sound with the OEM tone circuit. If you do, Allparts sells a copy of a staple humbucker for about $35. Or you can get them from Höfner for about 5x as much money.

Some of the old Thunderbirds used mini humbuckers with bar magnets. You can get them as well, and some clones are not too expensive. Gibson used the same tone circuit as the Jazz bass in my previous post. It has the advantage of being quite a bit simpler. Just three pots and no switches. Epiphone has reissues out that use a similar pickup and controls...so you might find those in a music store as well to see what your ear likes.

[Alexej]

Well, some time has passed...took a break during the winter, but the last weeks have been productive though...

After sealing the electronic cavity in the front I tried one more time to veneer a body...and like the last time it did not went perfect...
Again there are some bumps...i think curved tops are very hard to veneer without a vacuum press and experience maybe it is also because of the veneer, which was thin and dry...maybe you have first to soften such veneer, to make it more flexible...but I am still fine with that result...







After reparing all the cracks and broken parts of the veneer I went on cutting the Humbucker cavities, using a scalpel knife...
The placement is similar to a Höfner Cavern Bass...



As I planned to color it black I went on with some black color oil to make the front black on sides with lighter gradient to the centre of the body...the neck and sides are painted plain black, trying to cover the white binding in to black ...I sealed it with some coats of clear lack and hope that it wirll stay black

[Alexej]

The mounting of the humbuckers will be managed without mounting rings and just by the two humbucker heightadjusting screws...I think it should work, for the cavities are very tight and almost perfectly follow the shape of the humbuckers...

[Trevor Davies]

Wow, that veneer looks amazing! What type of wood is it?

[Alexej]

I translated the name like "Golden Madrona Burl Veneer"
Not sure if it is right 🙂

[fender3x]

It is looking great. It will be another unique creation;-) I am curious what pickups you plan to put in it? Did you decide on a control circuit?

It occurred to me that you might find this interesting:

http://www.ak-line.com/medium/Bassschaltungen.pdf

There are lots of two humbucker basses to choose from, but the Thunderbird IV (as on page 127) would be simple, and clean. Similar to a Fender Jazz bass tone circuit.

[Alexej]

Thank you This will be really unique...almost as I imagined and how I photoshoped...
It is far from perfect...but still fine for me and for the moment...

I was thinking a lot about the circuit, but because of lack of knowledge and time I decided to keep it simple...
Actually yesterday I was searching for a circuit like that from the thunderbird example and I think I will go for that one
The only thing I wonder in the circuit is the 250k tone poti...I thought 500k are used with humbuckers...
But I suppose I would not notice the difference by myself...

I am using some Artec mini humbuckers...those look fine and I did not want to invest too much money...

[fender3x]

The only thing I wonder in the circuit is the 250k tone poti...I thought 500k are used with humbuckers...
But I suppose I would not notice the difference by myself...

You could put 500K pots in all three locations. You're right that would be the "standard" logic. If you do use the 250K pot, I don't think it will make much difference. I think the tone pot is not even in the circuit until you turn the knob. It would be a bit darker a bit quicker, but that might be good on a Beatle bass.

Höfner uses 250K pots on the volume as well, which would take off some of the top end, and Gibson and Fender also often use 250K or 300K with on the volume pots with basses even with humbuckers. I think it's probably one reason their basses tend to sound darker and "thumpier."

On the other hand, you have both pickups relatively close to the neck, which is a bit of a darker sound already... So the 500K pots may be a good choice.

Not sure if I am helping... I sort of use the "take your best guess, and if you don't like it change it" approach.