H's JBA-4 Fretless

[Brendan]

Where did you get the vero layout for the fuzz pedal? I've tried twice to build a DIY fuzz for bass, but only been able to tune the ABC with the pedal - looking for something that may be a little more successful...

[sansan]

Hi brendan, i usually get them from here:

http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com.es/

you can find them from type/brand. Everything its on there.
S!

[UpperCaseH]

Save even more money by buying a 'welding tip cleaner', which is what those things actually are.

That's why I love this place, every time I look at it I learn something new!

Hi brendan, i usually get them from here:

http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com.es/

you can find them from type/brand. Everything its on there.
S!

Yep, got the plans from there. I'd look for plans tagged "verified" unless you're cool with troubleshooting and making changes, which I'm not.

For other electronics beginners like myself, I'd also recommend www.diyguitarpedals.com.au, where you can buy a (limited and guitar-centric) range of kits that contains everything except the enclosure and uses a printed PCB rather than veroboard which makes it very easy to assemble something that works.

I just built the 1w Chime Amp from there, and it's cool as a headphone amp and also drives an old 4-inch hifi speaker enough to make an electric guitar about as loud as an acoustic. I'm intending to make an expanded version with EQ and use my new-found (thanks guys!) wood finishing skills to make a tiny 9v combo amp.

[UpperCaseH]

So... A nice sunny motivating day and...









Final smooth and polish took forever with micromesh pads, but the results look like they were worth it.

Assembly was easy as pie, except that after I got everythign together and plugged in, there was no sound. None. Nothing. The socket tip was bent so it wasn't contacting the jack, so it was literally a 10 second fix, but scary.

It intonated easily (I know I'm gonna have to keep doing it over the next couple months), action wasn't hard to set up nicely after I realised that eyeballing it as if it was a fretted instrument gave horrible results.

Produces the correct Mwwah Mmmmwaaaah Mwhuhm noises. I'll get a recording when I'm not busy trying to get some playing in before rushing out for the night.

Again, I can't thank the community here enough for the help and advice I've received. It would have been impossible for me to get this result (or probably even a working guitar) without you guys.

[Dedman]

she looks great H, nice work indeed!.

[Brendan]

Nice work H! Looking great!

[wokkaboy]

sweet looking fretless H, would love to hear a sound demo. Better enter it in the next GOTM. I was playing some fretless 4 & 5 stringers lastnight, so much fun to play !

[wazkelly]

Top job H. Really love how you achieved a similar colour on the back of the neck when compared to the body as that is not so easy to do with Ash & Maple being so different in their base timber colours.

[vh2580]

Nice bass H love the finish

[UpperCaseH]

Thanks guys!

I'm pretty impressed with the sound from the stock pickups. I was expecting a much thinner sound, but they thump along OK. Not gonna say they're awesome, but they're certanly not bad! Sound demo tomorrow hopefully. Today was literally the first time I've ever played a fretless, so the playing's gonna be a bit wonky but I'm sure I'll be able to demonstrate the sound of the bass.

Waz, the first test stain I mixed from walnut and black made my maple test piece very close to the body so I went with that as the neck stain. 100% beginner's luck rather than careful experimenting and trials. I'm sure it won't be as easy next time