In my late teens, so around 30 years ago, I stumbled upon a Rickenbacker copy bass at a car boot/garage sale for about £15 and snapped it up. It went unused from around 1996 to January of this year. It has ben taken apart for a couple of projects, all are currently work im progress! I’ll post pictures when I can!
5 Likes
Nice job @steve.harder2012 
Have fun with the soldering. I enjoy that part of the building process
4 Likes
don’t know what I will do with my Ibanez Jet King but it might end up as a project bass.
I have it since only a few days but I’ve played only with this bass since I bought it, and for now here is what I like :
- the body shape (“rounded Jaguar”)
- the neck shape (really big, at least like a Precision neck, which is my standard)
- the headstock shape
- the bottom pickguard
and what I don’t like :
- the pickups … it’s interesting to try this configuration, but I think I just don’t like humbuckers on a bass. I can understand why one would like those pickups, but it’s just not my thing
- the electronics (very related to the pickups) : 3 pots for only 2 real useable tones (for me) which are the neck pickup only and the tone fully open, and the two pickups + tone fully open. one pot and one switch would be enough
- the neck had a binding and the build quality is not the best : it’s just a finishing thing, but I find that the borders of the binding are too sharp
- the top pickguard (just weird)
- the weight … mahogany is heavy !
- the bridge which is unique but ugly, and probably a big part of the total weight of the instrument
- the sunburst finish ; it’s really well made but I just don’t like sunburst finishes.
I’m wondering if I leave this bass as is (more or less) or if I use it as a project bass. with two reverse Precision-style pickups and a smaller bridge, it could be something I could really like … otherwise, I really don’t know what role could this bass have, considering my other existing instruments, the music I play and the kind of basses I like.
for now I just removed the top pickguard to see the result, and I like it so far.
4 Likes
I started making this Bass at the start of lock down, thinking it would be a quick build.
Well it wasn’t isn’t going anywhere, so @juli0r and I have been talking about A kit build assembly Juli and raw materials Me. So we thought the discussion should be on the forum for us all to be involved, advise suggestions give advice or even smart ass ideas @T_dub no orange is not an option
@terb had suggested this to me earlier. I did not think anyone would be interested. @PamPurrs I’ve not settled on a neck yet but after your thoughts I really fancy a fretless and have a piece of wood in mind.Hopefully this will push me a wee bit and get this back on the bench.
Jamie
13 Likes
Very nice-looking woodgrain, @Jamietashi . . . 
4 Likes
that’s an impressive job ! looks pretty nice so far, congratulations !
4 Likes
I don’t mind telling you that you thought wrong on this one 
Although I will try the kit first I am very interested in the process.
So as I was asking in the private discussion: Do you have an internal checklist before starting a project? Do you have a vision when you start about the end result and then just go step by step?
Of course the build itself is nice and documented, looks amazing so far. I am interested in the thinking and planning process. You mentioned the first choice to make is the type of wood?
What are the options? Where’s the difference? I don’t think I have the opportunity to try all options on a real bass that already exists so how do I decide?
Sorry to flood you with questions but it’s your fault for making me interested in this and encouraging me. Now my mind is filled with awe and questions about the project
Although I asked @Jamietashi anyone with build experience is welcome to chime in about how they go about starting a new custom build from scratch.
3 Likes
@juli0r I start with the wood and look at it for a long time. Putting various templates on it even various odd bits of hardware. Just things to be put into my head, pre bedtime and see what I wake up with.
Jamie
4 Likes
So I guess you just happen to have wood blocks available?
Because I have to go to a home improvement store and the first question I’m gonna get if I ask for a wood block is probably what kind of wood. Any recommendations or should I just go by what type of wood I like aesthetically?
2 Likes
I have a collection of wood gathered and stored from the newest pieces I’ve 15yrs some 30yrs old.
You are not going to find old stable wood DIY centres, reclaimed timber preferably hardwood. Specialist luthiers supplies, eBay. Plain 50mm body blank £45 upward and I mean WAY upward.
Jamie
2 Likes
Hi @Jamietashi , @juli0r ,
Here are a few nice slabs I have stashed up at the farm including red wood cherry and a couple of Aussie natives.
6 Likes
Brian now wer’e talking
1 Like
And I’m just here desperately looking for sources of wood.
(Yes, trees. butyouknowwhaddamean)
1 Like
https://www.guitarandbassbuild.co.uk/collections/tonewood-shop/ash-tone-wood-bass-body-blank/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwuJz3BRDTARIsAMg-HxUK6-BgWXgku_eb0Fs4UoBolru-a3G8Nmxp_qjR45Pm2wlKBcNCb7caAoSbEALw_wcB
@juli0r
3 Likes
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Large-Sapele-Guitar-Blank-Luthier-/124216781412?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10
@juli0r
2 Likes
@juli0r The Abba star guitar is made from three old mahogany book shelves.
What type of wood is the first question?
Rustic, Exotic, laminated, reclaimed, historic (made from a family toilet seat that your great, great, great Grandfather sat on)
Then comes, sculptural, futeristic, experimental
and Why Wood?
Name the material and it’s possible.
If you can dream it you can make it.
Jamie
Happy Dreams Juli
2 Likes
Right.
glances over to his 3D printer
Maybe the right sequence is to first repair that thing before starting a hardware project.
3 Likes
I think you’re basically just a P-bass kind of guy!
I’ve come around to really appreciate the basic P sound. Not for the old school vibe of course. Rather, for that nice, compressed, picking tone they are capable of. The tone that drove Punk Bass 
3 Likes
very probably 
but about the compression, I feel that the P pickup has way more dynamic range than humbuckers. also the frequency spectrum is wider. I think the split coil design is a great intermediate between a true single coil (JB or pre-57 PB) and a humbucker. but I still want to test (long term) a pre-57 style PB.
2 Likes