Author Topic: So here is the reason I haven't been around much lately..... (Read 323 times)

elzie · « **on:** February 25, 2005, 01:21:58 PM »

I purchased this piece of wood last summer and have been slowly working it to create my own, one of a kind, hand made bass. The wood is mahogany with yellow-heart(?) and ebony, with a lacewood top. The initial piece you see here is 20 pounds!!!!

elzie · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2005, 01:26:00 PM »

Here is the body after all carving, sanding and machining with the polyurethane applied. The only tools I used to make the body were a router, scroll saw, spoke shave, files and sandpaper. And of course, the drill for a few holes

elzie · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2005, 01:35:04 PM »

And here it is complete! The neck I purchased from Warmoth. It is padouk/pau ferro with stainless frets. The tuners and bridge are Gotoh and the pickups are Seymour-Duncan quarter pounders. I drew the body free hand a few times before I came up with this look. I wanted something radical yet classy, but ended up with this as my drawing skills are not as good as I had hoped! This piece of wood was laminated together over 15 years ago, from what I'm told. It sat in the corner of the shop since then, just collecting dust and being ignored. I left the biscuits and glue joints exposed to give it that rustic "I was left for the scrap heap until someone saw something special in me" look. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go set up the intonation and hear how it sounds!!! Paul TGO

gare · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2005, 01:49:23 PM »

Very nice Paul !
Serial # 0000000001 ?
How does the Warmouth neck feel compared to your Excel ?

elzie · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2005, 02:17:14 PM »

Thank you!

I like the Warmoth necks. I have one on another bass and really fell in love with the 1.5 width at the nut. I just got done setting it up. It plays very well and evenly. I am using GHS' on it at the moment and it sounds very much like a piano I am just not used to passive pickups and have to play around with my gain and had to cut back on the treble. I look forward to putting it through it's paces tonight!

Let's just start simple with serial # 01.......

Paul TGO

1stbass · « **Reply #5 on:** February 26, 2005, 05:42:29 AM »

Nice job indeed Paul,
When you routed the neck pocket, did you cut it flat? Or is there some amount of back angle to it?
very pretty bass.

Doug

elzie · « **Reply #6 on:** February 26, 2005, 05:52:53 AM »

I cut it flat, Doug. That one detail was my biggest worry. I checked the specs and measurements at least a dozen times before I committed to routing out the pocket. After playing it for quite some time last night, I got many sounds out of it. The afforementioned piano like sound, a low mellow thunder, and to my surprise, I can easily get the same sound as John Entwistle when he hits the strings against the frets. It also has remarkable sustain.

I need a name for this bass, so let's here some!

Paul TGO

palembic · « **Reply #7 on:** February 26, 2005, 06:41:35 AM »

pfeeeeeeeeeeew-pfeeeew
Brother Paul the good one ....I thought you were into computers and were moving???
So now you're out of the closet: starting an East-coast high-end-bass-building-thing???
And what will be the logo??
Some beer-brewing tools like an old retort?
Hehehehe ...THAT's someting ...Retort ...an East coast name for an alembic.

Sweet looking bass brother. She reminds me in a way of the Excel???
Be proud and play her in style.
(Beware for jumping too high from drumkits ...you only have 1 head to bump).

Call her Lollipop

She is soooo sweet!!!

Paul the bad one

elzie · « **Reply #8 on:** February 26, 2005, 07:27:05 AM »

Thanks brother Paul!!

I don't think it looks like an Excel, or any bass in particular. That was one of the reasons I drew it out freehand, I wanted it to be unique. As for building more, I would. I enjoyed making this one a lot, but given my very limited woodworking tool array, I would have to pick up a few more tools before I thought of doing another one.

I still am into computers too

Didn't you notice the liquid cooled Linux computer next to the bass in one of those pics?

Lollipop? That could work...... and anytime anyone asks me why I call her that, I will just say it is an ancient and obscure Belgian salutation! Or how about Brown Sugar?

Paul TGO

(Message edited by elzie on February 26, 2005)

palembic · « **Reply #9 on:** February 26, 2005, 08:01:37 AM »

Mmmm ...brown Sugar' ...apart from the Stones thing I think that's an ancient racist/sexist ...well ...NOT a salutation.

But ...suits me.

Paul the bad one

BTW : glad to here from you.
How is the last batch of red beer

lbpesq · « **Reply #10 on:** February 26, 2005, 09:59:53 AM »

Cool looking bass. The bottom cut, where Alembic puts the Omega, kind of looks like a smile. So how about Smiley for a name? The other thought I have is C.B., short for Cutting Board, which is what it looks like this bass started life as. Enjoy!

Bill, tgo

275hz · « **Reply #11 on:** February 26, 2005, 02:00:22 PM »

amazing!!!!!!!!!!!! saw your post at Techimo

I have either wood or metal skills

very good find, that 20lb wood block.

post a midi file of it's sound

275hz · « **Reply #12 on:** February 26, 2005, 02:08:19 PM »

Oh yeah I did notice the TUX cut out on the side of your case

you did say SuSE right??

elzie · « **Reply #13 on:** February 26, 2005, 03:46:38 PM »

Yes, Tyrone, it is Suse 9.2 Pro. A nice OS if you decide to try it. I have 9.1 Personal too, which is just as good. I will make some sound files of it after I take my next Apple certification test, but most of my spare time is dedicated to that for the next 2 or 3 weeks.

Paul, the red beer is all gone I still have a few bottles of Light Ale and will start brewing on a smokey stout very soon.

Bill, I guess it does look like a smiley! So with the color and the smiley, I am all set around Halloween. I kind of thought the bottom cut out looked like pincers, or the tail end of a beetle ( the insect)....

Paul TGO

1stbass · « **Reply #14 on:** February 27, 2005, 04:13:11 AM »

Paul,
Thanks for clearing up that beetle thing.
I'am pretty sure the bass looks nothing like Ringo's Butt.