Author Topic: Fretless 5 Custom (Read 17675 times)

slawie · « **Reply #15 on:** October 16, 2018, 02:29:40 PM »

Shaping the neck.
Headstock kind of complete

David Houck · « **Reply #16 on:** October 16, 2018, 05:05:00 PM »

Looking good! And a lot of focused attention.

jazzyvee · « **Reply #17 on:** October 17, 2018, 04:34:29 AM »

Your woodworking skills are admirable. Mine are dreadful.... !!
I'm quite surprised alembic sell the brass hardware and signature electronics for use on non alembic instruments. But if they do it's worth knowing for when I decide to have a go at making another guitar.

slawie · « **Reply #18 on:** October 17, 2018, 03:14:14 PM »

Thanks guys.

I am really trying to be focused during every step of the build,
one error could spell disaster!
I don’t have the luxury of starting again or scrapping the material and a rebuild.
I’m working with a highly restrictive budget i.e. unemployed and broke. Ha.

Alembic have all bits for sale except Series I & II packages.
I have spoken to Mica a number of times for this build and she is encouraging, helpful and
It was her idea to post here to share the progress. Highly civilised of them.

I am buying what I can and will have to wait (for $) before I can install the electronics package.

I dreamed about this bass although it is slightly different to suit reality and accessibility to real parts.

I make no apologies for my build looking like an Alembic. If I was building a violin I would model
it on a Stradivarius. Same for bass and Alembic.

This exercise makes me appreciate all the work, talent and skill that goes into Alembic instruments and offers
me the opportunity and insight to experience of being the creator of my custom bass.

slawie

edwardofhuncote · « **Reply #19 on:** October 17, 2018, 05:33:25 PM »

You're doing just fine Slawie. Don't worry too much about the mistakes... you'll make them, as we all do - it's what you do after making them that counts. My mentor used to tell me- "wood is forgiving", and that really is a true statement. It's often very hard to put it back once you've taken it out, but it can be done.

Hardest thing for me to learn was when to lay the tools down and walk away for a while to think.

Shaping the necks for my Dad's banjos used to be among my favorite parts of the build! Making sawdust!

slawie · « **Reply #20 on:** October 23, 2018, 05:02:42 AM »

Hey there!
Time for a few more pictures.
I’ve slowed down progress to make sure I don’t mess up the neck profile.
I also did not want a headstock back laminate so that the full length of the
through neck was exposed.
I carved a volute hoping that it gives some strength to the neck
at the nut. I hope my thinking is correct here. Anyhow no major abominations
with the carve so I am happy.
Not quite yet convinced of the headstock shape just yet so that looks set to change
a fraction. The 3+2 configuration was a nice expected bonus with the bass fitting into
A standard Fender case. I have one of those I’m not using.

slawie

growlypants · « **Reply #21 on:** October 23, 2018, 06:43:54 AM »

I'm speechless! Gorgeous!

hammer · « **Reply #22 on:** October 23, 2018, 11:26:31 AM »

Looks beautiful! I have to admit to being extremely jealous of the woodworking and luthier skills you and a number of other board members possess. When I'm working with wood my first and foremost goal is to avoid losing/damaging any body parts.

edwardofhuncote · « **Reply #23 on:** October 24, 2018, 05:10:54 AM »

Looking sharp, Slawie.

pauldo · « **Reply #24 on:** October 24, 2018, 02:47:10 PM »

Very nice!

slawie · « **Reply #25 on:** November 09, 2018, 03:53:21 PM »

Thank you for the compliments.
Below are some pictures of the bridge I’ve carved
from a slab of Gidgee.
Being fretless, I think the intonation will take care of itself so
a bar bridge I think would be just fine.
Both sides dry and then wet to show grain.

edwin · « **Reply #26 on:** November 09, 2018, 04:13:30 PM »

Will the bridge float on the top of the bass, held down by string tension?

I can tell you from personal experience that with fretless, the intonation does not take care of itself. It's pretty crucial to have the intonation just exactly perfect. Otherwise you can end up chasing yourself needlessly, especially if you end up playing in a noisy environment. As you probably know, intonation on a fretless is an exercise in constant vigilance and it's best not to create any addition obstacles.

slawie · « **Reply #27 on:** November 09, 2018, 05:49:34 PM »

Under the bridge I have 2 channels that lets the unit swivel and move backwards and forwards.
I am getting a bridge block from Alembic and the two bridge mounting screws will be pins that allows
small movement. Works in progress.

slawie · « **Reply #28 on:** November 09, 2018, 08:04:55 PM »

Yes Edwin I agree with your intonation statement.

I will be able to rough in the intonation for the 12th position and open
string. I have a bar bridge on my 4 string fretless and have not had issues
through string changes etc. to be able to hit the right note up and down the fingerboard.
I’m kind of going with a acoustic bass bridge type idea.

The shape I created is supposed to be “trumpet like” to amplify the vibrations down to the body/neck mass from the contact point of the bridge. I’m also thinking about inserting a fret on the top of the bridge.
I think I will build several and experiment.

edwin · « **Reply #29 on:** November 09, 2018, 09:18:43 PM »

Can't wait to see and hear the results! Great work!