Daion Bass

Ive gone and bought this baby, pretty rough round the edges from use but a fine instrument. What looks like a pickguard in the photo isn't.

Fantastic. I love the lines.

Very Nice - Made by Yamaki?

Hoax

Your getting some fine instruments Greg.

Very nice indeedy.

How's that long neck feel? When strapped on....

Damian, strapped on - the long horn works to balance the neck weight, balance is better than a Thunder, it is good.
It has a  long neck but made possible by the through body construction, scale is similar.
Graham, I believe so.

This guitar has many dings and buckle rash which Im going to leave, I want it to be a working guitar so theres no point in trying to make it showroom. The back of the neck has had a few knocks which I want to do something about to improve the feel. Your advice sought on any techniques or ideas to correct the issues shown, I guess I will have to live with the hairline finish cracks.

And making good these dings:-

My thinking is a good clean, try and take the dirt out of the cracks with a sharp point, acetone and drop fill.

Greg

Give it a sand to remove hard edges.... then

Clear nail varnish or super glue for that. Let it fully harden and scrape with a razor that has had its blade turned over into a hook shape.

Then wet and dry paper progression

On completion, I would probably give it a quick blast with clear acrylic lacquer.

Hoax

Thanks Graham, think I know where Im going with this, have started. The damage is worse further down.

Second thoughts on this one Greg. Nail varnish takes far too long to harden enough to shave with a razor. You end up peeling away the edges.

I would either use with super glue or don't scrape with  a razor if you use nail varnish.

Hoax

Remember superglue on naked wood leaves a dark patch, like a burn mark, seen here in a before and after on my concord 1



It doesnt look it, but the patch is perfectly flush, a fingernail can't even feel it.

Sarge, Ive used it on naked wood and was ok, guess it depends what type of wood.
All cleaned up now and loose bits flicked off, gonna try a small bit with superglue to make sure it doesn't discolour.
Have used a fair bit of acetone to clean which will also hopefully reseal any remaining loose bits.

Never use superglue much.

Always use neat or nearly neat lacquer.

Just keep building it up.

Sorted, did a fair few other things too.
When I bought this was worried about playing the slightly longer scale having got used to the T1. Not just that its a 2 octave neck which is unusual in a bass.

Its a totally different beast, for me its bloody wonderful now its setup.

It has an unusual neck contour which just works - why didn't/dont other guitar designers try it?

I like it a lot Grogg  

How did you find setting it up?....I have a Vox Custom with a full 2 octave neck that's really difficult to get the action right due to the intonation requirements of such a long neck.

My T1 is just a joy to play, whereas the Vox sounds a heck of a lot better...but just not as playable...make sense?

As you say, totally different beast  

Ta Cat.
I thought while Ive got no strings and am mucking about with the neck Id recrown the frets and level them. I didn't do a full on level as don't have the right radius block (17" on this I think) so did it just with a fret file and straight edge across 3 frets. Recut the nut as well. Strung up and did a setup then a bit of fettling with the top end frets.
Action and intonation now excellent, better than the T1 but to be fair to that I don't think Ive done a great setup since I changed to heavier grade strings. I really want to swap back to lighter ones on the T1 but am too mean to swap out new strings, especially on a bass. Having said that I probably will because I fitted the Rotosound 105 Swing bass steel string and I really prefer the nickel.
Sorry for the ramble.

Odd 35" scale on those. Nice "bass" sound.

I reckon the scale is about 0.5" longer than the T1, but its such a bigger beast:-


Will have to do some training before standing up all night wearing these.

Daion's are 35" scale

My Thunder II has a 2 octave neck and a fantastic low action, so it can be done with some tweaking! I think the secret is not too straight a neck, and by way of scale comparison, here's a pic of the T2 next to a T1 & T3.

I never realised the T2 was that much bigger than a T1   

I came to the same conclusion about the neck as well, slight forward bow required.

What is the full length from top to bottom?...reason I ask is my Vox is 48 inch (plus strap button) and just can't find a case to fit it  

Clive
Nice collection of thunders, I also didn't realise the T2 was so much bigger, must be a beast to strap on.

Cat
The Daion is 47" long, haven't looked for a case, gig bag ok but another inch and it probably wouldn't be.  

Got to have some relief in the neck, with this I adjusted it to be dead straight without strings to fret dress i.e. loosened the truss and when I strung her up didn't need to adjust, just the right amount of relief. Which means to me it was too straight before.

hi there.
the T2 is just 46 inches including the button, the case it lives in is too small for yours by a long way, custom made may be the only way to go?

So are we all in agreement that mine is the biggest?   

Or does anyone else out there have one larger than 48 inches that they would like to show us?

btw Grogg...I have a case coming that should take my Vox, if so I'll let you know just in case you ever need one for that lovely Daion of yours.

Yep, yours is the biggest, was the case any good?

BTW the quick fix ideas on the back of the neck didn't work out, all started flaking off again when used in earnest.
I sanded back across the whole affected area, masked off, resprayed with nitro (lots of coats) and then sanded smooth taking out the edges from the masking. Have played this lots since and no problems.

Case good and with room to spare   

Now see, you wouldn't have had this size problem with a nice walnut Mats' Hondo bass, now would you? 

touche mate, touche  

Jus' pullin yer leg pal!

that there Vox is a reet beauty mind!