T1 bass body

I think it needs a maple fretless board with walnut block inlays

grogg wrote:
Encouraged by Jesper's tutorials Im going for it as well on my T1 bass body project.
Am trying the Jescar FW47104 EVO Gold fretwire mainly because I read a luthier raving about them on the web but also because they match the colour of the brass..

Westbone wrote: Refretting a neck that is barely worn at all???? Still, it's yours now. Change the machine heads to match as well. Go the whole hog.

Moved over here Damian so it doesnt clog up the refret sticky.

Yes, I agree the wear was limited and did think about redressing the frets or even turning it into a fretless as I have another fretted T1 bass (could still do that).

Am planning on this being a bit blingy, blame Steve for his Cadbury caramel comment. Gold coloured frets, brass where it normally is including the nut (was wood). Possibly go for Brass pup covers which if it works will be machined out of solid, neck plate and truss rod cover.

So where do I get the machine heads?

Used them many times, no problem , good stuff and cheap.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gold-Sealed-Bass-Tuners-Tuning-pegs-Machine-Heads-2R2L-/110874924393?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item19d0a91569

Ta, done, £10 inc shipping from HK! How????

Heres a sound clip of my nephew (one of), link.

And while Im on the family theme dont forget my sister's novel
Africa Junction by Ginny Baily now available in paperback.

Thought Id show you where Im going with this project. Blingy gold to match the brass bits.

Here it is alongside my original T1A bass, highly polished brass bits, gold tuners, strap buttons, frets pulled and the gold coloured fretwire shown underneath, probably going to stay fretless for now. Sorry about the glare and poor focus.





Heres the back, more gold, Ive taken the protective film off one of the tuners.



Next step is brass pup covers and truss rod cover. Might go with gold (nickel) coloured strings too but having just bought some tape wounds to help me setup the neck I might not until they need replacing.

Also need to get new jack socket (gold of course), will probaly replace all the electronics (hoho 2 pots and a cap).

It's a BLING thing.

Looking good, the gold suits it.

Go the whole hog.

What about one of these.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Precision-jazz-Bass-pickup-cover-plate-fits-most-bass-M9-/140652472086?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&var=&hash=item66741188eb

Aw man, why didnt I think of that before starting to machine brass pup covers to replace the original black plastic ones. Theres plenty of scope for that to go wrong so this will be the fallback, ta Damian.

Bet your making a brass engraved truss rod cover as well.

Thats the idea, with a cloud and lightning icon instead of the Thunder 1. Not going to do that by hand though so have to work out how.

Westbone wrote:Bet your making a brass engraved truss rod cover as well.

See above, had a go at making one tonight but no engraving yet, if there is it will be etching.

Looks bloody good to me:D
Your local heel bar/shoe repairs do engraving or any decent jeweler.

Pup covers are coming on, havent hollowed them out or polished them yet but wanted to try them for size.



Damian, any idea where I can get the screws for the pup covers in brass/gold colour, have been trawling around on the web but with no luck?

As its stopped raining for a change thought Id grab the chance to take a couple of pics outside.

Looking the dogs bollax.

Have a gawk at these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8-SCREWS-PRECISION-JAZZ-BASS-PICKUPS-ETC-CR-BK-GD-/190685216563?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&var=&hash=item721a863802

Cheers Damian ta, Ive been trawling all over and didnt find anything in gold, you have the knack.

Pup covers probably about 2-3 weeks off finishing then its all systems go. Have been experimenting with etching for the truss rod cover and think Im just about there to go for it.

Looking good

Woo hoo!
Who'da thunk it eh?

sung à la Shirley Bassey: Go-o-ld Thun-da!

My eyes... my eyes...

That's looking very cool indeed!!

Cos I havent posted on this in ages thought Id show the truss rod cover after etching

Its all playable now, had a bit of a mishap on the pups and ended up buying some DiMarzios (cutting off the covers and putting on the new brass babies). Havent got any pics of the complete thing yet but I can say these new pups are really hot.

Ok I cant resist, heres my pickup Faraday cage internals, the covers will form part of it and Im going to mount them on springs to make contact with the earth wires shown below.

And here are the pup covers before I mounted them.

Very nice grogg.

Those covers came out well, if not expensive.

Like the lightning bolt of Thunder.

What's with the nut, is that homemade. Looks like a cover over the nut????

Thanks Damian, heres a couple of quick snaps of the guitar. I havent set it up but properly but on a rough pre-stringup setting it plays really well.

Pup covers, very expensive in terms of time (plus some vino for my mates mrs), materials were reclaimed.

The nut is from a Warwick bass bought from ebay. It doesnt have a cover but tight fitting screws so the height of each string can be adjusted. This appealed to me as I might refret the guit which will require different nut heights. Adjustable brass nuts can also be bought from http://www.thomann.de/gb/abm_6240_webster_nut_bass.htm

Just noticed that my pictures have been truncated, might repost.

Just a beautiful job! Well done you!

(Pix look just fine. If they exceed our preset max you should automatically see a downsized image and a "Click to resize" message. Let me know if you don't.)

cracking job you've done there grogg, nice work.

that nut looks interesting, do the screw heads not interefere with the strings' seating?

also is it just my drunken eyes or is the truss rod cover slightly offset?

Sgt. Vimes wrote:also is it just my drunken eyes or is the truss rod cover slightly offset?

Nope, you should 'ave goon to Specsavers

Ok so with sober eyes it still looks offset, I think its damian who needs a visit to said opticians because the trc is defo not central. Look at the nut, look at the g string slot, look at the e string slot, then look in the telephone directory under optician!

At 3.49am it certainly is through one drunken eye, with a hand over the other one and leaning over to the left.

In the cold light of day it is offset indeedy.

I hadnt noticed that but yes it is offset, I used the original screw holes so must have always been that way, must be the dodgy neck supplier I used.

The nut screw heads slots are where the strings seat thats why the grooves are different sizes.

grogg wrote: must be the dodgy neck supplier I used.

.

Matsumoku....

Anyone recommend fretwire for this model? The gold coloured stuff I bought for the bass is very very hard, it would see me and my children out.

Which makes it very difficult to cut/work with.

Sorry, didnt mean this thread but the T2A 6 string.