The Ovation Fan Club
The Ovation Fan Club
Forum Search | Statistics | User Listing Forums | Calendars | Albums | Language
Your are viewing as a Guest. ( logon | register )

Random quote: "Got time to breathe, got time for music." --Briscoe Darling.



Jump to page : 123
Now viewing page 2 [25 messages per page]
Applause Bass Project

View previous thread :: View next thread
   Member Communities -> Bottom Feeding Luthiery GuildMessage format
 
keldon85
Posted 2020-03-14 10:26 AM (#551522 - in reply to #551117)
Subject: Re: Applause Bass Project


Joined:
July 2019
Posts: 98

Location: northern Georgia
I recall that Pat Metheny used to use a fretless guitar occasionally. Of course, without frets, the tone of a plucked instrument is going to decay faster than if it had frets, especially for higher frequency tones. On bowed instruments, you can continue to drive the string with the bow to sustain the note. On a plucked double bass, the faster decay will add a bit of punch to the line being played.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
sycamore
Posted 2020-03-14 11:34 AM (#551523 - in reply to #551117)
Subject: Re: Applause Bass Project


Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 698

Location: Cork, Ireland
We are going to need someone to de-fret an Ovation guitar to bottom out this discussion. Anyone got a trashed neck or fretboard?
Top of the page Bottom of the page
sycamore
Posted 2020-03-15 10:54 AM (#551529 - in reply to #551117)
Subject: Re: Applause Bass Project


Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 698

Location: Cork, Ireland
Interesting that bowed instruments also used to be fretted
Top of the page Bottom of the page
sycamore
Posted 2020-03-21 5:33 PM (#551576 - in reply to #551117)
Subject: Re: Applause Bass Project


Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 698

Location: Cork, Ireland
Tuners, bridge and strings fitted. All seems good so far. Going to leave it overnight to see if it all implodes. If not I will fit pickups and hook up to an amp.

Edited by sycamore 2020-03-21 5:35 PM
Top of the page Bottom of the page
sycamore
Posted 2020-03-22 3:48 AM (#551585 - in reply to #551117)
Subject: Re: Applause Bass Project


Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 698

Location: Cork, Ireland
Seems to have no truss rod or at least not an adjustable one. I hope it will be OK. 840mm scale length and 45 - 100 strings. Neck seems good as is but not sure how long it will stay that way. The parts I got are supposed to be for P Bass but I had to make them fit
Top of the page Bottom of the page
sycamore
Posted 2020-03-22 3:49 AM (#551586 - in reply to #551117)
Subject: RE: Applause Bass Project


Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 698

Location: Cork, Ireland
Photo
Top of the page Bottom of the page
sycamore
Posted 2020-03-22 5:49 AM (#551587 - in reply to #551117)
Subject: RE: Applause Bass Project


Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 698

Location: Cork, Ireland

Bass with strings attached https://imgur.com/gallery/XSrRArU

Top of the page Bottom of the page
sycamore
Posted 2020-03-22 1:02 PM (#551590 - in reply to #551117)
Subject: Re: Applause Bass Project


Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 698

Location: Cork, Ireland
Oh wait. it does have a truss rod. It seems fairly seized and with a shallow allen bolt head so I'm not sure if it will move if it needs to. But the neck seems OK with slight nut and bridge adjustments. And it sounds somewhat bass-like.

Watch out Geddy Lee, here I come

Edited by sycamore 2020-03-22 1:04 PM
Top of the page Bottom of the page
sycamore
Posted 2020-03-29 3:03 PM (#551686 - in reply to #551117)
Subject: Re: Applause Bass Project


Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 698

Location: Cork, Ireland
To make a pickguard, I found a piece of 6mm thick beech which might suit. Can you think of any downside of such a thick piece? I'm not worried about the weight as its already a bit neck heavy.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Love O Fair
Posted 2020-03-29 4:00 PM (#551688 - in reply to #551686)
Subject: Re: Applause Bass Project



Joined:
February 2016
Posts: 1768

Location: When??
sycamore - 2020-03-29 1:03 PM

Can you think of any downside of such a thick piece?


I can't... save for maybe you could bevel the edge to make it "look" less thick. Besides, it's about whatever works and makes YOU happy after all the work you have been putting into this.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
BCam
Posted 2020-03-29 4:28 PM (#551689 - in reply to #551587)
Subject: RE: Applause Bass Project


Joined:
October 2014
Posts: 266

sycamore - 2020-03-22 3:49 AM

Bass with strings attached https://imgur.com/gallery/XSrRArU



The link isn't working.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
seesquare
Posted 2020-03-30 1:23 PM (#551695 - in reply to #551117)
Subject: Re: Applause Bass Project


Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 3598

Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire
Yeah, not for me, either.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
sycamore
Posted 2020-03-30 1:41 PM (#551697 - in reply to #551117)
Subject: Re: Applause Bass Project


Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 698

Location: Cork, Ireland
can you try again?
Bass with strings attached https://imgur.com/gallery/XSrRArU
Top of the page Bottom of the page
seesquare
Posted 2020-03-31 7:48 AM (#551706 - in reply to #551697)
Subject: Re: Applause Bass Project


Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 3598

Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire
Thanks! The link works now. Progress is being made. Congrats!
Top of the page Bottom of the page
sycamore
Posted 2020-03-31 8:13 AM (#551707 - in reply to #551117)
Subject: Re: Applause Bass Project


Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 698

Location: Cork, Ireland
The defretted neck feels very smooth and plays rather well. It really only needs pickguard and pots now to make it fully functional. Not sure if I will do anything with the finish, apart from colouring in the scratches so they are less visible.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
sycamore
Posted 2020-04-01 7:20 AM (#551721 - in reply to #551117)
Subject: RE: Applause Bass Project


Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 698

Location: Cork, Ireland
Pickguard template in progress https://imgur.com/gallery/lvRUpsZ

I downloaded a pdf and stuck the printout to MDF board before transferring to the hardwood board
Top of the page Bottom of the page
sycamore
Posted 2020-04-02 3:53 PM (#551734 - in reply to #551117)
Subject: RE: Applause Bass Project


Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 698

Location: Cork, Ireland
Further progress on the pickguard.
https://imgur.com/gallery/aK0x95D
https://imgur.com/gallery/hWxx3FY

Edited by sycamore 2020-04-02 3:59 PM
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Tom The Piddler
Posted 2020-04-03 7:05 AM (#551735 - in reply to #551117)
Subject: Re: Applause Bass Project



Joined:
March 2019
Posts: 26

Location: Cass County, Texas
Great work. It is really coming back to life.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
sycamore
Posted 2020-04-03 7:14 AM (#551736 - in reply to #551117)
Subject: Re: Applause Bass Project


Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 698

Location: Cork, Ireland
Thanks, the project is certainly keeping me entertained. Learning to play bass will be the next one.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
arumako
Posted 2020-04-04 2:43 AM (#551768 - in reply to #551523)
Subject: Re: Applause Bass Project



Joined:
October 2012
Posts: 1018

Location: Yokohama, Japan

sycamore - 2020-03-14 1:34 AM

We are going to need someone to de-fret an Ovation guitar to bottom out this discussion. Anyone got a trashed neck or fretboard?

Nice work sycamore! You're almost done! Not ever planning on de-fretting an O, but do you remember these? This fretless Kramer KFB-1 sounds amazing with flatwound strings.KFB-1

Looking forward to seeing the finished project!

Top of the page Bottom of the page
sycamore
Posted 2020-04-04 3:16 PM (#551779 - in reply to #551768)
Subject: Re: Applause Bass Project


Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 698

Location: Cork, Ireland
Thanks. Not familiar with the Kramer but any time I've tried fretless acoustic bass guitars I enjoyed the experience.
I was too mean to buy flatwounds. They're pretty pricey around these parts.

My pickguard is slightly higher than the fingerboard so I'm tapering it down at the edges. More like a carved top than a pickguard.
https://imgur.com/gallery/7TX6X8Q

Edited by sycamore 2020-04-04 3:19 PM
Top of the page Bottom of the page
sycamore
Posted 2020-04-05 1:50 PM (#551789 - in reply to #551117)
Subject: RE: Applause Bass Project


Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 698

Location: Cork, Ireland
I was going to keep the finish on the beech( from my kitchen cupboards), but theres more bare wood than I had anticipated. Any suggestions on a finish to suit the beach and compliment the sunburst on the body?

Https://imgur.com/gallery/neElt3t

Edited by sycamore 2020-04-05 1:52 PM
Top of the page Bottom of the page
keldon85
Posted 2020-04-05 9:34 PM (#551793 - in reply to #551117)
Subject: Re: Applause Bass Project


Joined:
July 2019
Posts: 98

Location: northern Georgia
Quite a few sunburst solid body guitars have white pickguards, such as my G&L sunburst Legacy. Of course this is very subjective, but I think you want something that contrasts with the body. Along that way, other light contrasting colors could work, such as yellow or gold. If you go with something similar to the body color like a tortoise-shell pattern, you would still probably want a contrasting white stripe along the edge, but since you are putting a finish on a relatively plain wood, I would still probably go mostly white. You can see examples of these kinds of schemes by going to an online store/site and looking at their listings of solid body instruments (Musicians Friend, Elderly Instruments, Reverb, etc).
Top of the page Bottom of the page
sycamore
Posted 2020-04-06 3:22 AM (#551795 - in reply to #551117)
Subject: Re: Applause Bass Project


Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 698

Location: Cork, Ireland
Those are all good ideas. I had been thinking along the lines of woodstains to show some grain, but the wood is very pale and the grain is not very obvious. I think I need to experiment on a scrap piece before I commit.

one other caveat: with lockdown I can't really go out and by stuff so it may have to be something I already have in the shed. As I never throw away anything, that need not be too limiting

Edited by sycamore 2020-04-06 3:26 AM
Top of the page Bottom of the page
keldon85
Posted 2020-04-06 9:38 AM (#551801 - in reply to #551117)
Subject: Re: Applause Bass Project


Joined:
July 2019
Posts: 98

Location: northern Georgia
Looking at the picture, the beech is close to white anyway, where it is not stained. Perhaps sanding it down to where it is all the natural color and then putting a clear finish on it might give a good effect.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Jump to page : 1 2 3
Now viewing page 2 [25 messages per page]
Jump to forum :
Search this forum
Printer friendly version
E-mail a link to this thread

This message board and website is not sponsored or affiliated with Ovation® Guitars in any way.
Registered to: The Ovation Fanclubâ„¢ Copyright (c) 2001
free counters
(Delete all cookies set by this site)