Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Update, 9/22/2010 No More Popsicle stick bridge!


I know I said I wanted my next update to be on the new instruments under construction but I got off my lazy butt and finished the 1964 Teisco rehab project. I had to re-wire the bridge pup's tone pot and add a cap which I added a Orange Drop 1mg. Very big I know but that is all I had instock but you know what, the neck pup has the same size for it and I am not sure but it may be original. So I did that and re-conteceted the grounds wire that was broken. The other part I fixed was the bridge. Some how the bridge insert got lost so I had to make a new one out of bone. It looks good because it matches the nut and binding of the guitar. Oh and most important the sound, WOW! This thing is killer and better than ever. As I said in my last post the bridge nails that country twang and has a killer surf tone as well. The neck pup, just turn down the tone knob and you have that killer warm, smooth and sweet jazz tone (my favorite setting)! I think I may just need to notch the low E string some more to lower it just a little for better action but all in all it is a great playing guitar. Since getting this guiatr from my Dad's, my poor Dano has just been sitting wishing to be played. Picture attached to show the new bridge mod. Until next time, Play On!


The Bass Builder

Monday, September 20, 2010

Update!! 9/20/2010















I have an update nothing to do with the new guitars but this is stuff on my first guitar and a vintage guitar that has been in the family for a while.












First up is my first bass/instrument that I built. It is called the bingabass. It has a bubinga body with a Koa/maple/koa/maple/koa neck thru body with a ebony f-board. It has all black Hip Shot hard ware and EMG P/J pup set up with volume, volume, tone passive electronics. The pickups are the only thing active. This being my first bass I went all out and I still do not know how I pulled it off this good. I made the body like a Thumb bass with a concaved body and slanted tunners. I will never make another one of these but it sounds amazing. Word to the wise never use koa in a 24 fret bass neck, it is way to unstable and requires to many adjustments and fret buzz from the wood shifting so much but again the sound is amazing. The serial # is 000.












Next up is a 1963 to 64 Teisco guitar that my Dad has had for 30+ years. I was at my Dad's the other week when I was painting the koa top bass and took it home. I have cleaned it up some, I do not want to make it look new but just get rid of the dust. It does need some work but will play if you hold your tung just right. The ground wire has broke and one of the tone knobs needs to be re-wired and I need to make a real bridge insert and get rid of the popcycle stick I have in it now. I will replace it with a bone acoustic bridge blank. The crazy thing is this guitar plays so great and the tones it makes are amazing and even after all these years sitting in a closet not in a case with NO Truss Rod the neck it perfect! I did some research and they put just a steel rod in the necks and the year after this one had an adjustible trus rod. The Gold Foil pick-ups are so cool and I wish pick-up makers would start making these again. The Bridge pup has a killer country twang tone and the neck WOW it nails that smooth Jazz tone that I love. The sound this guitar make acoustically is amazing for a solid body guitar. It just explodes with sound!












Anyway until next time, which I hope will be updates of the TBM Koa top bass and the other basses and the guitar I am building. See you then and enjoy the pictures.












Play On!






The Bass Builder

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Update 9/2/2010!!!!
















Well I was able to get the TBM-4 Koa top bass paint started. I got the sealer and a couple of coats of lacquer added to the neck and 3-4 coats added to the body. Once I get back from vaction next week I will start back on this and sand everything down nice and smooth add the logo to the neck and add the final coats of clear to everything. I think one more trip to my Dad's shop should be all this one will take to get the final coats added. After that I will just need to sand and buff everything and start putting it together and doing the setup on it. Check the pictures and let me know what you think.