Bass Guitar repair and installation topics.
The Fender Jazz Bass was originally introduced in 1960 as the “Deluxe” model, and shortly afterward renamed to “Jazz Bass”. From ’60 to ’62, this bass featured stacked knob controls. The chrome upper portion is the volume control and the black lower is the tone control. What came after the stacked knob controls is what’s … Read more
In this build step we shape out the forearm contour. This contour is not absolutely necessary but many bass players like it because it makes for a more comfortable playing experience whether seated or standing. Below: Guitar body, Surform file, 80-grit sandpaper, adjustable F-clamp, small sanding wood block for use as caul. Below: The line … Read more
While BBG does carry plenty of upgrade options for Fender bass instruments such as the Precision Bass and Jazz Bass, we also receive questions as to whether there are any upgrades that will fit into a Jackson bass. Answer: Yes. Pickups Generally speaking, the pickup size that will fit most 4-string Jackson basses is EMG35, … Read more
There are two standards when it comes to Allen wrench measurements. Statute and metric. Where guitars and the electric bass is concerned, most of you know statute measurements as inches and feet and metric as millimeters and centimeters. Traditional luthiery uses statute measurements. For example, to this day the Fender standard long neck for electric … Read more
In this build step, a contour is cut on the back of the body. This is a cut seen on many different basses and offers additional comfort when playing sitting or standing. Below: The tools used. Smooth cut files, rasps, surform shaver, microplane, colored sanding blocks, 80-grit sandpaper, sliding arm clamp. Below: Rear body contour … Read more
In this build step, the only tool used is the spindle sander with drums of varying sizes to be able fit the sander everywhere that needs to be sanded. Below: Spindle sander used with 80-grit sandpaper. Seen here is, for this particular table, the largest 3-inch drum. Below: A look at the upper waist of … Read more
In this build step, the treble side rib is cut. A mistake was made where the cut wasn’t exactly flush so a chisel (not seen in the first photo below but seen later on) had to be used. Where wood is concerned, sometimes (or rather oftentimes) things don’t always go according to plan, so you … Read more
This is a continuation of part 1. The remainder of the body is being cut out. Below: Continuing to cut around the lower horn. Below: Beginning to cut the neck area. The cut distance from the pencil line has been purposely increased from a 1/16″ distance to 1/8″; this keeps the standing rib from breaking … Read more
In this build step, the band saw is put to use to cut more wood excess away from the body to get it closer to its finalized shape. Below: Showing the body before cutting starts. The larger wood excess has been cut away previously, and in this step we’re slimming it down even further. No … Read more
In this build step we will be drilling out the remainder of the pick guard holes and finishing the pick guard neck cutout. Below: The pick guard is laying on body, and the tools we will be using are shown, that being a centerpunch (top), a chamfer/countersink bit, and 1/16″ bit w/tape on it. There … Read more
