One of the best options of the NP4 pickup is that it is available with alnico III magnets. Alnico is not a company but rather a combination of three words that make up the magnet materials, ALuminum, NIckel, CObalt. For modern bass tones, many players prefer the alnico V. But for “warmer” bass tones where … Read more
This is a contiuation from part 1. Below: The file is now being used to smooth the nut channel. All rough edges left behind from the chisel will be smoothed out. Below: The finished nut channel Below: The current blank is oversized, which in this case is good because it can be cut down to … Read more
See the business listing for this bass builder here The feature bass this week is a custom 33″ headless build. Builder Adam Falkner writes: Earlier this year, I decided to make my first attempt at building a bass. With no real training, I looked to the internet machine to guide me and found tons of … Read more
The Lindy Fralin P 4 pickup you will hear below is intended to be a replacement for a Fender Precision Bass style pickup, with a few advantages. Namely, a very loud and clear tone thanks to its alnico 5 magnets and heavy 42 gauge formvar wire. These pickups are hand wound to vintage specs (10 … Read more
Below: The tools used for this step. Shown is a radius block, two F clamps, pull saw (sometimes called a japanese saw), strips of mahogany veneer, cow bone nut blank, pre-made acoustic guitar saddle, micro-chisel (about 1/8″ wide), 1/8″ nut seating file (the tool with orange handle), two utility blades, digital vernier caliper, sticky-back 150-grit … Read more
See the business listing for this bass builder here The feature bass this week proves you can have fun with just 1 string. Builder Tracy La Rue writes: I build cigar box guitars. This is a one string fretless low E string. It is a full 34 inch scale. The body is Acid brand cigar … Read more
We constantly get asked what the tone of a pickup sounds like, so we’ve recorded a few videos demonstrating some sounds. This is the first one. VERY IMPORTANT NOTES What you hear in the video below is obviously not going to be exactly what you hear in person. Your bass, your amplifier, your speakers, how … Read more
This is a continuation from part 5. Below: Although the neck and the body look flush to each other, they are not (the body is sitting slightly proud of the neck). Shaping will be required to make sure these two pieces are flush to each other. Below: Masking tape is applied to the neck as … Read more
Most bass players who hear this will quickly realize they’ve been playing Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love wrong for a long time – but only because they weren’t able to hear exactly what John Paul Jones was doing on this track. And what was John doing here? Namely, playing an octave on nearly every D, … Read more
See the business listing for this bass builder here The feature bass this week was crafted by Adam Marsh Johnston of AMJ Guitars. Owner Deryl Gallant writes: In 2015 I visited Adam Marsh Johnston of AMJ guitars to get the neck of my poorly defretted Fender Jazz fixed. Instead, after an exciting conversation about my … Read more
