DC1, 6 String, commissioned for Joel R



Here are the updated specs:

Neck:
  • 9 piece, maple with bubinga stringers (wider 1/2" bubinga stringers), and thin wenge accent layers on either side of each bubinga stringer
  • Graphite stabilizing rods
  • Macassar ebony fingerboard, 34" scale, fretted
  • Thin accent layer of maple under fingerboard, then a thin accent layer of wenge under the maple
  • No inlays on fingerboard, side dots only
  • Headstock wider at base
  • Headstock top and back overlays of flamed koa and spalted maple to match body, including matching accent layers
  • Custom customer signature inlay at 12th fret
  • Standard oil finish on back of neck


    • Body:
  • Swamp Ash body wings and back
  • Smaller forearm contour
  • wooden control cavity cover
  • Bookmatched Flame Koa Top
  • Bookmatched Spalted Maple back
  • Thin Wenge accent layer between the top and back and body wings
  • Thin Bubinga accent layer between back center and neck, and body wings and neck
  • Body edges to be rounded over with an elliptical / parabolic arch vs. a standard circle arch roundover, and the roundover to not completely blend into the top or back (leaving a small ridge)
  • Clear gloss finish over oil on body and headstock


    • Hardware and Electronics:
  • Hipshot ultralight tuners and "A" style bridge, black with gold saddles and gold tuner knobs
  • Matching wooden control knobs and teardrop switch knob from THG Knobs
  • Two Bartolini M56K quad coil pickups and Bartolini NTBM A/P 5.4 preamp
  • Pickups placed closer to bridge per customer specs
  • Matching wooden pickup covers (koa top, wenge accent layer and swamp ash sided)


    		•

    Status and Updates

    Here are pics of some of the woods for this one, rest are on their way!

    (click on image to view larger version)

    Bookmatched Flamed Koa Top set
    Bookmatched Flamed Koa Top set!    		 Spalted Maple Back set
    Spalted Maple Back set    		      




    A few pics of the neck blank in progress.

    Neck blank
         		 Neck blank closeup
         		 Accent layers are going on
    Fingerboard underlayment accent layers glued and clamped    		    


    Neck is done and ready for the truss rod, graphite rods and fingerboard. I'm picking up the fingerboard from Colorado Laser Marking today, they've finished cutting out Joel's signature inlay for the 12th fret with a laser!

    neck with all accent layers on
    All accent layers are on    		 Accent layers and scarf joing
    accent layers and scarf joint    		 Flamed koa headstock overlay
    Flamed koa headstock overlay glued and clamped    		  
    		  


    Second update: I just got back from picking up Joe's fingerboard. Mark Scurrah down at Colorado Laser Marking did a great job with Joe's signature.

    Original signature scans
    Scan of original signatures, I choose
    the bottom one for
    better balance left
    to right    		 Piece of stabilized flamed maple I provided to cut the signature from
    Piece of stabilized
    flamed maple I provided
    to cut the signature
    from. Top one
    is the original test
    cut, 2nd one is a
    spare, 3rd is the piece
    of ebony cut out of the fingerboard    		 Fingerboard piece
    Hhmm... maybe the fingerboard piece glued in here could be made into a keychain or something?...    		 Inlay in fingerboard
    And the inlay set in the fingerboard ready to be glued in then on the
    neck it goes!    		  


    Here are some pics of the finished and roughed out wood of the bass. I'v completed the neck carving and body profile edge, and will get those pics up soon as well.

    body wings glued and clamped
    Body wings glued and clamped    		 flamed koa top
    Flamed Koa top    		 Headstock front
    Headstock front    		 Headstock rear
    Headstock rear    		 Spalted silver maple back
    Spalted Silver Maple back set
    Spalted silver maple back alt view
    Spalted Silver Maple back set alt view    		        


    Joel requested a custom body edge profile with a full rounded edge but with an elliptical type edge that faded into the top and back of the bass. Here is the result.

    body edge profile
         		 body edge profile alt view
         		      


    Bass is complete, wooden pickup covers built, now just to route the pickup cavities and apply the finish!


    Rough block for wooden pickup cover ready
    Majority of wood removed with fostner bit and drill press
    Final routing for pickup done
    Pickup epoxied into cover
     

    Wooden pickup covers completed

     

     

     

     


     

     
    Close up of the contoured control cavity cover

     

     


    Going through the final finishing process with this beauty! It is taking a bood bit of lacquer, especially over the rear spalted maple cap, but it'll be done soon!


    The oil finish going on first
     
     
     
    And the clear gloss lacquer going on, it really makes the figure in the Koa top just pop!


    Just a beautiful DC-1, great combination of woods.