DIY knowledge bass

... like this is the first time the bass / base pun has been used here.

Apparently, bass plans are scarce online... so I started scaling up pdfs for a couple that might be a good starting point.

The problem is that the drawings aren't verified and could use some additional info... which is why I'm posting it here instead of the tele home depot forum

so.... Got a bass to check against?
Got a spare pick guard or control plate to lay over a print?
Got any other info that might help a would be bass maker?

constructive criticism welcomed.

For the would be builders - Preeb's bass threads are well worth a close read.

Adobe Acrobat Reader tips:

Viewing:
Space Bar - turns the cursor into the hand tool for clicking and dragging
Space bar + Control key - turns cursor into magnification tool for clicking or clicking and draging over an area.
Space bar + Control key + Alt key - turns cursor into zoom out tool
Printing:
Some places - kinkos - staples can print large pages for you.
to print in sections on smaller pages - Menu - Tools - Select & Zoom - Snapshot Tool
with the snapshot tool selected, the viewing tips above still apply

The files below are 17 x 22. The center of the page is marked with a target. Depending on your printer and how the margins are set up, you may only have a 7.5 x 10 effective printing area to work with. Putting the target in each of the corners on the P bass should work, but on the J bass, you may have to use the inch marker on the center line behind the target to print the lower half.

in the print dialog box, be sure page scaling is set to none.



edit 1: I forgot to mark the stop round over points on the back view. The 1/2" round over needs to stop before getting to the neck pocket area which is rounded with a 1/8" bit. In one of Preeb's threads, he wrote that he knew of 3 different points where they had stopped it over the years. Where you stop it is ultimately up to you... just don't get to routing and forget to stop.

Thanks, CR!
I know a lot of us appreciate the work you put into creating these drawings.

thanks treadwm, but it's more anti-work for me... something to do while I'm winding down and watching tv. It's a bit like doing a jigsaw puzzle with a bit of research and detective work thrown in.

Obviously, I don't have anywhere near the knowledge or experience of someone like Preeb (and really, how many do?) to get vintage correct / specific on every detail, but hopefully it's enough to get a playable bass without any surprises when fitting parts.

Casual reader, I've just got to say Thanks a lot, these files are going to make my life a whole lot easier

Casual reader, got to thank you for the magnificent template pdfs you have been creating !!

Nice job with those plans I gotta say. :grin:
I'm inspired. Makes me want to fire up my router.

Thanks for the PDFs Casual_Reader! Got any 1950s strat body/neck pdf by chance too?

Great work! i really appreciate your drawings.
Thanks for sharing!

I have tried to draw a autocad drawing without having access to a j-bass.
This will help me a lot.

Lots of thanks.

Hi

There is a lump in the drawing (even on Fender's corrupt PDF)
When I look at photos, I can not see this bump.
See attached image.

My question:
Is this lump in reality?

http://www.ralvejd.se/post/bojen/jazzbump.png

it was when I had an early 70's jazz bass... but judge for yourself:
http://www.zzounds.com usually has high res pics. click the bass - click for the pic, magnify and scroll. some camera angles are better than others.

When you get it modeled, would you let us know the body volume?

edit to add: Google images might come in handy on this and other questions... like the front p'up route... some are routed with a larger one size fits all route. I went with the idea that the pick guard might get taken off.

it was when I had an early 70's jazz bass... but judge for yourself:
http://www.zzounds.com usually has high res pics. click the bass - click for the pic, magnify and scroll. some camera angles are better than others.

When you get it modeled, would you let us know the body volume?

edit to add: Google images might come in handy on this and other questions... like the front p'up route... some are routed with a larger one size fits all route. I went with the idea that the pick guard might get taken off.


Thanks for your reply.
I have asked the same question on a Swedish forum and it seems that bump was on the pre CBS, maybe it was left there longer?
But my assumption is based on very few answers!

When you get it modeled, would you let us know the body volume?
Sorry, I draw it in 2D, maybe later I manage to convert it in to 3D.
I've just done some small experiments in AutoCAD 3D, so my knowledge is rather limited.

Thanks again for your great job.