EB-0 inspired fretless (without the mud)

[WezV]

This idea started because i really like simple guitars like Les Paul juniors - but i have always been horrifed by gibsons attempts to bassify it

here are the originals:


short scale, all mahogany, ugly pickguard, heavy banjo tuners and a pickup thats definately an acquired taste... all this makes most of them farty, muddy and horrible

so time for a rethink.

Specs:
Mahogany/purpleheart neck through
Fretless ebony fretboard
super light and resonant mahogany body wings
Two-way truss rod + Dual Cf bars
34" scale
Hipshot lightweight tuners
Schaller bass bridge
1976 thunderbird pickup
late 70's Dimarzio Model one EB-0 sized humbucker
6-way rotary pickup switching in the varitone hole(the wiring diagram took a while!!)
Vintage white finish

just got the bass back from mike lennon yesterday - another top notch spray job

so assembly begins:



still tweaking the pickguard design - but something along these lines



the body and pickguard are same size as a LP junior



and before anyone mentions balance (longer neck and quite small body, i could see why you might), its actually pretty good.  I dont have the strap buttons on so can only tell by holding the top horn but it seems to hang pretty level, suggesting a slight neck heaviness but not so much that it is a problem

the other issue i have is the pole spacing on the old dimarzio.  i dont think it will be a problem but if it ends up letting the bass down something else will go in its place


oh, and ignore the mismatched knobs - obviously that wont be on the final product

[TheIronBeast]

That is a very cool idea. I like the LP Junior style too.

Was that a customer order or something that you built for yourself?

[Philly Q]

I like it.  :D

[WezV]

custom order  - i cant play an unlined fretless to save my life

i can just about play this as i have lined the top edge of the fretboard and put dots in the usual fretted player friendly positions

[38thBeatle]

I love it Wez. I remember the EB series well and I like yours a whole lot more. I would reckon on a couple of Jazz pickups personally but nevertheless the design looks great.

[PhilKing]

It looks brilliant Wez.  I like the black pickguard (but that's because my white SG Junior has black, so I'm used to the look).  In that case it would have to be black knobs too I think.  I bet you can't wait to get it plugged in to hear the sound.

[Plexi Ken]

Nice  :D

[WezV]

i was considering black and silver reflector 'volume' and 'tone' ... a bit more like this:


 the torty scratchplate material is calling but black will probably work best.  the white one above is just card to help me decide the shape

[dave_mc]

nice, big improvement  (in looks, anyway, i don't play bass so the spec doesn't mean that much to me)

[Mr. Air]

I dig the black knobs and the black pick guard. Looks like a very interesting instrument. I'm no bass player myself, but would still love getting a chance to play it.

[WezV]

couple more pics - i think this scratchplate design really works.



i wired in my crazy rotary switch to see how it worked.

it gives:
1. Dimarzio in series
2. Dimarzio in parallel
3. Dimarzio in parallel with thunderbird in series
4. Dimarzio in parallel with thunderbird in parallel
5. Dimarzio in series with thundrbird in series
6. Thunderbird only


switching from all series to all parallel gives quite a volume difference!! ;)   Not sure if it will stay yet but its at least giving me ideas which settings work best and then i can see about working them into a simpler set-up

[Philly Q]

It looks excellent.  I like the slightly smaller scratchplate.

I was thinking.... that style and body shape seems an unusual choice for a fretless.  I think of Gibson(-ish) basses as very much rock or maybe punk instruments.  What style does the owner play?

[WezV]

dont think it cant do rock just because its fretless, its going to be quite versatile  - just in a classic looking package

last fretless i did was lined so this is the first time i have done one with such a massive expanse of blank fretboard... and i am enjoying it a lot

[Philly Q]

Oh yeah, I'm sure it can do rock, wasn't criticising in any way - but you tend to think fretless = funk or jazz.

[WezV]

i've been playing rockabilly all day :)