V string V

[TyDonald]

I just finished this 5 string V bass. I hope you guys like it

[TyDonald]

Top

[TyDonald]

Back

[TyDonald]

the Scorpion

[TyDonald]

curly

[TyDonald]

5 piece curly maple/walnut neckthrough
24 frets
cocobolo fretboard with MOP/paua block inlay starting at 3rd fret
Ash wings with belly cut
Gotoh tuners
Tusq nut
EMG active pickups: 40J at neck & 40DC at bridge (18v)
Babicz FCH bridge
Scorpion inlay
perfectly balanced

[TyDonald]

curly maple binding & nitro finish

[Bob Francis]

Nice Ty!
Really nice touch on lining up the back cover grain too.

[TyDonald]

Thanks. I didn't think I did such a great job with the control cover but it works. I'm really happy with the binding. I'll have to see if I have a better picture.

[Pete Halliday]

When you say scorpion inlay, is that an actual scorpion in some sort of resin?

[Art Davila]

yeah what he said. Is that a real critter? where did you get it, and will it degrade in the resin? Or is it like being in a jar of formaldehyde?

[TyDonald]

It's a real scorpion that I pulled out of my swimming pool. I let it dry out for a couple of weeks. Then I gave it a couple of good coats of clear acrylic and poured the epoxy resin in the inlay recess. I cast the inlay back in October so I think it's pretty stable. There was a bunch of hoping involved but I think it worked out. Plan B would be to grind out the scorpion and replace with MOP.

[Mark Wybierala]

That is an awesome bass. I have yet to try a neck through - there aren't many that I've played and liked. But yours is truly a killer looking instrument with way cool touches - just enough to make it unique without going overboard and distracting from the actual craftsmanship. Job well done sir. My compliments to your super success.

[TyDonald]

Thanks Mark. Can I ask what you didn't like about the neckthroughs that you've played? My only real issue is the fact that you can't replace the neck. I seem to get more cautious as the build progresses for that same reason.

[Mark Wybierala]

Which Gibson is it? I think its the Firebird. I never had one on my bench that was "My kind of guitar" that I'd like to try to sell if I had built it. There is not much more I can say which actually means my exposure to "neck-throughs" is very limited. I'm very well aware that there is a following of people who love the Firebird. I'm very curious to see if I built a neck thru, would I like it?

I just finished a shop-stock Ibanez RG neck-through setup and the guitar performed as one of the best RG guitar examples as I have ever seen. This just happened to be an Asian only distribution model. Why haven't Gibson or Fender produced a neck-though Les Paul or Stratocaster? The timing of your post and success is just perfect. Because of the Ibanez that I had, I've been seriously considering a neck-through project. My intuitional, non-rational, instinct on neck-though guitars is a dumb thing.

[David Robinson]

You have done truly fine job! What is the scale length? Dig the inlay!

[TyDonald]

Thanks David.
35 inch scale.
The inlay was a pain in the butt. I kept getting chip out by the fret slots while squaring up the corners with a chisel. The next time I use block inlay I think I'll mark the fret slots and cut them after the inlay. I also lost one (huge chip) while hammering in the frets. I had to grind it out & replace it (lots of work).