CS Corvette revisited!

[Eberbachl]

Hi Guys,

I'm thinking very seriously about another bass - it doesn't have to be a CS, but I think what I want isn't really available stock.

I posted some thoughts about a CS Corvette last year, and would like your help in revising it!

Currently I have a Bubinga Corvette STD Active JJ fretted bass (which I do love), and would like another bass to supplement it. Tonally I'd like something with a big bottom, less prominent in the mids than my Bubinga 'Vette and with nice crisp highs.

I really love the Corvette body shape, so I would like to stick with a Corvette I think.

I'd like it to sound different to the Bubinga 'Vette (otherwise, what's the point?) - so I'm thinking different timbers and maybe pickups.

Probably Ash body - but I'm not thrilled with the look of Ash, so possibly another timber top for looks. Maybe a Maple neck and Ebony board - that's probably it for timber, but I'm not convinced either way about electronics or pickups yet.

Please help!!!

:d

 

[jester]

Have you considered a 'vette NT Ash? I 'd go with a 'vette NT as it has a maple neck and this will surely make it a totally different animal to your existing bass. Plus the different construction, passive humbuckers + coil tapping will help it differ. I would then choose a dark wood cause I love the NT bubinga version. Going this way you 'll need to only slightly customize an existing model, if at all.

Look, yummy:

​

 

[EVOLVEBASS]

Pretty much completely off topic, but one thing I've noticed on the Corvette $$ NT Bubinga basses I've seen (including mine), is that Warwick seems to be using wenge that has more of a bleached and/or marble look to it. That's not to say they aren't or haven't used it on other basses, but it's the only model I've seen it on. Have a look:

 

[Eberbachl]

Thanks very much for the suggestion Jester - That $$ NT 'Vette surely is gorgeous - but I don't think it's really me.

I think I'd prefer to stay with a bolt on at this point. Starting from a Corvette STD base in the Custom Shop rather than a Corvette NT $$ will save about $1000 AUD to begin with. That provides more scope for my customisation.

Also, I think with a bolt on I'll be able to apply more tonal variation with the body timber than an NT where only the body wings are customisable. If maple was my #1 choice for a body timber it probably wouldn't matter, but I don't think I'd choose maple for the body, so the NT configuration wouldn't really suit I don't think.



So - let's say I'll consider a Corvette STD Ash as the base for this custom shop project - please help with some options!

:d

 

[EVOLVEBASS]

Sounds like you're off to a good start:

Corvette with
Ash body
Bolt-on maple neck
Ebony fretboard

You still need:

Top wood
Type of pickups
Type of preamp

And any extras that you can't help but add if there's any money left!

 

[Eberbachl]

Thanks EVOLVEBASS - you're right on.

I want:

Corvette STD 4 String
Ash Body
Maple Neck
Ebony Board

That much is pretty well decided.

Pickups?
Electronics?
Top wood?
Matching headstock?
Inlays?
Anything else?

:d

 

[Grgzilla]

Top wood? Bird'seye poplar or spalted/flamed maple.
Pickups? twin J in the bridge & single J in the neck.
Electronics? 3 band active like Inifinities eq.
Matching headstock? Of course,it's a CS bass.
Inlays? Only if their's LED's behind them or a simple name plate at the 12th fret.
Anything else? Nothing more needed.

 

[EVOLVEBASS]

All the sudden it feels really odd to be building, check that, helping you build a bass by deciding the woods first... I think I would decide on the pickups first, because it may effect what woods you 'should' consider. Although I suppose the opposite is true as well... :roll:

 

[Eberbachl]

....hhhhmmmmmm - tell me about twin J's

I've seen pics of them, but what is their configuration? Two RW/RP single coils in one package? They're Active pups, right? What are their tonal qualities compared to a single J?

Bird's eye poplar or Spalted maple? :d I could learn to love a nice spalted maple top....will check ou the Cs timbers page for some looks.

The other thing I'm thinking is maybe having at least the Neck pup (maybe both) angled so the G string side is closer to the neck.

???

 

[golem]

Ash body, maple neck ... really classic old school
there, with the [also sometimes old school] delux
touch of an ebony FB. Why not stay on that path,
with a maple top, and a 'P-Bass Delux' PU config ?
Unlike Fender, Wick allows a reversed P-PU which
is essentially the same as your idea about having
a PU angled to put the 'G' side closer to the neck.

I've recently treated myself to the latest version
of Fender's own P-Dlx PU config: P-PU@neck and
Twinned-J@bridge, with 3-band EQ. It's not very
modern but it's not at all muddy ... very rich tone.
Your version would have the sleek Vett body, and
IIRC Wick would allow coil splitting at the bridge,
which my Fender does not.

Mine has no top wood, but it's a Fender ... what
with the burst finish and large PG, there's not too
much body wood visible anywayz. Ash with maple
top wood seems to work with any mix of electronic
config and neck woods. It's resonant, with a wide
and even tone palette. Plus, the visual effect of an
ebony FB emerging from figured maple is always
attractive yet conservative.

Have look-see here at flamed maple with ebony:​

 

[Le Cowboy De Chernobyl]

spalted maple top, swamp ash back, maple neck.

a-ha!

 

[Eberbachl]

*GASP!*

That Infinity is gorgeous!

If only!

 

[Eberbachl]

I'm not sure about the P pickup golem...not a huge fan, but if I did go down that route - I agree - reverse P with the D+G side closer to the neck would definitely be the way to go!

Another thing I'm second guessing now is the choice of a maple neck....what's the standard finish on a maple neck? Is it natural oil finish, or a satin finish lacquer?

I really do love natural oil finishes....I'd like that as a preference over the whole bass - how would that sit with maple?

 

[golem]

You could always request a maple neck with
no finish at all, and then treat it to a hot oil
and beeswax rub. Thaz the traditional finish
for the back of MusicMan necks, and it lasts
at least 25 years .... and feels great !
​

 

[trujo777]

Thanks EVOLVEBASS - you're right on.

I want:

Corvette STD 4 String
Ash Body
Maple Neck
Ebony Board

That much is pretty well decided.

:d

+1 on the suggestion above.

My suggestions:
Pickups? Twin J's
Electronics? MEC 3 band eq
Top wood? Afzelia
Matching headstock? yes
Inlays? only at 12th fret maybe your name at the bottom of the fretboard.
Anything else? -shipped to my address :lol:

+1 on Golem's suggestion to make ift feel like EBMM neck's those things are sweet to play and to slide your hand over.

 

[Florin]

Ash body, maple neck ... really classic old school
there, with the [also sometimes old school] delux
touch of an ebony FB.​

My thoughts exactly. I would even dare do sugest using ash back maple top, maple neck, ebony fb. That's a nice bass!
A good friend of mine - user Alin has one like that, killer bass!

 

[flipper_gv]

Olive over ash is plain gorgeous!

 

[Eberbachl]

Thanks for the suggestion Florin - is it recommended that a maple neck have a satin finish applied, or is natural oil OK?

flipper_gv.....I've been wondering about Olive.....that could be a nice thought!

It's all so confusing - so many options!

:d

 

[Eberbachl]

Oh crap - I played a stock Corvette STD active Ash the other day.

It was actually a really gorgeous bass! Now I got to thinking maybe I should just do that - except I do love black hardware....so I've gone from thinking about a full CS job to a plain old STD Ash 'Vette with the only mod being black hardware.

I do love the exotic timber tops, but I wouldn't want to adversely effect the tone of that nice lump of Ash.

:lol:

What to do!

 

[Eberbachl]

I'm thinking too much!

:lol:

OK....here's what I'm thinking now:

Corvette STD Ash
MEC 2-way active pre - VOL/PUP Blend/Stacked Bass Treble
MEC Active J pickup angled g string side towards neck at neck position
MEC Twin J at bridge
Maple neck
Ebony fingerboard

What do you guys think of that? Wouldn't look as exotic without the fancy top, but I reckon it'd have a pretty nice big bottom, and snappy highs - should have a great slap tone.

Can someone tell me about the Twin J pup? does it have options such as series, parallel, single coil, or is a straight dual coil twin J?