Harmen's Jazz bass project.

My Jazz bass is already well used, I love this instrument, it's the first electric bass that I've owned and played, the experts tell me it plays as well as a genuine Fender!

Mmmm, Seafoam green my favourite colour, brilliant contrast with the faux tortoise shell pick guard. It's odd though that the camera seems unable to capture the true colour, these images read as light blue to my eye. Those of you with an eye for detail will notice my custom thumb support above the E string, on the pick guard. I've developed a playing position dictated by my Taylor AB1 which has an extension horn, thumb rest on the finger board. The thumb rest is made from a piece of  high density, heart teak screwed on with the same type of  screws as those that fasten the pick guard.

The strap is a modified fashion accessory, black and red nylon webbing with my customized extensions of sailors cord. The Tiki on my strap is a plastic one that I have kept since 1971 when my family traveled to Europe. We flew some of the way on an Air New Zealand DC8. This Tiki was in the pack of give aways the airline presented to us children on the flight.

Strings are Martin Darco Electric Bass Guitar Strings, D9700L Light Gauge, Nickel wound.

I can have some fun with the head stock can't I? This one is customized with an old 30's Marconi radio cadet's badge depicting 3 soaring gulls in blue and white enamel on brass.

Clive Franks, sound man extraordinaire pays us a visit in Rawene

 Clive and Di came to visit.

Di and Clive taking a photo opportunity in from of my latest sculpture Sati the elephant.

 To see more of Sati visit my art blog

Clive and I shared our enthusiasm for Fender Jazz Bass and he played and admired my Taylor AB1 fretless bass. Then he spotted my classic drum kit, thanks for the photos Clive.

photo courtesy of Clive Franks

photo courtesy of Clive Franks

Kitset "Jazz" Bass guitar project

I recently won an auction for a Guitar Spares kitset "Jazz" style electric, solid body bass guitar. It came by courier in a cardboard box.

This is what the components look like straight out of the box

All the parts come with the kit and all the pick up and control cavities are routed out.

Headstock cut out all ready for 
sanding sealer.

This is the Jazz bass model I've long admired so here's my opportunity to replicate one.

I've loved Sea foam green as a guitar colour since I was very young so I found a similar colour in a local paint supplier's range that they call "Vista Blue". Sealer, primer and one 
topcoat on.

Trial balance of elements and set out 
logo design. I think that the tortoise shell pick guard looks amazing against the green paint finish.

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My custom head stock scroll design is slightly larger than Fender's and closer to a double bass scroll profile.

Head stock varnished, I used a gold paint pen to write the script for my "Harmen JAZZ BASS" logo outlined with a fine black paint pen.

Second coat of semi gloss water based  enamel. Beautiful still weather for painting!

This Jazz Bass kit project has been one of the most satisfying that I have undertaken in quite a while. I've loved researching the various processes on line, finding some great links and tips to assist me with my build. The scale of this project has suited me too. I've had to call on many of the skills that I have acquired over my lifetime, I chose materials and processes that would cause me and the environment minimal damage.
I chose to do this because I could not find an instrument of the quality and characteristics that I wanted for the budget I had available. All in all I'm very happy with the result so far, more later.

Harmen