The Battering Ram

[jrmy]

At least, that's what I'm calling it in my head.

A few years back, I got a Jazz bass neck, because I love Jazz bass necks, and I thought I'd do something with it someday.

Then a year or so ago, a luthier friend stopped by with a body blank - he knew I had the neck, and thought I should do something with it. I kicked around ideas for a while, thinking about some kind of weird Teuffel-like sharkfin body, but it just wasn't gelling.

Then a month or so ago, it hit me. I worked up the sketch in a day, ran it by some people to make sure I wasn't crazy (or that they were as crazy as I am), and then printed it out at size to see if it would fit the blank nicely. And it does.

So, for now at least, I'm calling it The Battering Ram. I have no idea what pace this thing is going to proceed at, but I thought putting it up here would give me a little extra motivation to keep things moving.

batteringram.jpg

(187.56 KiB) Downloaded 381 times

The picguard and pickup arrangements are still somewhat flexible, but I've decided I officially dig the body shape. Obvs, it's an unholy morph of Jazz & Ric... I'm thinking that some of the contouring will reflect that as well. Like the horns will have the flat face from Rics, but the waist & rear of the body will contour back like a Jazz, since that's where my arm usually ends up. We'll see - that will all develop on the bench as well.

[Chankgeez]

At least, that's what I'm calling my head.

TWSS

[backwardsvoyager]

Holy crap that looks awesome. Keen to see how this turns out.

I agree with waist/forearm contours, i think it would work with this, especially if it isn't a bound top.

[skullservant]

DUDE YES. I agree with the contours as well

[jrmy]

At least, that's what I call my head.

TWSS

Fix'd for maximum TWSS-age.

Glad you guys dig it! Now I can add two more to the "crazy like me" tally. YESSSSS!!!!

Oh, and I think the final finish is going to be trans-black (DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT CHANK), possibly with a blackburst. Trying to look snazzy while avoiding the coffee-table bass issue.

[skullservant]

Dude that would be awesome. What color pickguard? Can you imagine like a smokey transparent charcoal finish with a black pickguard? MMMM

[Chankgeez]

No, seriously, that body has serious promise. Count me amongst the fans as well.

[jrmy]

I dropped the body and printout with the luthier this morning, and we were talking about it. I think I might end up going with a solid color for the body - he thinks the grain on the blank isn't great looking, and there are some pretty serious sectional jumps in color that might look funny. So now I'm thinking about what sort of opaque colors I'd be into. Still kicking around the blackburst idea... I love charcoal grey... maybe a black to gray fade?

As for pickguards, I was thinking either etched metal or black pearl tort. Dunno... trying to find that line between kickass and gaudy...

[jrmy]

Really, I just want it to look as kickass as this:

[Decibill]

As your friend, band mate and likely co-builder on this project, I agree that this will be badass....That pic you just posted gave me an idea for the pick guard too....

[Iommic Pope]

Dude, that is fucking rad!

Really wanna see the end result!

[kbit]

You gonna run 2 jazz pickups and 2 ric pickups? volume for each and master tone?
Intrigued in how this will turn out.

[Achtane]

This is gonna turn out mighty fine.

[jrmy]

You gonna run 2 jazz pickups and 2 ric pickups? volume for each and master tone?
Intrigued in how this will turn out.

If this goes as planned, it'll be two humbucking jazzies (Nordstrand split Js) and two humbucking Rics (I found 'em, just can't recall the guy's name). Yup, volume for each and one master tone. Maybe a three way switch to go Jazz-only/Ric-only/all on.

This is gonna turn out mighty fine.

Since your crazy Frankenbass was one of the prime inspirations, I'm stoked that you think so!

As your friend, band mate and likely co-builder on this project, I agree that this will be badass....That pic you just posted gave me an idea for the pick guard too....

Reallllllly? Interesting. We will have to discusssssss...

[kaeth]

Apparently Ric + Jazzmaster = Reverse Yamaha SBV

Can't wait to see this finished!