Toronado Shortscale Bass

Addam · Post by **Addam** » Mon Jun 06, 2011 8:16 pm

Still not entirely sure which direction I'm going with this one yet.

This is my initial concept , on the rough template;

P-Bass and J-bass pickups, '51 P-bass control plate and concentric pots.

But now, I'm warming to the idea of this neck pickup and this beast near the bridge, with 4 knobs, like a Toronado guitar.

Either way, I've already cut out the body from ash.

It's a bit on the thick side, like 2 inches bang on.
I've started on contours to get around this.
I'm thinking of adding a scooped section where the neck plate is, so I can use standard length neck screws.

I have the neck, a Squier Bronco Bass item, that I tinted with french polish and laquered with clear nirtocellulose.

BillClay · Post by **BillClay** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 4:08 am

Add a fender mudbucker to the neck and you will have my dream layout, and as such, the greatest fucking bass ever. Seriously, you are almost there! I never really liked the Toronado as a twin humbucker guitar design but the minute I saw that P J layout it was straight up tits in the house!

endsjustifymeans · Post by **endsjustifymeans** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 4:32 am

Bonartown bass projects happening at shortscale.

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 7:38 am

dude, this is going to be probably one of the coolest shits evar

Joey · Post by **Joey** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 11:10 pm

Woah, that's a cool project!

Did you buy your own planer? Be careful with that snipe on the board, I prefer to cut that out completely. Even after sanding em out, they seem to find their way through after you put paint on em.

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 11:41 pm

That looks sweet.
I'd definitely go with the P/J rather than the buckers though. Maybe a triple pickup, with a bucker at the neck?

What bridge are you thinking of using? A standard Fender style would look fine, but, what about a Mustang bass bridge? Would sort of jive with the Toronado format.

Rox · Post by **Rox** » Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:37 am

I've been bouncing the idea of turning mine into a baritone ....

Addam · Post by **Addam** » Thu Jun 09, 2011 6:48 pm

Joey wrote:
Did you buy your own planer? Be careful with that snipe on the board, I prefer to cut that out completely.

Yeah, I got a thicknesser and a jointer for cheap. I think they were that cheap because the blades are pretty fucked.
Which is why I ended up with such a thick body. The ash I had was pretty thick and only planed enough off to get it flat.
So, I need to get new blades before I use either of them again.

I've noticed snipe, and cutting the area out is the best method.

Rox wrote:I've been bouncing the idea of turning mine into a baritone ....

There's a seller on ebay, that sells a fretboard-less strat style neck.
I was thinking of getting one, slotting a fingerboard to suit a longer scale and placing the bridge to suit.
I kind-of don't like the idea baritones due to their long as fuck necks.

Joey · Post by **Joey** » Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:36 pm

what type of ash is it northern/swamp?

Addam · Post by **Addam** » Thu Jun 09, 2011 8:37 pm

It's sold as 'American White ash'
It's pretty fucking hard and heavy, so I'm assuming it's northern?
The telecaster I built from the same board weighs in at 10 pounds.

Joey · Post by **Joey** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 1:14 am

My northern ash Jazzmasters (1 3/4" thick) I made came in at 8 lbs!!! You got me beat...

Northern ash kicked my ass, as far as tear out goes. It's tough to tool.

Are you doing your contours by hand, or have you made a jig to do it?

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 1:28 am

AddamInsane wrote:It's sold as 'American White ash'
It's pretty fucking hard and heavy, so I'm assuming it's northern?

Yeah, it's native here... though we're at about the northern end of its range. It's a northern US, southern Canada species.