Short Scale Tele Thinline Bass Project

[Rhomco]

I got hooked on building a short scale tele inspired bass. The neck is from a new Squire Bronco Bass. Here is what I have so far...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/rhomco/TeleThinlineBass001.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/rhomco/TeleThinlineBass004.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/rhomco/TeleThinlineBass003-1.jpg
Rob

[jerseydrew]

looking good :) Keep us posted.

[BmoreTele]

What tuning, string guages are you planning to use?

I'm planning a project with a short scale Daisy Rock Retro H I just ordered from the MF blow out sale.

[Rhomco]

string thru the body Fender Bronco in disguise but with a better pickup and full sized quality pots. I maintained all the Bronco specs regarding scale and pickup location etc. The Squire Bronco neck is very nice and the fretwork is superb. I think you would be hard pressed to find a better short scale neck. I plan to sell the red Bronco body when I finish the TeleBass to recoup some of my money.
I did not like the way my Gretsch Orange stain took to the Ash body so I sanded it back to bare wood today and re-stained it with a weaker solution and shaded the sides into a Gretsch Orange Burst. I like it better now and will begin the clearcoating this week.
Rob

[disaster]

very cool. not exactly my choice of color, but what do I know?
keep the good ideas flowin.

[Rhomco]

And now the wait for the nitro to cure before wet sanding and machine buffing.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/rhomco/TeleThinlineBass009.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/rhomco/TeleThinlineBass011.jpg

[r9player]

Really nice! How much does it weigh?

[BmoreTele]

That is SOOOOOOOOO good looking.

I can see a Bronco neck in my future.

I doubt that I could re-shape the headstock as well as you did, and drilling the the body through holes without a drill press might be dicey, but otherwise completely do-able.

[Rhomco]

That is SOOOOOOOOO good looking.

I can see a Bronco neck in my future.

I doubt that I could re-shape the headstock as well as you did, and drilling the the body through holes without a drill press might be dicey, but otherwise completely do-able.

Is not that hard if you have access to a scroll saw and a spindle sander helps too. The tough part on the headstock is enlarging the tuner holes IF you want elephant ear tuners. I have a spade drill that I ground down to to it. There is that drill press again!

The drilling of the string thru holes is far easier than most builders admit even without a drill press. I do it the same way with or without one.
The secret is to drill the top holes 1 and 4 all the way through the body. Drill 2 & 3 about 3/4 into the body from the top. Then flip it and line up the actual bridge to the outer holes and mark 2 & 3. Drill until they intersect the holes you drilled from the top. All that really matters from the back is that they are INLINE...
Or worst case.... send the neck and the body to me and I will do the mod for you if you have the bridge & bushings...

Rob

[BmoreTele]

Thanks for the offer, but mostly thanks for the whole idea.

This will definitely be my next project after the current one.

[Lammy]

Looks FANTASTIC!

[TedintheShed]

Looks great, but you may have a neck dive issue. The fact that it is a short scale may help compensate though.

The ASATs were notorious for that.

[BmoreTele]

Damn!

MF just refunded my payment for the Retro H bass I ordered from them. I guess it was too good a deal to be true.

Now I have to start over looking for a decent short scale bass at a reasonable price.

I'm not that impressed by the Bronco as a whole unit - pickup, pots, agathis body - but I hear some of the necks are nice.

Anybody want to sell me a nice Bronco neck? I've got a couple guitar bodies and a P bass copy that I could cannibalize.

What's the word on the quality of the Rondo short scale bass?

[Verence]

That is awesome. :AOK

I want to see it strung up and ready to play! More pics! :D

[Rhomco]

Wet sanded, buffed and strung up. None of the dreaded neck dive I was concerned about. Still have to wire it up and do the set-up.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/rhomco/TeleThinlineBass001-2.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/rhomco/TeleThinlineBass002-2.jpg

[wingwalker]

WOW!!! That is a great looking bass...if it sounds as good as it looks you have a keeper for sure!