Tonika inspired bass, Redwood.

[AWSchmit]

I know I've talked about this before, but I think I'm actually going to do this... I finished a P-Bass kit recently and now am semi-obsessed with playing bass and making them... So I ordered a cheap P-bass copy neck from ebay, some tuners, while I have everything else in the parts box or shed. So this really SHOULD happen, but we'll see... As with all my projects, details will probably change as I go. Anyway, I have had a soft spot for the Soviet-made Tonika bass. So I put together this mockup for a project inspired by it. I scaled the top section of the body in order to have the upper horn end where I wanted it, and also scaled down the bottom section to better match the cut-away access of a p-bass. I am also, of course, moving back the bridge, and changing the pickup locations. The control plate will also be separate and made from anodized aluminum. Though I've been really into the paper finishes lately, I think I'm going to go with Redwood for the body, since I have some and it's so pretty, I won't cover it. If I decide to go with another wood the likelihood is high that i do another paper finish. I also plan to add coil splitting options for the rail pickups. Should be a fun player.

Inspiration:

Mock-up:

[niksureal]

waiting with bated breath

[AWSchmit]

Don't hold your breath on this one... I'll have to create templates, and prepare a body blank... So turn around may take a bit since free time isn't something I have a lot of these days. But, I feel confident it will happen. Nothing puts a project into motion better than buying a neck... haha.

[AWSchmit]

I think I have the template drawn out the way I want it, now I just need to print it and cut out a working template... Also, I think I have the decal sorted as well. I put this together using a 67ish jazz bass headstock I found online as a guide, for size, layout, and font:

[blimpage]

I think I have the template drawn out the way I want it, now I just need to print it and cut out a working template... Also, I think I have the decal sorted as well. I put this together using a 67ish jazz bass headstock I found online as a guide, for size, layout, and font:

"Unoriginal Contour Body"

I love your decals, always very tasteful!

[AWSchmit]

Thanks a lot! After sharing that picture on here I realized I wrote Build instead of Built, but I think in the end I will drop that all together and just say Gassaway, WV

[AWSchmit]

Does this look monstrous to anyone else? This is my template printed out, stuck to a door with a regular 12" ruler below it... At the longest length, the body is 21" long, which is what a P-Bass is, according to the internet. Also, those little thin black blocks that look out of place, are one inch, printed with the template to check scale... It's to scale... But this still looks huge...

[Don_Karnage]

It looks kinda long I guess, but not ”big”, if that makes sense?

Love the whole vibe of those old soviet models btw, gonna be fun to see where this goes

[countertext]

Does this look monstrous to anyone else? This is my template printed out, stuck to a door with a regular 12" ruler below it... At the longest length, the body is 21" long, which is what a P-Bass is, according to the internet. Also, those little thin black blocks that look out of place, are one inch, printed with the template to check scale... It's to scale... But this still looks huge...

DONT YOU TRY TO BACK OUT ON THIS NOW, SCHMIT. PROMISES WERE MADE.

[Shadoweclipse13]

Does this look monstrous to anyone else? This is my template printed out, stuck to a door with a regular 12" ruler below it... At the longest length, the body is 21" long, which is what a P-Bass is, according to the internet. Also, those little thin black blocks that look out of place, are one inch, printed with the template to check scale... It's to scale... But this still looks huge...

DONT YOU TRY TO BACK OUT ON THIS NOW, SCHMIT. PROMISES WERE MADE.

[AWSchmit]

Does this look monstrous to anyone else? This is my template printed out, stuck to a door with a regular 12" ruler below it... At the longest length, the body is 21" long, which is what a P-Bass is, according to the internet. Also, those little thin black blocks that look out of place, are one inch, printed with the template to check scale... It's to scale... But this still looks huge...

DONT YOU TRY TO BACK OUT ON THIS NOW, SCHMIT. PROMISES WERE MADE.

Thanks for the laugh! I'm not backing out, I just worry about my template making abilities... Once I get my neck in I should be able to do some measurements and see if I'm close.. Because really, I just need to get close and then bridge placement/adjustment should be able to take care of the rest.... Thank you very much for the enthusiasm... I appreciate it, honestly. Mainly because my normally super-supportive wife thinks this idea is stupid and ugly... haha.

BTW, This template is 21" long. So last night I measured my P-Bass copy, and it was about 19.5" long and about 13" wide. But I will hold off on scaling this template until I get the neck in to do some direct measurements on this template.

AWS

[UlricvonCatalyst]

The body does look kinda huge, but hopefully adding the neck will really tie the bass together. Just sorry you're going with a plain finish on this one.

You're fast becoming the rising star of OSG builders, Andrew. Looking forward to seeing this evolve.

[AWSchmit]

The body does look kinda huge, but hopefully adding the neck will really tie the bass together. Just sorry you're going with a plain finish on this one.

You're fast becoming the rising star of OSG builders, Andrew. Looking forward to seeing this evolve.

It comes in spurts... I've slowed down guitar building quite a bit since I have so many and no use for more, but bass has given me a new passion for building. I need more basses as much as a need new guitars, but I don't care I guess... haha. If the redwood wasn't so pretty, I would do another finish, but like I said. If I choose a different wood, the finish will likely get crazy.

[jeff m.]

Cool stuff, AW !

That 'floral' P-Bass project turned out fantastic, looking forward to following along on this one.
Best,
Jeff.

[sears]

I like the shape better once I see the template. I worry about the weight. Is redwood heavy? Could you get a Bronco neck and make a 30" bass?