| Author | Message | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1628 Registered: 6-2000 |
First stage with the peghead:  I've got some before pictures, I'll post them when I go through all the April pictures for archiving. | ||
| bassman10096
Advanced Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 330 Registered: 7-2003 |
Whoa!!! Please do! Is that all purpleheart? Bill | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 442 Registered: 7-2002 |
A few days ago I happened by with my camera as Mike had just taken off the old veneer from the peghead...the logo looks much nicer in Mica's picture already...  | ||
| bassman10096
Advanced Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 331 Registered: 7-2003 |
It sure does. Do you have any pix of the whole instrument? | ||
| dela217
Advanced Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 362 Registered: 6-2002 |
I would like to see more pics too. I am particularly interested since I have a Hyak with a failing finish. I really can't wait to see this one done! | ||
| alemboid
Member Username: alemboid Post Number: 56 Registered: 5-2003 |
Will there be a truss rod installed? I understand that many if not most of the Hyak basses relied on graphite rods for neck reinforcement instead of truss rods. They are unique and beautiful basses. Please show a full bass image if possible, thanks. Bryant | ||
| dela217
Advanced Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 364 Registered: 6-2002 |
I'll bet they are installing one! In the pictures the fingerboard is off. I think it would be a good idea. On my Hyak, I have to use low tension, or light gauge strings and low action. Otherwise there is a definate bow to the neck. The strings height plays a large role in how much bow the neck has. If you look closely at the pics there are no graphite rods in the neck, but laminates. The laminates run the full length of the neck and through the body. You can see the dark laminates in the pictures. It looks like that bass has 4 laminates. It seemed that all the necks that they made were quite different, and used different woods and different numbers of laminates too. I have had 3 Hyak basses, I find they are very unique indeed. Even compared to each other. Nothing beats Alembic basses though. The Hyaks seemed to me just another Alembic knock off. The Hyak's sound does not even come close. | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 446 Registered: 7-2002 |
By popular demand...Rob's Hyak  | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 447 Registered: 7-2002 |
We are indeed installing a truss rod. We have been talking with Rob about where to place the truss rod access; as you can see in the previous picture, the neck pickup is right against the fretboard which creates a problem; we briefly considered putting it on the peghead, but discarded that idea as basically dangerous, if not unworkable. Mike came up with this idea of accessing it from the fretboard, by cutting a slot between the frets at the 23rd fret (so Rob can have the inlay at the 24th fret restored). Here'a picture of what Mike has in mind. The oval here was drawn at the 24th fret, before we decided on trying for the 23rd; just transpose it at the 23th and you get the idea. The oval would cut through the fingerboard and give access to the truss rod. Rob, let me know what you think.  | ||
| bassilator
New Username: bassilator Post Number: 1 Registered: 5-2004 |
ValVil, I'm leaning towards a coverplate. Will sleep on it tonight and let you know. Maybe other people can offer their "two cents". Also, concerning the "sacrificial veneer"-- now that I've seen the bass again, my first choice veneer is totally inappropriate. If you haven't already cut it, please use California Walnut instead. Thanks, R | ||
| adriaan
Advanced Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 212 Registered: 6-2002 |
Nice project! What was your other option for the sacrificial veneer? The hole through the fingerboard makes perfect sense. One thing about using an oval shape for this is that it must be wide enough at both ends so the wrench can be inserted comfortably when you need to approach the nut a little off-center. You also need enough aperture so the wrench doesn't have to be reinserted after just a small turn. | ||
| keavin
Advanced Member Username: keavin Post Number: 344 Registered: 12-2002 |
Wow, how old is this baby?,it sorta resembles 72-14 | ||
| dela217
Advanced Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 369 Registered: 6-2002 |
I understand wanting to put the hole there so that the 24th fret marker can be retained, but I would just opt to loose the last fret. Does anybody really use it anyway? Maybe just notch out the ebony between the last fret and the pickup. Would that give enough space? I know on the old Alembics the space between the pickup and the fingerboard can be quite small. Installing a truss rod makes sense. My Hyak has eight graphite laminates, and is still not stiff enough to fight a neck bow. This one looks to only have 4. But maybe they used more or less laminates of graphite depending on the neck wood. The neck in mine bubinga. The neck on this one looks like purpleheart. Is it? Keavin - These basses were made in the late 70's. Rob - I like what they are doing. The bass is in good hands! | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 509 Registered: 5-2002 |
I also like what they are doing; and this is an interesting project. What is the top wood? It looks nice. What would the cover plate be made of? I wouldn't think you would want to use brass or plastic as the vibrato would scratch it. Would the cover be the Ebony that was cut out? How would it be attached? I guess you would have to use plate screws positioned between the strings. I also share Adriaan's concern about the oval shape. And I like Michael's idea too. Like everyone else, I like "pictures"; and I often like seeing what's in the background of shots taken at the shop. In the picture above there appears to be a very nice Quilted Maple Orion. And behind that a Flame Maple Series I with a balance point body (?) and the pickup selector in the old position. And behind that perhaps a Spalted Maple Orion. And behind that something really mysterious; Ebony neck lams and an Ebony top wood? | ||
| adriaan
Advanced Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 213 Registered: 6-2002 |
Those pictures are just too much for a poor sod like me. Looks like there's a bunch of people out there who ordered their own variations on EMW (East Meets West) and BB (Brown Bass) - and just for the sheer joy of having them around to make music with. Stockings! Stockings! My kingdom for a pair of stockings! | ||
| bassilator
New Username: bassilator Post Number: 2 Registered: 5-2004 |
My first choice veneer was Ziricote-- I thought it looked great with the Purple Heart. I didn't like it with the body. The top and bottom laminates are Vermillion, the body core is Mahogany (I think), and the the neck is Purple Heart. There are some addional laminates and I had them written down, but it sure is easy to lose stuff. Yes, I would like to use an Ebony cover plate. Check out my drawing. It is basically to scale and represents where the strings will be in relation to the cover plate. I was thinking two 3/32 screws would hold it down nicely. There are two reasons for not giving up access to the 24th fret: First I use it. Second, there are two abalone inlays that are in that position. Thanks for all your advice! Very helpful and way cool that everyone is involved in this project!!!  | ||
| kmh364
Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 63 Registered: 9-2003 |
Adriaan: As the proud owner of this particular take on EMW (EMWII or Daughter/Son of EMW?), I'll take that as a compliment! Val: Thanks for unknowingly giving me another shot of my bass. I've been trying to get Mica to post pix of the headstock and the body/neck (back). This is as close as I've gotten. Rob: Nice project. Never heard of a Hyak before, but I'm interested in the outcome just the same. Kevin | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1735 Registered: 6-2000 |
I've got some updated pictures for you.   Mike did a very nice job on these inlays - the shell he selected looks great.  Hey, it's really coming together with the hardest parts done.  The color difference is because the board isn't levelled yet and they pieces are at slighltly different angles. This part also turned are great!  This is your last look at the cracked finish. It actually looks pretty cool, but Some of the cracking has advanced to the point that I think it would have started falling off in chunks sooner or later. Tony started the long process of stripping off the original paint. It's a project we spread over several days since it takes so many hours to sand the paint off. More shots to come as interesting things happen. | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 406 Registered: 6-2002 |
It is coming along nicely! I can't wait to see the re-fin. Thanks Mica!!!!! | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1760 Registered: 6-2000 |
I'll try to get a shot before the prep sanding sometime next week so you can see the color better, but here's your bass after the sealer coats and ready for the next coat of paint:  I don't think it's quite as bright purple as the Purple Princess, but it's still much more purple than under the yellowed paint. | ||
| alemboid
Member Username: alemboid Post Number: 72 Registered: 5-2003 |
Wonderful Hyak! I remember these basses from when I was in high school. A lot of Hyaks were sold in the Seattle area, including a beautiful rosewood top and back Hyak guitar built for Nancy Wilson of the band Heart. It had chrome hardware, L.E.D.s and of all things, heart inlays as seen on this bass now. I think they sound great. There is the obvious Alembic influence. I don't think I've played a better "almost Alembic" by any other company. I hope to own one someday. Bryant | ||
| bassilator
New Username: bassilator Post Number: 3 Registered: 5-2004 |
Wow, Mica! Thanks for the pictures! The bass is absolutely stunning. The heart inlays are absolutely beautiful. For those of you interested, this bass was built for Steve Fossen who played in Heart. Can't wait for the next pictures. Mike is doing a great job! Rob | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 679 Registered: 5-2002 |
That is indeed interesting. Were Steve and Nancy's Hyaks similar? I briefly went out on the net to see if I could find any pictures of the old band, hoping to see the Hyaks; but I was unsuccessful. The inlays shown above look very nice and the body is coming along nicely too! | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 409 Registered: 6-2002 |
I too have tried to search the web for Heart using these instruments. No luck. I did see a picture of the guitarist for War using one though, but I don't remember where. I am really looking forward to seeing the bass refinished. I find the Hyak finishes to be cloudy. The new finish will make this bass look great. Just an FYI - It is hard to tell from the pictures, but Hyak did not bookmatch the tops and backs of their instruments as Alembic does. What they do, is use consecutive slices for the top and back. So the back of the instrument, has the same pattern as the front. Strange | ||
| squirefan
New Username: squirefan Post Number: 6 Registered: 7-2004 |
SO???? Where's the final product? Let's see a pic, Rob. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1845 Registered: 6-2000 |
Not quite done, but awfully close. Here's the bass, taking the final cure in the rubout room:  | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 424 Registered: 6-2002 |
Nice. Thanks Mica! I need more. I can't wait to see it assembled. I would love to have mine redone someday. If Paul ever finds his stockings, maybe he will let me use them. FYI - When these basses were sold new, the upper strap button did not come installed by the factory. The strap button was in the case with a sheet giving instructions on it's installation, and suggested locations. Michael | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 1440 Registered: 9-2002 |
Brother MIchael, I have a pair of nice RED stockings so ...oh ...huhuh...maybe we can make a deal. I'll wash them first ...of course. Paul TBO | ||
| squirefan
New Username: squirefan Post Number: 8 Registered: 7-2004 |
The two tones in that wood are absolutely beautiful. You are a master, MICA. Thanks for the picture. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 1929 Registered: 6-2000 |
Had a rub through the first time we tried to rubout, so it was back to spray and cure. Well, last week, the rubout went great:  and we'll get it buffed and reassembled. |
