Bass Build

0v3nm4n

New member
Hey guys,

I'm building [my first] bass, and I'm all the way back in the blueprint process, and in the tradition of a 'build thread,' I shall supply many pictures :D

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Re: Bass Build

Indecision is a horrible thing.


Haha, the only indecision you see here is in the area labeled 1 and 2 on the body. Those eraser marks are from measuring 2 different lines and creating the summation/average that you now see.
 
Re: Bass Build

You'll need more erasers... and an endless supply of patience. Good luck (really).

Are you going to stay on paper, or will you scan the layout and do it with a CAD/CAM setup?

Details, s'il vous plait... what kind of wood(s)? Active or passive electronics? Pickups? Fret wire? Scale length? Finish colors? Inlays? Hardware?
Annoyingly nit-picky inquiring minds want to know, and rag you about not going their way. ;)
 
Re: Bass Build

You'll need more erasers... and an endless supply of patience. Good luck (really).

Are you going to stay on paper, or will you scan the layout and do it with a CAD/CAM setup?

Details, s'il vous plait... what kind of wood(s)? Active or passive electronics? Pickups? Fret wire? Scale length? Finish colors? Inlays? Hardware?
Annoyingly nit-picky inquiring minds want to know, and rag you about not going their way. ;)

Thanks for the post,

I am doing this initial model the old school way, pencil, paper, patience and when it comes time to build it it will be with hand tools and some machines (band saw, table saw etc).

This bass is the halfway mark between a Jazz bass and Precision bass. The 2 lines I have marked off at the lower bout of the body are 2 different summation/average lines that I have measured and I will make prototypes using both. Some of the specs are deliberately 'middle of the road' just to experiment and see what will happen.

Body Material: 3/4" ash top, 3/4" alder back (both 'fender' body-woods)
Neck Material: Maple neck (possibly with walnut streamers: 3 maple, 2 walnut- again very "fender") Pau Ferro Fingerboard (didn't want to go with one neck being maple and the other being rosewood, so I chose the wood that is considered to be the crossroads between the two)
Nut width: 1.59375" (1 9.5/16" or 40.5mm, the standard crossroads between P and J nut-widths)
Scale length: 34" with a compound radius (9.5"-14" most likely. Will have to test how the neck feels first)
EVO Fretwire
Mosaic Dot inlays (like on knife handles. Will help bring the whole design scheme together) and glow in the dark side markers
Tuning Keys: Gotoh HAPM (if they exist for bass) or Hipshot
Nut
Bridge hardware: Hipshot aluminum base plate with brass saddles (and vice-versa to see what happens, there's a method to my madness)

The first 2 prototypes will be blacktop style- the more asymmetrical body will have a double P setup, and the more symmetrical one will have Jazz/NYC pups. This will help me kind of feel out how this bass will react with humbuckers and single coils, so I can discern what to use for the next bass.

Preamp(s) TBA, I'll probably go with Audere.

At least one finish will have a tobacco burst, the other will probably be white (nod to Dee Dee Ramone)

Thanks!
 
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Re: Bass Build

I admire your patience. I spec'd out a Warmoth my tech built last year. I can't imagine actually building the body and neck from scratch. Good luck.
 
Re: Bass Build

I admire your patience. I spec'd out a Warmoth my tech built last year. I can't imagine actually building the body and neck from scratch. Good luck.

Thanks!
It looks daunting at first but really all you need to do is have; a general sketch/idea of what you want, a buttload of albums to stream, and the ability to go on autopilot.


More photos to come!
 
Re: Bass Build

if you are gonna use a beautiful Wood, why cover it with a pickguard?

a pickguard makes an instrument ugly
 
Re: Bass Build

if you are gonna use a beautiful Wood, why cover it with a pickguard?

a pickguard makes an instrument ugly

I feel ya, don't think the spalted maple version will have a pickguard. Then again, a pickguard CAN look nice if it's done right. It's all a matter of taste.

I will create a guard for the more traditional version when I use ash/alder.
 
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