I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

[ImmortalSix]

I know I'm a little out of control with the guitar building threads right now, but gosh darn it, it's just so much fun.

Yes, my original custom is not done yet, and yes, I started and finished my Tele project before I finished the custom, but try not to focus on it - I'm trying to get that one really right.

I wouldn't exactly call my dad a bass player.

He played bass in a band or two, in the late 70s and early 80s, but he never geeked out on it - he just played bar songs and partied and had fun. To his credit, him having a bass in the house was my first exposure to electric stringed instruments.

Anyways, he's in his 60s, and he told me he's always wanted a 5 string bass. He likes when that low B goes off, and let's face it - who doesn't?

I had him over to my house to hold his (my? the?) old P-bass he gave me years ago (same one from the band days decades ago) and see how it felt, what he wanted and such, and true to form, his answer was pretty much ":laughing: I don't know man, surprise me."

So I am going to make a 5 string bass for my dad, because he's the man.

I am thinking about a custom shape, just because he thinks its way cool that I can do that.

I am a yellow-bellied chicken and ordered a mostly-built neck (from Mighty Mite! Look, a flying pig!) but the body is starting as a slab. The neck is a maple neck with a rosewood board. The specs are different on just about every website that sells Mighty Mite necks, so I'll reserve specs until I can measure it myself. Not that it matters - the two of us have about as much combined knowledge about bass guitars as a butterfly.

The body is alder, because it's the "tastes like chicken" of wood, and hell, an alder bodied, maple/rosewood necked bass is pretty damn likely to sound like what both of our mind's ears have "bass" sounding like.

Anyways, I'm building a 5 string bass, party party!

 

[TheProphet]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

Just personal preference, but you may want to look at Swamp Ash for the body. It's got a nice pop and sizzle going on.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

Right now I'm leaning towards an offset body, like a Jazz or Jaguar / Jazzmaster style.

But I want to make it a little personal, just because it's no more effort on my half, and I think my dad will enjoy a custom shape more because he thinks that making guitar bodies from scratch in the garage is cool.

My first mockup is of a Jag top and Jazz bottom - what do you think?

 

[TheProphet]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

I like. Definately got it's own thing going on, but very Classic Fender like.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

Just personal preference, but you may want to look at Swamp Ash for the body. It's got a nice pop and sizzle going on.

His (our? my?) bass now is an ash P-Bass - we both don't like how percussive it is. We're looking for more BOOOOM than POOM. A softer attack, essentially.

So we decided on alder for the body and rosewood for the board.

I think it will work well.

 

[TheProphet]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

I'm pretty sure Alder would be ok then. Just be areful when picking the wood. Some alder is rediculously soft. My current project just chews apart under any force.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

I'm pretty sure Alder would be ok then. Just be areful when picking the wood. Some alder is rediculously soft. My current project just chews apart under any force.

I ordered it from Warmoth, so I have no idea what it will be like until it arrives, but after working with that boat anchor purpleheart slab, I will welcome soft wood with open arms. :laughing:

I just cleaned my shop (really well) in preparation for painting / finishing my custom and doing this build, and I have learned a lesson or two about keeping work pieces protected, so I think that even the softest wood will stay intact in my shop.

 

[TheProphet]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

It's more the tooling. Depending on the softness of the wood, certain tools just become overkill. I'm basically stuck using 120 grit for most of my heavy lifting as 80 starts eating it too fast.

Probably just a bad example of alder.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

Hopefully so. Any way you slice it, I'm glad to be working with a regular, non-exotic wood.

 

[d1dsj]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

Love the design but not keen on your colour scheme! You could call it Harvery as in Harvey two face :laughing: Seriously though, I like the way you go for a unique build.... very inspirational. :friday:

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

Love the design but not keen on your colour scheme! You could call it Harvery as in Harvey two face :laughing: Seriously though, I like the way you go for a unique build.... very inspirational. :friday:

Thanks!

I figure if I am going to make the template from scratch any way you slice it, I may as well have some fun with the shape, as opposed to just tracing a printout of a P Bass.

 

[Kam]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

Needs a Floyd.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

Needs a Floyd.

Speaking of which - hey! you're creative --- any ideas for body shape?

Keep in mind he's an old guy and didn't go for the Ibanez Iceman bass shape I sent over to him :laughing:

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

Not a bad body, but to me it doesn't look toooo different from a standard JB body.

Don't let that stop you though. I like it regardless.

 

[Kam]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

Speaking of which - hey! you're creative --- any ideas for body shape?

Keep in mind he's an old guy and didn't go for the Ibanez Iceman bass shape I sent over to him :laughing:

Thanks! I am creative.

However, I'm also lazy as f*ck, so I just looked around my room and thought that something like this...

...might be cool. Ya know, all classic and all but, like, upside downy and sh!t.

If I think of something else cool, then I'll let you know. I'll also probably copyright it and sue your ass, though.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

Not a bad body, but to me it doesn't look toooo different from a standard JB body.

Don't let that stop you though. I like it regardless.

Thanks.

I'm not committed to that shape at all - I just threw it together to show my dad what I meant by taking two body styles and hybridizing them.

Who's got good ideas for shape mashups (or just cool shapes in general?)

I may just draw on cardboard in my garage and see what looks good. At least that way, it would be "my" shape. If a shape can even be mine.

"Can you take the blue from the sky? Can you put the wind in your pocket? Can you catch a rainbow? No! Such is Mango!"

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

Thanks! I am creative.

However, I'm also lazy as f*ck, so I just looked around my room and thought that something like this...

...might be cool. Ya know, all classic and all but, like, upside downy and sh!t.

If I think of something else cool, then I'll let you know. I'll also probably copyright it and sue your ass, though.

:bigeyes: sue away, that gave me a raging brainer

(in which I begin to think a lot)

Thank you sweet baby Kam. I like the metal flake too. In fact, why don't you just come over here and build the thing?!

P.S. What is that, a Jag-Stang?



Edit: it's a Squier Supersonic

 

[dd12939]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

The Jag/Jazz mashup looks like the Fender version of the Schecter Avenger to me. I mean that in a good way.

 

[Kam]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

I like the metal flake too. In fact, why don't you just come over here and build the thing?!

I'd love to, but you'd never be able to get rid of the blood stains after I kill myself with power tools. Not to mention that your house is going to be impossible to sell when my ghost is wondering about drinking all your beer and restringing your guitars upside down while you sleep.

P.S. What is that, a Jag-Stang?



Edit: it's a Squier Supersonic

That it is, good sir. I've actually been thinking about routing a new control cavity to place the controls in a more conventional place under the bridge, but I'm scared that if I remove any more weight from it, it will actually convert itself into helium and float straight into the upper atmosphere.

Speaking of which, if you're seriously considering an upside down sort of shape, be wary of neck heaviness. I would think that moving the strap button farther back could really screw with the balance of an instrument with the long scale length of a bass.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: I6 Builds a 5 String Bass

I'd love to, but you'd never be able to get rid of the blood stains after I kill myself with power tools. Not to mention that your house is going to be impossible to sell when my ghost is wondering about drinking all your beer and restringing your guitars upside down while you sleep.



That it is, good sir. I've actually been thinking about routing a new control cavity to place the controls in a more conventional place under the bridge, but I'm scared that if I remove any more weight from it, it will actually convert itself into helium and float straight into the upper atmosphere.

Speaking of which, if you're seriously considering an upside down sort of shape, be wary of neck heaviness. I would think that moving the strap button farther back could really screw with the balance of an instrument with the long scale length of a bass.

:laughing:

And thanks for the pointer on the neck dive issue.

If a bass has to be one thing, it's balanced.