Topic: ever want to build your own bass? (Read 2978 times)

jeremyr · « **on:** May 09, 2006, 05:40:54 PM »

I've decided that my next project will be to build my own bass from sratch. I'm sure it will take me quie a while to complete, but I want to make my OWN that fits me PERFECTLY. No to mention it would be sweet to have my own bass...lol.

ddwilkins · « **Reply #1 on:** May 09, 2006, 08:27:04 PM »

Yeah, I've thought about it. I'll do it one day.

Dtuned · « **Reply #2 on:** May 09, 2006, 10:58:46 PM »

as close as ive come is.. to completely destroy a perfectly good bass

by defretting and striping it.. refinishing it completely from scratch, just body and neck.. i added new electronics.. the bass was then obviously fretless, it sounded and played well .. but most of all it looked awesome.. translucent blue with maple neck and ebony board..
i sold it on ebay..

if you build it, they will come !!

rob

jeremyr · « **Reply #3 on:** May 09, 2006, 11:55:41 PM »

I think I want to make one with a hollow body so I can actually practice wihtout an amp, but at the same time plug her in and let it rip.

I have a few ideas that i'm starting to sketch out. Maybe i'll post them up and let you the people decide on which one i should attempt to replicate.

djgroovin · « **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2006, 05:16:59 PM »

I thought about...but I would have to go to school (cause I would have to learn how to do it right) and that would take way too much time away from me even learning how to play. Maybe one day when I've mastered the instrument. NOT!!!!

jeremyr · « **Reply #5 on:** May 10, 2006, 05:23:48 PM »

Quote from: djgroovin on May 10, 2006, 05:16:59 PM

I thought about...but I would have to go to school (cause I would have to learn how to do it right) and that would take way too much time away from me even learning how to play. Maybe one day when I've mastered the instrument. NOT!!!!

i don't really think it's that hard of a job more so then tedious.

After looking around at srouces it just seems that you raelly need to plan 1000 times and execute once. If you're doing a bolt on neck then things get even easier.

I've decided that I' goign to build a 34" scale neckthrough 5 string. I like the idea of being able to customize the string spacings and loo of the guiltar to exactly what I want.

Im not to sure on what wood I want to go with for my body or my neck yet. With all that being said I think that once I get everything planned out it should be about a 3 month process with taking VERy slow steps to ensure proper measurement and execution.

O and if you want a cheap bass..don't build it yourself..lol. I'm estimating that after all said and done I should have near $800+ invested in this thing.

ddwilkins · « **Reply #6 on:** May 10, 2006, 06:43:12 PM »

I've come up with a design, and everything. Just haven't done it.

mr.dj · « **Reply #7 on:** May 10, 2006, 08:14:24 PM »

Lords willing myself and my friend will start our own line of basses summer of 07

Dtuned · « **Reply #8 on:** May 10, 2006, 11:46:49 PM »

jeremyr,
you've got me thinking. i think your first bass is going to take the bulk of costs, but if you build more at a later time you will have absorbed some of the costs from building the first bass as im sure you will have left over materials.. ie, frets, wire,etc..
i guess the hardest thing would be to source out your woods.. perhaps electronics would be the most costly.. but overall you should come out ahead if you build more than one, other than that your bass will cost you all of that $800 figure..

when you think about it, spending $1200 or more on a warwick, fender, musicman aint really nothing in the big picture..

rob

jeremyr · « **Reply #9 on:** May 11, 2006, 06:54:14 AM »

Quote from: Dtuned on May 10, 2006, 11:46:49 PM

when you think about it, spending $1200 or more on a warwick, fender, musicman aint really nothing in the big picture..

rob

it really isn't. I have a new outlook on bass pricing now after doing this research.

Sourcing the wood is my main task now. I'm not exactly sure what I want to use and I need to find out the characteristics of what wood sounds like what. then after that I need to find out hwere I can get that.

Ransome-notez · « **Reply #10 on:** May 11, 2006, 07:33:00 AM »

I have wanted to build one and my own amp or cab, but never got around to it!!

Cherri · « **Reply #11 on:** May 11, 2006, 12:41:31 PM »

Yes. Yes. I am research the foundation of the instrument at this point, God willing this is in my path. Blessings!

sixstringpoet · « **Reply #12 on:** May 16, 2006, 05:51:59 PM »

has anyone thought of maybe buying a neck for a neckthrough bass from Carvin, the frets ,fret board and everything are already installed. you just have to put the body wings on. they have many options and the hard work is already done for you. if i was handy at woodworking this is definitely the route i would go. anybody here any good with woodworking ?

jeremyr · « **Reply #13 on:** May 16, 2006, 08:29:37 PM »

Quote from: sixstringpoet on May 16, 2006, 05:51:59 PM

anybody here any good with woodworking ?

I come from a family of famers and carpenters, so I've learned my fair share of working and shaping wood. The process is VERY straight forward, just alot of attention to detail is needed. I finisehd the sketch of my design that i'm going for and i'll post it up here shortly. Hopefully if all goes according to plan I'll be playing her at the lastest in August.

Dtuned · « **Reply #14 on:** May 16, 2006, 10:27:52 PM »

i hope everything goes as planned as im looking forward to hearing you play that thang in august.. you've got me wanting to try this someday when i have more time.. like perhaps 6 months from now

..

have you decided on electronics??

rob

jeremyr · « **Reply #15 on:** May 16, 2006, 11:17:11 PM »

i'm not sure about electronics yet.

I love my EMG's on my schecter, but I want to go out and get the feel for some others. I'm leaning towards making throwing in an EMG and a humbucker....not sure.

I finally decided on the wood for my bass.

It's going to be an Alder body with a Spalted maple top. Hopefully i'l lhave my design up on the net tonigth and i can share my future plans.

sixstringpoet · « **Reply #16 on:** May 17, 2006, 12:46:53 AM »

this is the neck that i was referring to earlier. slap two body wings on there and you have a perfectly customized bass. if i could find someone out here to glue some swamp ash body wings to that neck, i feel i could form and shape a nice bass body by myself. you can tell them not to shape the headstock and leave it blank. they also offer a five piece neck and wide string spacing. let me hear some feedback. anyone see any flaws in this dream of mine ?

peace

jeremyr · « **Reply #17 on:** May 17, 2006, 07:08:57 AM »

Quote from: sixstringpoet on May 17, 2006, 12:46:53 AM

this is the neck that i was referring to earlier. slap two body wings on there and you have a perfectly customized bass. if i could find someone out here to glue some swamp ash body wings to that neck, i feel i could form and shape a nice bass body by myself. you can tell them not to shape the headstock and leave it blank. they also offer a five piece neck and wide string spacing. let me hear some feedback. anyone see any flaws in this dream of mine ?

peace

i loked into that after you brought it up and I think it's a great idea. The only gripe i have is that i wouldn' be able to do custom inlays on the fretboard, which is one of the major things that I want to do. I think it's a great idea, but then again youcan't relaly feel what the neck is like so you're kind of taking a gamble.

Dtuned · « **Reply #18 on:** May 17, 2006, 08:35:12 AM »

you could still put in your custom inlays.. a-matter-of-fact i think carvin (which is a Christian based company) will install them for you, my only gripe is... its still a carvin neck

.. not your design, let alone a design custom made for your feel/hands.. how often do you find yourself freting the body?
If you were to design your own neck i think coring for the truss rod would be your biggest challenge.. If it were me, (maybe someday it will be).. id find a local luthier, get buddy-buddy and throw him a few bones to do some of the stuff that would be out of reach, both financially and skillfully. (like buying a drill press or whatever that can core the neck 35" plus... the rest i think is pretty straight forward..
its just a matter of choosing the right glues for resonance etc, all the little things matter !! as much as the woods... id for sure go with brass nut hands down.. first bass id keep electronics simple and do bartaloni precision/jazz active pickups.. or emgs whatever.. obviously price will be an issue.. remember when it comes to sound, the finish also plays a role in this thing.

again the truss rod is where id have a prob, cuz i cant think of a correct way to do it at home without the cost of major machinery.. this is the key, you bore it with the slightest bow and your in buzz city..

btw, i happen to like carvin great stores/people.. when i bought the equipment for the church in california we went carvin... outstanding quality for the buck..
peace,
rob

jeremyr · « **Reply #19 on:** May 17, 2006, 10:12:12 AM »

I'm with you on the neck still being a carvin. It just doesn't work for me, but for others it may be a viable option. I've found that my palms are very picky about the feel of the neck and what better way to make my palms happy then make it myself...lol.

On the truss rod issue. My plan is just to buy an adjustable truss rod and be done with it. I want to make my own, but my own truss rod would just be too much...lol

Author Topic: ever want to build your own bass? (Read 2978 times)