Hello, I'm a 16-year-old with a passion for Bass Guitar (figures...).

I'd like to know many things concerning the assembling of my own bass.

Is it practical?

Is it affordable? /// Will I save money by assembling it myself?

Is it difficult?

How much background knowledge will I need to know?


I realize these are major questions, but I am very interested to know these things.

I'm 17 with the same questions. Here's what I've learned.

1. Not really.
2. Not in the short run, but in the long run, yes.
3. Very.
4. Tons, including woodworking, geometry and trigonometry, how to read schematics, the favorite colors and movies of everyone at your local radio shack, how to use a soldering iron, and how long your body can go without sleep.

Thank you for your concise replies.

Now let me add some details:

I am not planning on cutting everything and making my bass from scratch. I am interested in buying the parts and assembling them. I feel is more feasible, more practical, and will make a better bass.

to tell you the truth, it all depends on how 'handy' you are. Setting up a bass is something that was very natural for me even when I started playing at 14, but most people pay $50 - $250 depending on the complexity of the setup job ...I just tinkered with everything on it until I got it the way I wanted it ...this eventually led to my friends wanting me to setup their basses and guitars ...and now to building them.

Some of the things you'll need to do assuming that you're putting together from finished parts (eg, warmoth, mighty mite, allparts, etc):

(from more likely to least likely)

1. adjust bridge saddles
2. adjust truss rod
3. cut a nut
4. maybe drill some holes (tuners, bridge, strap pins, etc)
5. do a fret leveling and redress job

Here's what everyone should read should they wish to build from parts/modify/setup they own instrument.

Dan Erlewine's "Guitar Player Repair Guide"

Read it and then decide if you're up to it or not.

geometry and trigonometry

These skills are not necessary to assemble a bass.

Have you looked at Carvin? I've built many of their bass kits. Only $419.


http://www.carvin.com/products/single.php?ItemNumber=BK4&CID=BKBN


Mike

I'm working on a project and posted a thread about it. Check it out. http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=316006

Assembeling your own bass is relativly easy. Building one from scratch is a different story. Unless your looking to make something that is not available on the market that you customize, its usually cheaper just to go ahead and buy a stock bass than assemble from parts. I started messing around with set up, repair and assembably when i was about 16, its not rocket science and yes like phil said Dan Erlewine's "Guitar Player Repair Guide" is a good start.

Here's another vote for Erlewine's book. it's available used on Ebay and it's WELL worth the cost even if you never work on your own instruemnt. You will learn so much about guitars from reading it that you will come out far ahead.

And my vote is that for anyone handy with tools and who is willing to take time and be careful with your work, assembling a parts guitar (and experimenting with setting it up) is somewhat time consuming, but very practical.

for your first parts guitar, be sure to buy quality tolerance controlled parts from a reliable supplier. it's going to cost you a little more upfront, but everything should fit correctly without any major modifications.

once you know how it's all supposed to come together, then you can start looking at the cheap stuff if you think you have the skills to eventually scrap it and instead build from raw materials

all the best,

R

Hello, I'm a 16-year-old with a passion for Bass Guitar (figures...).

I'd like to know many things concerning the assembling of my own bass.

Is it practical?

Is it affordable? /// Will I save money by assembling it myself?

Is it difficult?

How much background knowledge will I need to know?


I realize these are major questions, but I am very interested to know these things.

yes
yes///no
no
not much