I'm a bass player of nearly 40 yrs. I have had my share of the limelight as a bassist here & there and am more of a player than a luthier. I work these days as a finish carpenter in some very high end resort spec homes here around Park City, Utah. I would love to build a 5 or 6 string fretless bass to my specs, but the one thing that I would have to do a LOT of research on would be the truss rod and graphite reinforcement (if necessary). So I'm pretty well tooled up and experienced in woodworking to do most of the work, but I'd like to, if possible, pay someone to build a 35" fretless neck-thru for me. 2nd choice is a bolt on... I'll do the rest. I have a 4 yr old here at home, a 17 yr old in college and simply not enough time or experience in this area. In other words - I'm pretty busy with about as much as I can do!
So, would any of you be willing to pursue such an undertaking?

You are going to pay to someone to do the funniest part of guitar building!!

There was a thread two or three days ago like yours and not all guys in here were up to this kind of jobs so one option is to get a neck and fingerboard from Warmoth or some place like that. The other option is to give it a shot anyway, look some guys in here who show their work, pick up the one you like the most and PM him.

So I'm pretty well tooled up and experienced in woodworking to do most of the work,

+1 on eleonn.

You have everything you need to do it yourself. It is the easiest part of making IMO/E.
C-clamps, wood, and glue. Start a thread and people here will walk you through it. OR look in the HOW-TOs The Magic Mods have posted links to a few tutorials.

There are some really good builders here who could build you the full instrument, no problem. Be on the lookout for PMs.

That said, with 3 kids myself and a healthy frequent flyer account, I know exactly where you're coming from regarding time. It took me 7 months to finish my last instrument, and that was a speed record for me. It is still very satisfying.

And you don't have have to rush. Nobody will kill you if you don't finish the bass in one month. Go at your own pace with the little free time you have. We are going to DEMAND some pics though!! :)

If you are an experienced woodworker, are already tooled up AND have a lot of experience as a bass player, you already know what you want and how to get it. The details about the insides of a neck can be had by getting Hyscock's (why does it always seem weird to say his name? :cool: ) or Koch's books. Probably the most problematic issues for my first few basses were not having adequate tools for the job and not having experience with how to shape wood, both of which you already have.

See...toldja. Lotsa help if youdo it. :bassist:

You are going to pay to someone to do the funniest part of guitar building!!...

I can never stop laughing while I'm carving necks ;)

He might have meant funnest, which is, to me too, the funnest part of building. and YES !!! please do build it all yourself !!! once completed youll tell people you built the bass, then youll have to tell em you didnt build the neck though... Its not all that hard and it is really cool to build a bass from scratch. Good Luck... If ever you still arent comfortable with the idea of building it yourself, Id be willing to build something for you, you can PM if you wish. Peace

You can get what you're looking for from Carvin, I think. NT5 "through the body neck" with fretless option. BUT once you're done you'll wish you'd done it yourself. It sounds like you have way more woodworking skills and experience than I do, and I wouldn't give up shaping the neck for the world. Try the basics on scrap (rout for a trussrod and cut and shape a neck without worrying much about headstock and body) and then post again and thank us all for our sage advice. Seriously, try it and you won't be sorry.

Some of the most talented here on TB have already shared their views and I agree with them 100 percent. Take on the task. You will be very satisfied with what you accomplish. We've all been there at some point. Post your queries and the tb luthiers will assist.

Well. OK then... you guys make it sound like so much fun, how can I resist?
THANKS for your comments and encouragement!
Scott