new detachable neck bass

[Silversorcerer]

Very, very, cool work, Tobias. I recently spoke with a really fantastic famouse DB player who I saw playing a Czech-ease for the first time. He is not happy with the airlines or the Czech-ease. Next time I see him, I'm sending him to you.

[McGryff]

After the soundpost issue, my biggest question with detachable neck acoustic basses is this: how do you take the strings off? Offhand, it would seem quite inefficient to unwind the strings at the pegs each time. Would there be a bridge with a similar design to the Eminence, where you can just unhook the strings at the ball end when the tension is off them? Then you can fasten them to the neck for transport with a velcro cable tie or something.

I've got a carved Shen too, and I'd love to have it modified with a removable neck, but that would probably cost as much as a new travel bass. So, I'm hoping that Shen eventually jumps into the travel bass arena, since it's going to become a much bigger market between airline issues & gas prices here in the States!

[tobytimber]

Ryan,
there is no need for a special design, you just unwind the strings a little bit, they are then fixed to the neck with a rubber coated velcro strap. Then you can take the bridge off and have enough slack in the strings to unhook the tailpiece. No time consuming and string unfriendly un and upwinding, just a couple of turns is all it needs. Quick an easy.
By the way, I have found a way to make converting a bass even easier and quicker, if it wasn't for the distance it would be well worth converting your Shen. The case is the expensive part, unfortunately to make it light weight and strong enough, carbon fibre is the only option and that stuff is expensive.

[McGryff]

Excellent info, and good to know. Now that I think about how it all works, that makes perfect sense. With the slack in the strings after the bridge comes off, it would be easy to take them right out at the bridge.

Duh.

The fellows who design the Shens live here in Rochester, NY, and next time I take her in for a look-over or anything I'll probably talk to them about the whole idea and see what they say. I'm not likely to downsize my vehicle anytime soon, so there's no rush on getting a new bass or converting this one. I'd like to move in that direction eventually, and I get to take a little while to watch what the trends and technology do.

BTW, very nice website Tobias.... looks like you do some beautiful work!