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10-11-2012, 02:11 PM
| | | | barebones build
so im down in mexico for a few more months and i'd like to build a bass for fun. i have access to the usual handtools, but no lathes, or bandsaws or anything fancy.
what do you think; can i do it?
what tools would i need for a barebones job?
sandpaper, glue, hacksaw?
thanks guys |
10-11-2012, 02:17 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Columbia, SC | | 1st Build - Power Tool-Free Pine Body
Anyone can do it! But it's go***mn hard without power tools.
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Dingwall ABZ5 + Circle K Strings + Yamaha BBT500H + Bass Big Muff + Low Down Sound 3-way 1x12"
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10-11-2012, 02:19 PM
| | | | i have a drill :P |
10-11-2012, 02:24 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Columbia, SC | | | I recommend a power drill and jigsaw. And lots of clamps.
__________________
Dingwall ABZ5 + Circle K Strings + Yamaha BBT500H + Bass Big Muff + Low Down Sound 3-way 1x12"
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10-11-2012, 02:43 PM
| | Registered User
Beta tester for Positive Grid | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Willow Street, PA | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by TheEmptyCell | +1!! |
10-11-2012, 02:49 PM
| | | | ive been reading the other build pages and photo blogs on here and i forgot all about trussrods.
**** around... how am i going to install, or even find, a truss rod in mexico...
can i do a neckthrough without a trussrod? is this a really bad idea or just "not advisable"? |
10-11-2012, 05:53 PM
| | | | thanks Martha, but the comments talk about it taking more than 3 weeks to ship |
10-11-2012, 05:58 PM
| | | | Yeah, first I thought he had at least one guitar rod available, but reading the comments I see he's sold it... |
10-11-2012, 09:23 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Columbia, SC | | | You could always do a thicker neck with a non adjustable steel rod, or make your own truss rod. Lots of info out there on DIY truss rods.
__________________
Dingwall ABZ5 + Circle K Strings + Yamaha BBT500H + Bass Big Muff + Low Down Sound 3-way 1x12"
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10-11-2012, 09:29 PM
| | | | can you tell me more of this thicker neck, please?
i'll look into DIY truss rods |
10-12-2012, 03:59 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Ohio | | | Don't overthink it. Fretless, no truss rod, maybe fewer than 4 strings. Leave the neck thick as you can stand it, then over time remove wood for comfort until you've gone too far and the neck starts to bow. Then start over! If you can laminate the neck all the better, and if you can find a nice thick slab of stable hard wood for the FB that will help prevent bow. My poplar necked upright has a 3/4in oak fingerboard and it hasn't moved a bit. Heavy, sure, but solid. |
10-12-2012, 08:34 AM
| | | | by laminate, you mean multiple thin pieces glued together from face of neck to back of neck, yes?
or is this the design i've seen many times where the back of the neck has multiple colored woods? |
10-12-2012, 10:17 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Columbia, SC | | Quote:
Originally Posted by ILLINOX  by laminate, you mean multiple thin pieces glued together from face of neck to back of neck, yes?
or is this the design i've seen many times where the back of the neck has multiple colored woods? | You want the woods of the neck side by side, not top to bottom, so like youre used to seeing necks with different colored strips of wood from the back. This gives them more strength against the pull of the strings.
The ticker you make the new from fingerboard to back will make it stronger against the pull of the strings as well. Upright basses do not have truss rods, and have thicker necks than electric basses.
A company called Wishbass, which produces instruments of questionable (low) quality uses very thick necks with no truss rods. If you make a fat, laminate neck with a thick fingerboard, you could probably get away without a truss rod, but you'll have to make sure the fretboard is perfectly flat before you put frets in. Fretless would make for an easier first build.
Another difficult option for a truss rod would be to find a very cheap bass and remove the truss rod from it. This also gives you the bonus learning experience of seeing exactly how a neck is routed for a truss rod. Routing for a truss rod without a router (as in using a chisel) would be very difficult, though.
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Dingwall ABZ5 + Circle K Strings + Yamaha BBT500H + Bass Big Muff + Low Down Sound 3-way 1x12"
Last edited by TheEmptyCell : 10-12-2012 at 10:20 AM.
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10-12-2012, 04:49 PM
| | | | thanks Empty Cell
I'm probably going to go ahead on the truss rod, as tempting as it is to omit it. and i had actually kicked around the idea of tearing apart another guitar for truss rod, learning and other guts.
what about truss rod length? and i assume they have to start at the headstock and work down? stiffening rods?
edit: i think my stingray had the adjustment in the bottom of the neck... |
11-09-2012, 09:55 PM
| | | | for those interested, the barebones build is not over; it is in fact going strong. but it's not really fair to call her a barebones build anymore; I've found a generous luthier down here that has been very willing to let me use his shop and teach me some things.
I'll post progress pics soon
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Pastachios? No man, I'm full.
working on second build. Mexican barebones.
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11-21-2012, 09:16 PM
| | | if anyone is still interested in following this post, I'm posting new bass build pics almost every day at http://www.flickr.com/photos/8765766...7632030690200/
enjoy
__________________
Pastachios? No man, I'm full.
working on second build. Mexican barebones.
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04-28-2013, 12:19 PM
| | | | Ya! Terminado.
__________________
Pastachios? No man, I'm full.
working on second build. Mexican barebones.
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