BO, NT or Set for first bass.

Absentia · #1 12-30-2009, 05:52 AM

The wife got me a gigantic piece of walnut for christmas (I can probably get 3 guitars out of it) and a large plank of Bubinga 7'x10"x1".

Thinking of my first build I was wondering which would be preferred (as a first build) to start it off a neck through, bolt on or set neck.

I neck through 6 would be ideal but I'm wondering if it's too big of a bite to start with.

Thanks all

jworrellbass · #2 12-30-2009, 07:05 AM

There have been a few post reguarding "first builds". Most of the builders here (including myself) think of the first few builds as trial and error, but a great learning experience. If you have some really great wood and want it to be on your dream bass I woundn't use it for your first few builds, you might want to save it until you get your chops down. I would buy some cheaper wood and practice, practice and practice. Read as much as you can, do your homework and ask questions. The builders here are more than happy to share their advice. Read the build post and ask.

Good luck, you'll love it. Instrument building is totally addicting.

John

ack · #3 12-30-2009, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jworrellbass

There have been a few post reguarding "first builds". Most of the builders here (including myself) think of the first few builds as trial and error, but a great learning experience. If you have some really great wood and want it to be on your dream bass I woundn't use it for your first few builds, you might want to save it until you get your chops down. I would buy some cheaper wood and practice, practice and practice. Read as much as you can, do your homework and ask questions. The builders here are more than happy to share their advice. Read the build post and ask.

John

That's great advice for the OP.
I thought I had it down before my first build (I studied and read and watched dozens of builds), and at the last minute changed the plan from Walnut to Alder.

Everything was going fantastic, then 1 slip. Ruined the neck pocket beyond repair and only cried a little bit. Had it been that beautiful hunk of Walnut...

Good luck with your choice.

Steve

Rickett Customs · #4 12-30-2009, 07:14 AM

I started with NT, but that's my preference. If you can get 3 bodies out of the walnut, why not try all 3? One at a time though, you'll learn that the 3 are different, in the way you construct them, neck wise.

Rickett Customs · #5 12-30-2009, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ack

Had it been that beautiful hunk of Walnut...

Good luck with your choice.

Steve

I guess depending on the area you're at. There's tons of black walnut where I'm at.

roberthabraken · #6 12-30-2009, 08:22 AM

Most of the time, they recommend BO for a first build, because that leaves a bit more room for mistakes. If you screw up one of the two parts, you don't screw up the whole instrument at once. Also, final adjustment is easier than Set or NT.

I did BO on my first build and I liked this way of working. Another advantage is that your working piece is smaller than handling the whole instrument constantly with NT.

Oh.. and by the way.. first builds could be absolutely great! Go for it. Be patient. Practice on scrap in the meantime. Be precise. Then, it'll be a succes.

DanSwain · #7 12-30-2009, 08:29 AM

I'd go with Jason on the Neck-Through design for the first - having the neck as a reference point for, well, everything (!) really helped me. I bet everyone has a different preference though, so depending on your methods you might find one style of Bass to be best for you.

John's advice is well worth taking into account though! I started with Poplar and Maple with 2 Padauk strips

Rickett Customs · #8 12-30-2009, 08:45 AM

Not to say that Robert's way of doing a bolt on is any more less/more difficult, negative/positive.
Starting a mock NT (out of wood you can obtain in your area), will enable you to perfect your glue joints, being that it's all glued together, but again just my preference (NT). It'll also teach you the best way to do things in order, depending on which way will be the easiest. The final adjustment on a SN, is somewhat different, depending on whether you angle the neck pocket or the neck portion that sits in the pocket (neck angle). With a NT, I do a "body angle", instead of a "neck angle".

But I'm getting ahead of myself here. If you have not already, Absentia, time to do some reading and research, before diving in, It will benefit you greatly.

Search for:

http://www.amazon.com/Make-Your-Own-.../dp/0953104907

and

http://www.amazon.com/Building-Elect.../dp/3901314075

I suggest these books because this is how I started.

Lonnybass · #9 12-30-2009, 08:56 AM

About eight or nine years ago when I built my first bass (the zebrawood NT pictured in my avatar) I opted to build a full-scale test prototype out of pine. It was the best thing I could have done!

Total cost = $3.

Knowledge and value = Priceless

Diving headfirst into a build is definitely exhilarating, but how you proceed and how well your bass turns out will be dependent on your comfort level and familiarity with all the various tooling required, and with all the various process workflows needed to get the job done right. I've seen some poor fellas on here make terrible mistakes from lack of planning and forward thinking - we've all done it (me included!).

If you're comfortable with making a neck pocket, I'd go the bolt-on route as mentioned above - easier to adjust and if you goof up one or the other the whole thing isn't ruined. But really, build a test model out of scrap. You'll

Ultimately, I think you'll get the actual bass built faster because you'll 1) know what you are doing, and 2) won't spend nearly as much time going back to correct the little niggling mistakes.

Lonnybass

mikeyswood · #10 12-30-2009, 09:13 AM

psst. Lonny: there's no avatar showing...

Absentia · #11 12-30-2009, 09:46 AM

Great advise, I already have the first book mentioned (beastly amounts of info).
If I wasn't planning on using this wood for the first few builds what would be the best way to store it? right now it's kinda hanging out in my basement on a few 2x4s on it's side near the furnace.

I'm also working under the watchful eye of my dad and his best friend which will help, plus his friend has an amazing shop.

I think I'm going to start by taking and old bass and making a new body then neck for it (good idea?).

Your advice is great, and I think I need to slow down my excitement and take it slow for now.

Lonnybass · #12 12-30-2009, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyswood

psst. Lonny: there's no avatar showing...

Weird...where'd it go? Ok, checking on it.

Absentia · #13 12-31-2009, 03:23 AM

looks like you forgot to pay your dues.