Body design feedback

no1likesme · #1 05-10-2008, 12:05 PM

I am planning on building my first bass this summer and was wondering if I could get some feedback on my design

If it helps I plan on painting the top, bottom, and headstock purple with metal flake and the sides (and maybe back of neck) will be solid white

no1likesme · #2 05-10-2008, 01:37 PM

no opinions?

Sandu · #3 05-10-2008, 02:18 PM

I don't really like it, there's something missing. Nonetheless, I have a suggestion: maybe the whole thing would come together better if you'd have the end of the fretboard to follow the angle of the pickups, and with a slight arch to it (there's a pic of a fretless Conklin 6 somewhere on the forum, that's what I'm talking about). That fenderish fretboard with rounded corners doesn't really fit, IMO.

On a second thought, why don't you try a more offset waist, similar to a jazz, and raise the bridge-pup-neck assembly a bit. And either lengthen the top horn, or deepen the lower cutaway, or both, to get rid of the whale-like appearance.

Try any of these and see what you like, 'cause I tend to modify every shape slowly until it resembles either a jazz or an ESP B-type

.

Arx · #4 05-10-2008, 02:41 PM

looks a bit chunky right now. I'd recommend finding a computer program where you can draw with Bezier splines. It makes it a lot easier to tweak until you get something really good.

northwalianbass · #5 05-10-2008, 03:02 PM

I'd agree with Sandu and have the fretboard end the same angle and the pickups. Also if you continue the lower horn cutaway line through the neck into the upper horn so its more flowing. You could make the lower horn slightly smaller as well IMO.

If i were you I would trace round the body of your existing bass to have a shape then draw your design over it it thick pen, so its to scale and keep the width the same and where the stomach bevel is and the components. Then either cut it out and stick it to some cardboard or redraw it onto card or MDF and cut it out. That way you have a full scale drawing.

Have you designed the headstock yet?

I'm rubbish on pro-desktop so i had a go on paint

no1likesme · #6 05-10-2008, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandu

I don't really like it, there's something missing. Nonetheless, I have a suggestion: maybe the whole thing would come together better if you'd have the end of the fretboard to follow the angle of the pickups, and with a slight arch to it (there's a pic of a fretless Conklin 6 somewhere on the forum, that's what I'm talking about). That fenderish fretboard with rounded corners doesn't really fit, IMO.

On a second thought, why don't you try a more offset waist, similar to a jazz, and raise the bridge-pup-neck assembly a bit. And either lengthen the top horn, or deepen the lower cutaway, or both, to get rid of the whale-like appearance.

Try any of these and see what you like, 'cause I tend to modify every shape slowly until it resembles either a jazz or an ESP B-type

.

thanks for the comments, I do need to raise the bridge, pups, and neck a bit. I really want to stay away from the fender jazz style. The reason for the "whale-like" appearance is that I was taking some elements from a few of my favorite basses including the Rumblefish, and the Bongo.

I will have to play around with the neck shape a bit and see if that helps.

Thanks for the ideas.

sir juice · #7 05-10-2008, 03:16 PM

You can do more with a pencil and a rubber ("eraser" for you yanks) that you ever could do on paint (coming from an awful drawer)

no1likesme · #8 05-10-2008, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by northwalianbass

I'd agree with Sandu and have the fretboard end the same angle and the pickups. Also if you continue the lower horn cutaway line through the neck into the upper horn so its more flowing. You could make the lower horn slightly smaller as well IMO.

If i were you I would trace round the body of your existing bass to have a shape then draw your design over it it thick pen, so its to scale and keep the width the same and where the stomach bevel is and the components. Then either cut it out and stick it to some cardboard or redraw it onto card or MDF and cut it out. That way you have a full scale drawing.

Have you designed the headstock yet?

I'm rubbish on pro-desktop so i had a go on paint

No headstock yet.

I intended to have the upper horn cutaway line up with the lower but I redrew it quickly to elongate the upper horn and I missed it (I am not sure if that sentence makes sense but you get the idea).

Thanks

**Rodent** · #9 05-10-2008, 03:31 PM

without seeing everything (including neck and headstock) drawn to scale it's really difficult to offer anything constructive about the overall design. so much about a headstock design can make or break the body concept - proof is the Bongo, where it's ugly by itself yet works just fine when the headstock is introduced

having everything to scale also allows the eye to see the interplay with balance and symmetry more easily and accurately

all the best,

R

eleonn · #10 05-10-2008, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by northwalianbass

Hey North... nice singlecut

...any change to get it in a fanned fret version?

Siegy · #11 05-10-2008, 03:34 PM

Looks kinda rumblefish-y

More specifically the pickup configuration, the rounded neck heel, and the upper horn.

Nick Kay · #12 05-10-2008, 03:58 PM

Offset the waist a bit more and slim the shoulders/horns down a touch, IMO. Visually speaking, it would look better if the pickups slanted in the other direction, with the end of the fretboard following suit, but I know there are tonal reasons for slanting the pickups in the way you have them. In either case, have the end of the fretboard slant with the pickups. With a little work, this could end up looking like the bastard offspring of a Fender Jag and a Bongo. VERY cool so far.

northwalianbass · #13 05-10-2008, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eleonn

Hey North... nice singlecut

...any change to get it in a fanned fret version?

Unfortuantly i only offer it in 2D black and white at the moment in 1280x1024 res

Then again i might be able to design a one string fanned version

Arx · #14 05-10-2008, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sir juice

You can do more with a pencil and a rubber ("eraser" for you yanks) that you ever could do on paint (coming from an awful drawer)

Maybe you can, but I can't. I'm much better with a mouse and keyboard than i am with a pencil and paper.

being able to draw a rough shape with bezier curves, and then tweak it non-destructively is really cool.

If I don't like the direction something is taking, hit ctrl-z a few times and try again.

The other upside is that once I have a shape I like I can extrude it into 3d and test-fit everything.

Then when it comes time to start cutting, I can print out a scale copy to stick to the body for cutting/drilling etc.

-Nick

Al Heeley · #15 05-10-2008, 07:36 PM

Guitar body shapes are a very personal thing. To be honest, i would not ask for anyone's advice on this, just try different variations until one grabs you and go from there. By all means ask opinions about pickup positioning and choice of wood, details on routing for fret fitting, etc. but someone elses opinion of your guitar body shape, well what's the point? (OK, I don't like it but it is your guitar, make it the way you want it.)

eleonn · #16 05-10-2008, 07:59 PM

Well sometimes you look at the body you designed and theres something wrong but cant see it. If you ask someone else to look at it can, he/she can find the wrong part or guide you to a nicer shape. If you like that new way you didnt thought about... fine. If not, you keep on your way and that is. Sometimes you want something original and didnt notice that your "original" shape looks pretty much to someone elses shape so if you ask another guy can notice it and tell you. There is no worng with me about asking. Actually Ill do it in a few months

.

Arx · #17 05-10-2008, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eleonn

Well sometimes you look at the body you designed and theres something wrong but cant see it. If you ask someone else to look at it can, he/she can find the wrong part or guide you to a nicer shape. If you like that new way you didnt thought about... fine. If not, you keep on your way and that is. Sometimes you want something original and didnt notice that your "original" shape looks pretty much to someone elses shape so if you ask another guy can notice it and tell you. There is no worng with me about asking. Actually Ill do it in a few months

.

I think people need to stop worrying about making their stuff look original. So many diy basses honestly look pretty awful, because people are too worried about them looking like something else.

Original work can overlap with stuff that already exists.

-Nick

eleonn · #18 05-10-2008, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arx

I'm much better with a mouse and keyboard than i am with a pencil and paper.

being able to draw a rough shape with bezier curves, and then tweak it non-destructively is really cool.

If I don't like the direction something is taking, hit ctrl-z a few times and try again.
-Nick

I do both and Im not good at any though. After having a close scratch of what I want I took a pic of the draw, import it into Autocad and then tweak the draw to have it curves flowing nicely.

For me making, curves from zero its a bitch!!

no1likesme · #19 05-10-2008, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siegy

Looks kinda rumblefish-y

More specifically the pickup configuration, the rounded neck heel, and the upper horn.

the design is definitely influenced by the rumblefish (I actually was looking at that picture when I drew it).

and with the headstock I was thinking some sort of combination between the reverend one and a callowhill in a 3+1 tuner config (i don't know if that is a good description but it makes sense to me)

no1likesme · #20 05-10-2008, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arx

I think people need to stop worrying about making their stuff look original. So many diy basses honestly look pretty awful, because people are too worried about them looking like something else.

Original work can overlap with stuff that already exists.

-Nick

I am not worried about looking too original as I have ripped off the rumblefish pretty badly.