Bodyless bass

LotusCarsLtd52 · #1 12-09-2009, 09:55 AM

I really like these Frame Works guitars (http://www.frameworks-guitars.com/look.html) and I was curious if the same could be done with bass.

The idea would be similar except the bass would have actual pickups rather than being an acoustic bass (I think the Frame Works is more meant to be an acoustic and not electric instrument).

Since it lacks a body how would it sound--i.e. would it lack anything by having no body? Could the electronics make-up for it? How much would something like that cost to make?

M0ses · #2 12-09-2009, 09:57 AM

No, it is electric. Some kind of outlandish sensor system, converting to MIDI. But that has nothing to do with the overall "stick" construction technique.

Les Paul invented the solobody, and his first one looked a lot like that - there were no body wings on the first solidbody electric guitar. It was referred to as "the log".

Bardley · #3 12-09-2009, 10:00 AM

They have already been made...

LotusCarsLtd52 · #4 12-09-2009, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M0ses

No, it is electric. Some kind of outlandish sensor system, converting to MIDI. But that has nothing to do with the overall "stick" construction technique.

Les Paul invented the solobody, and his first one looked a lot like that - there were no body wings on the first solidbody electric guitar. It was referred to as "the log".

What about tone? How would it sound?

And I actually came-up with a crazy idea but I have no clue if it would work. I discovered when looking at the Ibanez website that you could buy replacement parts for anything on your bass...a neck included. Is this just a n00bish fantasy or would it actually be possible to buy a neck from Ibanez, give it to a luthier and have them make the "body-stick-thing-on-the-bottom-end-of-the-instrument" along with wings?

A custom instrument would be preferable, but this seems like a fun project nonetheless.

LotusCarsLtd52 · #5 12-09-2009, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bardley

They have already been made...

I've seen those before but heard a lot of bad things about them re: construction, etc.

The idea would be to create something like the Frame Works in terms of design (clean modern design, looks like a work of art you could just as easily hang on your wall as play, etc.)

M0ses · #6 12-09-2009, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LotusCarsLtd52

What about tone? How would it sound?

And I actually came-up with a crazy idea but I have no clue if it would work. I discovered when looking at the Ibanez website that you could buy replacement parts for anything on your bass...a neck included. Is this just a n00bish fantasy or would it actually be possible to buy a neck from Ibanez, give it to a luthier and have them make the "body-stick-thing-on-the-bottom-end-of-the-instrument" along with wings?

A custom instrument would be preferable, but this seems like a fun project nonetheless.

I have no idea how the example you gave would sound. I would guess that they probably tried to make it "acoustic" sounding, with a flat frequency response. How does the "log" body style affect the sound? Not very much. Could you build your own with a pre-supplied neck? Yes. A good luthier would definitely be able to make the bass from scratch. Those frame wings would be more difficult and therefore more expensive.
You can buy anything on the internet.

Sardine · #7 12-09-2009, 11:44 AM

Check out Soloette guitars. They make a frame-type fretless bass.

tbone409 · #8 12-09-2009, 05:05 PM

PWN

Sardine · #9 12-09-2009, 05:11 PM

Awesomeness. Raw, pure, awesomeness.

pilotjones · #10 12-09-2009, 05:51 PM

Here's the Soloette bass. I don't know whether they do fretted.

I've heard that Ibanez parts are expensive. If you find that to be the case, I'd suggest looking at the Carvin thru-body necks.