Brainstorming: 4-string Shorty Backpacker/Traveller Bass

xsogol · #1 01-02-2009, 10:48 PM

Hi Guys,

I've been thinking about building a cheap, functional practice bass that I can use on the commuter train to and from work and during lunch. I've got a bunch of interesting "parts" lying around and a couple of ideas, but I know you guys have a ton of experience and know-how that maybe this idea can take more shape. No my main aim is space economy (not only length, but number of extra parts/wires should be minimal) quickly followed by functionality...I don't care much about aesthetics but I will try to make sure it is not totally ugly.

So here's my basic thought:

I buy an SX shorty neck like this:

hack off the headstock and put on headless tuning hardware or do one of those rear tuning machine deals with the tuners facing down ala a banjo or classical guitar. Or maybe even a cool rear tuner design like RAHAZ cam up with in this thread (see pic below...disregard the number of strings and scale length). I don't know yet.

Build a tiny body (probably made of maple) with a single pickup (which I will probably wind...may a single rail or dual rail humbucker) with volume and tone controls and a switchable output jack (I will explain further in a sec).

I also have sitting around, a Dean Bass In A Box which is easy to take apart:

and an old creative Zen 512 mb MP3 player (which already has a broken case but the circuits are fully intact and working):

I'm thinking of wiring the headphone out to a volume and blend pot to blend the signal from the pickup and the MP3 player and wire up some common power supply that powers both the amplifier and the mp3 player. I'd like the Bass In a Box/MP3 unit to also detach and work as a standalone practice headphone amp and to put a toggle switch in the bass to switch between using the practice unit (when "plugged in" to the bass") or the output jack (if I want to plug into a real amp).

I have no idea how to do all this, but I can solder well and can work well enough with wood. It sounds like the ultimate, self-contained, minimal wires needed practice bass for the train in my head though and I'd love for your input! Thanks!

BassBilodeau · #2 01-03-2009, 09:12 AM

Very interesting project! I though of something like that while a go: a travel bass with embedded amp, suitable for motorcycle travel.

Anyway, I was thinking about your MP3 player. I think it would be much easier and flexible to have a pocket with an input phone jack inside. Like many "mp3 player compatible" radio, an iPod or anyother kind of mp3 player could be plugged into the bass and the music would be mixed with the bass sound. A simple mixing circuit can be done with a op-amp and powered by two 9V batteries. Hi-Vi Research makes cheap and good small size woofer. Adding a headphone jack is quite simple too.

But, overall, I would build it completly from scracth instead of starting from a neck. I would do a much shorter scale also, but that's just my opinion.

For electronic questions, take a look at an other really interesting forum: www.diyaudio.com

Good luck!

xsogol · #3 01-03-2009, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassBilodeau

Very interesting project! I though of something like that while a go: a travel bass with embedded amp, suitable for motorcycle travel.

Anyway, I was thinking about your MP3 player. I think it would be much easier and flexible to have a pocket with an input phone jack inside. Like many "mp3 player compatible" radio, an iPod or anyother kind of mp3 player could be plugged into the bass and the music would be mixed with the bass sound. A simple mixing circuit can be done with a op-amp and powered by two 9V batteries. Hi-Vi Research makes cheap and good small size woofer. Adding a headphone jack is quite simple too.

But, overall, I would build it completly from scracth instead of starting from a neck. I would do a much shorter scale also, but that's just my opinion.

For electronic questions, take a look at an other really interesting forum: www.diyaudio.com

Good luck!

Thanks! I was thinking the blend circuit wouldn't be too complicated. I'll take a look at diyaudio...looks promising!