Concrete bass

[vintager]

hi everyone,

i would like to finally start with my old idea of building a bass from concrete. it should be 4-string monolithic construction, with (ofcourse) fixed steel rod inside the neck and probably glued fretless fingerboard of some hard wood. (first idea was just all concrete stuff). yes, it will be heavy, but i see it more as a 'playable art' or an experimental instrument for recording. basic thing now is to search for some fine concrete compound.

any suggestions? i'm sure i'm not the first to come up with this but i thing there's no thread about yet..

cheers

%%%

[zazz]

concrete has no natural harmonic frequency ...unless its an earthquake and your in a skyscraper!!!

[vintager]

oh yes.. ; i was just thinking of some different fundamental sound. since it will not be an acoustic instrument and seem to have some sustain due to it's stiffness .. it could work somehow....

[wdinc01]

I guess you could get a piece of plywood or something, cut out the design you want, then sorta build a template from that to poor the concrete in. But then you'd have to put in places for the electronics and pickups.

Honesty, it seems kind of stupid. But hey, if you really wanna make it, I support it. Just don't hurt yourself!

[vintager]

thanks.. im not taking it too serious as well, just a summer garden-project. wait till i post pics and sound clips ! hehe..
template will be from a big block of a poly-foam.

[zazz]

way too much time on your hands!!

[vintager]

you're so cruel ! ;;

[Kibuddy]

When you make the mold for the concrete, just don't forget to find a way to include pickup and control cavities, a neck pocket (if it's a bolt-on), etc. I'd imagine that routing concrete would not be the best of ideas.

[zazz]

lol

[pkr2]

A super idea. Concrete can come in a lot of forms besides sidewalk material. Aerated reinforced concrete is stronger than wood, pound for pound.

They have been building concrete boats for years. The same techniques could be modified to build a bass. The finish can be molded in and cement polishes real nicely: cement countertops.

Are you thinking of a concrete neck?

[zazz]

lol

[pkr2]

Originally Posted by Kibuddy

When you make the mold for the concrete, just don't forget to find a way to include pickup and control cavities, a neck pocket (if it's a bolt-on), etc. I'd imagine that routing concrete would not be the best of ideas.

Why not make it a hollow bdy. Think of the weight saving by eleminating the core.

Actually, cement machines really well. A neckthrough would eleminate the neck pocket, though. The most critical part of the construction.

How about a hybrid using the best of wood and cement?

A cement bass wouldn't go out of adjustment with changes in humidity.

[zazz]

dude

[Kibuddy]

Originally Posted by pkr2

Why not make it a hollow bdy. Think of the weight saving by eleminating the core.

Actually, cement machines really well. A neckthrough would eleminate the neck pocket, though. The most critical part of the construction.

How about a hybrid using the best of wood and cement?

A cement bass wouldn't go out of adjustment with changes in humidity.

A hollow body might be a bit difficult to work with. If it takes one bad hit, I think it would be more prone to crumbling than cracking, making it difficult to repair. It would be much easier on the back, though.

As for machining concrete, I was speaking more in terms of the dust you'd be creating. You'd need a good respirator to work with that stuff.

[pkr2]

Originally Posted by Kibuddy

A hollow body might be a bit difficult to work with. If it takes one bad hit, I think it would be more prone to crumbling than cracking, making it difficult to repair. It would be much easier on the back, though.

As for machining concrete, I was speaking more in terms of the dust you'd be creating. You'd need a good respirator to work with that stuff.

Believe it or not, there is less dust machining cement than wood. Water is sprayed on the cutter and the dust runs off as a "slurry".

I was thinking of building a concrete boat at one time and the research turned up some really hard to believe stuff. A demonstration was once done with cement boat hull. It was hit several times with a sledge hammer and didn't budge.

Cement mixed with chopped fiberglass is commonly used and it has really high impact resistance. Hard to say how strong it would be with Kevlar.

The green thinkers would love it for obvious reasons.

[Sneakyfella]

How about making molds and reverse-molds out of plaster of paris first? It seems like it would be an easier material to work with.

[Kibuddy]

Originally Posted by pkr2

Believe it or not, there is less dust machining cement than wood. Water is sprayed on the cutter and the dust runs off as a "slurry".

I was thinking of building a concrete boat at one time and the research turned up some really hard to believe stuff. A demonstration was once done with cement boat hull. It was hit several times with a sledge hammer and didn't budge.

Cement mixed with chopped fiberglass is commonly used and it has really high impact resistance. Hard to say how strong it would be with Kevlar.

The green thinkers would love it for obvious reasons.

Huh, that's really interesting.

I'm sure that would make for a... rock solid... neck.

[pkr2]

Originally Posted by Kibuddy

Huh, that's really interesting.

I'm sure that would make for a... rock solid... neck.

LOL

[Musiclogic]

.......as a side note, this has been done before. I remember back in the mid 80's reading an article of a cement bass and guitar built in England for some test project. Maybe if you look on the net, you might find it, and get some pointers to help you out with this project.

[superbassman2000]

i would suggest making it an EUB...if its just an electric bass, it'll kill your back