Custom Thinline Bass build;think a short scale ,Asat hollow body...

[Bass Ghost]

Howdy,

I'm planning on building a short scale,(I'm a recent guitar convert and really like the feel and playability of these) with the following and would appreciate any feedback;

i)Warmoth thinline body,(mahagany body/spruce top).I'm not totally sold on this combo,(maybe a total black korina,since it's so similar to mahogany,with a little more high end on the top).I'd like to keep costs down with a self applied oil finish.I love natural wood/grain and the resonance of a natural,organic instrument.Trouble may be protecting a spruce top with just oil?
ii)SX bolt-on necks,fretted & fretless
iii)single Hammon Dark Star pickup in either p,(middle spot) or mm(3/4 to bridge spot for more treble balance considering the DS's big bottom).What do you guys think?
iv)SX high mass,string thru/top load bridge.Anxious to try chrome flats on a thru body!Considering the shorter scale,string length/thru body ,won't be a problem.I don't have a thru body bass yet and would like to a/b the differences...Will have to look at bridge/pup pole piece factor,so this may not work?If so ,Schaller makes a decent ,adjustable bridge...
v)variatone control for more tonal posibilities.See some Birdsong basses...

This is a basic outline.Again,I'm trying to keep costs down and am open to any creative,positive ideas...

Thanks

[contakt321]

You may want to check to see if SX necks fit a fender sized body. I am not sure - but worth looking into.

I look forward to seeing how this one comes along. Sounds like some cool ideas.

[Bass Ghost]

Good point;I'm gonna order the body without a neck pocket and have my choice ,local guitarman make the fit...

Thanks,I'll keep you posted...

[daveman50]

Check out this thread Strat coversion to short scale bass
and look at Rhomco's post w/ pics. Nice.

[Bass Ghost]

d-man,

He's one of the few people who gave me the initial idea this past summer...being new to the bass world ,I've always loved semis and thinlines,so this was a cool idea to myself!An affordable, light,resonant ,short scale.I wasn't even aware of G&L's Asat semi-hollow at that time,although it's long scale and has active pickups.

Thanks

[joeyl]

no offense towards SX, but if you are spending good money on a Warmoth body, why bolt on a cheapo neck to it? I know you are trying to save some money but would it not be wiser to save 20 bucks a week and buy a Warmoth neck on the 8th week?

[daveman50]

Originally Posted by joeyl

no offense towards SX, but if you are spending good money on a Warmoth body, why bolt on a cheapo neck to it? I know you are trying to save some money but would it not be wiser to save 20 bucks a week and buy a Warmoth neck on the 8th week?

Neither Warmoth, nor any other aftermarket neck manufacturer that I'm aware of, sells short-scale bass necks.

[joeyl]

Originally Posted by daveman50

Neither Warmoth, nor any other aftermarket neck manufacturer that I'm aware of, sells short-scale bass necks.

oops sorry missed that part. However you can still use a long scale neck, tune down a whole step, and use a capo

[Stanley Design]

No but warmoth DOES make 6 string baritone guitar necks at a 29 5/8 scale. With the right strings on it you can have it tuned E-E with the four lower strings the same as a bass, it'd be essentially a Fender Bass VI or OLP MM5 or EBMM Sillouette. And their baritone neck in a birdseye on maple is like 220 dollars.

I'm planning on doing exactly this with a warmoth tele thinline body in the next couple months, I wanted to get ahold of G&L first though in case I can convince them to make me a baritone neck.

[Bass Ghost]

You guys make some great points about Warmoth ,but as Dave rightfully atests,they make no shorties...*NO DISRESPECT INTENDED!While I'd be a hypocrite to claim I've never been a gear snob ,[I own about 20 guitar/basses] ,I'm quite familar with SX...you get alot of bang for the for the buck.It's a cheaper/fun way to experiment with a fretted and fretless.In a perfect world ,I wish their necks were satin ,but I could always refinish...

[badsneakers]

Originally Posted by Stanley Design

No but warmoth DOES make 6 string baritone guitar necks at a 29 5/8 scale. With the right strings on it you can have it tuned E-E with the four lower strings the same as a bass, it'd be essentially a Fender Bass VI or OLP MM5 or EBMM Sillouette. And their baritone neck in a birdseye on maple is like 220 dollars.

I'm planning on doing exactly this with a warmoth tele thinline body in the next couple months, I wanted to get ahold of G&L first though in case I can convince them to make me a baritone neck.

so are you saying you would run four "regular" bass stings and two baritone/guitar strings with this set up?

I'm looking for a short scale neck...I wonder if I could just use the warmoth one you described and change out the nut??? its almost 30"