Hollow body for bass VI neck

[grisezd]

Hello all,

I've picked up a Danelectro 30in baritone neck that I plan to use in a Bass VI style build, tuned E to E, or D to D. I started to modify an old Prestige copy of a Burns Bison bass (recut the pocket, moved the bridge back) but I'm just not feeling it. Maybe too easy, whatever, I'm not going to continue.

I've got a yearning, though, for the feeling I had when my hollow Gretsch guitar would start to feed back, like it was pumping air. And I'd like to have a Bigsby again.

So I'm going to build a chambered body for the Bass VI. But I wonder if a deep, chambered body is going to feel like a traditionally built hollow body feels at high volume.

What body air volume should I be shooting for? Is there a point in going big, like jazz box big, to get the internal volume? I'd like to use a maple top and floating bridge, but what would you recommend for the back? Mahogany? Home Depot pine? Would I even hear a difference?

Thanks for any help you can offer. I've only had one chambered bass, a Spectorcore, and it didn't seem any more "alive" than a solid bass, just lighter!

Thanks!
Dennis

[Scopaz]

Hello Dennis, did you ever build this body? I have been discussing the pros of a hollowbody bass VI with others recently and am curious about your findings.

[SolidFooting]

I have something like this on the bench right now. It's actually a hybrid bass VI, with a braced soundboard and everything. It will have one magnetic pickup in the neck position, and an under saddle piezo pickup. I just put the color coat on it. It'll be a while before I can report anything more though.

As for whether I'll have major feedback problems, I won't know until I'm done. It's an experimental project. But I mostly play in church, using a sound system, and not very loud. I don't anticipate much of an issue. If I were to stand in front of a huge stack, cranked to high levels, I think it would be a hot mess.