I need a mentor

[JesterP]

First of all I am sorry if this is the wrong thing to do but I seriously need someone I can ask any question to however stupid it may seem. I have read the beginner post section thing at the top of the page but I was looking for something in more detail and I think a mentor would help greatly as I really need a complete step by step guide of... well everything. I am a horror punk/metal bassist looking to build a five string (maybe four if cost is too great) bass.

[Phil Mailloux]

Start by buying a book on the subject like Melvyn Hiscock's book. Read it all from cover to cover several times then come back here and ask away whatever questions you have.

The whole of the lutherie section will become your mentor if you do these steps first

If you DON'T do these steps first and start posting every single little question, odds are no ne will want to answer you because of the lack of time and motivation you've put in it. We're usually very open in helping people that help themselves out and impatient of the ones who don't put the effort to learn.

[JesterP]

Originally Posted by Phil Mailloux

Start by buying a book on the subject like Melvyn Hiscock's book. Read it all from cover to cover several times then come back here and ask away whatever questions you have.

The whole of the lutherie section will become your mentor if you do these steps first

If you DON'T do these steps first and start posting every single little question, odds are no ne will want to answer you because of the lack of time and motivation you've put in it. We're usually very open in helping people that help themselves out and impatient of the ones who don't put the effort to learn.

Thanks for the advice and not flaming me.

[wilser]

yeah, think of us as a hippie commune, if you do your part, we'll do ours

First time I even thought of building a bass I went to the MIMF and read everything I could find before asking a question. And the first question was recommended literature. I bought 4 books: a general woodworking book (techniques and tools), Hyscock's book, Koch's book and the most useful resource in my library as far as building stringed instruments goes Cumpiano and Natelson's book "guitar making: tradition and technology". This last book in addition to Bob Benedetto's books and videos have been the most useful of them all despite the fact that they both focus on completely different monsters (acoustic, flamenco and archtop guitars). By going into these different places you can get many ideas and think outside the box of what just "bass" builders are doing.

After having a pretty good base I started to build and going to the experts with very specific questions. You'll find that most folks are willing to spend a few minutes to help somebody out granted that they've tried and done their homework first.

[meandi]

a picture being worth a thousand words, youtube has a lot of build videos available...maby some answers there.
also dan erlewine has a video available through stew mac that deals with scratch building a strat...not a bass, but a lot of overlap in procedure & technique that would apply to your project.