My first build begins, fretted six string singlecut

thefunkelastic · #1 06-13-2008, 01:35 PM

I really can't afford for someone to build me the bass of my dreams....so I'll build it myself

I took what I like from all sorts of boutiques and am trying to build something inbetween them all, some of the design of a benavente scd, crossed with a warrior's large curves, the wide string spacing of a yamaha, truss rod from a music man, and the sound...well I dunno who this is from, part mtd, part fodera, I just want a tight concise sound

that being said the wood choices for this bass are

A one piece swamp ash body
A redwood Burl Top
A Cocobolo Fingerboard
A one piece Wenge neck

I want to do a set neck ala wilser, I haven't completely decided on the pups yet, but it's 8 mm spacing at the nut, 19mm at the bridge, and some of you may notice that it look assymetrical,

well I'm trying something new, the symettry of the bass is around the A string, rather than the space between the A and D strings, because i plan to use the C string more than the B especially further up the neck I thought that may help with playing the treble side,

for your enjoyment some pictures

the design

the woods

the top wetted down to show the burl

thefunkelastic · #2 06-13-2008, 01:37 PM

BenitoBassolini · #3 06-13-2008, 03:23 PM

Lookin pretty good. Best of luck to you. That's a beautiful piece of wood.

stflbn · #4 06-13-2008, 03:26 PM

Looks great.

If I was starting out to do a first build I don't think there's any way I could convince myself to start with 6 strings.

Worshiper · #5 06-13-2008, 08:26 PM

you do realize that that piece of wood in the center that you're NOT using is beautiful right?

thefunkelastic · #6 06-14-2008, 06:44 AM

which one? you mean the big block of ash? that's going to be my body

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worshiper

you do realize that that piece of wood in the center that you're NOT using is beautiful right?

Vincent P · #7 06-14-2008, 06:55 AM

Looking at what you drew. I would re-draw and outline those two pieces on the other side utilizing some of the character of the wood. I love the look of wood, even more so when it is full of character like the two you have there.

eleonn · #8 06-14-2008, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thefunkelastic

which one? you mean the big block of ash? that's going to be my body

Not the piece of ash but the piece of the top where you put some naphta on to show the grain... That side is much more nicer than the one that you mark with chalk (or whatever) to cut for the body.

Beauchene Implements · #9 06-14-2008, 12:15 PM

Don't think that's his outline, sometimes when you buy tops they come with guitar outlines on them. I know the tops upstairs at Tropical Hardwoods come that way. Looks like he has the wood laying out the way he plans to use it, right?

thefunkelastic · #10 06-14-2008, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barnaclebeau

Don't think that's his outline, sometimes when you buy tops they come with guitar outlines on them. I know the tops upstairs at Tropical Hardwoods come that way. Looks like he has the wood laying out the way he plans to use it, right?

that would be correct, the middle part is what I'm using

pilotjones · #11 06-15-2008, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thefunkelastic

well I'm trying something new, the symettry of the bass is around the A string, rather than the space between the A and D strings, because i plan to use the C string more than the B especially further up the neck I thought that may help with playing the treble side,

the design

Between this statement, and the neck design pic with the "centerline" that is centered at the bottom of the neck but far off-center at the head, I am throughly confused. Could you explain?

gold_member_321 · #12 06-15-2008, 10:43 PM

Headstock reminds me of a Bongo.

Should look awesome.

Subscribed.

RyKnowOdadjian · #13 06-15-2008, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotjones

Between this statement, and the neck design pic with the "centerline" that is centered at the bottom of the neck but far off-center at the head, I am throughly confused. Could you explain?

I'd be tempted to believe the 'centerline' is no more than marking on the material (card?) pre-cutting it out, and it being centered at the bottom is purely coincidental.

thefunkelastic · #14 06-16-2008, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyKnowOdadjian

I'd be tempted to believe the 'centerline' is no more than marking on the material (card?) pre-cutting it out, and it being centered at the bottom is purely coincidental.

I think I tried to explain this, but I'm a terrible explainer, the "center" of this bass (aka the line of symmetry) is the A string, where on most six string basses it's the space between the A and D strings, I did this to get the assymetrical effect, much like on some MTD basses, where as you go further up the neck there is a bias towards the treble side, until the 12th fret there's hardly and difference, and i figured I'm not going to be playing the B string a lot around the 18th-24th frets (though it's still reachable up there)

that line is exactly where the A string will fall, though it may look strange I've worked it out several times, also, as to the bongo headstock, I didn't even think of that, but I've been gassing hard for a bongo lately, maybe it came out subconciously....mmm bongos, gotta love um

pilotjones · #15 06-16-2008, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thefunkelastic

...the "center" of this bass (aka the line of symmetry) is the A string,
...that line is exactly where the A string will fall,

but... that line is not centered on the neck. The neck is not symmetrical on either side of the line. This is what I don't understand.

waseok · #16 06-16-2008, 04:00 PM

A one cool looking bass.

smakbass · #17 06-16-2008, 04:03 PM

Id be interested in how you are laying out the tuners...

Kennethfaria · #18 06-18-2008, 03:16 PM

No the headstock reminds me of one of those ugly danelctros. you know what im talking about. But the wood makes up for it.

chicago_mike · #19 06-18-2008, 07:05 PM

do you have the hardware, to put onto the templates and see how it pans out? Looks killer so far. Please post updates as I'd like to see the end result and the inbetween.

thefunkelastic · #20 06-19-2008, 04:50 PM

sorry I kept you guys waiting so long for an update, but here's a big one to make it worth your while

I cut the body out two days ago, bookmatched the top (I'll be it poorly, the joiner was broken) and laminated the body, coming out with this,

Today I got back and did two major things, first of all I cut the neck out of the blank, though I did not shaping (actually broke and had to fix the bansaw cutting through all that wenge...shhh don't tell anyone) and got this,

Don't worry guys I have a matching piece of burl to put on top of this

at that point with the neck and body rough cut I lined them up and had this

so I did my first radiusing of the body (very basic, needs a lot more evening out and I got this,

and I ended my day with the bass looking like this

if anyone knows to I could make the top look more bookmatched, then I would apreciate knowing, otherwise, I'll take it as a casualty of my inexperience,

as to the "asymetry" just trust I worked it out and since i'm bad at explaining I can't really explain why I did it but it will become apparent as the build goes on,