Where to start?

[metallicafan18]

So I'm 16 and thinking about starting to make my own bass. I have the tools to use, but I don't know where to start. I have never done anything like this before.

Here's what I know I want:

5-string
reverse Iceman body
Wenge neck
Quilted maple wings and a solid wood in the middle. (don't know how to do this)

What I don't know is:
How do I come about a body? Do I buy a single piece, or do I take a top and cut it into the wings?
Do I need a fingerboard, or can I just take a wenge neck and cut fret slots into it?


I'm still deciding on a color. I know I want something translucent so I can see the quilted maple.

I want the body wood to look something like this. Just not that color.
http://www.warwickbass.com/modules/c...e&page=0&cl=EN


I am going to get a book and start with that.
My cousin works at a wood working company, so I can get the wood easy, it's just I don't know where to start.

[guitar ed]

Hi MF18,

Actually, you have made a very good start. You have defined what it is you want. That puts you ahead of a lot of people.

What I think you need are: 1) Somebody who knows woodworking & related tools who can help you. You will need help planning the work, and using the tools SAFELY. 2) A book on building electric guitars. Melvyn Hiscock has written a great book. It will answer some questions that you don't even have yet.

As for the neck, the best answer I can give you is yes, you will need a fretboard on your neck. The reason is that you have to put a truss rod in the neck, so you have to cut it one way or another before inserting the truss rod.

Checkout the web site Project Guitar. They even have a section on what NOT to do. Hopefully, you won't have to make a contribution to that section.

Lastly, please take & post pix for those of us who like to live vicariously through other people.

Take care,

edg

[metallicafan18]

What if I bought a block of wenge wood for the neck, put in the truss rof, then just used another block of wenge wood for a fingeroard? My bass teacher has this on his warwick bass and I just love it.

[JanVanHove]

Warwick wenge necks are more than just two blocks of wenge...

Keep in mind that any neck make of many pieces will be more solid than a one-piece neck... For a wenge neck, I suggest splitting your first wenge block in three, inverting the middle piece, and gluing the thing back together. This way, any "warpage" in the wood will be offset since the pieces of the neck will be working in opposite directions...

Just something to think about...

[metallicafan18]

That helps. Thanks.

That brings me to my next question. Do I use wood glue? What kind?

[Gone]

I reckon before you start buying wood / tools / glue / etc you get your hands on Melvyn Hiscock's book. The next step after that would be to put together a full size plan. After which you can begin to fill in the blanks...