ever tried to build your own bass?

Icey101 · #1 07-05-2011, 04:10 AM

i have a slab of honduran mahogany that i could cut out to make a body, any radical design ideas?....if i was going to do it, it would have to be something totally different, like a 7 or 8 stringer....with a weird pickup configuration...lol only thing is sourcing bridge and pickups need to be easy to source

Meatrus · #2 07-05-2011, 04:36 AM

Sure, I have built a couple. If you look at Luthiers Corner you will see lots of 1st timers, as well as experienced builders you may get ideas too (theres a few 8 strings there). My only advice at this stage would be to not cut that wood out until you know what you want. Even then, I would advise you to build a practice one first with cheaper, less desirable wood. As theres a small chance you may give up on it, or ruin it, which would be a shame for the wood!

Good luck

Icey101 · #3 07-05-2011, 05:52 AM

i'll look around for ideas, maybe its not worth the effort

Arthur Strand · #4 07-05-2011, 06:21 AM

I built a mahogany fretless once. Ebony fingerboard with Grover machine heads and Schaller PB pick ups, bridge and other bits.
Always draw a centre line the length of the plank: from this, you can measure out all the points where things fit on the body accurately.
I drilled a long tunnel through the body : thickness of a Les Paul Custom body.: to thread the wiring through to the pickup wells. This preserved some natural mahogany look.

Konata · #5 07-05-2011, 07:03 AM

I planned on building one a loooong time ago, but the neck I made looked more like a hockey stick.. I guess I should continue it some time. All the parts are still in the attic.

odin70 · #6 07-05-2011, 07:17 AM

I have built a couple. Even my main bass is self made ( body only) and its just as good as anything imo.
Go for it! Its great fun. Lots of pro builders here on talkbass. I bet you can get some advice. You will need it.

devo_stevo · #7 07-05-2011, 07:21 AM

Give it a go. I've built two of them now and it's a blast. I probably enjoy building them more than playing them right now. Like was already said, don't cut the wood until you know exactly what you want to do and how you are going to do it.

And most of all, have fun. Oh and don't be afraid of building a neck. It's not that tough.

bassguitarthund · #8 07-05-2011, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Konata

I planned on building one a loooong time ago, but the neck I made looked more like a hockey stick.. I guess I should continue it some time. All the parts are still in the attic.

I have always wanted to build a bass. One of my idea's that has been floating around in my head lately has been for a Detroit Red Wings "inspired" Bass. Body would be the winged wheel. WHite with lines in red. The head stock would be reversed and shaped like a hockey stick with the fretmarkers being little Stanley Cups. The only thing that I think might be to much for me to handle would be making the neck, lol. Body would not be much of a problem. Electronics, shoud be good there. Neck would be the hard part. Could always just put a Fender neck on it, but that would not be the same.

bassguitarthund · #9 07-05-2011, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devo_stevo

Give it a go. I've built two of them now and it's a blast. I probably enjoy building them more than playing them right now. Like was already said, don't cut the wood until you know exactly what you want to do and how you are going to do it.

And most of all, have fun. Oh and don't be afraid of building a neck. It's not that tough.

Think I posted same time you did. If I go to the luther section is there any where on there that has suggestions/directions on building the neck? When I get ready if I have any questions can I PM you?

SCMan88 · #10 07-05-2011, 08:20 AM

I wish I could build my self a bass.
I can do it with my bass teacher,which probably will be running a little workshop with more people,and there I can build it my self from scratch,but I don't have the moneyyyy....

And I got 0 skills at building a bass.
Though I do read alot about basses,I know about construction styles,some wood that go good together and stuff...But building is way up ahead me.
I'm also playing bass only for more than 2 years,so I gueses I'll pass on that one :'(

Konata · #11 07-05-2011, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassguitarthund

I have always wanted to build a bass. One of my idea's that has been floating around in my head lately has been for a Detroit Red Wings "inspired" Bass. Body would be the winged wheel. WHite with lines in red. The head stock would be reversed and shaped like a hockey stick with the fretmarkers being little Stanley Cups. The only thing that I think might be to much for me to handle would be making the neck, lol. Body would not be much of a problem. Electronics, shoud be good there. Neck would be the hard part. Could always just put a Fender neck on it, but that would not be the same.

Making the neck is quite tricky, but once you've got the basic shape cut out, you can go ape with a spokeshave.

M.R. Ogle · #12 07-05-2011, 09:09 AM

Start with a neck-thru Carvin neck with the headstock "paddle" unshaped. They're GREAT! Add side body wings, and you're halfway home.

Carvin.com - Guitars, Amplifiers & Pro Audio: Neck-Through Bass Necks

nashvillebill · #13 07-05-2011, 10:13 AM

Stew-Mac STEWMAC.COM : Guitar, Bass, Banjo, Mandolin, Parts, Tools, Supplies, Free Information has neck-thru blanks as well, IMO they are the go-to site for guitar- and bass-building stuff. (Carvin is OK but Stew-Mac has far far more luthier stuff)

I've seen home-built guitars that used a single piece of wood and they had splits in them. IMHO it's far stronger and more stable to have multiple pieces glued together with the grain structure oriented in different directions.

Jools4001 · #14 07-05-2011, 10:26 AM

If you DO go to Luthiers Corner, do yourself a favour and take time to look through all the Stickies and 'How-tos' before pestering the good folk with noob questions

The people over there are very encouranging and supportive of people with a genuine desire and interest in making their own instruments and have a wealth of experience and knowledge to impart, but they are also quite forthright when answering dumb fool questions from people who are just dreamers - especially the sort of question that starts with "Will xxxxxx type of wood give me xxxxxx tone" - tonewood wars - just don't even go there.

I would say that if you are serious enough about building, just taking your time reading through the many how-to's and build threads will give you a clear idea of whether you have the aptitude, the manual dexterity, the patience, the skill, the craftsmanship and the tools to approach making a bass.

Do your research and learning by reading all these things first - because if you haven't got the patience to do that, you certainly don't have the patience to start making basses

Down & Outman · #15 07-05-2011, 10:42 AM

Lots of different ways to go about it. My first build I got a StewMac neck, not the best but it works, and built the body. Plan it out first. Shop around for all the parts you'll need. I'd buy all the hardware before you start cutting away. That way you can lay it out and see how it will go together.

IMHO the neck is the most critical part. Carvin, Warmoth, and other sites have great necks. That way you can concentrate on the body and finish.

Post your progress, ask questions and have fun with it.

devo_stevo · #16 07-05-2011, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassguitarthund

Think I posted same time you did. If I go to the luther section is there any where on there that has suggestions/directions on building the neck? When I get ready if I have any questions can I PM you?

If you go to the LC, be sure to read through all of the stickies. There are a couple of different threads there with regards to building necks, both neck through and bolt on I believe. If you do get stuck or have questions, you can feel free to PM me. I'll help where I can. Like I said, I've built 2 of them (I'm not a pro by any means) and built the necks for them both. The second one turned out far better than the first. It's a learning process and each one gets a little better than the one before. Just be sure to think through each part of the process and measure twice and cut once.

lug · #17 07-05-2011, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M.R. Ogle

Start with a neck-thru Carvin neck with the headstock "paddle" unshaped. They're GREAT! Add side body wings, and you're halfway home.

Carvin.com - Guitars, Amplifiers & Pro Audio: Neck-Through Bass Necks

I did this, turned out great! I used the standard headstock but since I'm a lefty, it's flipped.

bassguitarthund · #18 07-05-2011, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jools4001

If you DO go to Luthiers Corner, do yourself a favour and take time to look through all the Stickies and 'How-tos' before pestering the good folk with noob questions

The people over there are very encouranging and supportive of people with a genuine desire and interest in making their own instruments and have a wealth of experience and knowledge to impart, but they are also quite forthright when answering dumb fool questions from people who are just dreamers - especially the sort of question that starts with "Will xxxxxx type of wood give me xxxxxx tone" - tonewood wars - just don't even go there.

I would say that if you are serious enough about building, just taking your time reading through the many how-to's and build threads will give you a clear idea of whether you have the aptitude, the manual dexterity, the patience, the skill, the craftsmanship and the tools to approach making a bass.

Do your research and learning by reading all these things first - because if you haven't got the patience to do that, you certainly don't have the patience to start making basses

Sorry did not mean to pester you.

Since this thread had already been started thought it would not hurt to ask a quick question to the guy who said he built one that looked like a hockey stick (since that is what I was going for anyways). I do how ever thank you for the advice

So far all I have met on here have been good folk! Some times ya may run into a jerk in any forum but so far here had not had that happen to me! When does the noob status end any ways, lol?

Thank you to every one else that helped the op and I.

Only thing that kinda makes me a little nervous is the neck. I have decent wood working skills and am very good with electronics. I work on cars for a living so I am very mechanically inclined. I think I can handle this. OK off to the LC to find out more info. Thank you every one!

Meatrus · #19 07-06-2011, 06:06 AM

Forgot to post this yesterday. For all genuinely interested in building one, buy this....Make Your Own Electric Guitar: Amazon.co.uk: Melvyn Hiscock: Books. Excellent book which will help no end and cut out any chance of pestering people un necessarily.

Rickett Customs · #20 07-06-2011, 06:17 AM

^^ One of My favorite books, but One I favor more, Martin Koch "Building Electric Guitars:"