Hypothetical Bass

[Lincoln]

So I was doodling today... and had an idea for a fretless bass design. Here's my idea and the sketch. Whatcha think?

- 34.5 scale
-26 frets
- 5 string
- fretless
- ebony fretboard (epoxied)
- ash neck
- cedar center block
- semi hollow fir wings
- figured maple top
- strung E-C
- Aero pickups a ramp
- Glockenklang 2-band with passive option
- Hipshot A bridge and tuners
- Assymetric “D” shaped neck profile
- Neck thru
- tone: warm, articulate with bright, but not brittle top end; lots of sustain

[CauliColin]

I like that. A lot.

[nukes_da_bass]

I will Beta test it for free

[Lincoln]

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by Lincoln

So I was doodling today... and had an idea for a fretless bass design. Here's my idea and the sketch. Whatcha think?

- 34.5 scale
-26 frets
- 5 string
- fretless
- tone: warm, articulate with bright, but not brittle top end; lots of sustain

I have a bass just like that!

[Lincoln]

Originally Posted by Jeff Scott

I have a bass just like that!

Any pics? Also, where at in NE Ohio are you? I'm in Peninsula just north of Akron!

[Dubista]

Originally Posted by Lincoln

So I was doodling today... and had an idea for a fretless bass design....

-26 frets

This, I have to see.

[GM60466]

sounds a lot like a Yamaha TRB5+

[Lincoln]

Originally Posted by Dubista

This, I have to see.

If I had any luthier and wood crafting skills at all, I might consider it....but right now I'm just an idea guy getting feedback....

[Lincoln]

Originally Posted by GM60466

sounds a lot like a Yamaha TRB5+

But it wouldn't look or feel like one. Gotta have 19mm spacing!

[thlayli]

Actually, it sounds like an F-Bass.

[Lincoln]

Originally Posted by thlayli

Actually, it sounds like an F-Bass.

Ahhh yes...one of the best...

What do guys think of the body shape I sketched up? Balance, function aesthetics?

[smperry]

Originally Posted by Jeff Scott

I have a bass just like that!

I've got two! Sorry, had to...

Originally Posted by Lincoln

What do guys think of the body shape I sketched up? Balance, function aesthetics?

I like the body shape a lot. Very functional, but attractive too. I can't see exactly how far in the top horn reaches, but it looks like it'd balance and sit well. It's on the large side IMO, but you've chosen a light body wood so it'd probably be fine.

I wouldn't need 26 positions and it's hard (for me at least) to play in tune all the way up there, but I had 24 positions on my fretless, and I do find I like plucking against the board for an upright feel...so I can see 26 positions facilitating that. Aeros are great and the woods sound good (although not sure why you'd need epoxy). I don't know the Glockenklang 2-band enough to comment. Cedar is sweet for a fretless, although it can ding easily IME.

My fretless basses built by Martin Keith (and Jeff Scott's) share several specs as yours, including the 34.5 scale (which I like based on the previous Nordy and F-Basses I've owned). Click on my profile to see them.

My koa-topped one is probably most similar. It has Citron pickups (which are fantastic for the tone you're seking), piezos, an ebony board and chambered mahogany body. My other fretless is more traditional with Duncan single coils, Audere 4-band, poplar body, and pau ferro board. The first one is more towards "warm" and the second more "articulate" but both are versatile enough to cover the ground I want. The body shape isn't the same as yours (and I prefer shallower neck profiles than you and bolt-on necks) but with the amount of customization that Martin is willing to do, he might be worth contacting...but if you want that body shape (which looks great), I'm sure there are a number of other guys here who could build it.

[awilkie84]

Originally Posted by Lincoln

So I was doodling today... and had an idea for a fretless bass design. Here's my idea and the sketch. Whatcha think?

- 34.5 scale
-26 frets
- 5 string
- fretless
- ebony fretboard (epoxied)
- ash neck
- cedar center block
- semi hollow fir wings
- figured maple top
- strung E-C
- Aero pickups a ramp
- Glockenklang 2-band with passive option
- Hipshot A bridge and tuners
- Assymetric “D” shaped neck profile
- Neck thru
- tone: warm, articulate with bright, but not brittle top end; lots of sustain

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by smperry

I've got two! Sorry, had to...

I only have one. The fretted Elfin 5 is only 24 frets. Not that I'm complaining!

[Mark Wilson]

Reminds me of an MTD Kingston, with a bigger cutaway.
I dig it though.
26 "frets" on a fretless is too much for me, IMO. But I dig it.

[Lincoln]

26 frets on a fretless does seem like a bit of overkill. I'm just asking for a bunch of bad notes up there...!

Good points about the soft Cedar. Could do well to have the back have a maple veneer over it.

The body is large for balance, but the deep cutaways help reduce the weight and if the wings are semi hollow, the bass will be light enough.

I think the upper horn could stand to be tweeked just a bit aesthetically...looks a bit to much like a hook on the end.

[leokatero]

I will Beta test it for free

[Lincoln]

at the risk of sounding incredibly dumb...what does Beta test mean?

[Sartori]

Originally Posted by Lincoln

So I was doodling today... and had an idea for a fretless bass design. Here's my idea and the sketch. Whatcha think?

- 34.5 scale
-26 frets
- 5 string
- fretless
- ebony fretboard (epoxied)
- ash neck
- cedar center block
- semi hollow fir wings
- figured maple top
- strung E-C
- Aero pickups a ramp
- Glockenklang 2-band with passive option
- Hipshot A bridge and tuners
- Assymetric “D” shaped neck profile
- Neck thru
- tone: warm, articulate with bright, but not brittle top end; lots of sustain

I like the bolded parts. Also the body design is pretty cool.