Krappy owners and lovers of strange design, help!

[foq1978]

Hello TB community,

As I have posted some time ago, I think I will change my instrument to a Krappy bass. However, since I need to clear out some space, I will make it a bass / guitar hybrid.

The problem is, I have never liked traditional double neck instruments. So I thought I could make things more interesting by making it simpler.

The basic idea is a double neck bass / guitar. Bass on top (2 or 3 strings -- I think I need at least three); Guitar on the bottom (3 or 4 strings -- I am thinking four will let me build more interesting chords).

Tuning would be something like (as in Tab form)
Bass:
------ (G)
------ D
------ G
Guitar:
------ (E)
------ B
------ G
------ D

Some ideas for the design:



My questions:

a) Do you think Kevin would be interested in making such instrument?
b) Which design and string configuration you think it's the best (see poll)?
c) Do you think I should make it as simple as possible (2 bass stings, 3 guitar strings) and learn how to make it interesting, instead of trying to reproduce what I already make with my guitar and bass?

Thank you so much for your input!

[Salamenster]

Yeah, if you end up with a double neck, anyway, why not go full-on and use both a full 4-string bass and 6-string guitar...? I don't see the problem there.

I would also like to warn you that the last body shape is very likely to have a SICK amount of neck dive.

[JetBlackJazz]

I think all 3 of your designs are 'krappy', pun intended. Too little body mass, and there isn't much resonance.
Geddy Lee waaaayyy back in the day said he carved an old P bass into a teardrop shape and the loss in body woods contributed to major loss in tone. So when he got a pay advance from Mercury for 'Rush', he got a beautiful, big bodied Rick....best decision he ever made.

[foq1978]

Hi Salamanster,

Originally Posted by Salamenster

why not go full-on and use both a full 4-string bass and 6-string guitar...? I don't see the problem there.

Maybe you have a point, but I think full 4-string bass and 6-string guitar double necks are just so... monstrous!

Plus, I would feel intimidated, as if I was proficient enough both in bass and guitar to deserve such instrument (not a good, reason, I know... )

Originally Posted by Salamenster

I would also like to warn you that the last body shape is very likely to have a SICK amount of neck dive.

Thanks for the heads up on this one!

[foq1978]

Hi JetBlackJazz, thanks for your help!

Originally Posted by JetBlackJazz

I think all 3 of your designs are 'krappy', pun intended. Too little body mass, and there isn't much resonance.

Even for Krappy standards?

And what do you think about to top design? Isn't enough body mass there? I guess the proportions could be corrected later...

Originally Posted by JetBlackJazz

Geddy Lee waaaayyy back in the day said he carved an old P bass into a teardrop shape and the loss in body woods contributed to major loss in tone. So when he got a pay advance from Mercury for 'Rush', he got a beautiful, big bodied Rick....best decision he ever made.

Well, I guess I'll never be Geddy Lee nor sign with Mercury, anyway

[PatO]

I don't think Kevin would have a problem with any of your designs. He does great work on oddly tuned instruments.

My $0.02: do a single neck with the 7 or 8 strings you want, some bass strings and some guitar strings (baritone guitar strings would be my pick). I'm pretty sure I've seen photos on his website of this style instrument.

[grisezd]

I like the double neck Krappy idea!. 2 or 3 string bass over 4 string guitar is my vote. To combat neck dive you might investigate a headless design with tuners like a Kramer Duke. Don't get too fancy with woods or hardware, but do consider an upper horn Of some sort. Make sure you get a nasty sounding pickup under each string course! Good luck, and post it up!

[darrellj]

I agree with a previous post: What about just one neck -- E and A for the bass, then E,A,D (and maybe G) for the guitar part. Bet it would work out about the width of a classical guitar. Maybe make the bass part fretless so that fret spacing isn't an issue.
Thoughts?
darrell

[PatO]

I'd love to see Kevin fan the frets to make the string length and tension issues get resolved.

[darrellj]

Originally Posted by PatO

I'd love to see Kevin fan the frets to make the string length and tension issues get resolved.

Hadn't thought of fanned frets... Neat idea!

[foq1978]

Wow, thank you all for your input.

@Pato:

Originally Posted by PatO

I don't think Kevin would have a problem with any of your designs. He does great work on oddly tuned instruments.

Thanks! I thought he might like the challenge...

Originally Posted by PatO

My $0.02: do a single neck with the 7 or 8 strings you want, some bass strings and some guitar strings (baritone guitar strings would be my pick). I'm pretty sure I've seen photos on his website of this style instrument.

A 7-8 stringed instrument would have to feature a wide neck, as far as my taste / skill level goes...

@grisezd:

Originally Posted by grisezd

I like the double neck Krappy idea!. 2 or 3 string bass over 4 string guitar is my vote. To combat neck dive you might investigate a headless design with tuners like a Kramer Duke. Don't get too fancy with woods or hardware, but do consider an upper horn Of some sort. Make sure you get a nasty sounding pickup under each string course! Good luck, and post it up!

Thanks for all the tips! I'll make sure they get to Kevin when I contact him!

@darrellj:

Originally Posted by darrellj

I agree with a previous post: What about just one neck -- E and A for the bass, then E,A,D (and maybe G) for the guitar part. Bet it would work out about the width of a classical guitar. Maybe make the bass part fretless so that fret spacing isn't an issue.
Thoughts?
darrell

Again, that's too wide for me... but thanks for the idea!

[PatO]

If you go double neck with a small body make the body very thick to make up for the lost weight. Kevin can use very hard woods, mahogany on both of mine, that will help keep some mass. The heavier the body the more low end it will produce. But, even my little krappy 4lb crappy 2 string has full strength ball rattling growl when routed through a sans amp paradriver and a tube amp.

[foq1978]

Thanks for the tip, PatO!

Anyway, I am quite sure Kevin will have lots of ideas for issues like that... Let's see what he recommends...