can someone build a 6 string "backpacker/traveller" bass?

I use a backpacker guitar, mandolin, or I carry drumsticks and a practice pad with me.

i like your idea. you could make an almost bodiless (steinberger-like) bass with an integrated headphone amp, flip down leg support, and tuners on the body. ugly as sin and crappy tone, but it would keep your fingers loose.

I can design it. I work on CAD all day. In fact I will post a JPG of it for critique in a few minutes...

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I adore CAD designs

Here it is. I took some quick specs from the net on 6 stringer spacing. Pretty ugly but functional.

RAHAZ said:

Here it is. I took some quick specs from the net on 6 stringer spacing. Pretty ugly but functional.

Click to expand...

I kinda like it, but here are a couple things to consider.

Strap buttons: If there isn't any kind of body shape that allows the instrument to be rested on the thigh, then a strap will be necessary for proper technique...since that's what this "instrument" is supposed to help you develop. This simplified design only allows for akward placement of strap buttons.

Neck dive: With no body, this bass will have significant neck dive if worn traditionally. One way to fix this would be to place the strap buttons at either end of the bass - near the nut and the bridge. If not that, then consider adding weight to where the body would normally be (although that obviously makes the whole instrument heavier which makes it less portable).

Tuners: The way the tuners are positioned is functional, but they are likely to be bumped and knocked out of tune easily. Also, with such a small space, fitting the tuners so closely would take careful planning and the purchase of more expensive compact tuners (which may or may not be a problem depending on your budget).

Truss-rod: Although it seems that this instrument will not be electrical or producing amplified sound, it still needs to function EXACTLY like a regular bass guitar in order to build proper technique. That means that the string action and neck relief need to be fully adjustable.

I really like this idea, though. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

-Josh

Sorry for the lengthy comments, but after more thinking, I've realized that it is impossible to build proper right hand technique without the bass body because of the way that the forearm rests while playing. A concept that may want to be developed something that imitates the full body but is collapsible or more compact somehow. Or think of a body shape like this one (again, getting less portable).

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To build speed in the right hand, they have small finger trainers that just have short segments of strings that can be plucked. For the left hand, they have the Gripmaster.

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However, putting the two together into a compact, portable, but REALISTIC package is intriguing, and essential to building proper technique for both hands.

With that....Good luck!

-Josh

I still think a backpacker guitar is more feasible. My friend got me one from Mexico for pennies, AND it was sunburst

Perhaps this version 2.0 will address your concerns. What you were reading as the head was actually the "body" side. I have added some small wings for support of the right hand (reverse if you are a lefty) and a place to set it on a knee.

Both of these designs were quick and dirty. I am by no means an expert on ergonomics.

RAHAZ said:

Perhaps this version 2.0 will address your concerns. What you were reading as the head was actually the "body" side. I have added some small wings for support of the right hand (reverse if you are a lefty) and a place to set it on a knee.

Both of these designs were quick and dirty. I am by no means an expert on ergonomics.

Click to expand...

RAHAZ, that is an improvement, but I still believe that the full forearm contour is necessary. I understood that the bottom (where the tuners are) was the body, which was a great idea.

I guess the biggest thing is recognizing the main function of this instrument: either a practice tool, an incredibly portable instrument, or a music-making tool.

I feel bad, though. I've criticized so much and not come up with any better ideas.. I'll see what I can conjure.

-Josh

callmeMrThumbs said:

...I still believe that the full forearm contour is necessary...

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There are a lot of people who might argue with you about the necessity of a forearm rest. Say, for example, all those people in the '80's until today who play(ed) Steinberger basses that were little more than a boat oar. No forearm rest whatsoever. They were ugly as sin, IMHO, but still playable, and a lot of people had no problem evedencing quite a bit of technique on them.

callmeMrThumbs said:

I guess the biggest thing is recognizing the main function of this instrument: either a practice tool, an incredibly portable instrument, or a music-making tool...

Click to expand...

There is nothing to say that this couldn't be all of those things. Innovate, and there will be a market for it.

A forearm rest could be made to swivel from the back of the body up into postion and then lock in place. All it would have to be is a curved piece maybe 1.5"x5" by whatever thickness on a pole which could twist up from behind the body into place.

Another idea is to put tuners like a spanish guitar except point away from the players body or better again just a plain old headless bass tuner system.

Looks like a Chapman stick! Need a little taper to the strings and an arm rest and you are good to go.

Greg N

If only Ashbury made a six string model, that would solve everything!

Ammioz77 said:

I like this.. you're onto something here and thats pretty close to what I envisioned!

Click to expand...

I'm glad you like it. Designing is the fun part for me. I'll try and do a little more work on this at lunch today and will repost what I come up with.

There's a guy on here who had Kinal make him one and its really nice. I think the narrow neck with the pull of 6 bass strings will cause a problem though.

David King (www.kingbass.com) makes headless travel basses with up to 6 strings.