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Fretless Short-Scale 6-string with a Bigsby Build

XsoGol

XsoGol

Gold Supporting Member
Feb 1, 2005
1,274
867
47
Boston-ish, Massachusetts
#1
So, as promised in the The Short-Scale Six-String Club Part 2- for the original six-string basses! Thread, I'm devoting a thread to the build of my fretless short-scale 6-string with a Vibrola/Bigsby-style trem project. The specs have changed a little since I started...here they are:

  • European Beech Body
  • 30" Scale Padouk Neck
  • Fretless Wenge Fingerboard with Fretlines
  • '59 PAF Neck Humbucker
  • Power Rails Bridge Humbucker
  • VOL-VOL-TONE setup
  • Grover Chrome 3x3 Tuners with Hipshot D-Tuner
  • Chrome Roller Bridge
  • Vibrola/Bigsby-Style Trem

The neck blank scarf joint is currently glued up and I'm ready to make a body blank. I will post pictures in a day or two.
 
#4
lunarpollen said:
Fretless with a Bigsby? That's odd... I mean with open strings it'll sound fine but with fretterd strings it's gonna be weird...
Click to expand...

Beej said:
x2, I can't see the point of a bigsby with a fretless. Are you planning to do chords on it? Pretty wacky...
Click to expand...

It's kind of meant to be a wacky, weird instrument and yes, I do plan on using it for chords as well as in a traditional bass role. I'm excited to hear what something like this sounds like, and if the Bigsby doesn't work well on it, I'll take it off and put it on the fretted build I have up next...we'll see!
 
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#5
Well, I personally see and enjoy the point of a short scale sixer, I had a long horn for a while back in the 90's tuned BEADF#B. It sat nicely in the mix between guitar and bass. I guess what I was getting at is that since its fretless, chord positions can just be slid around to produce a similar effect to what a bigsby would give you. At least I think they would. Nifty idea though, even if it does turn out to be a bit redundant...
 
#7
Life has totally gotten in the way of this project! An update...the specs have changed again...here they are (changes in RED):

  • European Beech Body
  • 30" Scale Padouk Neck
  • Fretless Wenge Fingerboard with Fretlines
  • Jimi-style Reverse Pole Strat Pickups in the Neck and Middle Position
  • Power Rails Bridge Humbucker
  • 5-way CRL Strat-style selector switch
  • ON-ON-ON 3-way switch for Power Rails coil tapping
  • MASTER VOL-MASTER TONE-BLEND setup
  • Grover Chrome 3x3 Tuners with Hipshot D-Tuner
  • Chrome Roller with Stop-tail Bridge

Pics at some point :-(
 
#8
Life has totally gotten in the way of this project again! (changes in RED):

  • Mahogany Gibson EB-0 Body
  • 30" Scale Padouk Neck
  • Fretless Ebony Fingerboard with Fretlines
  • Bartolini P Pickup (8S) in the neck position
  • Bartolini Bridge Humbucker (TBD)
  • VOL-VOL-TONE setup
  • Grover Chrome 3x3 Tuners with Hipshot D-Tuner
  • Chrome Roller with Stop-tail Bridge
 
#11
Meatrus said:
Next post (in 6 months time): Life got in the way....bought a bass.... thread complete!

JK, hope to see it soon!
Click to expand...
I hope so too! I can promise that me buying a bass won't complete this thread (I've bought a couple since I started this project but nothing does what I want this project to do). Life definitely could get in the way though, so I do apologize for the delay! :)
 

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