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Never done this before, know nothing about it, but want to start a new project.

O

oniman7

Jun 1, 2010
2,490
10
Saint Augustine, Florida
#1
So, here's the deal. I'm 14 years old, and it's now Summer. I've got 2 and a half months in front of me, with nothing to do. My dad, not wanting it to go to waste, has given us plenty of incentive (monetary rewards) for doing something useful with our summer. Just picking up the bass, I thought at first that I might write and record some songs with some friends of mine. Nothing too tough. But then I started thinking and realized I wanted to do something bigger.

Surfing through Talkbass, I found the Luthier's Corner and followed the Explosive Ibanez project (very nice, by the way. I love what you did with that, if you happen to read this). A friend of mine built a custom Xplorer guitar a while back, and ever since that possibility opened itself to me, I've wanted to try it. I realize now that I have a unique opportunity to try this, possibly without paying (he's said he'll cover all costs for our projects, but we'll have to see about an expensive undertaking like this). I know nothing about this. I don't have any of the tools I need, nor the knowledge to work them. I've never soldered, and don't have more than a public school knowledge of electricity (even that is shaky at best).

However, this seems like a great opportunity. I would love to learn how to put a bass together (maybe even get a new one out of the deal).


My question(s) to you:

1. Do you think this is a good idea? Given my lack of knowledge and experience, do you think I have a higher chance of screwing it up than actually accomplishing something?

2. Should I make my own bass from scratch? Perhaps get a kit? I was thinking instead that I find a relatively cheap bass and do all of my work on that, basically replacing it to build an entirely new bass. Gratuitous new paint job will be added, of course.

3. What would be the approximate cost? I know that there are plenty of answers to questions like these in the FAQs (which I do intend to read), but based on my current situation (assuming I have absolutely no tools for the job, minus the guitar and whatever electronics/strings/etc. I want to put into it), what could I expect to pay?

4. Any specific information I should know for my situation? Once again, I'll obviously need to dedicate a lot of time to reading up on it, but anything I should know?



If anyone decides to help me out (just with questions like this) I'll be posting more discussion about what I want as far as tone and build. If I go through with the process, I'll hopefully be posting pictures all along the way.


In the meantime, any and all suggestions are open (electronics, design, even suggestions on whether or not I should do this).


Thanks,
Dakota
 
#2
I was in the same exact position you're in about a year and a half ago. I took wood shop at my highschool, and that taught me the basics, and I learned the rest by examining build threads here in the LC. I'm by no means an expert at this stuff haha

But my build so far has been semi-expensive. I bought cheap hardware and electronics because it's my first build. The wood I got at a lumber yard. And the fingerboard and trussrod I bought off of LMII. I also had to get some tools. In total it's probably been about ~$300-500 dollars.

If you don't have experience with woodworking at all, I would say maybe refinish a bass or buy a kit, but if you're feeling up to it you can try to build one. Best of luck to ya!
 
#3
Well, $300-$500 over the course of 2 months would probably be more than manageable for him. However, I have no experience even cutting wood since 7th grade (3 years ago) and even then I was terrible of it. The belt sander used to give me a terrible fright because it took off most of one of my fingernails and then shot the piece of wood towards my head.


Anyways, what do you think the tools would cost (I still have to factor in the bass and everything I want to refinish it with)? Assume I have nothing for the job.
 
#4
Well tools I've used so far include table saw, power miter saw, coping saw, band saw, angle grinder, files and rasps, clamps, belt sander, oscillating spindle sander, planer, and a jointer. Pretty much whats found in a wood shop, and other miscellaneous things in my dad's shop.
You don't Need all of those, but they make the job a lot easier from my experience. But I'm not sure how much the tools will cost. I used the tools in my wood shop class when i needed one I didn't have
 
#5
Maybe a Carvin kit? All the tool-intensive woodwork has been done and the holes have been drilled. It's up to you to do final sanding and finishing of the body and assembly. That seems like about the right level of difficulty for a first project for a 14 year old with no tools or experience. Cost is ~$450.

Invalid Link Removed
 
#6
For your first build...I would highly recommend you leave the woodworking aspect of the build out of it...you do not have the tools necessary to be cutting and shaping bodies or laminating necks with any kind of positive results (I only say this because of your lack of woodworking skills. Future builds, after woodworking training, I say go for it). Go the kit route, or find the parts you need via e-bay, CL, Warmoth etc. Study how to assemble the bass, how it works, wiring etc. Put it all together, paint it the way you like and I bet you get decent results! Good luck...post pics of the process!
 
#8
oniman7 said:
Anyways, what do you think the tools would cost (I still have to factor in the bass and everything I want to refinish it with)? Assume I have nothing for the job.
Click to expand...

I've spent roughly $1500 on tools for my first scratch build. And I REALLY want more. Not just because, but I know there are other tools that would allow me to build a higher quality bass. Planer, table saw, bandsaw, router, jointer, and drill press are the big ones. The little stuff adds up quick too. Orbital sander, belt sander, drill bits, router bits, rasps & files, sandpaper, chisels, soldering iron, etc... You can build it without some of the big stuff, but you'll spend more time and money on other little things to make up for it.

Some money saving tips: Buy used tools, search garage sales, buy a CHEAP parts bass to harvest the hardware and pickups off of. Maybe you could find a neighbor with a bunch of wood tools that doesn't mind teaching a young aspiring builder?
 
#12
Just a suggestion here. Instead of starting from scratch, find a used, well worn bass for cheap (Ebay, Craigs List, pawn shops or classified ads), strip her down, refinish it, maybe change electronics (Stewmac.com had lots of parts) and learn from that. It will give you a lesson in painting, soldering, reading/understanding electronic diagrams and you might end up with a real keeper! Something tells me that you don't have the multi-thousands of dollars that are mentioned here, but starting cheap is a fun and relatively inexpensive way to go.
 
#14
tools schmools ... bass building just cost me a new shop so I have a designated place for all the tools

:hiding:

this should eliminate my current situation of spending more time setting up the tools I need to use that afternoon than I actually do running them to perform the construction task. everything on wheels is good to an extend

moving starts this weekend :hyper:


to the OP - I agree that you'd be best served with either a unfinished kit or an inexpensive Fender-style instrument you can disassemble and reassemble/set-up. once you've assembled and set-up a few you'll start to get a good idead of how everything works together and where the tight tolerances need to be. from there I'd recommend making an Alder, Poplar, or some other inexpensive type of wood body to fit the neck and parts you have as this will introduce you to working with raw wood. if you don't (or can't borrow) the tools to plane and join you could consider a body blank with just the neck pocket and control cavity installed sourced from a company like Warmoth or USACG. once you've built a couple bodies and can build them consistently to tolerance, then is a good time to consider whether or not to build your first neck

be careful - my 'I'm only going to assemble one bass' recreational adventure has turned into a $20K+ investment in tools, wood, electrical upgrades, and now the significant expense of a new shop. it really is impossible to build just one

all the best,

R
 
#15
Grizzly has some decent looking kits available too.

If you go cheap on hardware and materials you could get away with spending less, but that is all dependant the number of mistakes you make. With the time frame, I'd say start with a kit and slowly start work on a scratch build as you go. The tools are where you will hemmorage money.
 
#16
Thanks for the replies. I'm, liking the Saga and Carvin kits and may do one of those before I try refinishing (refinishing will definitely come before a scratch build). I've been thinking, since this wold be my second bass, I should take advantage of it, perhaps by setting it up to play a different tuning. If I had it set up to play in Drop C, do you think it could comfortably play D standard and C standard as well? Is this something I should learn how to do, or should I just take it to a luthier and have them set it up?
 
#18
Big +1 to that kudos!

oniman7 said:
So, here's the deal. I'm 14 years old, and it's now Summer. I've got 2 and a half months in front of me, with nothing to do. My dad, not wanting it to go to waste, has given us plenty of incentive (monetary rewards) for doing something useful with our summer. Just picking up the bass, I thought at first that I might write and record some songs with some friends of mine. Nothing too tough. But then I started thinking and realized I wanted to do something bigger.

Surfing through Talkbass, I found the Luthier's Corner and followed the Explosive Ibanez project (very nice, by the way. I love what you did with that, if you happen to read this). A friend of mine built a custom Xplorer guitar a while back, and ever since that possibility opened itself to me, I've wanted to try it. I realize now that I have a unique opportunity to try this, possibly without paying (he's said he'll cover all costs for our projects, but we'll have to see about an expensive undertaking like this). I know nothing about this. I don't have any of the tools I need, nor the knowledge to work them. I've never soldered, and don't have more than a public school knowledge of electricity (even that is shaky at best).

However, this seems like a great opportunity. I would love to learn how to put a bass together (maybe even get a new one out of the deal).


My question(s) to you:

1. Do you think this is a good idea? Given my lack of knowledge and experience, do you think I have a higher chance of screwing it up than actually accomplishing something?

2. Should I make my own bass from scratch? Perhaps get a kit? I was thinking instead that I find a relatively cheap bass and do all of my work on that, basically replacing it to build an entirely new bass. Gratuitous new paint job will be added, of course.

3. What would be the approximate cost? I know that there are plenty of answers to questions like these in the FAQs (which I do intend to read), but based on my current situation (assuming I have absolutely no tools for the job, minus the guitar and whatever electronics/strings/etc. I want to put into it), what could I expect to pay?

4. Any specific information I should know for my situation? Once again, I'll obviously need to dedicate a lot of time to reading up on it, but anything I should know?



If anyone decides to help me out (just with questions like this) I'll be posting more discussion about what I want as far as tone and build. If I go through with the process, I'll hopefully be posting pictures all along the way.


In the meantime, any and all suggestions are open (electronics, design, even suggestions on whether or not I should do this).


Thanks,
Dakota
Click to expand...

That is absolutely beautiful syntax and formatting. :)
 
#19
Thanks. I've been reading 12th grade level since Elementary school and the only money I earn ($25 a month) comes from writing monthly articles.


I'm going to talk to my dad later about ordering one of the saga kits. If that goes well, Grizzly has a very nice wide bodied "deluxe" model for about twice as much that I really like, but woodworking is required. I could possibly get both of those done by the end of summer.


For the saga J-bass (looks to be modeled after a fender) is the pickguard necessary?
 

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