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Before my first build

D

daerek

May 17, 2009
75
0
Norway
#1
I want to build my own bass. Therefore, I have a few questions. I have already decided on some specs.

7 strings, tuned F# B E A D G C
Neck-through construction
Fanned frets, 36"-34" scale, perpendicular at 7th fret
24 frets + zero fret
Flat fretboard
18 mm string spacing at the bridge
Thin neck, wide fretboard

Now, the questions. First, wood. I'm thinking a light/dark/light/dark/light for the neck, and dark for the body wings, maybe dark/light/dark depthwise. Also, a dark fretboard. What woods would you suggest?

I think I'll go with maple or basswood for the light and wenge or mahogany for the dark woods.

Second, sound. I want a punchy, midrange-heavy sound. What pickups/placement and electronics (active or passive?) would you suggest? Also, what strings?

I think I'll go with Circle K strings.

Third, neck. One or two truss rods? What truss rods should I use? Should I use CF rods? Any recommendations on fretwire?

One truss rod, no CF. Still not sure which rod.

Fourth, reading. I have read every neck-through construction thread, and a lot of other threads as well, up to page 156 of the Luthier's Corner. So, what books should I read before I start building? I primarily want information relevant to what I'll be doing (ERB, neck-through, fanned frets) and luthiery and setup in general.

I'll get Hiscock and Koch's books.

Fifth, hardware. Tuners, bridge, nut. Any suggestions? Also, grounding and shielding?

I think I'll go with Hipshot Ultralite tuners, and I will use individual bridges. Any suggestions on the bridges?

I don't have a place to build yet, I'm working on that. So it might be a while before I can actually start building.
 
#2
A good workshop is very important indeed.
I'm also in the process of wanting to build my own bass, and tryed it in a small sleepingroom.
That did'nt work out, all the dust comes in your whole house.
I just finished my new "workshop" in my, also small, shed which I painted white.
I've build a good, sturdy workbench, and now I'm buying the tools I need secondhand from the net.
Tomorrow I'm getting a Lathe, woodturning machine, which is new 320,00 euro's, for 35 euro.
I also found some leftover hardwood floorplanks for sale, 24 from which 3 purple heart for 100,00 euro's, that way you can make a mistake and don't feel like you've lost an arm and a leg, only 3 or 4 euro's worth of wood.
I try to keep my first build as cheep as possible.

Good luck with that very difficult build, fanned freds are very cool.
 
#3
Word to the wise - You don't become a mechanic by starting with Ferraris. You are setting yourself up for severe disappointment and financial loss with the specs you have chosen.

If you have actually read the first 156 pages of the LC then you will be intimately familiar with the two books that are always listed as required reading.
 
#6
It is an ambitious first build, but it is possible.

I won't discuss tone and wood but I will list my suggestions.

1)Maple, Wenge, Purpleheart are my go to neck thru woods.
2)Active and I really prefer Barts for sure, and DR strings.
3)1 dual action truss rod, no CF.
4)Melvin Hiscock book, but he doesn't cover any ERB or fan fret info.
5)Hardware is up to you, but you will need either a custom bridge or individual bridges. I like Hipshot myself but the individual bridges weren't the easiest to install. Tuners the Hipshot lights are nice. Nut is very much your call, but remember since it will be at an angle a normal length nut won't work, so just buy a long blank. I've even used acoustic guitard bridge blanks before.
If you go active electronics you don't need to worry much about shielding. You will of course need to ground your instrument properly. Unless you are talking running ground to all the individual bridges, that's a whole separate issue.

Good luck,
Hey you asked. :)
 
#7
New builders are getting braver and braver ;)
I wish I had your optimism when I started......Wait, I did, but I did a 5 first, no frets.

Yeah, you best get your place, tools, etc..first....

You'll find there will be alot of small details than once thought and alot of "improvements" along the way....it happens.

Advice: Wait to do something like this, once you've completed an instrument or 2......
 
#9
mikeyswood said:
Word to the wise - You don't become a mechanic by starting with Ferraris. You are setting yourself up for severe disappointment and financial loss with the specs you have chosen.

If you have actually read the first 156 pages of the LC then you will be intimately familiar with the two books that are always listed as required reading.
Click to expand...
If I make my first build with exactly the specs I want, I will know just what I have to do when/if I build my second. I know this is a huge undertaking. I know my first bass won't be the best, probably not even a good bass at all. But, as I said, then I will have practiced everything I need for my bass, so my second build will be better than if I had started with a parallel-fret fiver.

Should I get both Hiscock and Koch's books? From what I have read, Koch's doesn't deal with neck-throughs. Are there any other books I should get as well? I saw the Guitar Player Repair Guide by Erlewine suggested somewhere...

gjbassist said:
My thoughts exactly. A seven stringed, fanned fret bass sounds like a major undertaking for a first build!
Click to expand...
As I said, I know this. I know it won't be easy. But it's what I want.

Dirk Diggler said:
1)Maple, Wenge, Purpleheart are my go to neck thru woods.
Click to expand...
Thanks!
Dirk Diggler said:
2)Active and I really prefer Barts for sure, and DR strings.
Click to expand...
From their website, it doesn't look like DR makes low F# strings... Do Barts give a punchy midrange?
Dirk Diggler said:
3)1 dual action truss rod, no CF.
Click to expand...
Any specific dual-action truss rods you'd recommend?
Dirk Diggler said:
4)Melvin Hiscock book, but he doesn't cover any ERB or fan fret info.
Click to expand...
I don't really think building an ERB is that much different from an NRB, and I think I already have a good grasp of fanned fretting from this forum.
Dirk Diggler said:
5)Hardware is up to you, but you will need either a custom bridge or individual bridges. I like Hipshot myself but the individual bridges weren't the easiest to install. Tuners the Hipshot lights are nice.
Click to expand...
Thanks! I think I'll go with individual bridges.
Dirk Diggler said:
Nut is very much your call, but remember since it will be at an angle a normal length nut won't work, so just buy a long blank. I've even used acoustic guitard bridge blanks before.
Click to expand...
I'm going with a zero fret, so the bridge will be just for holding the strings in place. Anyway, your suggestion seems the best.
Dirk Diggler said:
If you go active electronics you don't need to worry much about shielding. You will of course need to ground your instrument properly. Unless you are talking running ground to all the individual bridges, that's a whole separate issue.
Click to expand...
As I said, I think I'll go with individual bridges. How will I then go about grounding?

Dirk Diggler said:
Good luck,
Hey you asked. :)
Click to expand...
And you answered, thanks!

Rickett Customs said:
You'll find there will be alot of small details than once thought and alot of "improvements" along the way....it happens.

Advice: Wait to do something like this, once you've completed an instrument or 2......
Click to expand...
I have no intentions of making this my only build, and, as I said above, I will learn more from doing what I'll do in the end than from doing something similar.

Thanks for all replies, they are much appreciated!
 
#11
I will add to the thread by stating facts on my first build which is now semi-completed. I went just a little ambitious but not as far as yours and learned a lot during the process. I had to make some changes and things didn't come out just as I had imagined but it wasn't too bad and the lessons learned are invaluable. I said semi-complete because I have taken part of it apart and am reworking the places I am not happy with. Have fun, expect a lot of problems but ask questions and learn how to fix your wrongs. You will have a blast in the process. Good luck in your future build.
 
#13
jworrellbass said:
When I did my fanned I gounded the individual bridge pieces like this,
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=576733&page=3
Post #43 & #44
Click to expand...
Those posts weren't really very descriptive...

Icewolf98 said:
Have fun, expect a lot of problems but ask questions and learn how to fix your wrongs. You will have a blast in the process. Good luck in your future build.
Click to expand...
I do expect a lot of problems, and having a lot of questions along the way. What kinds of problems do you think I'll encounter? Just so I can be prepared.
 
#16
daerek said:
... What kinds of problems do you think I'll encounter? Just so I can be prepared.
Click to expand...

Any problem can arise which means you really can't prepare yourself and is why improvisation is so important.

Good luck with this build. It's very ambitious but I've seen newbies tackle stuff of this magnitude in other trades/disciplines and they've surprised the veterans. I'll be looking forward to seeing how your project progresses.
 
#17
Diogenes said:
Any problem can arise which means you really can't prepare yourself and is why improvisation is so important.
Click to expand...
Then, what are the most typical and common problems?

Diogenes said:
Good luck with this build. It's very ambitious but I've seen newbies tackle stuff of this magnitude in other trades/disciplines and they've surprised the veterans. I'll be looking forward to seeing how your project progresses.
Click to expand...
Finally someone believes in me! But as I said, it'll probably be quite a while until I can start building.
 
#18
daerek said:
I want to build my own bass. Therefore, I have a few questions. I have already decided on some specs.

7 strings, tuned F# B E A D G C
Neck-through construction
Fanned frets, 36"-34" scale, perpendicular at 7th fret
24 frets + zero fret
Flat fretboard
18 mm string spacing at the bridge
Thin neck, wide fretboard

Now, the questions. First, wood. I'm thinking a light/dark/light/dark/light for the neck, and dark for the body wings, maybe dark/light/dark depthwise. Also, a dark fretboard. What woods would you suggest?

I think I'll go with maple for the light and wenge for the dark woods

Second, sound. I want a punchy, midrange-heavy sound. What pickups/placement and electronics (active or passive?) would you suggest? Also, what strings?

Third, neck. One or two truss rods? What truss rods should I use? Should I use CF rods?

Fourth, reading. I have read every neck-through construction thread, and a lot of other threads as well, up to page 156 of the Luthier's Corner. So, what books should I read before I start building? I primarily want information relevant to what I'll be doing (ERB, neck-through, fanned frets) and luthiery and setup in general.

I'll get Hiscock's book, not sure about Koch's or others

Fifth, hardware. Tuners, bridge, nut. Any suggestions? Also, grounding and shielding?

I don't have a place to build yet, I'm working on that. So it might be a while before I can actually start building.
Click to expand...

Far out man!!!! :eek: I ain't heard someone yak like this since 1969... going to woodstock.... window pane I'm pretty sure.... play on my brother....I can dig it! lol
peace
;)
tjm
 
#19
To recap: You do not have a shop in which to work, you have no experience building, you've not read either of the two leading books on the subject, you are quite a while away from starting, and you are starting with a very advanced spec sheet.

Good luck.
 

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