Recent content by Bigfork

How are you determining that the strings have different tension? Is that a "feel" thing based on plucking? Is it am amplitude thing? Have you stuck a strain gauge on there? Not trying to be a jerk, just curious about the unit of measure and how quantitative vs. qualitative it is. In theory...

I'm a custom builder and I'm not a fan of using glue in the fret slots - but as with all things, there is a time and a place. For a quick repair, it's probably fine and yes, it will make removing the fret in the future harder. But, are you going to keep the bass that long? Do you think you...

I'm thinking about my next bass build, and and toying with the idea of building a semi-hollow body (double cut-away) with peizopickups. My uninformed thoughts are to get more of an acoustic sound. Has anyone used piezo pickups and what were your thoughts? I've seen the Hipshot bridge with...

No offense taken in the least. I do want honest opinions and many thanks for offering up some truth Rich. I'm glad you haven't seen a scroll at the bottom. Not that it's going to revolutionize anything, but I was trying our what I had hoped was an original idea. Not all of those types of...

It's only taken me 9 months of slipping in a couple hours on the odd weekend, but I finally finished my second attempt to build a bass. This time it's a custom 5-string fretless for an old friend (yes, I've known him a long time AND he is old!) In the time since the build of my first bass (the...

The name may be better than the design. I was thinking I there might a 3rd option. What if the "inlays" were removable? that way, you could bulk up on the Walnut to add mass to the Mahogany to change the tone naturally (instead of electronically.) By using an o-ring, the seal would be...

I'm planning my next project and I was originally thinking of building a 6-string electric guitar, then it occured to me that maybe I should build a 6-string bass. So, I'm tossing some designs out there to be critiqued. The pick up choice is not made. Please use you imagination or make a...

Oh yes, buy an orbital sander and lots of sand paper. You will be surprised how much you use. Also, it's not worth working a piece of sand paper down to the very last grain. You will feel when the paper has lost it's cutting ability. Change the paper instead of pushing harder. You'll get...

I just finished my first build and it was a great experience. I learned a lot that I wish I had known ahead of time, but I feel that is part of the process. Here are a couple of internet sites I found instructive Build Your Own Bass Invalid Link Removed Crimson Guitars [Invalid or...

Hehehe, you got that right. I could make some lame excuse like "I'm only gonna ever build one of these" but the truth is I doubt I could match it exactly. I'll make a template from this body, but a lot was done by the seat of the pants and free-hand. (For example, it took me 6 @#$% hours...

Gosh.... I'm blushing! Thanks for the positive feedback. That's just what I was trying to do with this design; Something simple, somehwat classic looking and clean but not too far out there. At the same time not exactly like what I've seen before; not a copy or a clone. (I'm still...

I'm still new to this pickup position idea. I really didn't have a good idea of exactly where to put them, so I tried to leave enough space to play and not push anything up against anything else. What would the changes you suggest do to the sound? Or, said differently, what's the...

I used the EMG HZ passive series: Neck is the 35HZ (Link Removed) Bridge is the MMHZ (Link Removed) I looked around a lot, and frankly got pretty confused. I decided that I would go with passives, and wanted a reputable/decent pickup with a simple visual appeal. There are hotter, more...

Yep, it's not light. I think I could have made the body thinner too, but I had nothing to measure and I didn't feel right going to the local music store with a pair of calipers. All the folks I know who play are in different states and no one would send me thier bass in the mail for a while...

Ha ha! Yes! Well spotted! I started with a Rick 4001 as the inspiration. In fact, I was going to call it a Wittenbacker, but then I thought that might be a little over the top.