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$100 4 string challenge

#41
mapleglo said:
So would that be excluded from the cost? And if I buy bobbin material, but only use 1/3 of the material, would I just use 1/3 of the cost in the tally? And the op talks about a 4 string build in the title of the thread, but then talks about building a 6 string in a subsequent post.
Click to expand...

Good question! I am curious about the following:

1. If I purchase 6 board feet of lumber but only use 4 would I only count the cost of the wood I used?
2. Is this contest limited only to 4 string basses?
3. Do entries need to be started after the date of the initial challenge post, or are in progress instruments that meet the criteria fair game?
 
#42
michaelwayneharwood said:
Good question! I am curious about the following:

1. If I purchase 6 board feet of lumber but only use 4 would I only count the cost of the wood I used?
2. Is this contest limited only to 4 string basses?
3. Do entries need to be started after the date of the initial challenge post, or are in progress instruments that meet the criteria fair game?
Click to expand...

Yes, these details must be ironed out if we move forward on this.

And speaking of moving forward, my husband just made reservations for the annual Phoenix Comicon. We go every year, and I've always wanted to go as Marceline, the bass playing Vampire from the animated series Adventure Time.

1692mur.jpg


It's a fretless bass that she made from the axe family heirloom.

Might be do-able for $100. And it would be pretty cool to have an actual bass. Maybe I could throw together a small battery operated amp. I've never seen a Marceline with a real bass there. They've always been props.

Anyway, can you say "neck dive"?
 
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#43
I'm down to throw some junk hardware on a quality instrument and simply change it after the challenge. Finishing is still my hangup. When the base coat $35 a pint and the clear is about the same cost, that doesn't leave me much room for anything else. Finishing is my thing, I enjoy doing a high quality finish, and a high quality finish requires quality material.
 
#44
Hopkins said:
I'm down to throw some junk hardware on a quality instrument and simply change it after the challenge. Finishing is still my hangup. When the base coat $35 a pint and the clear is about the same cost, that doesn't leave me much room for anything else.
Click to expand...

Well, in the same vein as swapping out hardware after the challenge, a $5 can of rustoleum could be sanded off to be replaced with a real finish...
 
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#45
mapleglo said:
Yes, these details must be ironed out if we move forward on this.
Click to expand...
If we can only count the cost of used material, 5 string instruments are allowed, and I could enter a current build then I have an in progress build that meets the criteria and comes in right at $100.
 
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#46
Right, so I found these tuners on Amazon.

24lr8m8.jpg


That's 2 sets for $10.84. So if I use one set, is this just $5.42 toward the build price? And what about shipping? This set ships free but some of the other hardware might not.

edited to add, Hmm, looking at this more closely, it says "2 pairs", so that's 4 tuners? Darn, just doubled in price...
 
#49
mapleglo said:
Right, so I found these tuners on Amazon.

24lr8m8.jpg


That's 2 sets for $10.84. So if I use one set, is this just $5.42 toward the build price? And what about shipping? This set ships free but some of the other hardware might not.

edited to add, Hmm, looking at this more closely, it says "2 pairs", so that's 4 tuners? Darn, just doubled in price...
Click to expand...

Speaking from experience, you would be better off spending the same amount and ordering a set that ships from the U.S. I have ordered a few small parts (binding material and fret dots) directly from China that never came in
 
#54
OK, first 3 items ordered.

2942p1j.jpg


Bridge, tuners, and pickups total $37.90 so far. Now I have to find some wood. And figure out what I'll do about a truss rod. Maybe I can use a piece of threaded rod I have laying around. Assuming we can use items in stock. OP, where are the official rules?!?!?!?!
 
#56
OK, because I'm impatient and have now thrown my hat in the ring, I'm going to suggest the following rules as a start:

1) All building materials that a builder would normally use, such as glue, sand paper, wax paper, gloves, etc do not count toward the build price.
2) All tools that would normally be used in subsequent builds, such as jazz pickup templates, router bits, drill bits, files, blades, etc do not count toward the build price.
3) Items that do count toward the build price would include (but are not limited to) tuners, bridge, pickups, wood, truss rod, nut, output jack and jack plate.
4) We'll need to nail down what items we can use that are in our personal stock: wire, knobs, controls, strings, fret wire, etc?
5) Per Hopkins concern, what about the finish?
6) 6 month time frame?

anything else?
 
#58
mapleglo said:
OK, because I'm impatient and have now thrown my hat in the ring, I'm going to suggest the following rules as a start:

1) All building materials that a builder would normally use, such as glue, sand paper, wax paper, gloves, etc do not count toward the build price.
2) All tools that would normally be used in subsequent builds, such as jazz pickup templates, router bits, drill bits, files, blades, etc do not count toward the build price.
3) Items that do count toward the build price would include (but are not limited to) tuners, bridge, pickups, wood, truss rod, nut, output jack and jack plate.
4) We'll need to nail down what items we can use that are in our personal stock: wire, knobs, controls, strings, fret wire, etc?
5) Per Hopkins concern, what about the finish?
6) 6 month time frame?

anything else?
Click to expand...

In progress builds allowed? Only wood used counted against cost (e.g. 4bf used out of 6bf purchased)? 4 strings only?
 
#59
I'm intrigued... Thanks Mapleglo for putting forth some more defined parameters! My $.02... the price point needs to be bumped up a bit to accommodate finish (I agree with Hopkins here, maybe... $25.00) and it would seem the spirit of the challenge is more of an up-cycle thing. Maybe it should be called the "125 Up-Cycle Challenge" I've been way it to this for a bit (up-cycling / recycling / reclaiming) and have acquired some cool stuff folks where, or, practically where giving away... SO... maybe... I do have a prototype to build... I'm considering the Idea.
 

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