29 inch archtop acoustic bass build

[tomersg]

so, i have an acoustic bass project in my mind for sometime.
i want to take an indian Givson archtop acoustic jazz guitar. and convert into acoustic fretless shortscale bass with nylon wound strings. i really like the look of those guitars and replacing the hardware and other work is not complicated.
the inspiration is that bass -

and i even asked here for advice and saw the nice worl on MONGO2 as inspiration also.
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/29-inch-bass-would-it-work.1065151/

so the project start its first steps as, after some serching i found myself nice GIVSON GUITAR for very cheap:

cleand it carfully and took off all the hardware:

yesterday was the major hard work, to remove the frets:

and then fill the slots wuth some nice veneer and smooth the fretboard:

now waiting for hardware to arive from ebay (tuners, tailpiece and nut)

more updates to come.

 

[the yeti]

.

 

[mongo2]

 

[GKon]

Looking goood!

 

[JACink]

I really like this. I keep contemplating turning a telecaster guitar into a shortscale, but this is also a great idea.

Where did you find the necessary hardware?

 

[lz4005]

I don't understand the point of doing all this work to make a 29" bass when there are already so many inexpensive short scale acoustic and semi-hollow basses available.

 

[tomersg]

I don't understand the point of doing all this work to make a 29" bass when there are already so many inexpensive short scale acoustic and semi-hollow basses available.

a - for the fun and trial and the DIY vibe.
b - i realy like the shape and the look of this guitar. i have allready acoustic guitar exactly the same and want one bass like that.
c - i allready have acoustic bass - very big one - DEAN. nice bass. and also upright. which is much bigger.. but i want somthing small.
d - i hate the u-bass.
e - i like the rob allan basses but they are expensive.

 

[mongo2]

I don't understand the point of doing all this work to make a 29" bass when there are already so many inexpensive short scale acoustic and semi-hollow basses available.

It's fun.

 

[BrianToska]

I've actually been thinking of trying this project also! I'm really excited to see how this turns out. Sub'd

 

[tomersg]

weekend update:
added nut, tailpiece, electronics (passive - scraped from DEAN ABG), reshaped the arctop bridge to implant piezo pickup and saddle.
still waiting for tuning machines. than i'll put rotosound trubass strings from hofner. and done

 

[DerekW]

Looks like you busted a nut.














Wait, wut?

 

[slaerts]

My crack at a 26 scale 5 string bass starting with a classical guitar and a set of kala poehoe strings
Invalid Link Removed

Yes, a lot of fun

I'm happy with the design so far, but I'm about to replace the bridge as I kinda wrecked the previous one experimenting. Great job.

 

[tomersg]

My crack at a 26 scale 5 string bass starting with a classical guitar and a set of kala poehoe strings
Invalid Link Removed

Yes, a lot of fun

I'm happy with the design so far, but I'm about to replace the bridge as I kinda wrecked the previous one experimenting. Great job.

very nice! great idea

 

[tomersg]

so today the tuners arrived. and i got into work rush and finished it in a few hours. the work is done and mission complete.
i'm not sure about the rotosound trubass stings though..
any way the sound and feel and also playability is very like hofner beatle bass.
maybe later i'll upgrade the preamp but i'm looking for somthing wery small.

and a short demo i made by the iphone.

 

[Shovel]

I love this project, I've been thinking of doing something similar for a while, but with a full acoustic guitar.

 

[tomersg]

wasnt happy with the rotosund trubass strings. too dead...
replaced with an old set of fender 9120 also black nylon but much lively, more sustain and fun to play.

 

[Chef]

Yemaha?
Givson?

Who knew.

 

[tomersg]

now you

 

[GKon]

Looks great!

 

[tomersg]

Looks great!

thanks!

here another pic from yesterday jam..

need to make new video with the fender 9120 strings. much better sound!