5 string fan fretted 36"-34" all in Wenge

[Matteo Marziali]

Hi my TB friends! It's time for a new build!

I designed this bass two/three years ago, the idea was to make a "metal looking" bass, but inspired by '77 CT style, and also by the works of my friend Triad of Prometeus guitar

I choose Wenge because of its "Growl" and its punchy midrange. I would like a bass that can come out clearly from the mixer, so i choose EMG J pickup. initialy i was thinking of using EMG DC, but J have more mids. To add bass or treble i will put an EMG BTS preamp. The strings are DR red devil. For the tuner i choose Gotoh GB350, they are the lightest tuner in the market, about 40 gr per pieces.
The bridge is a Kahler with single saddles, i will make a custom mounting plate, to place inside the body.
I will make some chambering in the body for the weight...

SPEC:

5 string fan fretted
36"-34" scale
DR Red Devils string 45-125
Deep-set-neck construction

One-piece neck/fretboard of quatersaw Wenge
Singol action TR with access from the rear of the headstock
Width at nut 45mm
Thickness at nut 19mm

Two pieces Wenge chambered body core
Top and back Wenge with red veneer
Body thickness 30mm (edit)

Neck PU Triad
Bridge PU Invalid Link Removed
Preamp Invalid Link Removed control Bass/Treble with stacked pot

Tuners: Gotoh Invalid Link Removed black
Bridge: Invalid Link Removedblack


A mockup:

Some hardware, i'm still waiting for the tuners from Japan:

The neck i made 2 years ago:

It's a one-piece neck, the TR is installed from the back

 

[Deep Cat]

I'm looking forward to see this come together. Subbed.

 

[kris pung]

The design looks really cool but a warning wenge is very heavy so you may want to do some chambering to bring the weight down.

 

[TheJoshinator]

WOW. That is one intense-looking bass! Metal for sure. Also, funny coincidence... I've got a design sitting around for a fan-fret 5er with bloodwood laminates in a wenge body - I'd better hurry up and start building it before someone else does! XD Looking forward to seeing this develop. Those "barbs" look like fun to carve...

 

[Matteo Marziali]

wenge is very heavy so you may want to do some chambering to bring the weight down.

It's a good issue, i've already made a chamber in the upper side of the body core, i can make some hole here and there, but i want to try with the neck on, to avoid neck-diving

I've got a design sitting around for a fan-fret 5er with bloodwood laminates in a wenge body

It's a good choice! Probably better then mine, because the veneer is so thin and probably it will not look like i figured...

 

[Bassgeer]

This build will forever lay to rest the best bass for metal conversation. That design is amazing!!!!!!!! Can't wait to see it as it progresses!

Sub'd

 

[Buchada Azeda]

There's a typo in the title - it's 36"-34" instead of 36"-34", right?

 

[Matteo Marziali]

There's a typo in the title - it's 36"-34" instead of 36"-34", right?

Yes! 36"-34"! Thanks! But... how can i change it?!?

.. you made a typo also

 

[dreads311]

This looks awesome. Can't wait to see it come along!

 

[reverendrally]

It's a good issue, i've already made a chamber in the upper side of the body core, i can make some hole here and there, but i want to try with the neck on, to avoid neck-diving

It's a good choice! Probably better then mine, because the veneer is so thin and probably it will not look like i figured...

Love the design. Looks great.

Keep cutting! Here's one of mine...

 

[Buchada Azeda]

There's a typo in the title - it's 36"-34" instead of 36"-34", right?

I think that makes us even

Try editing the original post.

 

[TheJoshinator]

It's a good choice! Probably better then mine, because the veneer is so thin and probably it will not look like i figured...

If it looks even half as good as you figured by the time you're finished, you're gonna have to lock it away to avoid exposing the public to such extremely potent amounts of awesome. ;-P I've seen a couple red/wenge basses here, and you're right, it's a pretty cool combo.

 

[Matteo Marziali]

This is a mockup for the bridge, the string space is (about) 16.5mm. What do you think about? Also the neck is narrow....
The cardboard on the left is the model for the new baseplate. It will be made of steel, and i'll solder the nuts on it. It should work.

Now i'm going to order the fretwire, probably i will go for this: 18% Nickel Silver, Crown width: 2.50 mm, Crown height: 1.1 mm. Or could I choose something bigger for an "heavy" use?!?...

P.s. DOES ANYBODY KNOW HOW TO CHANGE THE TITLE OF THIS THREAD???

 

[Flump]

The bass design makes me think of some of the weapons in the elder scrolls games. I forget what they are called. The dark weapons or whatever.

Love the design.

 

[HaMMerHeD]

Daedric!

 

[Matteo Marziali]

Daedric Bass! Sound cool!

 

[dreads311]

I love that there are some other game nerds here!

 

[GrumpiusMaximus]

All you need is the Daedric guitar and you're sorted. Enchanted bound versions of standard [DEL]weapons[/DEL] guitars may work, too. Albeit for a limited period.

 

[HaMMerHeD]

Make sure you stock up on some grand soul gems. Might make good inlays.

 

[Matteo Marziali]

Machine heads just arrived form Japan! So light!

And 1 Kg of fretwire! Probably i will use it until 2020...