9 String Build Bass/Tapper

[jworrellbass]

This is an idea i've had for around 25 years now. Back in the day when I played in bands I always though about a concept build like this but I couldn't afford and I didn't have the skills to build one. So why not now.

It's going to be a 5 string bass with standard 3/4" bridge spacing. Their will be 4) 3/8" spaced strings above the low B for uncrossed tapping. These will be tuned either in inverted 5ths or in 4ths with E (guitar) as the low note, I haven't decided yet. It will also be a multi-scale 35"-33" on the bass side and 18"-17-5/8" melody side with the 12th fret as perpendicular.

I haven't ironed out all the details, but here are a few pic's to show it. The body will be a single cut, neck-though. I'll have a routered line between the upper wing and the neck so the players thumb will have a place to anchor while playing. The other thing I'm planing to do is carve the neck in two pieces, so it feels like a bass with the left hand. I've played uncrossed tappers before and the neck always seemed weird, (to wide).

I'm going to use wenge for the neck, padauk body wings with mango top.

 

[bassteban]

That's different(I mean that in a nice way )- where will you put the tuners for the short strings?

 

[M0ses]

I don't get it.....

 

[NKBassman]

Interesting!

 

[jworrellbass]

That's different(I mean that in a nice way )- where will you put the tuners for the short strings?

I'm planing to use [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
That way they will be inside the body wing.

 

[jworrellbass]

I don't get it.....

It really quite simple, you can play bass like usual, slap, thumb, dig in or what ever you want and reach over with the right hand and tap out chords, melodies, ect will playing bass lines with the left hand.

 

[DanSwain]

This looks like a really interesting design John! I'm going to have to keep my eye on this one!

 

[jworrellbass]

Thanks Dan, it will be a challenging build.

 

[Ruckus_Instrmts]

Interesting for sure. I'm curious what pickups your gonna use, being that the string spacing changes quite abruptly.

 

[jworrellbass]

Interesting for sure. I'm curious what pickups your gonna use, being that the string spacing changes quite abruptly.

I've been winding my own. I'll wind a quad humbucker for each pickup. The wiring will be independant volumes with push/pull pots and 2 jacks. It will be set up for both string sets to be used with one output or pull up and separate the outputs. Thats the plan so far.

 

[mikeyswood]

I love the idea!

 

[jworrellbass]

^ Thanks Mike, you remember a while back we joked about doing a build that we never tried before. Well here it is.

 

[Bassisgreat]

Cool idea! Looking forward to seeing this one in progress.

 

[mikeyswood]

Does the bar code improve sustain?

 

[jworrellbass]

Cool idea! Looking forward to seeing this one in progress.

Thanks

Does the bar code improve sustain?

The bar code was my inspiration, without it there's no meaning to life.

 

[Headless Llama]

This has the potential to be great. It kinda reminds of a harp guitar...

 

[joeyl]

This has the potential to be great. It kinda reminds of a harp guitar...

yep me too.

 

[pilotjones]

Very coll. BTW did you ever see Jack Read's step neck, Scotty? Maybe something you could use there, maybe not.

 

[jworrellbass]

This has the potential to be great. It kinda reminds of a harp guitar...

yep me too.

It does have that look to it.

Very coll. BTW did you ever see Jack Read's step neck, Scotty? Maybe something you could use there, maybe not.

Never have, do you have a link or some more info. Thanks. BTW I'm John not Scotty.

 

[Buchada Azeda]

It does have that look to it.



Never have, do you have a link or some more info. Thanks. BTW I'm John not Scotty.

Shut up Scotty