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Alright, attempting to build a PVC EUB!
- Thread starter Rickett Customs
- Start date
Slightly off topic, but does anybody have any idea WHEN or WHERE the idea for an upright pvc bass originated?
I had a friend who is unfortunately now deceased who built one back in what would have had to have been 2000, or late 90s. To the best of my knowledge, him and his friend came up with their design completely on their own, but that doesn't mean that other people hadn't beat them to it. I'm just curious, because prior to this thread, I had NO idea that other people were making these things.
I had a friend who is unfortunately now deceased who built one back in what would have had to have been 2000, or late 90s. To the best of my knowledge, him and his friend came up with their design completely on their own, but that doesn't mean that other people hadn't beat them to it. I'm just curious, because prior to this thread, I had NO idea that other people were making these things.
The grain on the front of that oak fingerboard looks pretty cool. Be sure to get a pickup soon, I want to hear that thing! 
Not so sure, non internet-wise, but to my knowledge, Beatcatcher had the first to my knowledge on the internet. From every place I've searched, I cannot find one instance of one with actual upright strings, so thats why I've self proclaimed that title. Beatcatcher used nylons.
My friend's PVC bass was a pretty ghetto job, but it's quite functional. He made a wooden neck with a steel rod reinforcement (not a truss rod) which ran down the full length of the instrument, and used a single piece of pvc pipe, creatively cut. After my friend passed away, it fell into the possession of another friend of mine, who's posing with it here. This is currently the only picture I can find of it, so pardon the hideous edit job. As I said, this was built in 2000 at the latest, and uses steel strings and a P-bass pickup.
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The nut is a section of 3" abs, glued onto the reducer which was ground down. I filed the grooves abit wide and the A and G string had a buzz so I stuck a couple little pieces of paper in there pretty high tech stuff , I built a piezo pick up this weekend, 2 dollar buzzer from radio shag, and jacks and wire I had laying around. wrapped some thin rubber gasket material around the piezo and glued it to the bridge. ( which is a piece of a small bamboo cutting board bty) I got to say this bass does not sound too bad. I think a pre-amp might help though.
, I built a piezo pick up this weekend, 2 dollar buzzer from radio shag, and jacks and wire I had laying around. wrapped some thin rubber gasket material around the piezo and glued it to the bridge. ( which is a piece of a small bamboo cutting board bty) I got to say this bass does not sound too bad. I think a pre-amp might help though.Attachments
A buffering preamp will help big time. I've used this schematic before:
from this page. He builds this into a cable, but you could easily put it into the bass and have an XLR plug. It uses phantom power from a board, so no need for batteries.
For a piezo, I'd suggest using a 10M instead of the 3M, though
not_jason - that thing is awesome. I like the "creative cut" - what does the nut look like?
it gives me an idea though - a scrap of PVC would make a good cheap radius block.
it gives me an idea though - a scrap of PVC would make a good cheap radius block.
Not really. unless you like all your basses with a 2" radius, or have some VERY large pvc.
-Nick
Things in my life have been in a bit of disarray 
But i'll get back on track here soon with more on the project.
I still have to get the two i'm working on finished here sometime
But i'll get back on track here soon with more on the project.
I still have to get the two i'm working on finished here sometime
Thanks for the schematic of the preamp HogieWan, I just ordered a 45 dollar Fishman on ebay, I like the idea of such a small preamp though. after playing around some more I realize it sounds pretty bad without one. If and when I get a decent sound I will record, rip and upload an mp3.
Greg
Greg
Hey! I forgot I'd posted in here.
Yes, I have played that old PVC bass a number of times. It's important to note that my friend who built this bass was not a luthier, but he was an avid do-it-yourself-er, and the bass came out fairly well. It did have it's quirks, but it was a very functional instrument. He used it live a few times, and in the time since his passing, I've seen it's new owner use it live a few times. It always gets a lot of attention.
If memory serves, this bass is actually made out of 3" PVC, which I guess is rather difficult to find. All I remember for absolute certain is that it was bigger than 2. When you look at the picture, down near the bridge and the pickup you can tell that the radius is definitely bigger than 2. And this is part of what made it work as a fingerboard. It was a pretty sharp radius (keep in mind I'm a bass guitarist, i know close to nothing about preferred upright set ups), but it wasn't unmanageable.
I think at this point in history the bass's nut is cut out of wood, but I'm not sure what kind. Also, I'm unsure if this was a recent upgrade. I seem to remember it being different when Mark owned it, but I can't put my finger on what that set up might have been.
As for the sound, I'm going to be perfectly truthful and say that it's been too long since I've heard it to describe it with much detail. However, the P pickup did have a pretty profound stamp on the sound. The fingerboard threw it for a curve though.
If anybody is interested, I may send an email to it's last known owner and see if he still has it kicking around and if he could take some more pictures and maybe a few measurements. Like I said, Mark wasn't a luthier, but he made a pretty interesting instrument.
Yes, I have played that old PVC bass a number of times. It's important to note that my friend who built this bass was not a luthier, but he was an avid do-it-yourself-er, and the bass came out fairly well. It did have it's quirks, but it was a very functional instrument. He used it live a few times, and in the time since his passing, I've seen it's new owner use it live a few times. It always gets a lot of attention.
If memory serves, this bass is actually made out of 3" PVC, which I guess is rather difficult to find. All I remember for absolute certain is that it was bigger than 2. When you look at the picture, down near the bridge and the pickup you can tell that the radius is definitely bigger than 2. And this is part of what made it work as a fingerboard. It was a pretty sharp radius (keep in mind I'm a bass guitarist, i know close to nothing about preferred upright set ups), but it wasn't unmanageable.
I think at this point in history the bass's nut is cut out of wood, but I'm not sure what kind. Also, I'm unsure if this was a recent upgrade. I seem to remember it being different when Mark owned it, but I can't put my finger on what that set up might have been.
As for the sound, I'm going to be perfectly truthful and say that it's been too long since I've heard it to describe it with much detail. However, the P pickup did have a pretty profound stamp on the sound. The fingerboard threw it for a curve though.
If anybody is interested, I may send an email to it's last known owner and see if he still has it kicking around and if he could take some more pictures and maybe a few measurements. Like I said, Mark wasn't a luthier, but he made a pretty interesting instrument.
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This is the coolest build thread I have EVER read! Huge kudos to you and your uncle for your innovations. I love how this project takes on new life with every new innovation that comes out of your experimentation. Awesome stuff! The best engineers are the ones that can learn and adjust as they go IMHO, and you guys rule in that space right now!
obg
This is the coolest build thread I have EVER read! Huge kudos to you and your uncle for your innovations. I love how this project takes on new life with every new innovation that comes out of your experimentation. Awesome stuff! The best engineers are the ones that can learn and adjust as they go IMHO, and you guys rule in that space right now!
obg
I know there has been some delay on these builds, but I assure you, one is almost 100% completed and another is about 90%, ran into pup issues, has to be re-done. Will be posting soon. I'm currently on a case build at the moment.
I'm curious why you decided to go with PVC instead of ABS, as I would think that ABS would give a better sound. It also looks like you did not use primer on your glue joints. Not that the bass needs to hold water, but I would think that structurally, you would want to go with the primer--or were you just extra careful not to leave any purple showing? ABS would also not require primer.
