Assorted Questions: Building a five-string

[BassPuzzler]

I am hoping to build a five-string bass, which will be my first bass building project. Here are my questions:

Bridges:
Is the Schaller 496 bridge worth spending 70 dollars on? I can afford it, but I am trying to save money where possible.
Also, is string-thru worthwhile? Another thread on this forum seems to conclude that there is little tonal difference, but what about sustain?

Pickups:
My current plan is to go with a humbucker at the bridge and a p-pickup at the neck, and wire it so that the humbucker can be tapped. Any advice, anything to look out for? What brands should I be looking for? I'm looking at a 85-95 dollar range for each pickup.

Thanks!

 

[BassPuzzler]

Bump. Feel free to just answer whatever you want and not make a huge detailed reply.

 

[adam.beauchene]

If you want to save money on your first build, source all of your parts off ebay.. You can get nice used bridges, tuners, and pickups for cheap. Don't spend too much on wood for your first build, either, stick with maple/alder/ash/etc, aka Home Depot stuff. Lastly, don't cut any wood until you have the bridge and tuners in hand.

 

[Sollie7]

Im working on my first build too but what I think is if you're gonna spend all the time and money doing it you might as well do it right like get the bridge and pickups you really want don't go trying to save a few dollars on stuff not as good and then you won't be as happy with it in the end. or if you do want to save money then still get what you want but buy used like person above me said.

 

[bolophonic]

Are you building a parts bass, or are you trying to carve a neck-through? Big difference.

 

[type C basses]

these pickups are all more than acceptable:
delano
nordstrand
bartolini
fralin
emg

There are plenty of other fantastic pickup manufacturers, but this should help get the ball rolling.

 

[adam.beauchene]

If you asked every builder on here what they did with their first builds, you'll find that the majority of them are sitting in a closet and/or the parts were all taken off and used on their second builds. So whether you start with new parts and recycle them, or start with used parts, your second build will inevitably be more playable, so you might as well save some money

 

[gbarcus]

Lastly, don't cut any wood until you have the bridge and tuners in hand.

+1

 

[BassPuzzler]

Hrm. Decisions! If I spend good money on good first-hand parts, won't that work well for me if I end up doing a second, better build anyways? Because then I'll have good parts to salvage. I am more inclined to do this.

Also, I doubt I'd be getting/making a new bass after this one for quite a long time.

 

[knucklehead G]

Buy enough wood for a second fretboard. Just in case.