Yeah, I'm liking the lightweight chambered basses that I've tried out, though I won't even attempt to do a chambered on my first build.
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Average build time?
- Thread starter tmc2300
- Start date
Yeah, I'm liking the lightweight chambered basses that I've tried out, though I won't even attempt to do a chambered on my first build.
I've been working on my first three builds for the better part of eight months. I put in a solid day a week building. But along the way I've built a router table, many jigs, and a portable spray booth. I've made almost every mistake you can make, but I'm having a blast.
Half the battle and a vast majority of my time has been spent setting up my little garage into a wood shop. I expect once I get everything together it will take far less time to build a bass.
I make a run at each step until it gets awkward or weird, then I stop and reconfigure the step or buy a proper tool or build a better jig.
I hear the standard with a competent shop is at least 40 to 60 hours. The dude at Crimson Guitars built one from rough lumber in 24 working hours.
Don't worry about the process, just do it for fun and post a thread so we can all appreciate your work.
Half the battle and a vast majority of my time has been spent setting up my little garage into a wood shop. I expect once I get everything together it will take far less time to build a bass.
I make a run at each step until it gets awkward or weird, then I stop and reconfigure the step or buy a proper tool or build a better jig.
I hear the standard with a competent shop is at least 40 to 60 hours. The dude at Crimson Guitars built one from rough lumber in 24 working hours.
Don't worry about the process, just do it for fun and post a thread so we can all appreciate your work.
Cool! Yes, I'm definitely doing this for fun. I have a small space too, but that's ok with me since I use mostly hand tools.
For me, I did most work on weekends and they seem to take like 7-9 months or so, including finishing. But I put in more hours per day on the first one than the last one.
I think it depends on what you put into it and what tools you have. Bandsaws, drill presses, and routers make everything go faster. The less gluing wood together and leveling those laminates, the faster it should go too, I would think.
For the how many before you got it down question: 3 for me.
I think it depends on what you put into it and what tools you have. Bandsaws, drill presses, and routers make everything go faster. The less gluing wood together and leveling those laminates, the faster it should go too, I would think.
For the how many before you got it down question: 3 for me.
Cool, thanks! Yeah, I think I'll start simple. That's why I was thinking Fender style. No crazy laminations or anything fancy...yet!
Shop time anywhere from 40-180 hours average 
like 80 hours.
Start to finish time anywhere from 25 days-3.5 years
average 1.5 years 
slacker :scowl:
I work faster for customers than I do for myself.
like 80 hours.Start to finish time anywhere from 25 days-3.5 years
average 1.5 years slacker :scowl:I work faster for customers than I do for myself.
I think it's a little funny that in the original post, you asked how long it takes an experienced luthier to turn out an instrument, and then followed it up with a few posts later of "because I want to build one". In the context of those questions, my answer would be: "about 1/10th the amount of time it takes a new builder to build their first bass, and at about 1/4 the cost".
By all means, you should definitely take it on if you're dreaming of it, you likely won't regret it, and may end up with a new addiction plus a great deal of expensive tools.
It has taken me about 3 months on average for each one, I'd estimate about 60-100 hrs depending on a variety of factors. Regarding how many until I produced a good instrument...well, the first one when I was a kid was a brutal mess, but since then everything has played reasonably well. That said, none of them fully meet my standards, and after 17 instruments, I still feel like I have a million things to improve on...
By all means, you should definitely take it on if you're dreaming of it, you likely won't regret it, and may end up with a new addiction plus a great deal of expensive tools.
It has taken me about 3 months on average for each one, I'd estimate about 60-100 hrs depending on a variety of factors. Regarding how many until I produced a good instrument...well, the first one when I was a kid was a brutal mess, but since then everything has played reasonably well. That said, none of them fully meet my standards, and after 17 instruments, I still feel like I have a million things to improve on...
Yeah, my first 3 took me six months each, spending on average 7 hours in the workshop a week (best I've done is 2 months). That's 150 odd hours.
Of those 7 hours, probably half the time is actually making progress on the guitar. The other half is time spent making jigs, testing jigs, considering my next move, problem solving / fixing mistakes, etc. How it's broken down though is really irrelevant. Because it's all time taken up by the hobby.
I like what ArtechnikA said. I don't build because I want an awesome instrument. I build because I enjoy the process. It's an escape from my day job, it challenges me in new ways. So if I spend 7 hours in the workshop and only do one join, I'm still happy.
All of my instruments have flaws, but I've always made sure that the next project challenges me in a new way. A big part of making guitars is learning how to fix flaws when they occur.
Of those 7 hours, probably half the time is actually making progress on the guitar. The other half is time spent making jigs, testing jigs, considering my next move, problem solving / fixing mistakes, etc. How it's broken down though is really irrelevant. Because it's all time taken up by the hobby.
I like what ArtechnikA said. I don't build because I want an awesome instrument. I build because I enjoy the process. It's an escape from my day job, it challenges me in new ways. So if I spend 7 hours in the workshop and only do one join, I'm still happy.
All of my instruments have flaws, but I've always made sure that the next project challenges me in a new way. A big part of making guitars is learning how to fix flaws when they occur.
Hopkins
Commercial User
My best advice it to come to terms early with the fact that once you start the finishing process, your build progress will slow down to a snails pace. You can not rush that process, and expect a good result.
My first was my best
its been down hill ever seen __________________
damn kids and their first builds
LedBelli Bass
Fine, Handmade Custom Bass Guitars
I estimate my pricing structure based on 40 hours for a bass in natural wood/oil finish, or 50 hours for a nitro-lacquer/color finish, at a current shop rate of $40.00/hr.
This is what I bid for labor hours above and beyond materials.
This is what I bid for labor hours above and beyond materials.
I think it's a little funny that in the original post, you asked how long it takes an experienced luthier to turn out an instrument, and then followed it up with a few posts later of "because I want to build one". In the context of those questions, my answer would be: "about 1/10th the amount of time it takes a new builder to build their first bass, and at about 1/4 the cost".
I asked for the experienced builder's time so that I could double, triple or maybe quadruple it for my first build (or maybe even more as you pointed out!). I just wanted to get a sense of the time involved. I think it's really cool how many have said it's all about the journey and not so much the destination. That's a true passion for the craft! Very cool!
