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Bass Guitar Design Project

Kathryn Creek

Kathryn Creek

Commercial User
Nov 24, 2019
28
17
France and USA
katcreekguitars.com
Disclosures
KatCreek Guitars
#1
Dear Luthiers,

I am starting a design of a bass guitar in honor of the loved ones that we have lost due to COVID-19. As we all go through this difficult time in fear of the disease, in loss of our family/friends, and our temporary loss of our work, I would like to do something positive to help me and others get through this very difficult time in our lives.

I have an initial thought of a body the shape of a tear drop, like the one I shed as I was writing this. A tear drop is a symbol of our sadness and grief. If you have any ideas for the body and headstock shape, inlays, pattern work on the front and back, etc. please let me know.

This design will be given to any manufacturer who wants to build it.


teardrop 1.JPG

Take care,
Kat Creek
 
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#2
Hey Kat,

These are uncertain time for sure.

I totally appreciate your sentiment.

My only thought here would be to focus on the positive, like all the good things people in the front line professions are doing, rather than the sadness and the grief. For those that we have lost, focus on the good that they have brought to this earth, and maybe not necessarily the loss of a close one.

Just my $0.02
 
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#6
Kathryn Creek said:
Hi Rudy4444. I fully agree with you that the soldiers of this battle should be highlighted. When health care workers picked their occupation, dying for this cause was probably not something they signed up for.
Click to expand...

Kat,

If you want, we could come up with something of a design that is shareable, I have 2D cad and could draw this out. I can export to many different formats

Don't know what tools you have?
 
#10
I have done some searching on symbols that we could consider.
The Phoenix is a symbol of ultimate strength and renewal
Candle light (has many interesting meanings associated with strength of the flame and the flame color) but to me I think of it as a symbol of the intact spirit of a lost one and a symbol of energy or something alive as well
Poppy is a symbol of remembrance
Helenium flower a symbol of tears
Lavender is a symbol of distrust failure
Lilies a symbol of human death

I like the two that are most positive which is the phoenix and the candle light. I have found a few images on the internet that can be used for inspiration. One is a shutterstock image of a phoenix and roughly the shape of a tear drop. The other two are images of flames which could be used for the shape of the headstock. Invalid Link Removed

I see having metal inlays in and around the Phoenix design to symbolize the rebirth period. Maybe the flame for the headstock would have a slight flicker.

Just a few ideas to think about.
phoenix1.PNG flame1.PNG
 
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#11
Kathryn Creek said:
I have done some searching on symbols that we could consider.
The Phoenix is a symbol of ultimate strength and renewal
Candle light (has many interesting meanings associated with strength of the flame and the flame color) but to me I think of it as a symbol of the intact spirit of a lost one and a symbol of energy or something alive as well
Poppy is a symbol of remembrance
Helenium flower a symbol of tears
Lavender is a symbol of distrust failure
Lilies a symbol of human death

I like the two that are most positive which is the phoenix and the candle light. I have found a few images on the internet that can be used for inspiration. One is a shutterstock image of a phoenix and roughly the shape of a tear drop. The other two are images of flames which could be used for the shape of the headstock. Invalid Link Removed

I see having metal inlays in and around the Phoenix design to symbolize the rebirth period. Maybe the flame for the headstock would have a slight flicker.

Just a few ideas to think about.
View attachment 3794453 View attachment 3794454
Click to expand...

I like the Phoenix concept
 
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#12
Kathryn Creek said:
I have done some searching on symbols that we could consider.
The Phoenix is a symbol of ultimate strength and renewal
Candle light (has many interesting meanings associated with strength of the flame and the flame color) but to me I think of it as a symbol of the intact spirit of a lost one and a symbol of energy or something alive as well
Poppy is a symbol of remembrance
Helenium flower a symbol of tears
Lavender is a symbol of distrust failure
Lilies a symbol of human death

I like the two that are most positive which is the phoenix and the candle light. I have found a few images on the internet that can be used for inspiration. One is a shutterstock image of a phoenix and roughly the shape of a tear drop. The other two are images of flames which could be used for the shape of the headstock. Invalid Link Removed

I see having metal inlays in and around the Phoenix design to symbolize the rebirth period. Maybe the flame for the headstock would have a slight flicker.

Just a few ideas to think about.
View attachment 3794453 View attachment 3794454
Click to expand...

Scoops said:
I like the Phoenix concept
Click to expand...

OK, May I suggest another direction

It's going to be hard to make a bass guitar design that reflects the thoughts listed in this thread.

Maybe we could make some kind of emblem, decal, patch, (whatever else) that reflects the sentiments. then we could put that emblem where ever we want.
 
#13
I also like the Phoenix concept. However, I don't think it will be difficult to make. Maybe you could further elaborate in that you think this design concept will be hard to make into a guitar. The only requirement that I have for design of a body shape is that the body have dimensions around 8" by 14" to allow for the electronics, strings, and hardware.
 
#14
Kathryn Creek said:
I also like the Phoenix concept. However, I don't think it will be difficult to make. Maybe you could further elaborate in that you think this design concept will be hard to make into a guitar. The only requirement that I have for design of a body shape is that the body have dimensions around 8" by 14" to allow for the electronics, strings, and hardware.
Click to expand...

8" x 14" is somewhat small for a Bass. Were you thinking headless? What scale lenght?
 
#16
Hi all. I've looked at a few more ideas for a Phoenix design which could be converted to a decal or used for inlays on a bass. I think Scoop mentioned he would prefer a decal. These designs came from Shutterstock. Of course, I like all of them. Some of the more complex ones can be simplified. Some of them have a side view. Others could be converted to a side view to allow for the head to go towards or into the fret board. The wings could be towards the tail end of the bird rather than to each side. Or the wings on the side can be brought above the head to make a heart. I think it is coincidental that the one that is teardrop shape has a bass symbol although upside down.

Which ones do you like? Do you have any ideas of what should be included in the design? I'm I way off bass????
phoenix6.JPG phoenix5.JPG phoenix4.JPG phoenix3.JPG phoenix2.JPG phoenix1.JPG phoenix7.JPG
 
#18
Hi all, Today I starting working on the Phoenix design. Here is the initial try which is a graceful figure suggesting strength. I will reduce the size of the tail. I plan on incorporating the tail design somehow into the bridge and tailpiece. I like the way the wings suggest a heart shape. What do you think of the initial design?
tribute1.JPG
 
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