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Here's the build thread: YoshiBass #2: A Headless Xmas Tree | TalkBass.com ! It's a bit ambiguous at the start but later settles on 5 string EADGC fretless, headless...less is more! I think i need to ditch the LEDs for fretless version though.
Really looking forward to the iterations. Probably worth making a mdf template of your current deisgn, neck 'n' all, and seeing how it is to grasp and balance (the thickness shouldn't matter). That said, at 6"4' - you should be fine if you strung up a canoe! I'm not quite that big!
). Now, I'm no expert on acoustic instruments, but I do understand a bit of physics, and I think that you want the tailpiece to be rigid and stationary, and you will also want for the (necessarily separate) bridge to be located further up the body, where it can "transfer vibrations" to the top just fine.
Glad to see I'm not the only one with builds that take years....
But you're not using a headless bridge. You're using a headless tailpiece. You'll need to make a separate bridge, a la the Citrons you posted earlier in the thread (remember that far back?
If you use a tail piece that clamps at the bridge end and you secure the balls at the nut end it gives you allot more wiggle room for the strings.^ bahahahah!
But yeah, in one picture you sum up ALL the challenges.
No... who said that... what's my name again?
I've got a couple of issues;
A. the tailpiece weighs a tonne.
B. I want to build it in 36" scale. The tapewounds I like (La Bellas) are 38" to the end of the winding. So I don't have a lot of extra string to mess with at the tailpiece end.
C. Like you, I've NEVER built anything properly acoustic before. I'm wandering round in the dark while acoustic guitar builders watch me with infrahead headsets and say, "that guy is insane".
The dumb thing is in the end, I'm not really building an acoustic per se. At some level, I'm gonna have to just build something with a little too much bracing and then shave it back a bit... I guess... Right? #hasnorealidea
Love that wood on the back of the Citron. Is it Black Limba, Kauri?@yoshi - I'd love to see a pic of the bass you're referring.
To be honest, I kinda ended up thinking the same sorts of things you were thinking in terms of width. The last thing you want is something that just gets in the way of your arms. I do think though, there is a way of building something quite large and getting used to getting your arms around it. I recently got this 000 guitar. It's not a Jumbo, but it took some getting used to with such a round bottom to the body.
At the same time I'm pretty committed to a large sound chamber. Just need to find a way to make that work I guess. Steve Swallow has. This is his Citron bass.
Anthony Jackson has also done a similar thing...
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I also think it's a matter of your own physique. I'm 6'4" with pretty large hands and long fingers. I've also played upright for a long time. The last 6 string I built has a large body on it and I find it pretty comfy to play in terms of the body. It's based on a 'O' sized resonator body. Here it is next to a dreadnought.
I guess I'll just keep on working at something that I think is going to work ok.
If you rigidly mount it to the tail I don't think it would effect acoustic volume, that would be dependent on having a long enough length.
Oh ok, you mentioned the winding length making me think you were talking about using tuners that used the ball-end,
Are you looking for light weight headless tuner options, or are you seeing if you can make what you currently have work?
