Building A Bass

[MattBlackLamb]

I'm thinking about biulding a bass, I would like a loose funky sort of sound, anyone got any advice on the electrical side of things? I was thinking of building the body out of yew wood any thoughts on that? Any genral tips/hints or help would be greatly welcomed

 

[lilboo77]

There are several things to consider. The first thing I would do is look at basses that you like the sound of and start there.

Do they have single coil pups or humbuckers?

Do they have one or two pups?

What are the locations of the pups?

Do you want active or passive pups?

What all switches does it have - Coil taps - series - parallel?

As for hints and advice, use quality electronics in building the bass. Be sure and shield the control cavity!!!!!! If you want versitility I would use Humbuckers with coil taps and series / parallel wiring switches - and volume - bass/mid/treble controls. For simplicity I would go with a single pup - on/off switch - tone control. Somewhere in the middle would be two pups - two volumes - one tone (similar to fender jazz).

 

[Rodent]

you may want to begin studying the multitude of posts in the Luthiers forum ... I suggest a good read and search mission before asking your question, as this topic is covered to great depth

all the best,

R

 

[62bass]

If it's anything like the yew found on the west coast of Canada, it'll be a heavy, heavy bass. I used to make mallets for woodworking out of it. They used to use it for the ribs and keels on wooden fishing boats because it was so tough and relatively rot resistant.

It would have to be well seasoned to avoid shrinking, splitting andwarping.

You can buy alder and ash body blanks from Carvin and other companies.

 

[MattBlackLamb]

I want to design the body myself. Would it be possible to make it out of a single piece of wood? or wouldn't it be strong enough?