CNC or not

[cnltb]

I am just wondering if people mind wether their basses are made, using a CNC machine.
Simple.

Thanks for participating!

I just noticed that I should have included a body and neck option (as in; I prefer the neck to be made on eway but the body another etc) ...is there a way a poll can be altered once it is "life"?

 

[Nightlyraider]

If you weren't told how your bass was made, would it sound different?

 

[Aspidites]

I could not care less either way as long as the end result works for me.

 

[allexcosta]

I feel the difference on the back of the neck. Prefer by hand tools...

I don't care if the rest of the bass is cut by CNC or hand...

 

[pie_man_25]

I have a slight preference for hand made, but if it's a good instrument then I could not care less. It's not like I could afford one that's all hand made anyway.

 

[RoboChrist]

Ultimately, it's wood selection that really matters. All basses are eventually hand-sanded anyway.

 

[capnsandwich]

I don't care how it's cut as long as it's a nice, light, resonant piece of wood. I would, however, like my body wood to be hand selected.

 

[Jim C]

For neck and body shaping, if done right, you wouldn't be able to know one from the other.
Some wood carving work being done where the hand made "mistakes" are programmed in for a CNC application.
Holding + or - .001" from piece to piece is pretty reasonable with CNC but impossible by hand IMO.
I think that the automated finish process (painting and buffing robots) are amazing but believe that doing this process by hand is still superior although EB gets some amazing finishes with automation.

Making 15 of these by hand would have been insane

 

[lindseyp]

CNC brings consistency. I know I can get more than one instrument pretty much the way I like it. I have two hand-built instruments, but they have their own magic anyway. CNC for the rest.

 

[smcd]

"Hand tools"?? No one uses "hand tools" to make basses. They all use milling machines. The ONLY difference is that the machine operator is mostly eliminated in the CNC process. This leads to better quality control and productivity.

The ONLY reason your favorite backyard luthier doesn't have a CNC machine is that he can't afford to buy one.

 

[mongo2]

Don't care.

 

[One Drop]

As long as the tree was felled by beavers and the lumber cured by woodland elves I don't care how the wood is shaped afterwards.

 

[Jim C]

The difference between using a standard Bridgeport mill vs a CNC (we use Hauss) is speed, repeatability. and the ability to make some parts that couldn't be made otherwise (see photo; deep, tapered cavity in 6061 aluminum + or minus .001" at all points)

Agreed about the backyard builder with 1 caveat:
The reason those don't have CNC equipment is related to production volume
If you make 100 instruments a year the pay back time does not support CNC
If you make 100 instruments a day, your competitiors would put you out of business
if you didn't
Of course the backyard builder is probably buying aftermarket bodies and necks that were produced on a CNC machine

 

[allexcosta]

"Hand tools"?? No one uses "hand tools" to make basses. They all use milling machines. The ONLY difference is that the machine operator is mostly eliminated in the CNC process. This leads to better quality control and productivity.

Is that an answer to my "hand tools" statement?

You clearly have no clue of how a bass guitar is made.

I'll just leave this here:

YouTube - Ramirez Custom Bass Guitars: Neck Shaping

A CNC carved neck does not feel like a hand carved neck. It just doesn't...

The ONLY reason your favorite backyard luthier doesn't have a CNC machine is that he can't afford to buy one.

Yeah, I'm sure Fodera can't afford a CNC router...

 

[Bassamatic]

CNC will give provide better accuracy,and tighter fit. If it is programed correctly, there will be no difference in "feel" to hand shaped, however, that is the big "IF".

The maker can always add a little hand shaping after milling if they want.

 

[JxBass]

Even high-end custom bass builders use CNC equipment. I'm not saying every one, but definitely many. For some, it's the ability to translate their design into CAD that's part of the artistry. As stated before it has more to do with wood selection, overall design, and proper set up.

 

[Alex E]

Definitely CNC, it helps keep the costs down. I'm sure upwards of 90% of all bass manufacturers use it. Even with CNC, the bass is still receiving lots of work by hand.

 

[Anomalous Bass]

A CNC carved neck does not feel like a hand carved neck. It just doesn't...

Eh, thats not really true. You may have a preference but that doesnt mean a hand made neck will always feel different then a machined neck.

 

[Super D]

CNC for sure...

But only because I have one.

 

[UncleFluffy]

Agreed about the backyard builder with 1 caveat:
The reason those don't have CNC equipment is related to production volume
If you make 100 instruments a year the pay back time does not support CNC

CNC routers are getting more and more affordable. ($8-10k for a ready-made production grade machine. Homebrew for 1/4 that, if you have the time...) I'd say that 100/yr would easily justify CNC.