Custom lucite bass bodies???

[ScarfFace]

Oh man, that sucks. The idea is fantastic and I really was rooting for you! I hope you can find someone who can make your vision come to life

 

[sleddogn]

Reach out to Jake Serek and see where he had those clear bodies he had made from someone in chicago.

 

[BassicJazzy]

I’m aware of the Dan Armstrong copy options.
There was one made in the 90’s by Greco, they seem to sell for about $1500.
eBay is full of Chinese copies for $250 -$350. Some are unbranded, some say Dan Armstrong on the pickguard, and some are sold under the name Bad Cat, but the all appear to come from the same assembly line. there are several threads from TBers who bought them. Strangely, these are 32” scale instead of 30” like the original.

That said, I’m not looking for a Dan Armstrong, I was looking for options for custom clear bodies in order to have a mustang bass body made. TBers so far have found 2 luthiers that can do it, and I have found a guy on etsy who says he can do it but can’t.

Ok, I understand better now. Here's an idea for you to consider. How about starting with a slab of lucite and using a CNC router to cut and shape it into Mustang body to your specifications, rather than trying to cast the body? I'm pretty sure that's how the Dan Armstrongs were made. That's how most lucite is shaped. Casting is a messy and imperfect process, subject to bubbles and imperfections.

I have a friend here in L.A. who works with a custom shop that makes ultra-high end guitars and bases, using CNC and laser etching. They could do this easily, but it would be expensive, because that's their market. You don't really need someone to build the bass, just to manufacture the body, so perhaps a lucite shop, one that makes custom furniture, or accessories, with a CNC would be better choice? Just an idea.

 

[BassicJazzy]

I found a site which describes how the Dan Armstrong lucite bass was made, and it was in fact a routed body. Worth looking at becuase it goes into details about how to rout the channel to pickup and the interior of control cavity. This could help in designing your Mustang body spec. Go to menu and look at "Acrylic bass."

www.danarmstrong.org

 

[Lo-E]

I really was rooting for you!

Me, too. That’s really a bummer.
At least you have a really unique end table now….

 

[Wood and Wire]

At least you have a really unique end table now….

If I ever get married, and the Mrs insists on a Swan ice sculpture, as a banquet centrepiece, I'll compromise by having the swan re-enacting Paul Simonon's "London Calling" aftermath - and now I know exactly where I can rent an important component of that diorama.

Sure to be a lucrative business.

 

[Sharko]

Well, he has agreed to refund the whole purchase price, though he maintains that the issues are only cosmetic and do not affect playability. He’s been friendly and pleasant to deal with, despite not being able to deliver the product. I think these pictures might warrant their own thread, a NBD Fail thread might at least get some laughs

 

[Lo-E]

Well, he has agreed to refund the whole purchase price, though he maintains that the issues are only cosmetic and do not affect playability. He’s been friendly and pleasant to deal with, despite not being able to deliver the product. I think these pictures might warrant their own thread, a NBD Fail thread might at least get some laughs

Not Bass Day?

 

[sleddogn]

It's clear he didn't know what he was doing, clearly. Not knowing bubbles to the surface and can cause cloudy execution, and not drilling down can leave one unsatisfied.

 

[BassicJazzy]

I vote for using it as a centerpiece. Mount it vertically. Or, you could put a giant hook in it and use it as a fishing lure, to catch "Willy?"

 

[darev]

I vote for using it as a centerpiece. Mount it vertically.

 

[Sharko]

It's clear

I see what you did there

 

[Sharko]

Reach out to Jake Serek and see where he had those clear bodies he had made from someone in chicago.

Peterson Brothers Plastics in Chicago he says

 

[darev]

Very cool.