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Double Bass Electric upright bass ideas?

I

Ikan

Jul 23, 2019
29
17
#1
Hey guys, ive been getting more and more into building my own instruments, last build was a decent diddly bow.
But i want to go bigger and since im a bassist i would love a double bass.
Have you got any ideas, of what gear i should use and what wood and what does really matter in this kind of build?
I want to build it kinda cheap but want it to sound kinda good to.
Any suggestions really helps.
 
#3
Francois Blais said:
What EUBs do you already know?
There are already many megathreads about EUBs in this forum.
This site has a good list as well:
Invalid Link Removed
Without any reference to something known, it’s not an easy task.
Click to expand...

Yea well i get that its not an easy task, but ive seen people build basses out of and old ski or even just a few 2x4s and they sound decent really.
So i just want to try and build something fairly easy and see what i end up with. My thought is not to have a perfect EUB just more to learn something and in the future make something more serious. I mean every bass builder will have their first build and its not going to be perfect.
I also checked out the site and found something interesting so thanks for that.
 
#4
I forgot to mention earlier, some things that i think will be hard would be to get the right curve on the fingerboard and how to get the curve. Also how long should i make it?
 
#6
Usually the finger boards are pre-shaped by the seller of wooden instrument parts. It is possible to do it yourself, it it is really hard work. You might need to make some templates for the curvature if the board at several positions along the fingerboard.

The good thing is that you might be able to reuse the board for the second EUB if you use hide glue to glue it to the neck (or maybe reuse the whole neck).
 
#7
DoubleMIDI said:
Usually the finger boards are pre-shaped by the seller of wooden instrument parts. It is possible to do it yourself, it it is really hard work. You might need to make some templates for the curvature if the board at several positions along the fingerboard.

The good thing is that you might be able to reuse the board for the second EUB if you use hide glue to glue it to the neck (or maybe reuse the whole neck).
Click to expand...
Yea i would guess its hard work to get it perfect and all, but what if i make a completely flat fingerboard? Is it still somewhat playable? Like i get that i might not be able to play it with a bow but thats not my top priority.
 
#10
okcrum said:
The simplest EUB is a single slab of wood like the Ergo. They'd be worth looking at.
Click to expand...

Just did a quick googling on the Ergo and it looks like thats the kind of bass i will be going for.
And it just hit me that i could cut a smaller tree, maybe a birch, because thats the hardest wood i have around and i have plenty of it. And my thought was to use the curve of the already round tree for the fingerboard if you know what i mean. That could turn out really cool actually.
Also what scale length is to prefer?
 
#11
You can build what you like, but there are certain basic rules that are foolish to ignore.

Here’s one: Don’t build with green wood. Use wood that has been properly dried.
 
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