First bass build: maple neck, cherry body

[j-stylez]

Winter time is stringed Instrument building time! I have built some guitars before, but no bass. This is my first bass from scratch, and I'll share the progress here. Inspired heavily by Atlansia basses, I've got together everything I need to get this project under way.

The Specs:

Body:
- cherry (shape still undecided)

Here's one of my ideas for the rough shape of this thing. I'm going for a kind of science fiction vibe. It should look aggressive, but smooth... My plan is to make the bottom fin that is shown in blue from a different material, maybe a wood structure covered with carbon fiber / epoxy for a very technical look.

Neck:
- one piece figured maple, I've got a piece of birdseye with a cool dark brown discoloration through the half of it
- two way trussrod inserted from the back
- angled headstock
- narrow headstock shape, 4L tuners
- 37mm nut
- 825mm scale
- 24 frets

I have made some progress on the neck.

Got a new shinto rasp. Saw someone use it on youtube. It is an awsome tool, as it requires so little force.

The skunk stripe is ebony, a leftover from a guitar build. The access to the rod is at the heel.

Electronics:
- Active preamp, I'll use a glockenklang 2 band I think.
- Pickups I will build myself as well, looking into single string Individual pickups...not fully Sure there yet.

Hardware:
- schaller 3d bridge, nickel
- kluson compact tuners, nickel

I hope you'll find this report interesting. Cheers!

 

[Gervais Cote]

Looks promising………
Just make sure you will have enough material around the tuner holes to avoid any cracks……….if I may comment !

 

[j-stylez]

Thanks for that hint. I'm planning to make the headstock fairly thick and countersink the tuner bushings/top part. I think if I don't make the holes too tight or too small, I should be good. This maple is seems tough. I have a birdseye maple veneer I could add to the face of the headstock to hide the joint line in the middle and to add a little bit more stability, but currently I like the idea of avoiding that.

 

[Flamingo21]

Winter time is stringed Instrument building time!

Have you considered joining the Winter Build Off?
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/winter-build-off-2024-get-ready.1624389/

 

[ctmullins]

I’m a huge fan of cherry and maple!

And I’m a huge fan of basses that are not based on Fender designs!

I am concerned whenever I hear “one piece” and “figured maple” used together in reference to neck building. Doubly so when the phrase “discoloration down half” is also included. Have you carefully inspected the grain pattern?

I have a Shinto that’s dull from getting so much use. I have no idea how to sharpen it…!

 

[j-stylez]

I’m a huge fan of cherry and maple!

And I’m a huge fan of basses that are not based on Fender designs!

I am concerned whenever I hear “one piece” and “figured maple” used together in reference to neck building. Doubly so when the phrase “discoloration down half” is also included. Have you carefully inspected the grain pattern?

I have a Shinto that’s dull from getting so much use. I have no idea how to sharpen it…!

The grain pattern looks like the piece is flat sawn and pretty straight. I know there is a risk it might move, but I really want to see this figure. So I thought I'll go for it and find out. As Long as it does not twist, I'll be okay with my double Action rod. If it does twist... Well, that would be a bummer.

 

[j-stylez]

I'm no designer, so I basically just copy some Atlansia shapes from photographs and play with their curves and lines once I have transferred the shape to some bezier curves in inkscape.

I'm now leaning towards this shape, as kind of a progressive style that is smooth at the same time. It's also not too large, and I'm not a big guy (hence the 32.5" scale). I print out the shape and holding it up to some of my necks, guitars and basses to get a feel for it, then come back and make some adjustments.

 

[j-stylez]

Have you considered joining the Winter Build Off?
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/winter-build-off-2024-get-ready.1624389/

Sure, so I just have to change the title and explain what this bass does best, right? What about the 'secret sentence', what's that all about? This I did not unterstand.

 

[Videojunkie]

Sure, so I just have to change the title and explain what this bass does best, right? What about the 'secret sentence', what's that all about? This I did not unterstand.

When the buildoff starts, there will be a "secret sentence " that you need to write out and have next to your pile-o-parts.

That's how everyone knows that you didn't back date a bunch of pictures....

 

[j-stylez]

Oh okay I get it. How ever I already got started on the neck, glued in the truss rod and joined the tilted headstock. so I think technically this is no longer possible.

 

[Videojunkie]

Oh okay I get it. How ever I already got started on the neck, glued in the truss rod and joined the tilted headstock. so I think technically this is no longer possible.

You're just changing categories from "scratch build" to "parts build".

 

[j-stylez]

Thanks for the explanation. I'll consider it!

 

[Videojunkie]

You're just changing categories from "scratch build" to "parts build".

Or as I claimed for the SCP: "scratch built, parts build"

 

[Videojunkie]

Thanks for the explanation. I'll consider it!

It's a good way to get your build critiqued (in a good way) and many people will follow along with your efforts.

There's no prize, just bragging rights, and realistically no pressure to complete (except that pesky competitive nature thing)...

 

[Max Bogosity]

I like the aesthetic, but would worry whether the minimal lower horn will allow the body to slip off the player’s leg when played sitting down. If that’s a consideration for you, it might be worth transferring the shape to cardboard or plywood to test the ergonomics.

 

[Beej]

You're welcome to join the build-off for sure and it would then become a 'partial build' (link in my signature). But, the kicker is you'd have to stop now and wait for the build-off to start on the 21st. I can relate to how difficult that would be, especially as we move into a weekend that would be perfect for building.

If you can muster up the courage to stop working on it for a week, you can always create all of the templates you need and gather parts instead. Every now and then, there is a build that starts right before the build-off as not everyone is so obsessed with this little forum! No biggie if you don't join the build-off - I can practically guarantee there are many readers who will follow this through to the end regardless.

On a related-to-your-build note, I'm digging the Atlansia vibes. They have so many truly unique instruments and innovations.

 

[Videojunkie]

I just noticed that the tuners on your headstock aren't in the normal order and you also have half of your strings wrapping in opposite directions from each other.

I will tell you that tuning that D string where one would normally tune the G string and constantly tuning the strings in the wrong direction will drive you to fits if this is not the only bass that you play. Especially when you're standing in the limelight, and everyone (band and audience) is staring at you while you futz around trying to get your bass in tune.

While I understand the idea behind keeping the string paths straight, form follows function and if the tuners are going to be screwy to operate, you might want to rethink that bit.

You may also want to consider how much wood you need on both the inside and outside of the tuner shaft to make sure that the head is strong enough.

 

[Dark Horse]

You're welcome to join the build-off for sure and it would then become a 'partial build' (link in my signature). But, the kicker is you'd have to stop now and wait for the build-off to start on the 21st. I can relate to how difficult that would be, especially as we move into a weekend that would be perfect for building.

If you can muster up the courage to stop working on it for a week, you can always create all of the templates you need and gather parts instead. Every now and then, there is a build that starts right before the build-off as not everyone is so obsessed with this little forum! No biggie if you don't join the build-off - I can practically guarantee there are many readers who will follow this through to the end regardless.

On a related-to-your-build note, I'm digging the Atlansia vibes. They have so many truly unique instruments and innovations.

To echo/supplement of what Beej said, this is not only a perfect time to gather parts, make templates, etc.… But it is also a perfect time to practice the skills you will need. Practice using a router, practice, your cuts, make any jigs. That sort of thing. These will help you have a more successful build in the long run. Sometimes diving in… Well, all the time diving in…is not going to give you as good of a result care planning and working through the skill set needed.

 

[Max Bogosity]

I just noticed that the tuners on your headstock aren't in the normal order and you also have half of your strings wrapping in opposite directions from each other.
View attachment 5284197

I will tell you that tuning that D string where one would normally tune the G string and constantly tuning the strings in the wrong direction will drive you to fits if this is not the only bass that you play. Especially when you're standing in the limelight, and everyone (band and audience) is staring at you while you futz around trying to get your bass in tune.

While I understand the idea behind keeping the string paths straight, form follows function and if the tuners are going to be screwy to operate, you might want to rethink that bit.

You may also want to consider how much wood you need on both the inside and outside of the tuner shaft to make sure that the head is strong enough.

Is the idea that the tuner knobs are all on the bass side? I'm guessing that is the reason for the headstock edge being staggered that way. Having them in non-standard order would drive me nuts, but I think you could make the non-standard direction work fairly painlessly by installing a treble-side tuner on the bass side.

 

[j-stylez]

Thanks for all the feedback and suggestions, I really appreciate it!

Yey, that is exactly the idea, I have 4L tuners on the left side, but I am using one in reverse. That way I can keep a narrow profile. I thought about using one R tuner for that E string, but I dont like the geometry of how that positions the boxes on the back. It also then changes the Position of the knob, which makes them weirdly spaced.

I'd rather just have one in reverse but the geometry of both tuner holes and knobs evenly spaced. Kind of reminds me of a fish or fishbones like that. Suits the sci-fi vibe well too...