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First Build (fingers crossed)

Robotic Attack

Robotic Attack

Guest
Mar 21, 2012
79
33
#1
So... I decided that I should build a bass, as I have the basses that will serve my gigging purposes, and I like to build stuff. Also, there's that feeling you get from something that you've built. I don't know. Really, it was a way to justify getting some more tools. I'm locked in to built ins and furniture for the foreseeable future, as this was the bargaining chip for purchase that needed to be played with my wife.

At any rate, I've never built a bass, but I've lurked here and watched enough youtube videos that I'm pretty sure they make themselves, right?

I'll answer that riddle. They do not. They'll actually physically fight you. As in, an altercation. One worthy of police intervention. Maybe military grade. The National Guard was deployed at several heated moments during this, what is now being referred to as, "The Great Bass Skirmish of 2015." You may have seen it on CNN. Headlines include, "Local man uses phrases that were not once considered profanity with such violence in his voice that they are now, indeed, profane." Or, "After months of toiling, local man finally gives up dreams, becomes mound of useless goo."

So, now that you know why the news has been dominated by a guy in a wood shop, let me get to some specs and pics.

Being as I was going to make this "custom", I figured it should be just that. Nothing "normal." To the specs!

Specs:

5 string
36 inch scale
26 frets
Non-radiused fretboard (I've never had one, all mine are compound)
Neck-through
Heel-adjust, single action, truss rod (that I thought would be a great idea to make). Like I said, youtube...

Woods:

Body - Black Limba
Neck - 5 lam Padauk/Maple
Fretbaord - Canarywood

Now, I have to say here that I didn't take nearly enough pictures during the process of doing anything. Which is unfortunate, but I was too busy assuring the neighbors that I am very well mentally.

Also, my old band saw gave out during the making, so I am waiting on another to get delivered. Which is completely cramping my style. If I had style.

Also of note: Learning to read a Vernier caliper is a pain in the ass. In the same vein, I have decided that SAE is terrible and why haven't all countries gone to metric?

On to some pics, I suppose. This intro is a bit wordy. My apologies.

Neck getting clamped up.
2015-03-24_18.44.21[1].jpg


Neck and body wood pic, just for a better idea of figure and such.
20150325_150647[1].jpg
 
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#3
So this was my first outline/mock of the body. It was done late one night. I was watching a movie that the significant other would not like, probably a zombie flick or some thing of that nature, when I got the urge to draw. To the shop I went and free-handed this design. I think it looks good, and it actually is a very usable size. (yes, I am a CT fan).
20150325_231458[1].jpg
 
#5
Cut out the body and marked up placements for the bridge and locations of several fret positions. You can see the canarywood that I'm using as the fretboard in this pic. That is some beautiful stuff. I just happened to be picking out some lumber and they had a remnant that was perfect size and thickness to get 2 fretboards out of it. I think it cost me about $7.

20150401_174930[1].jpg
 
#6
The basic layout. I didn't take any pictures of routing in the truss rod. Or of fabricating the truss rod. Because, basically, f*** that thing. Next time I'm going to do the scroll wheel adjustment. This design is inherently going to make you take out too much material (in my opinion). However, I do like the heel look for truss rods. Also of note, my frustration with this got the better of me, and I glued the fretboard on without routing in the stiffening bars.

20150405_141143[1].jpg
 
#7
I might add that The EMG-HZ's that are in the pic are out of my Spector. They're being used solely for layout purposes. When this is ready, I'll be putting them back in the Spector, along with it's Tonepump, and putting the BCQ and 2 EMG 40DCX's into my monstrosity.
 
#9
joselorellano said:
I'm sorry to say this...but I think you won't be able to accommodate 5 strings in there. Is that the bridge you're using for this build? Seems like the outer strings will be out of the fretboard... I really hope I'm misjudging the pics.
Click to expand...

I wondered about that. First build = not great planning....

To be honest, I don't know. I haven't done any testing at all. I have another neck and fretboard, that are wider, at the ready if need be. I was hoping to use this neck, as I like the aesthetic it gives the bass, but it may be too narrow; I agree.

If that's the case, there is a silver lining. I'll get to go buy some more nice lumber. Perhaps make a wenge neck for it? I think that'd be pretty sharp with the black limba. Plus, it'll give me the chance to redo the truss rod and insert the stability rods.
 
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#10
As it sits currently, it is 72.3mm wide at the 26th fret. It will accommodate the strings, but they are awfully close (w/in a mm) to the edge with the current neck width. The previous picture may have thrown perspective of the layout off, as I hadn't squared anything up or centered the bridge or PU's. This pic is more accurate in terms of viewpoint. I think you might be right about it needing to be wider.

On a completely different subject/thought: It's really hard to get a good, dead-on picture. It seems like all mine make this look like some sort of freakish amoeba bass... And to think... I was a photographers assistant for a side job in high school. That's really paying dividends. :bored:

20150413_152334.jpg
 
#14
Would you consider turning it into a 4 string instead of a 5 string? By the looks of it, you're going to be cutting it very close to either side of the fretboard when it comes to final positioning of the bridge - no left/right margin for error!
 
#15
Turning it into a 4 string will also lessen tension on the neck so those stiffening rods you forgot won't be as much of a problem and tuning it BEAD still gives you basically the range of a standard 5 string because of the extra frets and it's the ones you don't usually use anyway. This all goes out the window if you use the g string alot in which case try a narrower bridge.
 
#17
awilkie84 said:
Why is the truss rod not centered?
Click to expand...

Because it's mt first build? I don't have a good answer other than the router jig I had shifted. Which I noticed after the route was done.

Robotic Attack said:
I didn't take any pictures of routing in the truss rod. Or of fabricating the truss rod. Because, basically, f*** that thing.
Click to expand...

This was in one of the first posts. I still think it is a fairly accurate statement. It also has not gone lost on me that the truss rod and such give and leave very little margin of error. With that said, I have to keep going with this neck, as it is my first, and it is in memoriam of a friend. To me, it's symbolic. And, it'll probably break/die. Onward I must move. If this neck isn't used with this particular set of hardware, that works. I have other necks I can put in this bass that will accommodate them.
 
#18
The easiest way to know if your neck is not wide enough at the last fret, is to measure the distance between the outer most saddles on the bridge and make the last fret of the fingerboard the same. Quick and easy and no testing needed. Some people may like it to be narrower but this is a basic Fender way.
 
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#19
That's really good advice. Thank you. And yes, that would make it MUCH easier in terms of planning and, well, essentially everything.

When I started, this neck was about 3/16ths wider than it is currently, but I nicked it up and had to plane it down, which is where the problem is arising. Best laid plans.....

Another part of the problem is I want a wide string space for a 5 string, and the bridge is 19mm spacing. I think this neck might be more suited to an 18mm spaced bridge.
 
#20
Cool build, welcome to my world of making mistakes and then fixing them for fun and profit. +1 on the BEAD tuning. That would seem to solve any potential string spacing problems and give you the same usable range of a 5 string in a narrower fingerboard, plus better tension in the B string with the 36" scale. I don't know why this tuning isn't more common. Id eventually like to try this, assuming I survive my own glacially slow build with enthusiasm intact.
 
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