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First build HELP PLEASE!!!!

TakisK

TakisK

Guest
May 12, 2014
48
11
Loútsa, Greece
#1
hello luthiers.
Ill be visiting colorado This summer and because i cant bring my bass with me, I thought it would be a good opportunity to make a bass body, since my grandpa is a woodworker and has all the tools.
The problem is I dont know what kint to make.I really dont care about the shape, as long as its A five string.Does anyone have any schematics woth the dimensions and shape a bass like that is supposed to be?
P.S. do you know where I might find a cheap five string neck?( id rather a 17.5-18 mm string spacing)

Thanks!!
 
#3
TakisK said:
hello luthiers.
Ill be visiting colorado This summer and because i cant bring my bass with me, I thought it would be a good opportunity to make a bass body, since my grandpa is a woodworker and has all the tools.
The problem is I dont know what kint to make.I really dont care about the shape, as long as its A five string.Does anyone have any schematics woth the dimensions and shape a bass like that is supposed to be?
P.S. do you know where I might find a cheap five string neck?( id rather a 17.5-18 mm string spacing)

Thanks!!
Click to expand...
G&L has 5 string necks for under 50$ if you can do some (generally) minor fret work. As for the body, I would base it on your current one and change what ever it is you don't like about it, or if you know the scale length of a body you like and you have a fine enough ruler (mm or 1/16th") you can get the dimensions from any frontal picture of it using simple math.
First print out the picture as large as you can, then measure the distance between the g string saddle and the nut, then take the scale length and divide by the distance between g string saddle and nut. Write that number down, measure the distances you want to know on the picture then multiply by the number you wrote down. One tip for body design is to avoid neck dive put the strap button as close to the 12th fret as you can.
 
#4
Will_White said:
G&L has 5 string necks for under 50$ if you can do some (generally) minor fret work. As for the body, I would base it on your current one and change what ever it is you don't like about it, or if you know the scale length of a body you like and you have a fine enough ruler (mm or 1/16th") you can get the dimensions from any frontal picture of it using simple math.
First print out the picture as large as you can, then measure the distance between the g string saddle and the nut, then take the scale length and divide by the distance between g string saddle and nut. Write that number down, measure the distances you want to know on the picture then multiply by the number you wrote down. One tip for body design is to avoid neck dive put the strap button as close to the 12th fret as you can.
Click to expand...
I don't think those necks are still available. I bought a 4 string lefty for $30 + $10 shipping. I went back to the site and they were all gone. It was an amazing deal. I did have to clean up the rough fret work.
 
#5
Robert Canfield said:
I don't think those necks are still available. I bought a 4 string lefty for $30 + $10 shipping. I went back to the site and they were all gone. It was an amazing deal. I did have to clean up the rough fret work.
Click to expand...
They come and go you just have to watch for them, there's a link in another thread to them I'll see if I can find it. Rondo music had some as well, I can't speak for there quality as I've never used one of them.
here's the thread:
Cheap G&L necks, who's using them in builds? | TalkBass.com
 
Last edited:
#8
These templates arent bad. You can build your own body and neck. :) Idk that they have 5 strings but it may be worth an email to them to ask.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#9
To me the reason I build basses is for the creative outlet, making something no one else has. Using a template would ruin that at least a little for me. I guess using a template as a starting point is a good idea though, you would avoid the design issues that have made my earlier basses less than ideal.
 
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#10
Jisch said:
To me the reason I build basses is for the creative outlet, making something no one else has. Using a template would ruin that at least a little for me. I guess using a template as a starting point is a good idea though, you would avoid the design issues that have made my earlier basses less than ideal.
Click to expand...

I've always built my own templates, off my own designs but when I was a beginner I wish I would have had something similar like what they sell to cut that learning curve down quite a bit. :)
 
#11
One thing I have not seen is what your desired cost point is for said neck. Do you have a price point you would like to stay under?

Fret dressing is a process that requires a number of steps, and depending on what shape the frets are in there are a discrete set of tasks that would be undertaken to address specific issues, but here is a VERY high level overview:

1. Dress the frets ends (if needed)
2. Level the frets
3. Crown the frets
4. Polish the frets
 

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