That’s a great idea! I’ll have to see if I can build in a little bit of play into the bottom fixture to get more slope on the neck. That would save me from having to recut the mounting angle and plugging and redrilling the mounting holes.
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First project: Folk Bass DIY upright
- Thread starter NKBassman
- Start date
I put beater pads on the skin inside and out to help brace the bridge, probably on your advice
. I also have been putting 2 springs in between the neck beam and the inside of the drum skin under the bridge to provide additional support. When I put it back together I’m going to experiment with 1 spring VS 2 to observe the change in sound, which will require some radical bridge adjustment going from one to the other.I’m planning on stringing it back up with a used set of GHS Black Nylon Tapes, but it sounded pretty good with GHS Precision Flats as well. I didn’t find the tension to be a problem. Some tape on the drum head to help deaden it is also a good idea. I’ve been meaning to have my drummer friend down for drinks soon anyway…
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Here are some more images of Kickass Basses.
Mahogany thin shell 20", sold.
22" shells. Prototype on right and first commission on left.
My current 20" deep shell.
Playing position.
Mahogany thin shell 20", sold.
22" shells. Prototype on right and first commission on left.
My current 20" deep shell.
Playing position.
I like the 2x2 headstock arrangement much more than 4 in-line. I'll definitely be going that route with the new neck.
I used to play tenor banjo and still have a really nice one that Vinnie Mondello put together for me a long time ago.
I'm surprised that none of these designs have a solid body back on the pot to act as a resonator. On banjo that makes a huge difference in sound projection. Although that resonator back does add a bit of weight, as well as the tone ring. That banjo is the heaviest instrument I own.
I'm surprised that none of these designs have a solid body back on the pot to act as a resonator. On banjo that makes a huge difference in sound projection. Although that resonator back does add a bit of weight, as well as the tone ring. That banjo is the heaviest instrument I own.
I'm looking to shed weight wherever possible, so whether it would help with projection or not I think adding another head to the drum is out of the question. Plus I was already cherry picking mounting lugs just to get the front head up to tension, a lot of the tensioners were stripped to start with, and I put the bad ones on the back side just for aesthetics (silly me). People have told me that its audible, so that's good enough for me wrt to volume.
I think adding a second strap would be helpful, so that I can carry it on my back like a backpack instead of slung over my side like an unwieldy homemade upright bass contraption with 100 pokey drum lugs stabbing me all over my hip and thigh.
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Make it next level art nouveau by adding a carbon fiber panel to the back. High speed... low speed... practically weightless... all that jazz.
Maybe on V2.0.
I could do a rope tensioner system for a rear skin like @Flamingo21 did on one of his recent builds, but that's very low priority at the moment. Not likely to make the cut on this V1.1 rebuild.
It's super easy to think of great ideas when you're not the person dealing with the mess related to construction.Maybe on V2.0.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
If I had $2-3000 USD laying around for a proper upright I'd probably go for it! And the DIY aspect of the project is kinda fun, too.
Consider going all the way over to the scroll style 2x2. Which you can do with "regular bass guitar style" tuners (particularly since you have them and are trying to keep costs down.) An actual upright set is cost-prohibitive unless you happen upon a rare and unusual junkpile that has one and doesn't know what they sell for.
Definitely considering a scroll style head! But it will be a balancing act between aesthetics, function, build-ability, and my gross lack of proper tooling, knowhow, free time, and patience.
I'll definitely be using electric bass tuners no matter what. I'll mount the 4-inline set that I have in a 2x2 scroll head configuration if I need to haha.
This would be such a fun and rewarding project!! Thanks for sharing all this!! I can see a similar project now in my future!!! Inspired!!
Thanks
Thanks
On my Banjozilla project, I built quick resonator back for it to test out the idea. I didn't like it. It helped projection somewhat, but mostly high end, going forward. That's not what I wanted. Too much treble, and going away from me, where I couldn't hear it well. And, of course, more weight. I think my resonator was 30" diameter.
I stayed with a simple open-back design like old-style banjos. A deep warm sound, which I tuned with the spring system under the bridge and the head tension. And I liked some of the sound coming out the back. I can hear and even feel the notes as I play.
Banjozilla is fairly loud. Standing back 20 feet, it's about equal in volume to a Kay upright bass.
I know! And you’re totally right! I’m trying so hard to avoid all notes of snark in my somewhat dissenting post! But if I’m being totally honest, for me (and perhaps me only which might make me seem like a curmudgeon) I feel like time is much better spent learning how to play bass than reinventing the wheel. Now why can’t I just shut up and let you have your fun? I’m not a bad person I promise. Perhaps I’m just too invested in improving and should RELAX! You wouldn’t be wrong in saying that. I just had to say what came to mind. I’ve never seen anyone playing one of these things that really sounded good or played good supportive bass.
Boy are you ever in the wrong forum.
And I say that with no disrespect and without a lick of meanness - hang out here a while and see what I mean.
I can't count the amount of times I've spent four hours making a jig to accomplish a 5 minute job. 
Well, you're definitely not wrong, and the perspective is welcome. But perhaps think of it this way: This project is less about learning to play a new instrument and more about learning how to build something that I can then go and play. Quite contrary to the amount of time I spend on Talkbass, playing bass is actually not the only aspiration I have in life
.AND, if this thing accidently gets knocked over and/or explodes in the sun one day, that's a much easier pill to swallow than a beautiful double bass would be.
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