First rough blueprint

[Proki]

Here's a rough plan of a bass I want to build.

Just looking for crit and tips, etc, and do you think it will work?

Due to the 2x4 design, it will only be played with a strap.
I'm also puzzled as to how I could include a pickup.

Thanks in advance

 

[Winnb]

Ned Steinberger tried this a few decades ago. I think during his trial and error period he discovered a couple of things about that design.

It's gonna be VERY headstock heavy.
Sustain is limited because of the lack of weight and mass.
Electronics (pickups, knobs, wires, etc) have to be as small as possible. This greatly limits tone options.

Ned solved the mass and sustain problem by using a thick epoxy/graphite kind of substance. I forget what it was called. He then had to add a little more size to the body just to accommodate electronics.

He solved the head heavy problem by putting the tuning pegs after the bridge. The opposite where you have them now

So basically, and I admire your attempt here, but you're building a Steinberger.

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[Proki]

Thanks for the helpful post, winnb!
I should have wrote that I plan for the head to actually be the bottom of my guitar.

Also, I just found a very similar design here, and I like how he has incorperated the pickups;

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[Winnb]

Thanks for the helpful post, winnb!
I should have wrote that I plan for the head to actually be the bottom of my guitar.

Also, I just found a very similar design here, and I like how he has incorperated the pickups;

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So he mounted the pickup above the strings and flipped it over. Nice idea! Not exactly pretty, but it works. I'm assuming it's always on - no volume control? Wait, just saw the volume knob. Nice!

 

[abarson]

Somewhere around here I've seen round, single string pickups. it would be no problem to mount them in the body, in a staggered pattern to fit in place. [Found!]
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http://searcystringworks.blogspot.com/2007/12/scarab-single-string-pickups-back-where.html

Another idea would be a piezo bridge, depending on whether that's your tonal goal.

 

[Proki]

Thanks for the useful links, abarson

 

[scojack]

There is also Ergo ......
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Ian