I really am appreciative of the support for this build. I figure I should thank all of those (14000 views!!!) who spent some time reading through 300(!) pages of meandering build pictures and discussions. Every hundred posts seems about right.
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Double Bass Homebuilt EUB build thread
- Thread starter Videojunkie
- Start date
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- Tags
- build a bass diy bass eub
I really am appreciative of the support for this build. I figure I should thank all of those (14000 views!!!) who spent some time reading through 300(!) pages of meandering build pictures and discussions. Every hundred posts seems about right.
You're correct. Posts not pages.
In the forum list it shows a view count for each forum post. (Current count 15,858)
Here's a fun perspective on the size of this bass. Next to my dreadnought size acoustic.
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,007
- 1
- 31,705
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
Oh I seriously doubt that. Purpleheart is hard.
@Videojunkie , I’m interested to see how your internal microphone works out. I may want to do the same on mine.
Reminds me of a villa de gamba in that pic.
I, too, am curious about the mic. An EUB would be really convenient for me these days, but I don't want to rely entirely on piezo pickups now that I'm used to having a mic on my DB.
Ahem, viola da gamba. Stupid auto
Ok, I played around with some recording software and got a short clip of the mic setup through the acoustic guitar preamp and straight into my PC. NoFX.
For the record I am still learning fretless, and the bass isn't nearly setup (heck, I still have a couple of big holes in it!) so please no judgement on my playing (also I was just trying to get a sense of what it sounded like, not playing any particular song).
If the link is broken, DM me and I can send it to you. The screen shot is from the Spitzer Space Telescope archive. Enjoy.
(I tested the link from both my PC and my android, and it seems to work.)
Dropbox - BassMicTest1.mp4 - Simplify your life
For the record I am still learning fretless, and the bass isn't nearly setup (heck, I still have a couple of big holes in it!) so please no judgement on my playing (also I was just trying to get a sense of what it sounded like, not playing any particular song).
If the link is broken, DM me and I can send it to you. The screen shot is from the Spitzer Space Telescope archive. Enjoy.
(I tested the link from both my PC and my android, and it seems to work.)
Dropbox - BassMicTest1.mp4 - Simplify your life
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Yes. This is a cheap guitar preamp that takes both piezo and mic. I don't have the pizeos installed, so I just have the microphone attached, wedged the preamp in the back, and connected it to my laptop.
There's no amp or effects in the line, so it's pretty raw. I was pleasantly surprised at the tone. It seems a bit bright to me (these are roundwound strings) but I think that reflects the maple construction. (Maple guitars always seem bright to me).
I haven't gotten the planned wiring harness complete yet, so it will be interesting to have this as a baseline.
To start with: I seem to remember you're not used to fretless playing, but your intonation is generally quite good.
As to sound, there's certainly a DB-ish thing going on. I'm curious if adding the piezos will bring better, or thicker, lows. Based on my limited experience they might or might not.
I did notice towards the end, when you play higher notes the volume went down. Is this because you played softer or does the mic pick those higher notes up less well?
As to sound, there's certainly a DB-ish thing going on. I'm curious if adding the piezos will bring better, or thicker, lows. Based on my limited experience they might or might not.
I did notice towards the end, when you play higher notes the volume went down. Is this because you played softer or does the mic pick those higher notes up less well?
Thanks, this was part of my plan with the 34" scale, my fingers "know" how far apart those frets are. Trust me, it breaks down when I try to run a riff. Long slow notes are going to be my friends for a while...
I think I must have moved my bass a little and disrupted the janky connection chain. I'll worry about that more if it happens to the final installation.
I am hoping that changing the guitar preamp to a bass preamp will help with the tone as well, as the eq will be better voiced for the frequencies involved.
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And with that, primary woodworking is complete.
Yay!
Now come the sanding in earnest. There are epoxy stains, some glue joints to fill after the epoxy cured, etc. And that's before I get into all of the detail sanding so that I can apply finish!
It's taken a day over 9 months to get this far. Some of the most complex woodworking I have attempted. It's definitely not perfect, but I think I will be very happy with it. (Until I decide to build a Mark II)
Yay!
Now come the sanding in earnest. There are epoxy stains, some glue joints to fill after the epoxy cured, etc. And that's before I get into all of the detail sanding so that I can apply finish!
It's taken a day over 9 months to get this far. Some of the most complex woodworking I have attempted. It's definitely not perfect, but I think I will be very happy with it. (Until I decide to build a Mark II)
I started attacking the fretboard. First with 150, then with 220. I've raised the grain several times along the way. Using a straightedge, I've realized that I already have about 1mm of relief across the board (my guess is that is a result of my router sled sagging when I carved the fretboard initially). So I've been using about a 6" sanding block to try and maintain that curve.
Few things I've realized, purpleheart is gummy and burns through sandpaper at a prodigious rate! Also while it is very hard, it machines beautifully! As long as your sandpaper is fresh.
Few things I've realized, purpleheart is gummy and burns through sandpaper at a prodigious rate! Also while it is very hard, it machines beautifully! As long as your sandpaper is fresh.
Working on truing up the sides of the fingerboard. Made a little more complicated by the brass markers.
When you can't afford that Dan Earlwine vise that fills your ad feed...
I might be getting excited. The sanding on the body is going really well. My buddy who is going to help me dye the front is recovering from surgery, thankfully I need his brain not his brawn. A few finishing touches, and I have got to get those electronics done!
One other feature that I realized that I've forgotten is a foot/stand for this thing. I haven't weighed it, but it would not surprise me if it weighs every bit of 20 lbs. Is a bass stand going to hold that kind of weight?
One other feature that I realized that I've forgotten is a foot/stand for this thing. I haven't weighed it, but it would not surprise me if it weighs every bit of 20 lbs. Is a bass stand going to hold that kind of weight?
