homemade 12 string?

[STROMERO]

I have been GASing for a 12 string bass. I'm playing in a 3 piece rock band and I think it would really fill out the sound. Unfortunately I've never played one and there are none within a 6 hour drive. I've hit eBay, Craigslist, Offerup, and the usual retailers. The Dean Rhapsody is inexpensive enough, but I haven't found one used cheaply enough to experiment with.

So I'm wondering if I bought a cheap bass, had a neck made, and changed the bridge on the donor bass to make it a 12 string, would it work. If it does, I can get a better body and swap parts over.

Any idea if this is even possible?

 

[Korladis]

Could get a Warmoth neck.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

Wait for a Dean Rhapsody to come along. Having a neck made, buying a bridge and extra tuners and a custom nut will cost more than a Dean used.

 

[80jazz]

I don't think Warmoth makes an 8-string neck.

OP, unless there is some idea you have in your head of the fully realized bass M.R. Ogle is probably right.

If it helps, I have been mulling around an idea for a 8-string fretless bass. With a build like this, if you wish to sell it you may lose money on that sale (and this is why I have considered just getting an 8 string and defretting it, as the cost of my idea would be more than some production 8 strings, and making it fretless would be a big bag of fun only for me to discover how good or bad I actually am on fretless).

 

[JimmyM]

You'll end up paying a lot more by putting together parts, I think. Plus a 12 string is a lot of tension on a neck, and the neck is going to be wider and probably won't fit a parts bass too well. Maybe an 8 neck would work but I would think most 12 necks would require some modding to the body. If you go this route, do lots of research because I guarantee it'll be more work than slapping a few parts together. Get the Rhapsody. It's a really good bass for the money. I used to have the 8 and I enjoyed it...I just never had many opportunities to use it so I sold it and got an EHX Pitch Fork instead. Close enough for when I need it, plus I can switch it in and out in the middle of a song, which is impossible with the real thing. A lot of people say it doesn't sound like a real 8 string, but I've directly compared the two and I'd be pretty hard pressed to guess which is which in a blind test, especially if you throw a little dirt on it, too.

 

[STROMERO]

thanks everyone

 

[bholder]

I have the Dean and the Galveston, about the same level of quality. My advice would be to skip them entirely and go for something more solid. I'm having Mr. Cataldo, @Dadagoboi, build me one (after which the Dean and the Galveston will likely be for sale).

 

[Dadagoboi]

So I'm wondering if I bought a cheap bass, had a neck made, and changed the bridge on the donor bass to make it a 12 string, would it work. If it does, I can get a better body and swap parts over.

Any idea if this is even possible?

Yeah, you can do it. But IMO it makes more sense to buy one first so you understand what you'll be getting into. Neck width should be a minimum of 1-3/4" and have twin trussrods, which the Dean does. The bridge isn't the best but AFAIK there are no aftermarket 12er bridges. I use a Schaller 471-8 with modded saddles.

 

[lz4005]

I don't think Warmoth makes an 8-string neck.

They do.

 

[80jazz]

Ugh....thanks for the correction. I meant to say 12.

 

[Dadagoboi]

This was a Warmoth Deluxe Five tilt paddle neck I converted to a 12. Ebony fretboard, single trussrod. Just stiff enough to keep the neck straight with the light string set I use.

Warmoth's Eighter neck is huge, MAJOR neck dive! I used one for my first Eighter but cut down the headstock, plugged, and redrilled it for what I consider the 'normal' mix of tuners. I also reprofiled it to make it easier to play. It would probably work for a 12er depending on string choice.