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Inspirations for a summer project

G

gnelly13

Guest
Oct 21, 2013
50
18
#1
Hey all,
Over the last year or so I've taken extreme interest in how basses are built, how they work, and the different types of woods. I love every thing about it, and I would like to make it an eventual career (as of now I am a freshman in college). I think it's about time for me to start working on my own hand-built bass. Do you guys (and gals) have any recommendations for someone looking to build their first bass? It can be anything, advice, books, videos, even movies if they have them. Thanks!
 
#2
gnelly13 said:
Hey all,
Over the last year or so I've taken extreme interest in how basses are built, how they work, and the different types of woods. I love every thing about it, and I would like to make it an eventual career (as of now I am a freshman in college). I think it's about time for me to start working on my own hand-built bass. Do you guys (and gals) have any recommendations for someone looking to build their first bass? It can be anything, advice, books, videos, even movies if they have them. Thanks!
Click to expand...
You might start here as it addresses many things you will need to get started. It's pretty hard to know how to best respond without asking some questions of my own... What kind of bass are you thinking of building? Do you have access to tools and a work space of some sort? Do you have any woodworking experience? Do you play bass? ;)
 
#3
Take this with a grain of salt, as I'm yet to start my own, but...

* What are you looking to do? Create replicas? Build your own designs? Experiment? If you can answer those questions, it will help a lot.
* Do you have space to work? What and how big is that space? Are there things about that space you can't control(i.e. neighbors complaining about noise, space is too small, climate is unforgiving)?
* Do you have tools? Do a search, there's any number of threads on this forum about what tools you might need?
* How are you planning on doing finishes? Do you have everything you need for that?
* Assuming you plan on using wood, what kind of wood and where are you getting it from?
* What's your budget? Building can get pretty expensive.
* What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?;)
 
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#4
randyripoff said:
Take this with a grain of salt, as I'm yet to start my own, but...

* What are you looking to do? Create replicas? Build your own designs? Experiment? If you can answer those questions, it will help a lot.
* Do you have space to work? What and how big is that space? Are there things about that space you can't control(i.e. neighbors complaining about noise, space is too small, climate is unforgiving)?
* Do you have tools? Do a search, there's any number of threads on this forum about what tools you might need?
* How are you planning on doing finishes? Do you have everything you need for that?
* Assuming you plan on using wood, what kind of wood and where are you getting it from?
* What's your budget? Building can get pretty expensive.
* What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?;)
Click to expand...

I am planning on doing a Yamaha rbx-170 style with p bass style pickups, as that was my very first bass and it was unfortunately destroyed by rabid airline workers :(. I do have enough space to work, and the resources to do a project as large as this. I may need to check my tool chest whenever I come back from school, but I think I have everything I need. I am not planning on doing anything fancy with the finish. I'll most likely go with a natural-gloss. I have not decided on the type of wood yet, all I know is that there is a really well known lumber yard a few miles from my work space. Budget may be a problem, but I'm not trying to do this as fast as possible, I'm going to take my time, even if that means waiting for a while. I'm not building my own neck and headstock, just the body, so that will cut down on the cost a bit.

Only thing is...I don't know the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow :(
 
#5
gnelly13 said:
I am planning on doing a Yamaha rbx-170 style with p bass style pickups, as that was my very first bass and it was unfortunately destroyed by rabid airline workers :(. I do have enough space to work, and the resources to do a project as large as this. I may need to check my tool chest whenever I come back from school, but I think I have everything I need. I am not planning on doing anything fancy with the finish. I'll most likely go with a natural-gloss. I have not decided on the type of wood yet, all I know is that there is a really well known lumber yard a few miles from my work space. Budget may be a problem, but I'm not trying to do this as fast as possible, I'm going to take my time, even if that means waiting for a while. I'm not building my own neck and headstock, just the body, so that will cut down on the cost a bit.

Only thing is...I don't know the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow :(
Click to expand...
African or European? ;)

Are you planning on doing the neck your self as well?
 
#8
groundhog said:
If you want to make a career out of it, I would assume you need to make your own neck. You would also need a solid buisness plan
Click to expand...
While true, I think that starting with making a body and working his way up is not a bad place to start.
 
#12
Believe you me if you post a build thread you will not lack for suggestions and opinions. ;) Whatever you build the experience will be good. Don't take this the wrong way, but are you competent in setup work such as setting the intonation and action, truss rod adjustment, or any experience doing fret work? The more you know about setting up and fine tuning an already built instrument the better.
 
#13
michaelwayneharwood said:
Believe you me if you post a build thread you will not lack for suggestions and opinions. ;) Whatever you build the experience will be good. Don't take this the wrong way, but are you competent in setup work such as setting the intonation and action, truss rod adjustment, or any experience doing fret work? The more you know about setting up and fine tuning an already built instrument the better.
Click to expand...
I dont have any experience in fret work, but I can set action and intonation and adjust truss rod.
 
#14
groundhog said:
If you want to make a career out of it, I would assume you need to make your own neck. You would also need a solid buisness plan
Click to expand...

As of now, I don't exactly know what I want to do for my career. I'm currently an Entertainment Music Industry major (that entails music business, performance, and audio engineering). There's a lot of choices out there, and all I know right now is that I want to do something involving bass. I'm testing all waters now.
 
#15
michaelwayneharwood said:
African or European? ;)
Click to expand...

image.jpg
 

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