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Double Bass Make your Own Czech-Ease?

damonsmith

damonsmith

May 10, 2006
10,338
9,056
53
Saint Louis, MO
www.balancepointacoustics.com
#1
I finnally played one at length and it was really impressive. Still, I just don't have a few grand laying around and I am not so into spending it on
what is still a plywood bass.

What are some of the potential problems with picking a cheap plywood bass and cutting it down yourself? Obviously, it will lack what they have done inside to make it sound so great, but I am thinking it could be a good option until the Chinese makers put an affordable travel option on the market.
Can some of the Luthiers weigh in on this?
 
#2
I would imagine you'd have to take the top off, remove unwanted ribs, make new blocks for the new ribs, cut the top and back and shape them, maybe modify the bass bar, move or put in a new end block, put the top back on and refinish it. I'm sure there's lots of stuff I'm missing. That not even considering that you have to buy the bass to begin with. Who knows what it'll sound like once your done.

I don't think it needs a luthier to tell you that it's probably going to be very expensive in time and money to get it done. It's probably cheaper to get a real czech-ease and you'll be getting it done right the first time round. For $3k doesn't seem so bad for a bass, all things considered.
 
#3
You can get plywoods off Craigslist for $400-500. I don't mind the time and effort. I travel a few times a year, not enough right now to spend 3k (without the case), but few hundred dollars and a learning experience would be worth it.
My Ergo EUB + borrowing basses is working OK for now, but the great thing about the CZech ease is that it is possible to play unamplified, and you can set it up how you want.
I can't imagine it being so impossible.
 
#4
You didn't say earlier if you were going to do everything. Heck if you're doing it yourself, it's your time and money, bud! :)

I can't imagine it being the first thing I'd tackle tho. I would've liked to have made an entire bass before starting anything like that. Seems more daunting for some reason. I'd think the hardest part is would be to get the bottom rib to confirm to the curvature of the top and back once they've been trimmed. You're starting off with a strange shape instead of something based on flat edges like typical ribs start out as. The end block would need to be shaped in the same manner so that connects correctly with the top and back too. Doesn't sound impossible, but it does sound very difficult.
 
#5
I'm not sure that would work. Just thinking about the details in my head you'd have way more work than you think to get something that didn't suck.

I'd use any extra time I had trying to make some more dough to buy the travel bass.

If you want the experience of doing something like that I'd pick another project that has a better chance of success.

Like build one from scratch.
 
#7
dperrott said:
I saw the great swedish bassist Anders Jormin a few
months ago. He had a cheap bass that has a removable
neck. He had someone cut it and attach a bolt to it.
I don't know the specifics. He could just unbolt the
neck and pack it up in a small case . I think that may
be a little more manageable.
David

--
Click to expand...
Yea for sure.
 
#8
the removable neck has been discussed on talkbass in a few threads:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=255226&highlight=detachable+neck
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=308967&highlight=removable+neck
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=303071&highlight=detachable+neck

I know that there are luthiers that convert existing basses to being basses with removable necks, perhaps there is even someone mentioned in the threads above in your area, damon. migth be cheaper that the czech ease, might not be considering you need a special flight case.
btw, anders jormin is a great bassplayer, I love him!


another question for damon - I´d like to ask you to tell me more about your experience with the czech ease, because I think you play very similiar music as I do. how is it doing with down tuning, noises, percussion, etc.?
I played a czech ease for a minute, but can´t tell really if it would do for me. I am curious what you say about improv with the czech ease...


edit: I have no experience with building/repairing/modifying basses, so I can´t tell you anything, sorry.
 
#9
dperrott said:
I saw the great swedish bassist Anders Jormin a few
months ago. He had a cheap bass that has a removable
neck. He had someone cut it and attach a bolt to it.
I don't know the specifics. He could just unbolt the
neck and pack it up in a small case . I think that may
be a little more manageable.
David

--
Click to expand...

I'd like to get that done to my normal bass, but no one near enough to me does it. I love Anders Jormin's playing.


vier-personen said:
another question for damon - I´d like to ask you to tell me more about your experience with the czech ease, because I think you play very similiar music as I do. how is it doing with down tuning, noises, percussion, etc.?
I played a czech ease for a minute, but can´t tell really if it would do for me. I am curious what you say about improv with the czech ease...


edit: I have no experience with building/repairing/modifying basses, so I can´t tell you anything, sorry.
Click to expand...

- I just used it on a recording, all my sounds were fine, It was Reuben Radding's and he was playing his beautiful carved bass.
It was a good test for it because Reuben and I have a lot of similarities but he plays better. I still had a great time playing it.
I did not detune it since it was not mine. I'd totally get one if I was on the east coast and had more tours. Tickets are more from here to Europe so it lowers my chances for getting invited, although it happens.
 
#10
Alternative idea:
Practically anywhere in the western world (or at least most places) one happens to be travelling to for a gig, there must be someone nearby with a decent bass they would be willing to rent out for the night/week. I rent out a bass routinely to American Jazzers coming to southern Lower Saxony (They always love it!). Someone needs to set up a website where local bassists can sign up and make their instruments available. There could even be a feedback rating system like on Ebay. Many owners of course wouldn't sign on (Their instrument is far to precious, even though it's a Kay), but hopefully many would. The way things are going with the airlines, I wouldn't bet you will be able to carry a bowcase onboard for much longer without extra charge. Forget about what you will pay to transport a Czech Ease bass.
Robobass
 
#11
robobass said:
Alternative idea:
Practically anywhere in the western world (or at least most places) one happens to be travelling to for a gig, there must be someone nearby with a decent bass they would be willing to rent out for the night/week. I rent out a bass routinely to American Jazzers coming to southern Lower Saxony (They always love it!). Someone needs to set up a website where local bassists can sign up and make their instruments available. There could even be a feedback rating system like on Ebay. Many owners of course wouldn't sign on (Their instrument is far to precious, even though it's a Kay), but hopefully many would. The way things are going with the airlines, I wouldn't bet you will be able to carry a bowcase onboard for much longer without extra charge. Forget about what you will pay to transport a Czech Ease bass.
Robobass
Click to expand...

- They have that: http://www.rentabass.com/ and I borrow basses now. Still, it is nice to have an instrument that is yours, so you can knock the sh** out of it if/when needed! The airlines are a business, they are going to push this stuff pretty far, but when they start losing too much money they will relent.
 

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