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Mini-bass Project Idea

H

honestjohnny

Nov 24, 2006
1,341
132
#1
I started a thread in the Luthier's section, but mostly ended up talking to myself. You can read it here:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=510758

Anyway, I was inspired by my old Ashbory bass, that had a great sound, but other issues that caused it to fall out of favor.

I spoke to a luthier today about what I was proposing and he pointed out (duh) that a solid-body doesn't resonate like a hollow body. That made me doubt my idea. Then I tried to read about piezo pickups and mini-scale basses, but the piezo stuff was over my head and very little on mini-basses. So now I'm wondering if any of this has merit or if I'm just masturbating mentally :hiding:

I like mini-scale and short scale basses (my eABG is 27" and both my electrics are 30"). I realized a while back that bass requires big amplification, but not necessarily a big "player interface." I like piezo pickups when I have the ability to shape the signal (I have a digital preamp with compression, amp sims, EQ, noise reduction, blah blah).

You guys who have experimented, doesl this sound like it will work or will it sound like a "fart in a bathtub?"
 
#2
I built a 26" scaled fretless 5 string for my son- it came out surprisingly well. It plays nicely & actually sounds great(!) It has an EMG clone P pickup near the bridge & baritone strings(not sure of the gauge but very light compared to a *normal* bass)tuned ADGCF. It can absolutely be done.
 
#5
I just got a 22" scale bass uke from owen at Road Toad music - www.roadtoadmusic.com - sounds fantastic. I've got it strung up with Thomastick acousticores. He's got some terrific designs up there, also a bass-uke specific site linked to through his home page.

There're some sound samples on the site that sound "dinky" to me - but the strings make a huge difference, the T.I's just opened up the sound of this instrument for me
 
#6
@bassteban: I thought I'd throw the Acoustiphonic Bass preamp and the Hipshot bridge assembly on. I don't know what that will sound like. Just have to try, I guess.

@bassobsessed: I contacted Road_Toad via email once about a instrument. He never got back to me. And the rubber strings are part of the problem I'm trying to address.
 
#7
bassobsessed said:
I just got a 22" scale bass uke from owen at Road Toad music - www.roadtoadmusic.com - sounds fantastic. I've got it strung up with Thomastick acousticores. He's got some terrific designs up there, also a bass-uke specific site linked to through his home page.

There're some sound samples on the site that sound "dinky" to me - but the strings make a huge difference, the T.I's just opened up the sound of this instrument for me
Click to expand...

What do you have it tuned to with the acousticores? Any pictures? :)
 
#9
@bassobsessed: More information on your bass uke and the TI's, please. Intonation was my problem with the rubber strings and 18" fretless scale. Did the TI's address those issues? Is your bass uke fretted? Did you use the standard 4 string set or custom gauges?
 
#11
Hmmm. I think the longer scale length makes intonation more precise, not the strings. BTW Owen's urethane strings are supposed to hold tune better than Ashborys. It's a lined fretless. The TIs do slip more than metal-core strings, IMHO less than other sylicon/urethane/nylon/etc.

Intonation is surprisingly easy for me. I have a 36" Carl Thompson on the theory that longer scale lengths intonate better; however these shorter scale lengths make it easier to "roll" your finger into tune. Vibrato is also easier. So overall I don't feel intonation is an issue on shorter scales - although I haven't tried fretted which I imagine would suck unless you did multi-scale/fanned fret
 
#12
Thought about that too. The Ibby would be easier to purchase, but it's close enough to 30" scale that I was thinking I could just by a fretless SX and have done. So I started looking for shorter scales and the Fernandes and the Samick are both 25-26.

TB is so awesome. I can talk about this stuff with people who are interested, instead of irritating my wife or band mates.
 
#13
The intonation was okay for the first position and then it varied wildly as I progressed up the fingerboard. Probably due to the intervals being closer together than my fingertip. I could roll into tune and with practice hit the position, but couldn't do it for jams. Also, the Si rubber stretched too much, especially with temperature, to keep it in tune. These two problems combined were what prompted me to get rid of the Ashbory. I'm okay with either, but I've got to have absolute tuning stability, or a longer scale.
 
#14
The Acousticores need to be tuned at least once a day, which is still way less than the urethane strings, which themselves are said to hold tuning longer than the silicone originals.

Here's a pre-completion photo of my Road Toad - I wouldn't be discouraged by one non-returned phone call, Owen's work is well worth what he charges and many luthiers are swamped and slow at communication.

I love your ideas, very creative and budget-minded. Definitely want to see/hear what you finally come up with. 25-26" sounds like a great compromise scale length - Owen was actually talking about doing a 25" semi-hollow, and I bet he could cut urethane strings for that length if that's what you want
 

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#15
Nothing against the guy. But an email that's never returned tells me that he's too busy to take additional work right now.

Yeah, I'm kind of a DIY on the cheap guy. Even if this doesn't sound 100% like an Ashbory or a DB, it still won't cost as much as a custom job. And if I'm not happy with it at all, well, only out $700.

I was looking at my planning list last night and started waffling on the Fernandes/Samick issue. Maybe I'll get both. Hmmm....
 

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