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My first home build

Jan 28, 2024
74
155
It is more proof of concept than anything else but it’s fine. I like it. I’ll route the neck pocket 3/16” higher this week so the strings are actually on the neck but, really, it’s fine. Honest.

I made this over the weekend. Yes, I did an awful job of routing it. Honestly - there’s no reason to tell me you hate it or me or whatever. I get it. I have a process and I follow it. I prototype and screw around and if I find value in the output I take more time and put in more effort and do it better the next time.

I didn’t read the faq or anything before trying this - I just did it. I’m glad I did it this way (it's all part of my process!). Now I’ll read the stuff you’ve laid out for me. Maybe!

I love this bridge. I love the balance and playability of this bass. I love the wacky design and that it’s headless. I’m amazed that with a couple of tiny tweaks it plays ok. It will play better after I move the neck over but that should be quick and simple enough to do. Ish.

No, it isn’t “finished” and it never will be. Yes, that’s blood and those are pencil lines. You should see the back where the router popped out and chewed up the finish! It’s as bad as the edges of the pockets and the parts where the bit popped out the side and where the drill went through the face and where… Well, you get the idea.

I don’t think I’ll ever go pro (lol) but I do have a feeling that I’ll keep designing wacky basses. Anyone looking for a designer? Just wondering! I love playing bass but I just can’t deal with bodies that all look the same. And I don’t care if I “can’t play that sitting down”. I don’t want to play sitting down! Besides, yes I can so there.

Initial layout:
concept.jpg

I didn't go with this bridge - the overlord of music bridges are garbage.

In the workshop:
bin.jpg

It's just lovely, right?

Reasonably complete (kind of playable):
complete.jpg


Variation for those who don't like headless:
head.jpg



Stay tuned for more adventures!
 
It’s definitely interesting. Jumping off of another thread, paint it in a Dalek theme and it’d be pretty cool. Add a speaker so you can push a button and it says, “Exterminate! Exterminate!” I know that probably sounds like I’m being jerk but I seriously find it interesting.

Well, it might sound like I'm being preemptively hyper defensive in my post.. But it's all good. I achieved what I set out to achieve with this one. I don't think I'm going to Dalek it... If anything I'll buy some better electronics and see if I can get a genuinely good sound from it. First I need to improve the playability!
 
Stop being so defensive!!

And welcome to the forum!

Your wonky “Flying (in the wrong direction) V” makes me smile. Well done!

Is that the Alps bridge? Is it any good?

It is the Alp bridge. And, well, it’s a nice piece of kit for sure. I’ve used it on two basses so far. I really do like it. It does only have 4 anchor screws and both times I’ve used it it’s ended up a bit sideways so next time I’ll screw it in 5° skewed the wrong way so that it ends up facing properly. But it is the nicest headless bridge I’ve used (I have 9 examples of 6 styles today and 2 different ones coming tomorrow). It’s basically the only design I trust from an engineering standpoint. The M5 screw style (steinberger, overlord, side screw guyker) feels inadequate to me. And rightly so as I’ve broken some? I don’t know. I can’t break the Alp and it is easy to use and works well.
 
The first time I noticed that police line strap, it was folded over a hanger and I assumed it was a celine dion strap. I had at least 5 seconds of "who would want that?" before I clued in.

I’ve had that one for around 20 years. It’s cute and, well, junk. Alas. Ah - but it works ok with a light and well balanced bass! I’m not sure how well Celine Dion works with light and well balanced basses.