(I think that title covers everything) What you're about to see is the most unscientific creation, but I thought someone may enjoy seeing and hearing about the process. It all started with a simple walk with my wife on trash night, and finding an old acoustic someone had thrown away (you may recall from a previous thread my dumpster find w/bridge made from hinges; must be a lot of frustrated guitarists in my city).
This guitar must have suffered from some nasty buckle rash(?), as repairs were made to the back. There were only four original tuners still attached - a sign it was destined to become a bass. I brought it into my classroom (I’m a high school teacher - students took these pictures) and slowly began my build (sharing each step of the way with some of my students who took an interest).
First up was finding a four-string tailpiece. Since I was planning on leaving this bass in my classroom for when I (or students) have the need to noodle, I was thinking cheap. On to evilbay, for a fancy gold tailpiece that set me back about $10 (gold to match the gold frets). I also ordered a nut (the original was missing - I ordered a metal one that was too small shown in the picture, and a $.99 plastic one that just needed some filing down), some strap buttons (also $.99), and a floating bridge (used - another $10). By now you may be thinking I could buy a cheap import acoustic bass for less, but what would be the fun in that?
It took nearly a month for these pieces to come in (that Hong Kong postal service may be inexpensive, but takes the slow boat), and of course they came at separate times. That allowed me to show my classes what came, how it would attach, and to then actually get them to fit.
I also had to fill the old tailpiece holes and drill new ones.
I learned something about the old tuners, as there were many little parts, and I had to take each side apart to move the four opposite of each other. I had a set of old bass strings, and of course the E didn't fit, so I brought it down to the school shop class to drill (the teacher wound my string through it quite far and bent it with such a kink it ruined the string - luckily I have several old sets).
Once together, I noticed that the tuning was horrible - the main problem being the length of the strings were too short for the frets.
So I improvised by turning part of the tailpiece around, adding many inches to the string length, making it look a little funky, and assuring myself that it would never fit in a case (I have my application in for the patent on this process, so don't even think about copying me).
Two strap buttons later, and I'm in business - a bass that plays OK that I can leave in my classroom and not worry if someone accidentally wrecks it (until the tailpiece rips off).
Oh, and as for that Fender content in my title? The one item that hasn't arrived yet is my Chinese import strap for $2.33 (notice the “for Fender”) - the shipping window stated it will arrive sometime between January and...March!
This guitar must have suffered from some nasty buckle rash(?), as repairs were made to the back. There were only four original tuners still attached - a sign it was destined to become a bass. I brought it into my classroom (I’m a high school teacher - students took these pictures) and slowly began my build (sharing each step of the way with some of my students who took an interest).
First up was finding a four-string tailpiece. Since I was planning on leaving this bass in my classroom for when I (or students) have the need to noodle, I was thinking cheap. On to evilbay, for a fancy gold tailpiece that set me back about $10 (gold to match the gold frets). I also ordered a nut (the original was missing - I ordered a metal one that was too small shown in the picture, and a $.99 plastic one that just needed some filing down), some strap buttons (also $.99), and a floating bridge (used - another $10). By now you may be thinking I could buy a cheap import acoustic bass for less, but what would be the fun in that?
It took nearly a month for these pieces to come in (that Hong Kong postal service may be inexpensive, but takes the slow boat), and of course they came at separate times. That allowed me to show my classes what came, how it would attach, and to then actually get them to fit.
I also had to fill the old tailpiece holes and drill new ones.
I learned something about the old tuners, as there were many little parts, and I had to take each side apart to move the four opposite of each other. I had a set of old bass strings, and of course the E didn't fit, so I brought it down to the school shop class to drill (the teacher wound my string through it quite far and bent it with such a kink it ruined the string - luckily I have several old sets).
Once together, I noticed that the tuning was horrible - the main problem being the length of the strings were too short for the frets.
So I improvised by turning part of the tailpiece around, adding many inches to the string length, making it look a little funky, and assuring myself that it would never fit in a case (I have my application in for the patent on this process, so don't even think about copying me).
Two strap buttons later, and I'm in business - a bass that plays OK that I can leave in my classroom and not worry if someone accidentally wrecks it (until the tailpiece rips off).
Oh, and as for that Fender content in my title? The one item that hasn't arrived yet is my Chinese import strap for $2.33 (notice the “for Fender”) - the shipping window stated it will arrive sometime between January and...March!
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