Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
New bass build
- Thread starter CholisGuitars
- Start date
It turned out beautiful! I'm usually not a lolipop tuner sort of guy but they work perfectly with this design, I couldn't imagine it any other way! Congrats on a great instrument!
- Jan 28, 2009
- 2,929
- 4,152
- Disclosures
- Owner: Moonshine Custom Guitars
What a beautiful bass. Very original & creative. I'm more of a "Hands-on" build guy (don't get me wrong, I'd take a CNC in a heartbeat & will own one in the near future... After this, I want one now. 
), but this shows just what can be done with a CNC.
Your talent as a artist & craftsman has really shined in this build. Congratulations.
Moonshine
), but this shows just what can be done with a CNC. Your talent as a artist & craftsman has really shined in this build. Congratulations.
Moonshine
I've been following this build since the beginning. Its a beauty, with fine craftsmanship, and I really appreciate the detailed documentation and photos of the process. Makes me GAS for a CNC machine too. 
The overall aesthetic design is nice as well, however, I am having trouble wrapping my mind around the idea of a recessed playing area. Ergonomically speaking, a player needs to take as much of the angular bend out of their wrist as possible to allow the muscles in the forearm to efficiently operate the fingers. This is the reason that many basses have a "forearm cut", or ramped contour angle, on the bass side of the body. It allows the forearm to line up straighter with the wrist. It seems to me that a recessed playing area would have the opposite of that desired effect, causing the player to have to bend their wrist even more to access the strings correctly. The only way to correct this is to raise the elbow in an uncomfortable playing position to line up the forearm and wrist. In the videos posted, it can be clearly seen what I'm talking about: when playing fingerstyle,the player has to raise his elbow almost even with his shoulder to line up his wrist and forearm, or when he is resting it on the side of the bass body his wrist is severely bent. Definitely not comfortable or ergonomic playing positions, particularly if the bass was on a strap and the player were standing.
This is just my opinion of course and food for thought. I had hesitated to post this, because I was waiting to see how the finished product turned out, and it IS such a very nice build I didn't want to say something negative. Maybe I'm missing something, or some folks like the extreme bend in their wrist (though I personally think you'd be asking for some severe wrist issues down the road).
The overall aesthetic design is nice as well, however, I am having trouble wrapping my mind around the idea of a recessed playing area. Ergonomically speaking, a player needs to take as much of the angular bend out of their wrist as possible to allow the muscles in the forearm to efficiently operate the fingers. This is the reason that many basses have a "forearm cut", or ramped contour angle, on the bass side of the body. It allows the forearm to line up straighter with the wrist. It seems to me that a recessed playing area would have the opposite of that desired effect, causing the player to have to bend their wrist even more to access the strings correctly. The only way to correct this is to raise the elbow in an uncomfortable playing position to line up the forearm and wrist. In the videos posted, it can be clearly seen what I'm talking about: when playing fingerstyle,the player has to raise his elbow almost even with his shoulder to line up his wrist and forearm, or when he is resting it on the side of the bass body his wrist is severely bent. Definitely not comfortable or ergonomic playing positions, particularly if the bass was on a strap and the player were standing.
This is just my opinion of course and food for thought. I had hesitated to post this, because I was waiting to see how the finished product turned out, and it IS such a very nice build I didn't want to say something negative. Maybe I'm missing something, or some folks like the extreme bend in their wrist (though I personally think you'd be asking for some severe wrist issues down the road).
I think that all of us have thought about that recessed "swimming pool" - very unorthodox.
I actually have the opposite build - with a raised surface.
(It is very un-couth to show another builders work in a luthiers thread...but I'm thinking that Bobby will cut a little slack here for the sake of conversation...and it is a minimal shot [just to show the raised surface])
It is fantastic for fingerstyle, but not so nice playing pickstyle. I can see how, with the recessed area, pickstyle could actually be more comfortable on this bass.
I would really love to try it. I mean, has anyone played a bass with this design?
I can see the possibilities; Including asking Bobby to make it flush or even raise it up (with a foream contour!)
♪
Your post was very respectful, and I agree: We all want to know more about this concept.
(and you will see that ibateur was way ahead of all of us - on post #2)
☼
I actually have the opposite build - with a raised surface.
(It is very un-couth to show another builders work in a luthiers thread...but I'm thinking that Bobby will cut a little slack here for the sake of conversation...and it is a minimal shot [just to show the raised surface])
It is fantastic for fingerstyle, but not so nice playing pickstyle. I can see how, with the recessed area, pickstyle could actually be more comfortable on this bass.
I would really love to try it. I mean, has anyone played a bass with this design?
I can see the possibilities; Including asking Bobby to make it flush or even raise it up (with a foream contour!)
♪
Your post was very respectful, and I agree: We all want to know more about this concept.
(and you will see that ibateur was way ahead of all of us - on post #2)
☼
Ah now, that I could definitely see. I'm not a pickstyle player, so that really didn't cross my mind. The forearm would certainly be aligned different when the wrist is rotated to hold a pick. The forearm and wrist playing position would be more akin to slapstyle (which may also benefit from a recessed design I'd imagine). Good observation.
REALLY dig the design and process. Thanks for posting everything. Congrats on your Not-Another-P-Bass 
I'm inching towards a build using CNC and it's been really inspiring to see what's possible.
Also, love the understated thread title.
I'm inching towards a build using CNC and it's been really inspiring to see what's possible.
Also, love the understated thread title.
REALLY dig the design and process. Thanks for posting everything. Congrats on your Not-Another-P-Bass
I'm inching towards a build using CNC and it's been really inspiring to see what's possible.
Also, love the understated thread title.
Thanks dude! gotta keep it fresh! I'm excited for the next bass build.
I think the shape of the headstock is fine. The color of the mahogany against the blue and white is what bothers my eyes. If your headstock was carved like the body with a matching color scheme this bass would be dead sexy from end to end. As it is I still think it has a very cool look.
