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New to the building scene....

Dennis Peacock

Dennis Peacock

Mar 13, 2009
15
1
67
Conway, AR
#1
Greetings,
I'm a long time bass player who has a bucket list...and on my bucket list is to build my own 5-string jazz bass. I've been doing woodworking for over 40 years, I have an 1,800 sq ft shop fully outfitted with some nice mid-range priced tools. Took me 25 years of working and saving to get that far. I want to build my bass because I want a really nice bass guitar to play and I can't afford to drop $7K on a bass that I want.

I want to model it after the Michael Tobia MTD-535 bass.
I'm open for your thoughts and suggestions. :)
 
#2
I started working with wood a couple years ago because I had to sell my beloved ken smith and also figured I'd never be able to afford another high end bass. So I set to making my first bass (also a 5 string jazz). A couple years later and I just mounted the neck to the body for the first time. My first child was born in there somewhere too which took a lot of my time, so hopefully your timeline can move faster. So far all I can say is it is highly rewarding building a bass but I could have had 2 custom basses for what I've spent in parts, tools, mistakes, etc. You do have a head start with a shop ready to go though. Good luck and I'll stop babbling now!
 
#3
I'd firmly recommend knocking out a cheap crappy bass (or even bass shaped object for the first one) or two or three so that you can approach the "bucket list 5-string jazz bass" with some bass-building experience under your belt. The first <whatever> you make is rarely the best one, unless it's the only one, and that usually has room for improvement. Practice makes better, even when perfection eludes us.
 
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Reactions: reverendrally, Means2nEnd and Jonny5bass
#4
Thanks guys.....a buddy at work has talked me into building a replica of a 1962 Fender Strat 6-string electric guitar with him. He and I will build each of us a replica of a Fender Strat FIRST and then I will venture into a bass build. So I guess that my very first instrument build will now be an electric guitar and if that goes well, then I'll start the bass.

I really like the idea of taking some much less expensive wood and building the bass body and neck in that wood....I mean, even if I mess it up, I can at least burn it for heat in my wood burning stove for the winter. :)
Do you have any sites for reference info that I can start reading on now?
 

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