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.
Only the world's best CNC machines!
- Thread starter warrplayer
- Start date
For whatever reason Warwick has got our attention. Suddenly I feel like buying a Warwick.
Some of those high end CNC machine centers are capable of amazing things. I'm working with one now where we're talking about part-to-part variance in microns on components with complex curve geometries. Granted my components are much smaller than a bass body but still, if its set up well you're going to get a very consistent product out of it.
Couldn't the instrument industry use a little more consistency? How many times have people posted on here that no 2 Fenders are alike? I get the appeal of an all hand shaped custom built instrument made by a true craftsman and don't mean to downplay that. But that should be a special "one of a kind" sort of thing. If you're trying to crank out several thousand of the same instrument design then this is a great way to go about it.
I will concede that "the very best of" is a bit silly and definitely made me laugh. "The very best" CNC machining centers cost millions of dollars and have capabilities that greatly exceed anything needed to make a good bass body.
Couldn't the instrument industry use a little more consistency? How many times have people posted on here that no 2 Fenders are alike? I get the appeal of an all hand shaped custom built instrument made by a true craftsman and don't mean to downplay that. But that should be a special "one of a kind" sort of thing. If you're trying to crank out several thousand of the same instrument design then this is a great way to go about it.
I will concede that "the very best of" is a bit silly and definitely made me laugh. "The very best" CNC machining centers cost millions of dollars and have capabilities that greatly exceed anything needed to make a good bass body.
What's the best CNC machine for metal?
Which CNC machine is most like a pre CBS fender?
Which CNC machine will give me the most sustain?
And of course NCNCD! (New CNC Day)
Which CNC machine is most like a pre CBS fender?
Which CNC machine will give me the most sustain?
And of course NCNCD! (New CNC Day)
+1. How many times have you heard people moaning about Fenders with sloppy neck pockets? How many times have you heard people moaning about Warwicks with sloppy neck pockets?
This one:
Don't know if this is late to the party but I thought that y'all would like to see one in action.
Sounds just like a Stick to me, so by implication all Sticks sound like a bathroom tub curtain rod!! As a non-stick player, are you really in a position to comment? IME Emmett's fretwork, from the early ironwood instruments through to the stainless steel rods on oak, is immaculate and he does not compromise on playability. I've no reason to believe that he would be producing the railboard if it did not live up to his expectations and those of Stick players around the world.
those human elements are also being worked out as well with the new equipment thats coming out..many 5 axis machines can mill turn deburr and spit out finished product
So i run an aerospace company that does extremely intricate machining, tubular bending, sheet metal, edm (not the music) and there is one thing that is very clear my 20 years here...making a bass guitar or any parts for it is amateur hour work and easily surpasses what a luthier is able to do. I know this will upset a few of you but this is reality.
My mistake. I was thinking about the Stash Stainless bass. I don't think I have heard an all metal Chapman stick. Again. My mistake.
I deal with high tech also. As you have an opinion I do too. Yes CNC can mass produce parts cheaply and accurately. The side of the arguement others on here have is that CNC while it will produce an instrument a luthier is needed to make magic. A luthier can take CNC parts and work with them and make an instrument sound much more amazing than an assembled bass.
Last edited:
If you mean easily surpasses the ACCURACY of what a luthier can do, I'd agree. But alas life is not so simple as this. That is because a machine produces work no better than it's operator/programer. Making exceptional instruments isn't just about milling a micron-accurate object out of a piece of uniform aluminum. There is art involved. there is organic variations involved and hence the need for human sensitivity and "feel" of those variations.
Sure you can laser-scan a Ritter or a Drozd and make a very nice copy. But the value of those instruments is all about the creativity and feel of those makers. Even if it was a molecule by molecule perfect copy, without their authentic signature on the instrument it's merely a forgery like any fake painting.
Well Chris. Thats because it is easily understood by many people. If you are trying to dismiss my views with a personal attack that reflects that you don't have a valid arguement about the topic.
Last edited:
Speaking of personal attacks....
I'll let the TB community decide. There is no point in further defending anything I've said.
Sorry, I've probably missed something, where exactly does the ad say that? Or is it you who's implying that?
im not talking about mass production and i dont think the luthier has the same available tools to do what a full scale machine shop is capable of. I own many custom made instruments and i do enjoy the craft that these guys are able to achieve but they cant possibly take their 6inch shop scale and square and get the same results as a CMM machine to address frets, strings heights etc...as far as cnc machines being the end all for guitar builders, i dont really see it anytime soon. These machines are not cheap to buy, program, and operate with a low hourly shop rate that even makes it worth the trouble unless people plan on paying adam nitti ibanez signature prices (oops still blows my mind). Most CNC machines are made to crank metals anyways (titanium, inconel, steel, aluminum etc,) not wood because that is what gets the best ROI
It sounds like we can meet somewhere in the middle here. I love good rousing discussions. I often learn from them.
