Prototype Bass

[cataract]

Yes, but when you've got the bass strapped on, it looks like the keys would be pointing away from you so you'd have to reach over the front of the neck. That's how it looks to me from the pic anyway, I might be seeing it wrong. No snark by the way, I like the bass and it's a cool headstock design.

I guess it did take me a second to stop reaching for keys that aren’t there. Years of tuning reflexively, I suppose!
Unlearning was easy though. I tune with my right hand, so the reach is actually a little less for keys D & G.
Nothing beats being able to lay a bass down flat on its back and not worry about whacking a Sperzel.

 

[MEKer]

Looks cool. Worried about the neck dive though.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

The thing I like about putting the knobs behind the bridge is a lefty could flip the bass and not have his forearm messing up the settings. Nice looking mockup.

 

[wintremute]

I think it's a cool idea.

 

[Slinger]

Those sharp edges are going to chip if you even look at a hard surface for too long.

 

[Chrisk-K]

Should be perfect for any music genre related to vampires.

 

[AndyPanda]

... it makes the end of the body have to be longer, thereby helping to eliminate neck dive.

Your logic is flawed here. having the bridge so far towards the neck and having all that space behind the bridge will make neck dive worse and make it a longer reach to the end of the neck.

 

[mmon77]

Those sharp edges are going to chip if you even look at a hard surface for too long.

Not sure why everyone keeps saying this either. If you don't bang it on things, it won't chip.

This is a 1986 Charvel Model 3 I bought in '91. It's not chipped, because I don't bang it on stuff.

 

[cataract]

Not sure why everyone keeps saying this either. If you don't bang it on things, it won't chip.

This is a 1986 Charvel Model 3 I bought in '91. It's not chipped, because I don't bang it on stuff.
View attachment 3244457

I’d be more worried about whatever would be on the receiving end (ie: bandmate!)
Being spatially aware isn’t difficult, as you’ve proven!

 

[Dadagoboi]

Just build it and see how YOU like it. That's the only way to find out if you're ready to accept any compromises. Even if you have to abandon a lot of the ideas you're exploring you'll learn a lot.

I haven't read the recommended books about bass design, my day job was designing stuff. I've been playing long enough to know what's what when it comes to ergonomics, looks, and where to place how many pickups.

 

[Ric5]

View attachment 3243936

I wanted to see how well this would go over, it is a prototype only. I always like the idea of putting the knobs after the bridge, it makes the end of the body have to be longer, thereby helping to eliminate neck dive. Plus I just like the body shape. Let me know in the comments if I should make it or burn it.

I like that it has 5 strings and 3 pickups, you slanted the pickups to sound better … I suspect it will still neck dive once built. I think a 2x3 headstock with mini tuners would look better and fight neck dive.

 

[ThudThudThud]

You'll have someone's eye out with that.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

View attachment 3243936

I wanted to see how well this would go over, it is a prototype only. I always like the idea of putting the knobs after the bridge, it makes the end of the body have to be longer, thereby helping to eliminate neck dive. Plus I just like the body shape. Let me know in the comments if I should make it or burn it.

I like it, including the angled pickups. The body shape looks like a spaceship or the silhouette of an evil alien. The color should be either neutron-star black or blood red though, imo.

 

[Frankula]

Possibly the best bass for metal.

It was designed with that in mind.

 

[Element Zero]

To each his own... beauty is in the eye of the beholder... the heart wants what the heart wants... etc...

That being said, I am not a fan. But you do you!

 

[Frankula]

I like it all except the pickups should be angled the other way. Love the controls at the end of the bridge. Totally stealing that.

As far as neck dive, a counterweight of 6 or so ounces in the right lower bout should get you fixed up.

I think you're scale is going to be off. The way you have it now, it would be a short scale, may be 31"/30", the B string would be floppy.

Scale is easily changed.

 

[Thumpin6string]

<<<<As you can see, I'm not a fan of odd shaped basses.

 

[Frankula]

The forward bridge, reduced body size, short horns and larger headstock means the player will need to contend with significant and fatal neck dive. That's my objective commentary. I'll keep the subjective to myself.
I highly suggest reading Hiscock's book on building a guitar to understand the importance of a useful design.

It would be just like the Schecter SB-1 I play currently. It has about the same amount of mass, short horns, etc. and the neck dive is to the ground if you let go of it, but I never seem to have a problem playing standing up. It just seems very light in my hand when playing, and only dives if I forget and let go. On the other hand, it's made of basswood, which is only two woods away from balsa wood on the Janka hardness scale, and it seems as light as balsa sometimes.

 

[P-oddz]

 

[DJ Bebop]

Is it a bass or a saw? :\




No, I like it!