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Prototyping a new bass...with your help!

dbenson32

dbenson32

Aug 23, 2012
18
1
PG County Maryland
Disclosures
Endorsing Artist: Xotic, Fuchs, Curt Mangan
#1
So I'm the sales manager for a company (whom I'll leave anonymous for now) that specializes in custom hand built acoustic guitars and we're diving into the bass market- head first mind you!

As a player I have my own preferences and brands that I endorse. This is where the kind folk of talkbass come into play: I'd like to leave my personal opinions out of the equation for the most part. I want to see what consensus is from a group of people who are in the know and current on whats going on with the electric bass right now.

The idea is that we're building a 5 string precision bass to start. Something with vintage nostalgia and feel but with modern upgrades and appointments. Vintage meets modern...Blend of Old and New...you get the idea.

What do you love about your vintage instruments that you've run through the ringer and what can you not live without on your brand new 2014 "insert model here"?

I want to hear everything: Frets, Scale length, Electronics, Preamps (or lackthereof), Ergonomics, Finish, Materials...you name it.

This will be started very early 2014 once I have some feedback.
 
#5
option of a maple fretboard/all maple neck.

the option of passive pick ups as well. (I always feel like new basses only have active electronics).

I don't normally play 5's, but when I do I always feel like the necks are absurdly huge, so a more friendly neck size/string spacing would be cool
 
#7
The first thing I'd need to know is what price point you are shooting for and what player group. The things I like about the vintage style instruments are the tone, familiar size and shape, and the large aftermarket parts market. The huge tuning peg keys look goofy to me but a lot of people like that vintage touch. There is the narrow versus wide string spacing
consideration. On a 5er I'd want a 17.5mm (mine are 16.5). I would not buy a 19, and not sure if I'd buy an 18. However, there are lots of people who prefer the 19, so I don't know how to reconcile that unless you offer an adjustable bridge or a choice of bridges. Please put factory installed copper shielding in the pickup and control cavities, especially if any single coil pickups are going to come stock on the bass.
I would not even consider the single P pickup design. Please have separate battery and control cavities that do not require a screwdriver for either one. I would be an innovator and have solderless pickup and preamp connections. I like the EMG wiring harness concept (too proprietary and not universal enough) but even the DiMarzio style screw terminals would be an improvement over soldering (which I greatly dislike). That is not everything but it is a start.
 
#8
One feature that quite a number of companies seem to forget to put in (some basses have them but not all) is an Active/passive toggle switch. It would be a solution for those that want to be able to switch from a vintage to a more modern sound output. Also the bass would still be playable if your 9 volt battery all of a sudden cuts out.
Others:
A string-thru for sustain
Maple neck
34 scale
a non-gloss finish (matte or natural preferred - low maintenance, and keeps the bass looking good on stage -smudge free)
 
#9
I have to second the Active/Passive toggle switch, that is an option I much prefer over the push pull or stacked knob design. Keeps the whole thing looking clean, speaking of clean, I'd go with no pickguard or a clear option
 
#10
My gut response is that if you currently make acoustic guitars, why not first expand into acoustic basses?

I've been GASing for a 6-string acoustic bass ever since I first saw the Warwick Alien, but it has some design elements that really don't appeal to me. Not to mention the fact that they're all made in China.
 
#11
blueskyjaunte said:
My gut response is that if you currently make acoustic guitars, why not first expand into acoustic basses?

I've been GASing for a 6-string acoustic bass ever since I first saw the Warwick Alien, but it has some design elements that really don't appeal to me. Not to mention the fact that they're all made in China.
Click to expand...

+1

Need a good 6 string acoustic-own three-A warwick and two no names off Ebay that arent half bad-would love someone to produce a thinline A/E 6 string bass guitar that didnt suck.
 
#12
If you're doing a hollow body bass (I assume that'd keep in line with the whole acoustic guitars thing) is it possible you could taper the neck a little- I can't speak for anyone else but I'm uncomfortable with the lower neck on a midtown, electromatic etc,
 
#13
Yeah, Please don't build yet another fender copy. There are a dozen other guys already doing it and doing it better than fender. how about something new? a p bass pickup model is fine but how about triple j's or something like lefay? and please use some better construction then what they came up with in the 50's. build a better and unique bass, the copy club is old and tired.
 
#14
blueskyjaunte said:
My gut response is that if you currently make acoustic guitars, why not first expand into acoustic basses?

I've been GASing for a 6-string acoustic bass ever since I first saw the Warwick Alien, but it has some design elements that really don't appeal to me. Not to mention the fact that they're all made in China.
Click to expand...

We're looking to make something that's accessible to most at reasonable price point. In my experience, the quality you want for a very nice acoustic bass isn't conducive to affordability.

Although we specialize in acoustic instruments, Marty our master luthier was head of the Dean Custom Shop and lead the R/D on the spinoff DBZ Guitars.
 
#15
grendle said:
Yeah, Please don't build yet another fender copy. There are a dozen other guys already doing it and doing it better than fender. how about something new? a p bass pickup model is fine but how about triple j's or something like lefay? and please use some better construction then what they came up with in the 50's. build a better and unique bass, the copy club is old and tired.
Click to expand...

Agreed. The goal is to have nods to the vintage instrument while accommodating working players who need ease of use with flexible functionality.

I appreciate all of the information so far. Please keep it coming...
 
#18
dbenson32 said:
We're looking to make something that's accessible to most at reasonable price point. In my experience, the quality you want for a very nice acoustic bass isn't conducive to affordability.
Click to expand...

Fair enough. I'm a fan of reasonable prices points--for varying definitions of "reasonable". :D

I love my Godin A4 Ultra fretless, which qualifies as "semi-acoustic" or chambered. I'd go crazy over a fretted 6-string version.
 
#19
I really like the P-jazz setup, like the G&L sb2. The thing that I think is missing on the market, i.e. a "niche" is a reasonably priced bass (under $1,000) that plays well and is versatile. For me, going for function over form is key. I don't really care as much about what it looks like as how it sounds and plays, and how flexible it is. If you could design something that could sound like a p-jazz, then flip a coil tap or other type switch and it sounds like bartolini's or emg's, or even a sting ray or a ric, then I think you'd be onto something. Balance and lightness are factors, but balance is more important than weight. Long top "horn" usually helps.
 
#20
Also, it should come out of the box setup with fairly low action. I hate to pick up a bass in the store and it's hard to play. I automatically adjust what I'm willing to pay by $50 since I'm gonna have to get it setup. I realize that there are environmental factors that affect the setup, but there's no excuse for picking up a brand new bass and the neck is so far out that it buzzes like crazy or the action is so high at the 12th fret that it changes the pitch of the note.
 

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