Double Bass Rebuilding a 1/2 size as EUB

[Beowulf K]

Well, I'm in trouble now...I bought a wrecked old 1/2 size from a rental repair shop. Some kid had got some serious attitude on and kicked in the front of his bass! I'd say that kid needs a kickin' himself...but that's for someone else to worry about. Right now I'm looking at a 1/2 size with no real top, but everything else is functional. What I'm thinking about doing is putting on a maple or walnut top (probably flat, maybe with two layers for a little contour) and bracing it from behind with a 2X4 or something, adding some pickups (I have a Pierre Josephs and a K&K) and essentially creating a big EUB. That way I'd have something with a bit of a resonating cavity, and much more of an "upright feel" but far less tendency toward feedback than my old German bass, which I'd far rather use for acoustic situations...this one would be for those loud R&B, Blues and Rockabilly gigs where I want to play upright but I don't want howling feedback! Any comments, insights, ideas are welcome, thanks!

 

[Farin]

Sounds kinda crazy to me, but then again I've had my share of crazy ideas. Go for it, send pictures when your done!

 

[Beowulf K]

I know...my luthier friends think I'm crazy too! But I'll press on, and I'll try to document what I'm doing and post it up as it progresses. I'm kinda surprised no ones ever done this though...but maybe I AM crazy...