Semi-Acoustic Bass Concept

[callmeMrThumbs]

Hey all!

It's been a long time since I've been to TB. I've been so busy, I've barely had time to play bass, itself.

Anyway, while I was on a plane trip, i came up with a couple more bass designs. Here's an acoustic bass guitar concept (This is derived from it's upright older brother). I tried several F-holes, but couldn't come up with a good design. It'd be great if I could have some input. Thanks a bunch!

-Josh

P.S. Sorry, I'm extremely cheap...I use Powerpoint instead of CAD :\

 

[Geoff St. Germaine]

The Omega cuts look too aggressive to me. Overall the shape is nice, though I think that perhaps the lower treble bout (near the controls) could be made wider with the bass bout being made narrower. To me it looks a little too asymmetric the way it is.

 

[callmeMrThumbs]

Thanks, Geoff. I agree...the body shape needs some tweaking. Here's the upright that I came up with before I adapted it into a bass guitar. (Sorry about the large size)

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Keep in mind that this would be a semi-acoustic upright and is not full sized (hence the end-pin should be much longer...ignore that).

-Josh

 

[spudmaster34]

I don't know why, but to me the upright just looks beter

 

[klocwerk]

agreed, the upright looks wicked, but there's just a little too much going on for the smaller electric body.
I'd say the cuts are a little too extreme, lemme take a photoshop whack at it...

 

[Lex Luthier]

What did you draw the picture on the left with?

I like the design, not sure my ribs would tho!! ;0)

 

[klocwerk]

Here's a different take on it (and a quick and dirty F-hole thought)

Smoothed out the lines, redid the lower horn, It's definitely different but I like it.
Just a thought for ya.

 

[spudmaster34]

klockwer, I like that design, the "f"-holes just don't really do it for me. I mean, they look good, but not quite as good as they could.

 

[klocwerk]

klockwer, I like that design, the "f"-holes just don't really do it for me. I mean, they look good, but not quite as good as they could.

I just hacked 'em in quickly as an afterthought, it's not exactly a polished template.
and thanks!

 

[callmeMrThumbs]

Hey, thanks for the ideas, everybody. Klocwerk, that's an interesting approach. I like the idea of softening the omegi's points, as they were on the upright. It makes the shape seem more continuous. I had a few different ideas for f-holes (one looking amazingly similar to that one), although I didn't really like any of them. I don't have any time to work on the design right now, but I'll update it sometime soon. Thanks again!

-Josh

P.S. I simply used Powerpoint...just traced the lines with a curve, and such. Works nicely...I'll have to start adding wood choices.

 

[callmeMrThumbs]

Hehe...I found time...here's an update. I slimmed everything up a bit, and smoothed out the contours. The f-hole is just a filler idea for something better to come.

-Josh

 

[Geoff St. Germaine]

That upright looks awesome. I ithink that it would be killer as some kind of chambered EUB.

 

[callmeMrThumbs]

Okay...here's a crappy Microsoft Powerpoint rendition of the finished product (hopefully the finished product will (would) look better).

I'm going to forget about the F-hole, at least for now. I think it may distract from the overall design, and would make the construction even more complicated thant it already is. Please post comments! Thank you!

-Josh

 

[superbassman2000]

i know that it probably works out, but to me, that front strap button just doesn't look like its going to hold anything in place if you are holding it like a bass guitar...like i said, i am sure that it'd work just fine, it just looks like that spot might be a problem

 

[spudmaster34]

yeah, you will need strap locks

 

[klocwerk]

i know that it probably works out, but to me, that front strap button just doesn't look like its going to hold anything in place if you are holding it like a bass guitar...like i said, i am sure that it'd work just fine, it just looks like that spot might be a problem

Personally I'd slide it around to the back of the bass and inset a straplock flush. Cleaner look, right-angle for good holding power.

Love the design Mr. Thumbs, can't wait to see the finished bass

 

[Nomad98]

Here is my visual thought on the last design...


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?? tried to balance out the body indents... and a few other little tweeks.

Nomad98

 

[klocwerk]

beauty, I like that revamped lower horn a lot better.

What are your thoughts on the strap buttons?

 

[Nomad98]

Move the top strap button to the back. I think?

 

[callmeMrThumbs]

Wow, that's a neat interpretation. It's actually a really cool...I think the treble side just needs some adjusting. Here's a look at a chambered version. Except, with no experience with chambering (or bass building...hehe), can anyone help as to how you go about designing/creating chambers? I gave it a go, but I don't know if it is correct. Thanks a lot for all the input!

-Josh

P.S. I fixed the strap button (although I might end up puting in straplocks, anyway). The second drawing shows the body construction as a set neck-through.