Somnium basses? Anyone seen these modular guitars ?

[Maxdusty]

I was watching a few videos of the Somnium Guitar released recently - modular in that you can change the pickups , body and even the fretboard on the fly. On their website, they mention "guitar and basses", I'm guessing a bass version is possibly in the works?
I certainly hope so, I for one would LOVE to see a bass which can go from let's say a P/J to Jazz, MM or two humbucker pickup configuration. Also imagine being able to go from maple to rosewood fretboard, perhaps fretted to fretless - all on the fly.

 

[bholder]

perhaps fretted to fretless - all on the fly.

It's been attempted before, but rarely if ever successfully. Could be interesting.

 

[Joe Nerve]

I have a feeling it would cost as much for the interchangeable parts as it would to buy a whole new guitar. Seems like a cool idea, but only if it were an affordable one. For me, anyhow.

 

[JimmyThunder]

I wouldn't consider that "on the fly" since you'd need to remove your strings, or at least totally slack them, to make the pickup or fretboard swaps. That's a lot of between-song downtime for the audience or your band members to wait for you. Aluminum necks are also a pretty well-travelled path of "cool in theory but at best a niche novelty in application".

 

[Maxdusty]

I wouldn't consider that "on the fly" since you'd need to remove your strings, or at least totally slack them, to make the pickup or fretboard swaps. That's a lot of between-song downtime for the audience or your band members to wait for you. Aluminum necks are also a pretty well-travelled path of "cool in theory but at best a niche novelty in application".

With the guitar version at least, you don't remove your strings or even slack them. you really do change them on the fly. Same goes for the pickups, even if the guitar is still plugged in and the amp is still on. Don't know if that would work the same on a bass version. on the video it's at the 1:45 mark.

I agree with all of your comments that it sounds like a novelty and on paper, a cool idea, but really want to see it for myself. If it's half-way decent, who knows?

 

[IPA]

It does everything you want except

sound good

look good

be reasonably priced

 

[Maxdusty]

It does everything you want except

sound good

look good

be reasonably priced

Not to mention it would defeat the whole purpose and joy of GAS.

 

[mongo2]

Can the "Maple vs. Rosewood" fingerboard controversy be far behind?

 

[Zooberwerx]

Eli Whitney would be proud.

Riis

 

[mongo2]

Eli Whitney would be proud.

Excellent interchangeable parts reference.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Excellent interchangeable parts reference.

I was thinking more about the "cotton gin" as I would have to drink a bunch of the stuff before shelling out any coin for that monstrosity.

Riis

 

[mongo2]

I was thinking more about the "cotton gin" as I would have to drink a bunch of the stuff before shelling out any coin for that monstrosity.

Riis

The cotton gin had more to do with cotton than gin.

 

[DukeCC]

Eli Whitney would be proud.

Riis

Rube Goldberg would be prouder.

 

[Zooberwerx]

The cotton gin had more to do with cotton than gin.

That's fer sure...it's no Bombay Sapphire and the seeds get stuck between your teeth.

Riis

 

[2BitHack]

Didnt Warmoth or another parts builder have something like this with fingerboards attached with magnets back in the 90's?

 

[39-Bassist]

If anyone wants some more detailed info on these guitars...contact me I actually build them...

 

[mongo2]

If anyone wants some more detailed info on these guitars...contact me I actually build them...

Then you're in the perfect position to resolve the "Maple vs. Rosewood" fingerboard controversy once and for all. How 'bout it?

 

[Cowboy in Latvia]

If anyone wants some more detailed info on these guitars...contact me I actually build them...

Actually this sounds interesting. Message incoming in a couple days as I am on the road.

 

[39-Bassist]

Ok...here it comes... the difference isn't JUST the fretboard but combination of body & neck...


Oh and I prefer maple myself...most of the time...

 

[39-Bassist]

Actually this sounds interesting. Message incoming in a couple days as I am on the road.

No problem...have a great rest of the weekend and a safe trip on the road too.