Talk Bass inspired 5 String Build Semi Accoustic

[Snort]

So this build started off with an experiment. my work buddy gave me some surplus (I think its Birch) hardwood flooring, this had been removed from a house and was supposed to be 60 + years old. I laminated it all together, and next thing I know I have the makings of a neck. The blank was 4 ft long, 5 inches wide and made up of 5 laminations. I carried out a practice scarf joint and it went well, now I have a neck blank that is perfect for my next 5 string build.

So I went to a local supplier of speciality hardwood, and bought Paduak, a 5 foot plank by 9 inches by 1 inch, enough for front and back body laminations. I also bought a wonderfully coloured and figured Cocobolo piece that I have split and planed enough to get two fret boards out of. (Total cost Cad $80)

I have a couple of pieces of the home grown/cut/seasoned/milled spalted maple left that I intend to plane down to 1/2 inch thickness to act as the center core. The core will have a 1/4 maple cover front and back and then a Paduak 1/4 layer to the back and face. The core will be very much chambered, to retain strength whilst shedding weight. I will get around to getting some photos together soon.

Where the body core will be so chambered I am considering cutting a sound hole in between the pickups to hopefully get some acoustic properties out of this guitar, is this a pointless crazy task ? The white maple lamination will only be around the edges so will be cavitied the same as the core blank. so the sound board will be 1/4 Paduak, will this be too thick?

So the intended result will be a hopefully semi acoustic, 5 string tuned eadgc it will be 33" scale and have 22 frets. The neck will be Paduak/ Birch (laminated ) and Cocobolo Fret board all fittings are gold aside from the no name pups which will get some form of cover.

 

[nukes_da_bass]

Sounds delicious!

 

[HaMMerHeD]

You won't get much acoustic volume out of it, but it sounds cool.

 

[Hopkins]

I would cut a couple of F holes in the wings instead of a sound hole in the center. Either way you wont get much acoustic volume out of it, but it will probably be loud enough to work out songs without disturbing anyone.

 

[Snort]

I have considered F holes, and even Bass Cleff Holes, however since my first plans with this bass I have added a few more innovations. My first ever bass was a Gibson Grabber Copy. I loved the idea of the sliding PuP but always thought it could be improved. So this bass will have 2 PuPs sliding on Brass Rods. I am kind of making it up as I go along and its a little tricky getting large voids and keeping the structural strength. So here is a drawing showing the spalted maple core. I am still in the process of working out how I will insert the brass rods for the Pups to ride on.

As I said this bass is Talk Bass Inspired all of the layers are cut individually and then bolted together hopefully this will help keep everythin aligned before I start gluing the layers together.

 

[Snort]

Unfortunately I always get carried away and make loads of progress before taking photos. So my apologies but these photos show progress with about 3 weeks work.
The Neck is 60 year old hardwood flooring (Birch I think) I have laminated 5 pieces together. The machine head and fret board will be Coco Bolo. The body will be 5 laminations, Front 1/4" Paduak, Then 1/4" white maple, the core is 1/2" spalted maple (home grown) then another 1/4" white maple and the back 1/4" Paduak.
All laid out on the workshop floor,

 

[Snort]

I applied a little spirit to the Coco Bolo and the Paduak just to try to give some idea of the colours.


.

 

[Snort]

And here are a couple of shots of the body bolted together.


I still have to cut out the 2nd layers pickup cavity, but eventually the whole of the Pickup cavity will be joined with the other cavities. so most likely no need for F holes

 

[Snort]

what would I have to do to increase the acoustic volume? thin the top? or maybe add an acoustic pickup?

 

[wraub]

Most likely add an acoustic PU. Don't really think thinning the top would add a lot.

Considering a similar build atm, but on a lower budget. Seems as if an acoustic PU can be a real problem solver in this situation.

 

[flameworker]

sweet

 

[chuck norriss]

And here are a couple of shots of the body bolted together.

View attachment 459917 View attachment 459918 View attachment 459919
I still have to cut out the 2nd layers pickup cavity, but eventually the whole of the Pickup cavity will be joined with the other cavities. so most likely no need for F holes

i imm. thought of

 

[Snort]

that's an interesting shape, however, mine looks a little like that at the moment because of the extra bolt attachment points, they will all be removed once the layers are glued. to reveal a curvaceous little minx hidden behind all of the lumpy bits. That's the theory anyway. At this stage I am planning to do a 1/2" roundoff all around the edges front and back, and the PuP cavity will get a 1/4" roundoff.

I love the Bass Clef fret markers, do you think they were commercial or homemade? They would look great against the coco bolo

 

[chuck norriss]

I have no idea how they were made have you seen the guy on ebay i thinkfrom vietnam who does elaborate abalone inlays of birds & stuff
it would be cleaner with a plain fignerboard but im not warwick

 

[Snort]

So Its been a few weeks, vacation and other things have got in the way. however, today I made some more progress.

So these blocks of maple will be the Pickup carriages, They will slide on the Brass Rails, and the pickups will be screwed to them.

I filed an indent in each block to route the pickup wiring, this will transition through the side of the cavity into the control cavity.

I think I will need to stain them to match the Paduak.

 

[Snort]

I had to route the maple core to take the rails, no room for error here If I didn't get the rails parallel and square to the cavity the pickups wouldn't travel correctly



The carriages ride just above the Paduak Back



The maple core route was successful the pickups slide smoothly on their rails, I still need to clean up the cavity ends so that the Pickups mate flush with the top

 

[Snort]

Finally with the top added I am starting to see where this build is heading.



I am eager to start the gluing process and putting these layers together, but I am conscious of the fact that when I do so the cavities will be much more difficult to sand and finish.

Do you think I need to stain the cavities? or just apply a coat of sealer?

 

[Jensby design]

Dig the headstock, love the pick-up rail system, and good looking wood combination. Congrats!
I demand a video demo when your done

 

[Snort]

Thanks for the positive feedback, I am begining to get really excited about this build now, there is still a lot of sawdust between here and the finish line though. LOL you want a video of me playing Bass? I havnt played bass seriously for 25 years so I may be a little rusty. The two basses I am currently building are taking me back to my roots. Just got the urge to play bass again.
I may start the glue up this weekend.

 

[chuck norriss]

If it shows id stain cavities if it don't show forget about it