• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

the Bat Bass

#44
"what bass is best for metal?" sounds a bit like "Conan, what is best in life?" ...
(his answer "To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women. ...")

best bass for metal, probably an Ibanez soundgear! I haven't really been trying new basses, I like to use my custom fretless V for metal sometimes. depends on the song. a Fender Jazz would be fine.

carrots? what's the origin of that meme?

I think I'm gonna use the tuners I have for now, trying to keep the cost of this under $200 in materials.
 
#47
Started the final phase, sanded it, and after more experimenting dyed the neck and body. the neck, I will have to sand some more, the original finish really went deep into the maple and the dye did not penetrate evenly as a result, I suspected that might be the case, but was lazy enough to take a chance. The mahogany back (not shown here) really looks like purple heart now! I think that's pretty cool. The pictures I took didn't do it justice hence them not being here, but here's one of the front, the colour is pretty close in this. Tomorrow I might go over it again to deepen the colour, possibly with a bluer mix of dye, we'll see.

tumblr_lic862020I1qdohulo1_500.jpg


Tons more pics (78 so far) and painfully honest details about the building of this bizarre bass here: the Bat Bass MobiusBandwidth.com
 
#48
did more sanding and staining today, exciting! :D
ok, tedious. @_@ but it's part of the jorb. Sorry for the boring entry here, but if you plan on building a bass, be prepared to do a lot of hand sanding, which is not super exciting.

Bought some stuff, figured out some more stuff, made some decisions, etc etc, blah blah blah, a couple of new photos on my site, the Bat Bass MobiusBandwidth.com for the curious.
 
#49
Just realised my last 2 updates were both at midnight! Somewhat apt considering this instrument. I had a dream that the bass was done, and had a remote control for VTOL. that's right, vertical take off and landing, like one of those remote control helicopter models. No plans to actually integrate such a device into the design of the bass however. I won't rule out making a bass that looks like an evil clown at some point (my previous dream about bass building.) Someone asked me if I could build him an upright bass, I said probably not since I don't really do proper acoustic luthiery, but he wants it coffin shaped, with no wood curving, the neck would be the only real challenge, I'll talk to him about it again.
 
#50
Bought some capacitors today, .047 microfarad, close enough, and a bone saddle that looks maybe tall enough for the nut. Nervous about trying to shape it, but there's plenty of it, if it cracks or something. Not sure what I'm going to use to finish the wood. Tempted to use a spray product, paranoid about drips and runs. Also lazy. What should I use?
Also nearly died on the highway today, glad I didn't. Slush = bad.

Posted a pic of the bass on my DeviantArt.com account the other night, got some nice comments, one ridiculously nice, could turn into a commission bass. Someone wants a 4 string fretted non slide bass version, matte black. maybe I could do the red trim on the headstock for that, he draws comics. Of course I'd have to figure out how long it took to make to estimate what I should charge to make one. Next one would go faster obviously since I just made one, and that finish could be sprayed on easily.

seriously open to suggestions for an easy to use hardy finish.
 
#54
Well ill be sure to add some pics to this thread once it is done, i was thinking of doing an uneaven wood stain for an "old beaten wood" look, or perhaps a metalic copper finish! I am using a pickgaurd made of different sizes bycicle gears, and using a car stereo light system and possibly a color organ to integrate into the design!!!
 
#56
Max Pratt said:
Well ill be sure to add some pics to this thread once it is done, i was thinking of doing an uneaven wood stain for an "old beaten wood" look, or perhaps a metalic copper finish! I am using a pickgaurd made of different sizes bycicle gears, and using a car stereo light system and possibly a color organ to integrate into the design!!!
Click to expand...

you're welcome to do that, but that bass sounds like it will deserve its own thread. in any case I look forward to seeing what you do with it, I've seen a steampunk guitar, I like steampunk, but I don't like when I recognise things from the plumbing aisle at home depot in someone's costume or ray gun. d:
 
#58
Heres some preliminary designs the last one is another steampunk bass i was working on, but when i realized it would buckle from string tension i stopped that build, it now hangs on my wall as art!
 

Attachments

  • image-3891951240.jpg
    image-3891951240.jpg
    40.6 KB · Views: 183
  • image-914697556.jpg
    image-914697556.jpg
    39.1 KB · Views: 184
  • image-3396414618.jpg
    image-3396414618.jpg
    44.8 KB · Views: 185
#59
James Mobius said:
Bought some capacitors today, .047 microfarad, close enough, and a bone saddle that looks maybe tall enough for the nut. Nervous about trying to shape it, but there's plenty of it, if it cracks or something. Not sure what I'm going to use to finish the wood. Tempted to use a spray product, paranoid about drips and runs. Also lazy. What should I use?
Also nearly died on the highway today, glad I didn't. Slush = bad.

Posted a pic of the bass on my DeviantArt.com account the other night, got some nice comments, one ridiculously nice, could turn into a commission bass. Someone wants a 4 string fretted non slide bass version, matte black. maybe I could do the red trim on the headstock for that, he draws comics. Of course I'd have to figure out how long it took to make to estimate what I should charge to make one. Next one would go faster obviously since I just made one, and that finish could be sprayed on easily.

seriously open to suggestions for an easy to use hardy finish.
Click to expand...

By the way i heard about a finish used for wooden bowls and cutting boards where they submerged it in a bath of mineral or vegetable oil, then let it dry for a day! It looked AMAZING and really highlighted the grain a whole lot!!!

Does anyone know if this is fesable for a bass, if not, i am totally trying it anyways ;D
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back