Which design to go with?

[John D@508]

Number 1....cool!

 

[frianbisher]

concept 2 has a lot of potential to be a very pretty instrument--the rendered version seems like the headstock could thin up just a hair, but otherwise the only thing I'd like to see is your ideas on really carving the body so the topography of the top really pops as a feature (maybe the 'cutaway' line extends toward the pickups a bit as a ridge like a Roscoe LG--that kind of carving)

keep us posted, I'd like to see your process!

Thanks I like those ideas. Right now I think i'm leaning towards design 2 because like you said it could really pop with some nice carving. Next chance I get I'll try to lay out some contours for that. I'm also counting on some good advice from the instructors at the school so right now I'm feeling pretty good about my design.

 

[frianbisher]

Wow...Hightech!
I still use pen and paper and things take months on end until they're right!

My last bass design was laid out on the floor for almost a year before it was built .
Now i am at the same place again.
The head shape is decided though.

here I like shape #2...but with the parker -like head of#3.
But...is it going to balance well with the tiny lower cut?
I'd move that lower arch8 which will sit on the knee a tad further towards the head, just to avoid it diving.
Exciting process, no?

I spent a lot of time trying to use pencil and paper and I just am not that good at drawing by hand...even with graph paper. Luckily when I was in highschool I learned both AutoCad and Photoshop. I was going to throw in the towel and jsut copy a jazz bass but Autocad saved the day.

As far as balance goes, it's hard to say how well it would balance. I was thinking that if I made the body out of a heavier wood it might balance fine but in this area my inexperience might show.

 

[frianbisher]

I did a little bit more work on design 2. The lines on the outer edge of the body are supposed to represent a contour/bevel. Also tried to thin the headstock. I don't really know what else I can do except maybe inlays, but I might not add inlays at all, maybe just on the top of the neck although I do love me some green abalone.

 

[johnk_10]

I use autocad 2010 (which is awesome btw). I lay out the basic measurements and then its a lot of trial and error to get the curves right.

Then if I want to add the wood, knobs, bridge etc, I import the autocad file into photoshop and basically follow the rendering tutorial I found in the luthiers corner.

my how things have changed. when i designed the bc rich mockingbird in december of '75, i drew it out with a pen on a napkin.

 

[GHI]

#1 ! Cool funky design you got there.

Me, I really like that tele/jag shape the lower horn got.

I also like that edgy look of the headstock, and while I like the idea of the upper horn, I personally think it curls in abit to much at end there, if you know what I mean. I would love to see it either have a shape that is more similar and sorta paralell to the headstock, or seeing the lines of the horn flowing more into the lines of the headstock.

EDIT: I were commenting on the first draft of design #1. On a second look, I think maybe the upper hip could benefit of some trimming. I'm not sure; it could be it is what bringing some of that funk, but the hipcuts seems a little bit out of balance. I think the whole bottom half of the body along with the shape of the rear end hits the spot tho. And I prefer the first headstock design. Nice work!

 

[frianbisher]

Design 1 again. I changed the upper horn a little bit like GHI said but other than that everything else is the same.

 

[DerHoggz]

my how things have changed. when i designed the bc rich mockingbird in december of '75, i drew it out with a pen on a napkin.

The original design?

I like #2.
Also, I think it would help if you cleaned up the edges a bit.

 

[johnk_10]

The original design?

yes.

 

[frianbisher]

my how things have changed. when i designed the bc rich mockingbird in december of '75, i drew it out with a pen on a napkin.

Things have come a long way technology wise, but pencil and paper would be my first choice if I were any good at it and I gotta admit I'm a little jealous of people who can draw well freehand. When I was in school all the drafting classes were taught on the computer so I never got a chance to learn the old fashioned way.

It's hard for me to imagine how much work drafters had to do to make complete plans for airplanes, ships, etc before computers were around.

 

[DerHoggz]

yes.

I just read your bio, whoah.

I can draft by hand, but of course prefer CAD.

 

[xjeremiahx]

i like #1's body, and the headstock of #2. That's how I voted.

 

[tnickk]

No. 2

 

[cnltb]

I spent a lot of time trying to use pencil and paper and I just am not that good at drawing by

My problem exactly .
Hence the question.
I am however currently playing my 3rd pen on paper designed bass.
Each one was better than the previous one in terms of balance.
Fun that!

 

[Matt-77]

#2 looks a lot like the Warwick Dolphin, I like #1 and #3 takes me down the Traben road. All pretty cool good luck.

 

[MUSHROOMSeAcOw]

Your latest design for #2 is awesome. I'd snap that up in a second.