Winter 2017 Build-Off: Basso-Cello

[Beej]

You just know that JIO's gonna make a bass with lacquered frosting now...

 

[JIO]

Give me a clue as to what that would look like exactly Beej...

 

[SLivinghouse]

I'm kind of glad you brought that up. When I wrote the post I was thinking "Hey, maybe Jio should cut Will a little slack" while being a bit facetious about the materials in Jio's builds. I think Jio may have taken my attempt at humor as a slight, which it was not intended. Like you Beej, I have made many admiring comments of Jio's work. It was actually kind of a complement given that I admire his willingness to use unusual materials to make really creative basses, but maybe didn't come off that way. It's a bit belated, but sorry about that if I irked you sir!

 

[mapleglo]

Give me a clue as to what that would look like exactly Beej...

I imagine it would look something like this:

 

[JIO]

I'm kind of glad you brought that up. When I wrote the post I was thinking "Hey, maybe Jio should cut Will a little slack" while being a bit facetious about the materials in Jio's builds. I think Jio may have taken my attempt at humor as a slight, which it was not intended. Like you Beej, I have made many admiring comments of Jio's work. It was actually kind of a complement given that I admire his willingness to use unusual materials to make really creative basses, but maybe didn't come off that way. It's a bit belated, but sorry about that if I irked you sir!

Thanks for this - I didn't take measurable offense and realized nothing intentionally was negatively inferred. Thank you (both) for your concern and continued support. There's many shades an on-line comment can be 'read'/interpreted and unlike 'reading' someones (same comment) 'in person' version (like over a friendly beer or two), it's like writing about music compared to experiencing it live. Much subtlety and nuance is lost - and emojis go only so far to filling in the blanks.

To address my comment that started it, I only meant it to invite further development - an offer of an alternative solution. Sorry if it was interpreted as being anything but a positive nudge. I like when I'm offered alternative solutions to design issues whether I incorporate them or not - as sometimes they do inspire further development for which I am always thankful.

So that's one thing - then (specifically for me) there's being an artist and all the arrows one has to deflect over ones life. Again, not saying that your off-handed compliment was intended for the heart, but even having developed very thick skin over a lifetime of being an artist - I still flinch when a pointed comment is heading toward me. You'll have to trust me on this - some people hate creative people (seems unthinkable right?) and I've experienced it here on tb. I won't go in the the reasons why (and I know why) - I'm already taking up to much space here on Will's fine thread. (sorry Will) So once again - no ill feelings and carry on tb comrades - we all have creative work to do!

 

[JIO]

I imagine it would look something like this:

View attachment 1073863

 

[Will_White]

Heres a quick Demo of it, using a Darkglass VMT as a buffer into the Scarlett Solo. I'll try to get a better recording with once I get all the kinks worked out of my system and get a good buffer for it, might even do a video to try and show the glitter a little bit better.


Now as for how to do a lacquered frosting finish, real frosting would probably be to soft and might start to smell after a while so that won't work. With that out you could try to replicate the look of a frosted cake, the first thing that comes to mind is like a stucco finish but that would be really heavy and probably prone to breakage and chipping. Maybe you could do something like Impasto style painting with a pallet knife and thickened acrylic paints then apply a water-based top coat over that. Finish off with a dusting of gold or silver and it could look cool.

 

[cdlynch]

Sounds fantastic even without frosting! If you get bored, some of that green binding will compliment your sparkle finish nicely. Offset racing stripe maybe? It's a sleek machine either way.

EDIT: I'm underslept. I confused threads and thought the cake thread was the same as the awesome multi-colored binding thread.

 

[mapleglo]

I agree with cdlynch, it sounds great!

 

[JIO]

I like cake frosting... on a cake. Your project is a success no matter what it looks like sounding like that! Well done Will

 

[Will_White]

This is my submission for the Winter 2017 Build-Off

List of Challenges/ New Things:
- Angled set-neck
- Bamboo fingerboard
- Extra long-scale
- Piezo only bass
- Designed for Arco
- Fifths tuning
- Under 200$
- Glitter grain-fill
- First time designing a headstock
- Collapsing end-pin

Kind of Crummy Sound-Clip:


Full Thread Here: Winter 2017 Build-Off: Basso-Cello

Build Specs:

- 3 Strings (DAE)
- Oak neck and body
- Bamboo fingerboard
- 2.7" Radius
- 36" Scale
- Oak bridge
- Aluminum tailpiece
- 2 27mm Under-bridge piezo discs
- Hand rubbed tung oil on neck, tung oil over Iron-Acetate stain with glitter grain fill on body
- Chrome flats

Pretty Pictures:

Thanks

 

[I-Am-The-Slime]

Cool!

 

[moonshinegtrs]

Cool Upright, It sounds great!

The bamboo fingerboard was ingenious.


Moonshine

 

[Will_White]

I've been messing with this bass a little bit over the past couple weeks and it sounds pretty good. I haven't gotten a buffer for it yet so I haven't tried it "in the mix" yet, nor have I taken the plunge into arco yet, but I've found a couple things that need refinement. Most notably is it that while the shape is minimalist and I like it, it's very "round" so it has a tendency to rotate while playing. To counter that I think I'm going to make a minimal body frame to keep with the minimal theme. I'll work up a design some time next week.

 

[Will_White]

Worked up a design for the frame,

I'll be making it out of 1.25 x .125 steel flat bar so it will probably end up being fairly heavy but that doesn't matter as much since it's an upright. I'm debating between a plain painted finish and a color tempered finish like these hammerheads

 

[Jon Clegg]

Tempered finish.

You could probably go to 1/16" to save some weight.

 

[cdlynch]

Agree with tempered, I love that look, and it should go very well with the sparkle finish!

 

[Will_White]

Tempered finish.

You could probably go to 1/16" to save some weight.

I considered that too, but I think with 1/16" it would just be too thin and deform too easily, especially on the corners.

 

[Beej]

Steel will be lovely, but aluminum is much easier to work with tools...

 

[Will_White]

Steel will be lovely, but aluminum is much easier to work with tools...

Yes it is. Nothing is set in stone yet so I'm still mulling over material choice and they both have their pros and cons. On one hand steel is a bit of a PITA to work with and is relatively heavy, but it's cheap, I can weld it at home, and I think the temper finish works really well with the overall aesthetic kind of a dwarven jewels in the abyss vibe with the glitter grain fill. On the other hand Aluminum is easy to work with, and light weight, but I would have to rivet it which doesn't look the greatest IMO, and it's quite a bit more expensive.