Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
Winter Build Off 2020 - Get Ready
- Thread starter Scoops
- Start date
Here’s hopefully final plan. Pickups are positioned like on set neck Infinity. Neck pocket template is not done yet, otherwise I’m waiting for the start.
Last edited:
So I may end up having time to finish. Just finished making a router table. Will certainly speed up body making.
I also now have quite the supply of usable maple. I acquired some 400sqft of maple flooring in great shape. Here's the first piece I semi dimensioned and another piece. Trying to figure out how to optimize making bodies from it. it's 2"x3/4" roughly after cleaning up. Downside, I'm not sure how to remove the staples...
Oh and $18 for the router plate and about an hour of time to build it. Can't beat that.
I also now have quite the supply of usable maple. I acquired some 400sqft of maple flooring in great shape. Here's the first piece I semi dimensioned and another piece. Trying to figure out how to optimize making bodies from it. it's 2"x3/4" roughly after cleaning up. Downside, I'm not sure how to remove the staples...
Oh and $18 for the router plate and about an hour of time to build it. Can't beat that.
So I'm not optimistic about finishing it in time...but I'm going to build it either way. Got an interesting design.
I'm going to make a sub short scale bass vi. 25.5" to be exact. I know that tension may be an issue, but figured it would be an interesting experiment. Worst case, I'll just convert it to a piccolo bass vi
using a different nut of course.
Tremolo and all, maybe even active electronics. Already have a roller TOM bridge and some pickups. Oh and the wood, pine and cedar, just gotta figure the neck out.
I'm going to make a sub short scale bass vi. 25.5" to be exact. I know that tension may be an issue, but figured it would be an interesting experiment. Worst case, I'll just convert it to a piccolo bass vi
using a different nut of course. Tremolo and all, maybe even active electronics. Already have a roller TOM bridge and some pickups. Oh and the wood, pine and cedar, just gotta figure the neck out.
Tension will be fine with the right gauge of strings. I built a sub short scale a few years ago with a 0.125" low E string. My thinking was that a low B string at the fifth fret was a low E and also at 25.5" scale. You may need to start with a string set designed for BEAD at 34" scale and then add a couple of guitar strings.
That's been my thinking. I ordered two sets, one of the EB bass vi with 24-90 which would approximately match the total tension of a 11-48 guitar set and a heavy gauge bass set and I'll add some of the low guitar strings I have ~48 & 35 for the B and E. I'll see which tension I prefer.
I've also thought about tuning it to an open F or even G, though that could be considered baritone and may not qualify. It'll all depend on what feels okay. I'm not against stringing it with flats either to keep gauges down but tension up.
For people that wish to venture into this area, we came up with this rule
"Minimum diameter for lowest pitch string is .084"
If you go 24-90,you'll be fine
For people that wish to venture into this area, we came up with this rule
"Minimum diameter for lowest pitch string is .084"
If you go 24-90,you'll be fine
Great to hear thanks!
So we have a week before we get going
Seems like it's taking forever for the 21st to get here
What are you guys doing to pass the time?
Seems like it's taking forever for the 21st to get here
What are you guys doing to pass the time?
I have a Telecaster to build but I'm waiting for stuff to be delivered for it, which sucks at this time of the year.
I got this far on a tele for my nephew who is graduating from dental school.
I'll put it on the back burner until the build off bass is ready for finishing
I'll put it on the back burner until the build off bass is ready for finishing
Nice bookmatch on that top!
Looks like it's setup for humbuckers but if it were me I'd stick in a pair of filter-trons
EDIT: just noticed the matching headstock, very cool!
Thanks!Nice bookmatch on that top!
Looks like it's setup for humbuckers but if it were me I'd stick in a pair of filter-trons
EDIT: just noticed the matching headstock, very cool!
Curly flamed redwood top
Set up for a set of Bare Knuckle Holly Divers
Okay I'm in. Starting on the plans. I have most of the wood picked out, I just need to sort through this pile of scraps for enough nice pieces to laminate the neck.
i always see pics like this, but I rarely see pics of the body wood. While I understand the whole "use several small pieces to laminate together for a neck" theory, what are some of you guys doing for body chunks? I suspect in a bolt-on application you need a fairly sizable piece, right? Are there some minimum dimensions you look for in this case? Or do you just go with something that you can bookmatch because less width is cheaper?
Curious... are we allowed to build molds, templates and jigs before the start of the the build-off? That is the point of the long notice - right?
I usually try to get about an inch wider and longer then the body dimensions and at depth. Alternatively an inch more then half body width works well, I don't have a bandsaw big enough to bookmatch body wood so I just match up the grain as best I can.
Yes, as long as you're not doing anything with the actual bass stuff you can make any tools you need.
When the build-off starts each build begins with the wood pile so you'll get to see what each builder starts with. You can check out the previous build-offs ans see starting pile to finished bass.
