Winter Build Off 2023 - Acoustic/Electric Short Scale 5 String

[mapleglo]

Some of you may remember me building an acoustic/electric bass several years back as a proof of concept build. I made a fiberglass bowl, using my Ovation acoustic guitar as the form. That will now come to fruition. I'll be using a shallow body Ovation body as the form this time. Most of the other parts are shown - maple neck, 1/8" plywood top, Lace pickup, Ovation style headstock, 30" scale. I've got the top clamped flat as I didn't want it to warp with the cold temps out in the shop.

The finished product may look like something like this:

I'll start working on this by making the bowl first, I think. Or maybe by cutting up the maple into a neck. Let the games begin!

Oh yeah, this will be a scratch build.

 

[Reedt2000]

Very cool

Will it have a sound hole?

 

[mapleglo]

Very cool

Will it have a sound hole?

I actually haven't decided yet. I may go with those Ovation style multiple holes in the upper bass side, a center sound hole with a plug holding the pickup, or none at all.

 

[Flamingo21]

A sound hole plug that holds the pickup is actually a very smart idea. I wish I'd thought of it.

 

[mapleglo]

Here's a more accurate entry pic:

Last night's pic, I neglected to include the walnut stringer, the truss rod, fret wire. and top support braces. You know, because I'm a nerd!

 

[mapleglo]

I started by covering the Ovation body mold with tape.

Then I covered the body with fiberglass and resin.

I only had enough for one coat of fiberglass. I'll probably order another sheet so I can do two sheets of fiberglass. This will likely take over a day to cure. It's cold out in the shop.

 

[Crawforde]

Are you going to leave the glass clear for a crazy cyberpunk look, or gel coat / paint it for some other awesomeness?

 

[Reedt2000]

I actually haven't decided yet. I may go with those Ovation style multiple holes in the upper bass side, a center sound hole with a plug holding the pickup, or none at all.

Why not both? Center plug with pickup, and offset holes, also with plugs so you can open up or close as you see fit?

 

[mapleglo]

Are you going to leave the glass clear for a crazy cyberpunk look, or gel coat / paint it for some other awesomeness?

I'll probably paint it black.

Why not both? Center plug with pickup, and offset holes, also with plugs so you can open up or close as you see fit?

I'm inclined to go with just a center hole with a plug/pickup. Having an open hole while using the bass as an electric may cause feedback.

 

[mapleglo]

Oh yes, and I'm still working on ideas for a bridge and tail piece. I'll likely go with some kind of an "L" bracket that attaches to the lower strap button and a couple of screws for a tailpiece, and some kind of bridge saddle assembly that sits on the body.

 

[mapleglo]

Since the fiberglass mat that I ordered yesterday will not be here until later today, I started working on the neck. First I cut up some pieces of maple and walnut.

Then I mixed up some epoxy and glued them, and clamped.

The epoxy/fiberglass body is stiller so slightly tacky, so again I'll leave this sit for at least 24 hours, probably 48 hours.

*edited to fix a typo

 

[mapleglo]

More fiberglass mat has arrived.

 

[Slidlow]

More fiberglass mat has arrived.

View attachment 4911843

 

[mapleglo]

Second layer of epoxy mat and resin applied.

I'll let that cure for at least 24 hours. It reached 70 degrees in the workshop, so it may actually cure in a day. Tomorrow morning, I can start working on the neck again. It should be totally cured by then.

I'll likely have to work more on the body shell once this layer is cured. I have to slightly widen the neck area, and fill in a few small areas where the epoxy mat pulled away from the mold during curing. At the same time, I can make and secure the wooden inside rim for the body - There's a name for that piece, but since I don't normally build acoustics, I can remember what it's called.

Looked it up, it's called kerfing.

 

[mapleglo]

Pulled the neck blank out of the clamps and cleaned it up.

Then I rough cut it on the band saw.

Next step will be to rout it flat and cut the width. That may wait until tomorrow or Tuesday.

 

[mapleglo]

I noticed that I actually missed a few spots on the second mat of fiberglass with the epoxy, so I mixed up a small batch and applied it.

It's actually over 70 degrees today, so it's nicely warm in the shop. This coat of resin may actually cure by tomorrow morning. We'll see.

In other news, we went to the Invalid Link Removed today here in Phoenix. It's one of the few places that's open today. We were even able to visit the restaurant there. Here's my favorite instrument:

 

[Will_White]

In other news, we went to the Invalid Link Removed today here in Phoenix. It's one of the few places that's open today. We were even able to visit the restaurant there. Here's my favorite instrument:

View attachment 4913692

All of that instrument and it doesn't even get as low as a 5 string bass no wonder guitar sized acoustics can't keep up.

 

[MPU]

I noticed that I actually missed a few spots on the second mat of fiberglass with the epoxy, so I mixed up a small batch and applied it.

It looks like there's still some dry spots and air in the laminate. Some glass fiber mats are for polyester resin only and they don't wet and melt with epoxy resin. Hopefully your cloth is not one of those.

 

[mapleglo]

All of that instrument and it doesn't even get as low as a 5 string bass no wonder guitar sized acoustics can't keep up.

It's actually tuned an octave below a standard bass guitar.

 

[mapleglo]

It looks like there's still some dry spots and air in the laminate. Some glass fiber mats are for polyester resin only and they don't wet and melt with epoxy resin. Hopefully your cloth is not one of those.