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Winter Build Off 2024 - Best Bass For Sound Experiments

13ghosts

13ghosts

Dec 7, 2023
470
1,444
Germany
#1
Hello everyone,

this will be a Scratch Build including some of the pickups.

It will include:
  • Multiple separately movable multi-coil pickups and options for more conventional pickups
  • A new D-extension (new compared to my first build)
  • Probably fanned frets (I've never built a neck before, so this will get interesting).
  • Maybe I'll also try a binding
Since I plan to design and order some parts for external manufacturing for the pickups and the general complexity of the build, I'm not sure if everything will be there and working in time. So I most likely won't be able to meet the deadline, but it's still good to have one. So maybe the title should be "Best Bass For Summer Build Off 2024"...

So far, I don't really have an idea of the rest of the hardware like the bridge, the tuners and the electronics.

The small pickups on the photo are cycfi Nu pickups, the others were my first attempt in building (multi-coil) pickups with 41 AWG. I'm planning an updated design for this build with 42 and 43 AWG.

I'm looking forward to all the other designs and ideas and the discussions!

Cheers and peace,
13 ghosts

IMG_20231222_095145_360.jpg

IMG_20231222_095202_792.jpg
 
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#2
What was planned but will (most likely) not be inluded in this build...

Unfortunately you can't upload videos directly here and I don't have a suitable account...
At bassic.de you can find a thread with 2 videos about an idea I had with the cycfi pickups:
  • controlled position of the individual pickups via fast linear actuators (motorized faders)
  • digitally controlled but analog periodic effect
  • changing the sound characteristics during a song via MIDI
The only positive result is that it is or would be technically feasible.

However, there is too much interference from the motor and the motor controller in the pickup. I could have guessed that. But hope springs eternal (which is essential and wonderful). The drive would have to be designed differently and the distance to the pickups would have to be greater. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know :)

As you can also hear in the WAV file, there also seems to be some interaction between the components in the pickup (coil, magnets, metal ring) during the fastest movement.

The videos show a test drive with a pickup and a first implementation of the MIDI control. A separate WAV file gives you an idea of the interferences.
 
Last edited:
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#12
Could you do a pulley system instead of motorized faders? Something where you can set the motors away from the electronics instead of needing to ride right on top of them?

Could you automate a mute or noise gate for the pickups when they're moving, so hitting the button first mutes the signal and then moves the pickups and then unmutes?

Doesn't help if the idea is to have pickups move while you're playing.
 
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#15
Reedt2000 said:
You had me at "motorized faders" :D
Click to expand...
J Posega said:
Could you do a pulley system instead of motorized faders? Something where you can set the motors away from the electronics instead of needing to ride right on top of them?

Could you automate a mute or noise gate for the pickups when they're moving, so hitting the button first mutes the signal and then moves the pickups and then unmutes?

Doesn't help if the idea is to have pickups move while you're playing.
Click to expand...

The fader thing is a bit crazy, but was fun to work on. I already have an idea for a servo driven mechanism, where the motor can be placed further away from the pickups. I'll leave this for the next Winter Build Off...
 
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#16
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#17
13ghosts said:
Thank you!!!
You are right, it's a bit
Anachronistic Retro-Futurism. :)
Click to expand...

A cool project. Some technical challenges ahead, but it sounds like you're eager to take them on. We encourage that kind of behavior here on Luthier's Corner. Carry on....

You should adopt that as your company name: Retro-Future Guitars. Yesterday's Concepts with Tomorrow's Technology! And this particular model is the Anachronist.
 
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#19
Bruce Johnson said:
A cool project. Some technical challenges ahead, but it sounds like you're eager to take them on. We encourage that kind of behavior here on Luthier's Corner. Carry on....
Click to expand...

Thank you!
I'm almost most critical of the finish and the construction of the neck. I had some problems with the finish on my first bass and I haven't built a neck yet. There are bound to be a lot of problems and mistakes with the rest, but it will be fine. So far I only have a vague idea about the pickup mount. That will be exciting and is the first thing I have to tackle conceptually now.
 
#20
Bruce Johnson said:
You should adopt that as your company name: Retro-Future Guitars. Yesterday's Concepts with Tomorrow's Technology! And this particular model is the Anachronist.
Click to expand...

That's a great idea, and it fits very well!
But it certainly won't be commercial. I don't even have the right minimal tools that I would actually need for this bass - haha...
 
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