Winter Build Off 2026 - Run Whatcha Brung

[postalflunkie]

Can we get this entered in the Non Bass catigory

 

[Flamingo21]

If they hadn't mentioned the name of the city I'd immediately have said "must be Las Vegas".

 

[Phreaky Phriday]

This will be my first buildoff, looking forward to it! Partial build:

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/wi...d-lightness-sub-short-scale-headless.1681831/

 

[Beej]

And with @Phreaky Phriday joining the fray, we are now at a baker's dozen!

I dug out a festering build yesterday and looked it over to see how salvageable it was, and the torrefied sitka spruce body has cupped slightly on the edges. I'll have to decide on how much energy I want to put into this thing before I commit.

 

[Beej]

And I'm in with an Unfinished Business build.

Thread 'Winter Build Off 2026 - Scamp 5 String'

Jan 5, 2026

Ok, I guess I'll join the fray. This is a distinctly unfinished business entry as it's my incomplete bass from the SBO24. A handful of specs lifted from my old thread:

Specs:
Neck: Three piece hard maple, tapered centre stringer, aluminum stiffening rods, 7 degree tiltback headstock with maple veneers
Truss Rod: Double acting double rod, headstock access
Stiffeners: aluminum 1/8" x 12mm bars
Fretboard: Flamed big leaf maple
Fingerboard Radius: 15"
Scale Length: 33"
Frets: 25 nickel silver (zero fret design)
String Spacer (Nut): fretboard material, 45mm zero fret neck width...

• Beej
• winter build off 2026
• Replies: 10
• Forum: Luthier's Corner

• 

 

[Beej]

If anyone's thinking of joining with an Assembly Build, at the moment, you'll sweep the category.

 

[Why Nautilus‽]

If anyone's thinking of joining with an Assembly Build, at the moment, you'll sweep the category.

I’ve never done a build before and always been a lurker on these build-offs…but it’s tempting.

 

[Beej]

I’ve never done a build before and always been a lurker on these build-offs…but it’s tempting.

Far be it from anyone here to discourage you. All you need is a plan that suits your skills and an area to enact it.

I bet it will be a great experience and won't become an overnight addiction at all. In theory, there are people who have built only one bass.

 

[Lo-E]

In theory, there are people who have built only one bass.

And unicorns. And the tooth fairy.

 

[Flying B]

I'm in!

Thread 'Winter build off 2026 - Primal Screamray'

Jan 6, 2026

I'll throw my hat into the ring. I've been planning a Stingray build for a while so now it's as good a time as any. I've been wanting to do a fabric top for a while so I'll be giving that a go too using an old primal scream t-shirt (hence the name). They were one of my favourite bands of the nineties, and was inspired by a strat that was released with the same artwork.

I've ordered a set of stingray templates to give myself a chance of finishing this in time.
I've more or less decided on the timber selection.
Body- black limba (with fabric top). The piece I've got might not...

• Flying B

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[BishopJP]

Here's my "Scratch Build", I may also have some "Unfinished Business"...

Thread 'Winter Build-Off 2026 - Medium Scale, Barn Wood Bass'

Jan 6, 2026

As the title suggests, I will be using reclaimed siding from an old barn to make the body. Since this is North Carolina, it was likely a tobacco barn and is probably around 100+ years old and some species of pine.

Old and crusty...

The bass will be 32" scale, 4 string. The body will be two-piece (top and back), scrap cherry for the neck. Fret board wood TBD.

Crusty boards, scrap cherry and fretboards...


The fretboard choices are (L - R) hickory, black locust and granadillo. Unless i change my mind and use something else...


Cherry off-cuts from...

• BishopJP
• Replies: 111
• Forum: Luthier's Corner

• 

 

[Water buffalo]

Here we go!

Thread 'Winter Build Off 2026: "Off with his head!"'

Jan 6, 2026

On my way to rehearsal, I wanted to get this thread going...

This is an "Unfinished Business" build. This perfect timing, as I need to get this completed (along with three other builds).

It's a pretty cool build, this one's going to the UK.

Here's the required pic. I'll be back later this even to add the other details.



To be continued.

Oh yeah,

• Water buffalo
• Replies: 17
• Forum: Luthier's Corner

• 

 

[Beej]

17 builds to follow so far! Not a record, but not too shabby either.

 

[13ghosts]

I'm in with one or two scratch builds

Thread 'Winter Build Off 2026 - Evolutionary Pair'

Jan 8, 2026

Okay, here we go!

This is mine, these are mine – we'll see...

Against my plans, I didn't manage to build a bass last year. Even now, I only have limited time until the end of April. So I hope that the WBO will help me push myself a little.

Both (maybe three?) basses will be scratch builds. The concept and design is quite similar to the previous one(s). One will have movable pickups and a D-extension. So, in general, it's about evolutionary developments – some refinements, some changes. I've already posted some initial thoughts on it. But I'll move the rest of the build process...

• 13ghosts
• Replies: 34
• Forum: Luthier's Corner

• 

 

[Beej]

So far we have:

9 scratch entries​

2 partial entries​

0 assembly entries​

2 non-bass entries​

6 unfinished business entries​

Someone's gonna sweep the assembly category once they enter! Who's game?

 

[Dark Horse]

Gonna see if I can make this happen…I have an idea I want to pursue.

 

[BishopJP]

Here is my entry into the "Unfinished Business" category.

Thread 'Winter Build-Off 2026 - Guitar with Barn Wood'

Jan 13, 2026

This is my entry in the "Unfinished Business" category.

This an "F" style instrument, though a bit of a mash-up. The body is somewhere between a JM and Toronado, 25" scale, with a Tele bridge/pick-up and controls, and a neck humbucker.

100+ year old(?) barn wood body and cherry neck with an inlaid granadillo fret board.

The body is mostly complete, the neck needs frets and shaping. This has been stalled a bit while I focused on other projects.
Time to get it finished!

• BishopJP
• Replies: 28
• Forum: Luthier's Corner

• 
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Yes, it's gonna have skinny strings and too many of them.

 

[mapleglo]

I just bought a used American Precision Neck from Reverb. The price was right, and it looked to be in good condition. In-line 5 string tuners from 2002, an odd configuration. Anyway, I'll see what it is when It gets here. During that time, I'll think about what kind of bass I'll build. I really like the bass I'm currently playing - the Klos. So I just may build a maple type companion to that, though I do like the simplicity of single pickup basses too. We'll see.

 

[Bonkersville]

I will also take part in the Unfinished Business category. It's not a bass but very much unfinished.

Thread 'Winter Build Off 2026 - 18 Years in the Making'

Jan 13, 2026

Hi all,

As I said in some post here I'm planning a return in luthiery. And been planning for a while. Life just seems to get in the way.

Anyways here it is: my entry in the Unfinished Business category. This is my first build thread here and first build off ever. Although I don't those existed back in the day.

This build started about 18 years ago. I believe I have some pictures I could use to date the origins but I think that's accurate enough for now. I know it was around october 2009 I hammered the frets in. And it has been lying dormant since, waiting for the right...

• Bonkersville

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[mapleglo]

I received a message from the Reverb seller. He claims he is packing up the neck and will send it out by Friday. That means I should get it by the end of next week. I'll have to order tuners and a pickup. I think I have everything else, except a plan, which I'll have to start thinking about. I'm seriously thinking about doing another Fenderbacker, only with a single pickup, like a 4000.