You opinion on a body shape ....

[Dark Horse]

Great idea! That bulbous lobe on the upper bout behind the bridge can sometimes be uncomfortable, depending on the specifics of your playing style. If you like to play with a pick, I'd try it with a blank to make sure it's not getting in the way of your forearm, the way my weird 90s Fernandes did.

It shouldn’t get in the way at all. The body shape started as a standard precision bass body shape, and I modified it from there. It’s actually closer to a P Bass than one might think !

Though if I hadn’t done that, it’d certainly be wise to do a test run as you mentioned. Definitely something to keep in mind

 

[Dark Horse]

Lots of potential here.

Color choice could make it, break it or put it over the top. Whatcha got in mind?

Not sure yet.

 

[Dark Horse]

Changed my mind to "might" look cooler with less of a cut on the bottom and a more vertical cut on the bridge. It also "might" look like a Reverend with a less prominent top horn.

Also, I really the pickguard, but it seems like it cuts through the sweet spot for a P pickup.

I’ll sketch that out when I get back from this weeks gigs .... I’m on wed through Saturday so it’ll give me time to mull this over

As far as the guard, it’d be easy enough to Keep it the same shape and still have a P bass pickup in the sweet spot. Even if the guard bisected the pick up I think it’d still look cool. Though I’m strongly considering two SCPB pickups instead of a normal split p

 

[Dark Horse]

Not be sure if it's an optical illusion, or not... are you going to be able to achieve scale?

I thought the same thing, but a measurement put the bridge in the position shown. Initially I had actually moved the neck back from the body some because I thought the same thing, but on doing the measurements I actually moved it closer in. Crazy!

 

[BadWithNames]

I’m intrigued. Seems... a bit lopsided, but oddly flowing. A word that keeps popping into my head when I see it is “bubbly”, for some reason.

Anyway, on to some, hopefully constructive, criticism.

A concern I have is there might be too much material where your forearm would rest. Seems like it might be a bit of an awkward angle to play with that much there. I guess it’s better to have too much and be able to remove, than have too little and have to add.

The pickguard is pretty cool. Didn’t like it right away, but it’s grown on me. It has just enough contrast in terms of the roundness of the body and sharpness of the pickguard to stand out.

There would be some things that I’d change if I were building this, based purely on personal taste, but it’s not my bass, so do whatever makes you happy.

Overall, it’s a really interesting design that isn’t quite like any other bass that I’ve seen. It’s looks unique. And I don’t mean that in the backhanded compliment way. I’m interested in seeing how this turns out.

 

[BadWithNames]

Not sure yet.

Just looking at it, I get a kind of aquatic vibe. Seems bubbly, kinda whale-ish. Seems like a nice blue with a white pickguard would look best to me. Especially to continue the water theme. Maybe a pearlescent pickguard?

 

[SactoBass]

I have this Ibanez neck just sitting here, so I thought it might be fun to make a Danelectro style (pine and masonite) body that was a bit different than a standard shape.... kinda like a twist in a 60s pawn shop bass.

Here’s one of the body shapes I drew up. The pickguard is not a necessity, just an idea.

Anyway, what are your thoughts on this shape ?

Obviously this is a rough and messy mock-up...

May also bring the bottom lobe (by the output jack) out about 1/2”.... so the rear part of the body still is angular, but not “quite” as extreme... not sure


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I like it!

 

[DDXdesign]

Reminds me of a Fernandes Vertigo, which I always liked - their pickguard shape complimented the body well, too, imho...

 

[Hues]

I have this Ibanez neck just sitting here, so I thought it might be fun to make a Danelectro style (pine and masonite) body that was a bit different than a standard shape.... kinda like a twist in a 60s pawn shop bass.

Here’s one of the body shapes I drew up. The pickguard is not a necessity, just an idea.

Anyway, what are your thoughts on this shape ?

Obviously this is a rough and messy mock-up...

May also bring the bottom lobe (by the output jack) out about 1/2”.... so the rear part of the body still is angular, but not “quite” as extreme... not sure


View attachment 3069265 View attachment 3069266

Dark Horse's design seems much more thought-out and defined overall than the Fernandes,to me.

The individual bridge should follow the curve of the lower bout.

 

[Thumpin6string]

I can't imagine building a bass that doesn't look like a Fender.

 

[edencab]

looks cool, a la Jetson's....what if the upper PG part followed the upper horn curve and same for the lower?....ie...both more mirroring the body

thumbs up to the individual saddle suggestion too

 

[edencab]

Nordstrand Big J 4's maybe

or TV Jones Thunderblades

or Mvguitars P bass set

just spitballin'

 

[edencab]

one more with angled blade style Invalid Link Removed

 

[zontar]

I like it--it's different, but not too different--and it looks like it would be comfortable to play.

 

[Dark Horse]

Dark Horse's design seems much more thought-out and defined overall than the Fernandes,to me.

The individual bridge should follow the curve of the lower bout.

View attachment 3069448

I agree. I mentioned the individual saddles in the 3rd or 4th post because I think the same thing. Nice to know I’m not the only one Seemed like the most elegant thing, design wise . Thanks !

 

[Dark Horse]

looks cool, a la Jetson's....what if the upper PG part followed the upper horn curve and same for the lower?....ie...both more mirroring the body

thumbs up to the individual saddle suggestion too

Pickguard : I’ll try drawing that out !

 

[Dark Horse]

Nordstrand Big J 4's maybe
View attachment 3069488


or TV Jones Thunderblades View attachment 3069489


or Mvguitars P bass set
View attachment 3069490

just spitballin'

one more with angled blade style Invalid Link Removed
View attachment 3069491

View attachment 3069492

Super cool ideas ... I’ll do a bit of research, thanks !

 

[Bass V]

being spud-style adverse I wasn't feelin' it til seeing the Vertigo, it looks rather cool, but even with that the headstock won't match the theme. you might run with something which will be complimented by the headstock or modify it to be more spudly.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Dark Horse's design seems much more thought-out and defined overall than the Fernandes,to me.

The individual bridge should follow the curve of the lower bout.

View attachment 3069448

All due respect but because of those wanky monrails I had to return a beautiful Ibanez lefty bass. I string lefty basses right handed and I bought an SR1200, top of the line lefty. But the monorail bridge pieces were exactly like that. So I COULD NOT get the bass to intonate up to the 24th fret. It would go out of tune around 11th. I was very sad, I even tried to move the bridge pieces as far opposite as I could but it drove my tuner nuts. Would not seem to be in tune. I like this bridge style better, if it has to be monorail style:

 

[Dark Horse]

Alumitone bass bar might be cool in this ....