Building NEW bass!

[bassbashr99]

Hey guys hows it doin? I am looking to build my own bass. I am fairly new to this world of playing music.( talking 3 years ) So I am not really sure how to get the sounds that I really like.. in an affordable manner. The sound I am looking for is thick and very mid toned. So I am going to opt for a fretless instrument. But I am not sure about what type of woods to go for etc. The style of body would have to be like a fender jazz. Does anyone have suggestions as to where I can go find these parts? Or maybe even what parts to use.. THANKS!!!

 

[lpdeluxe]

If you've never built one before...

http://www.carvin.com/products/parts.php?CID=BKT

Note that, with zero experience, it's not unlikely the result won't be exactly what you are aiming for.

 

[Le Basseur]

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/
Go to the "Luthier" section.
Good luck,

 

[bassbashr99]

thank you guys

 

[Scooter B]

I did a fretless neck through from a Carvin neck blank and got the wood for the body wings from StewMac...figured maple sold as rough cut neck blanks.

You need access to a serious planer and a router to go that route and I never got the pick up cavities routed very staight...lack of experience but it was a fairly less expensive wood source for figured maple.

I probably would not recomend a maple solid body again...way too heavy but it does sustain if you need it to like no other bass guitar!

Here is a link with the pic and details.

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=50918&highlight=carvin+fretless+neck

Good luck!

 

[tacurtis]

How deeply are you going to get into this? There are various levels of guitar construction. Cutting, sanding and routing a wood blank is doable but a BIG job. . . fair warning! I honestly recommend buying parts and putting one together first to get some experience under your belt, unless you already are an experienced woodworker.

Go to the Warmoth or Stew-Mac sites and take a look at the bodies and necks they have available. Even if you aren't interested you may get some ideas or inspiration. I built and finished this

using a Warmoth mahogany Thunderbird body and a Mighty Mite P-bass neck.

I just did a Google search and found this site. This looks like someone who can walk you step-by-step through the guitar building process.

http://www.kevinchilcott-luthier.co.uk/private/design-build-from-scratch.htm

Good luck!

 

[Garry Sharp]

ScooterB and tacurtis - cool posts and cool guitars.

 

[Scooter B]

Bassbasher,

Tarticus is right I would definitely go the premade body already routed if I was going to do it again.

ScooterB and tacurtis - cool posts and cool guitars.

Thank you!

I had kind of hoped my original thread that I linked would get an interesting thread going on home built guitars and basses but it never really got off the ground.

 

[Light]

Go to Stew Mac's website, and buy a couple of books. That will help you more than anything you can get on the web, guarantied.

Also, look at Warmoth's website. They are the largest, and the best seller of "replacement" parts for instruments with Fender style construction. They make great stuff, and using a premade body, and particularly a premade neck, is a really good idea for your first instrument.

I HIGHLY recommend that you buy finished parts for your first instrument. I have a very nice spray booth for my finishing, but you probably don't. Don't risk your health without one.

As too the woods and pickups to use to get the sound you want, read a lot. There is information all over the place on this stuff. Read everything you can, and then read some more. Then you are ready to make a decision. You might even get it right.

For pickups, as far as I am concerned, the only choice for bass is Bartolini, but there are many people who disagree with me on that.

Lastly, do not expect to save money by building it yourself. You won't. At least, if you want something more than a half assed job, you will not save money. Build an instrument because it is fun, and because you want to BUILD and instrument, not because you want to save money.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[mshilarious]

I've been wanting to build my own electric upright, because all the ones I can find are either ugly sticks or way beyond my price range. I want to start with mostly constructed parts, but everything is for a 34" scale, and I want at least 38". I tried ordering a fingerboard from International Luthiers, but despite calling in my order, they never filled it. Stewmac doesn't really stock this stuff. Anybody know any other good sources?

 

[Light]

I've been wanting to build my own electric upright, because all the ones I can find are either ugly sticks or way beyond my price range. I want to start with mostly constructed parts, but everything is for a 34" scale, and I want at least 38". I tried ordering a fingerboard from International Luthiers, but despite calling in my order, they never filled it. Stewmac doesn't really stock this stuff. Anybody know any other good sources?

Well, if you mean Luthiers Merchantile, than I can't help you, but I am guessing not, as that does not fit with their SOP. They are a reliable company. If it was them, call them up and see what's up. If it was not them, then give them a try, they have some upright bass fingerboards, though any upright fingerboard you buy is going to need quite a bit of work. There is just not much of a market for kit upright basses.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[tacurtis]

Light made a good point about not saving money, especially the first time, but something else to keep in mind is that your resale value is going to be near-zero. . .

 

[mshilarious]

If it was not them, then give them a try, they have some upright bass fingerboards, though any upright fingerboard you buy is going to need quite a bit of work.

No it wasn't them. Thanks for the link! Although I see they have discontinued all their 3/4 sizes That's the most common size!! I guess I can cut down a 4/4. Anyway, anything better than a block of raw ebony is good for me.

 

[Light]

No it wasn't them. Thanks for the link! Although I see they have discontinued all their 3/4 sizes That's the most common size!! I guess I can cut down a 4/4. Anyway, anything better than a block of raw ebony is good for me.

You might also try Gulab Gidwani's Exotic Woods website (no I did not really need to write his name there, but I really like saying his name - try it, it is a cool name - so there). LMI usually has better prices, but not always.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi