Bass Build

[knobbin]

I started a school program this week, in which i get to build my own instrument. I;ve decided to make a 4 string make, with a warwick style to it. I'm using the STREAMER stage 2 for the overall shape of it, and using the STRYKER neck style. So far it looks like im maknig a 4 string neck-thru.
7 piece, 4 pieces of hard maple, and 3 pieces of thin veneer. I'm going to use a BUBINGA body. Today i bought my pickups, EMG active Jset, comes pre-wired with pots input jack and all, and i also ordered a Hipshot class bridge, which i plan to use and make my bass string through.
So far we've only drawn and cut out templates, I'll try to keep updated with pics of the progress.
-Winston

[GuitarsCanada]

Looking forward to seeing this one, keep us up to speed as you progress.

[noobcake]

Aww I wish my school had a program like that, it would be a good excuse to get a new axe without pissing off the parents:tongue: .

[james on bass]

Years ago (mid 80s) my cousin made a beautiful classical guitar in high school for wood shop class. A great looking and playing guitar. I've been bugging him ever since to get into building me a bass or 2 but he's too busy.

[knobbin]

forgot to mention,... its a 24 fret, with ebony fretboard

[devil6]

Very cool, looking forward to seeing it

Id love to build my own, all the standard/stock basses are to bland for my taste and to create something really wild i'd have to pay to get a custom built for me which is to damn expensive...i guess i could take a hatchet to a regular store bought bass and make my own creation :wink:

[Xanadu]

Very cool, looking forward to seeing it

Id love to build my own, all the standard/stock basses are to bland for my taste and to create something really wild i'd have to pay to get a custom built for me which is to damn expensive...i guess i could take a hatchet to a regular store bought bass and make my own creation :wink:
i want a shortscale....









oh s**t:frown:

[knobbin]

this thing isntactually going to cost me much at all considering how much a store bought bass like this would be

heres a rough estimate-
EMG JSET $250 (pickups, pots, wiring, input jack)
Maple and veneer- $40
Bubinga-$40
hipshot Aclass brass black bridge- $85
Machine heads/tuners- $50
Little things (strap locks, string ferruls, frets, nut)-$70
Thats under $500, pretty damn good, i havent bought all of it yet, so it may be a bit more/less.

[Baconator]

this thing isntactually going to cost me much at all considering how much a store bought bass like this would be

heres a rough estimate-
EMG JSET $250 (pickups, pots, wiring, input jack)
Maple and veneer- $40
Bubinga-$40
hipshot Aclass brass black bridge- $85
Machine heads/tuners- $50
Little things (strap locks, string ferruls, frets, nut)-$70
Thats under $500, pretty damn good, i havent bought all of it yet, so it may be a bit more/less.

That's a great deal for the wood. Where did you get it? Is the neck going to be maple with a veneer fingerboard? If it's the hipshot bridge I have on the 5-string of mine they're awesome - string changes are a breeze with them.

[knobbin]

I'm not exactly sure where my teacher is getting this wood, some distributor i suppose, ill ask about it... right now i have just finish my first neck, before i build my actual bass we're all making "practice" ones to get the feel and idea of what we want and how its done, its all done using poplar wood

the neck im maknig is a 7piece neck thru, going to be made of maple and veneer, similar to the warwick stryker neck, but im maknig a streamer style body
I love the bridge, mine hasnt come in yet but i'm pretty familiar with them, im going to route my bass so its a string through body with this bridge

[knobbin]

i've decided to use birds eye maple for my neck, hopefully have pics of my practice bass up this week, made of poplar and a few strips of veneer, im contemplating putting hardware and cheap pickups in it and using it as a bass... poplar doesnt seem that great though...

[Greenman]

usually poplar is pretty boring but this is a body I built a couple of years ago I found interesting.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e327/Greenman44ca/4.jpg

[mandocaster]

Nice bass. And poplar at times can be gloriously figured wood, especially if taken from a tree that has undergone stress....it seems to impart a wowieness to the grain.

Anyone ever use Beechwood? It is so convoluted and kinky that it surely would make an interesting body.

[knobbin]

finally... sorry for the delay, heres a few pics of my "practice" bass, all poplar, ive got more on the way, this week i finally get to start the final bass, bubinga and maple mmm

...how do i post pics?

[james on bass]

Save your pics online somewhere, such as Photobucket. Then use the "insert picture" icon in your threads.

[knobbin]

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u132/knobbin/DSC00075.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u132/knobbin/poplar.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u132/knobbin/poplar4.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u132/knobbin/poplar3.jpg


thats all poplar and some walnut veneer, i started te real thing this week made of maple and veneer neck, and a bubinga body

[knobbin]

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u132/knobbin/poplar2.jpg

:rockon2:

[Baconator]

Nice work!!

I'm curious - you're using this as a mock up for the 'real' build? That bass looks good so far so I can't wait to see the final product(s).

:banana:

[knobbin]

yea htis is just a mock up... ill try to get pictures of it with all my hardware tomorrow... i might try to use this with some cheaper hardware as a bass, but i dont think the poplar neck would be very strong

[knobbin]

its been a while, alot of work.... heres the FINAL bass, in a few weeks it'll be playable, i still have to fret it and drill a few more holes, then add a tung oil finish and set it up!:banana:

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u132/knobbin/DSC00118.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u132/knobbin/DSC00117.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u132/knobbin/DSC00115.jpg

[Michelle]

That's an awesome job man! I can tell you are proud of your work, and you should be.

Really outta sight....

[Hamm Guitars]

I couldn't help but notice all of the guitar templates on the wall. That's a pretty hip school you go to, when I took woodshop in high school all I ever got to build was a foot stool.

[knobbin]

im so proud of my work, that day i had just glued the body on so it was a nice sight to see, it kept me motivated...

those templates are never used, other than by the people who made them, everybody drew their own blueprints and made their own templates, it was a tricky process

[knobbin]

more pics!
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u132/knobbin/DSCN5564.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u132/knobbin/DSCN5561.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u132/knobbin/DSCN5560.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u132/knobbin/DSCN5556.jpg

[oddio]

There's a definite Carl Thompson thing going on there! Keep it up and you'll be building your own rainbow bass in no time.

[knobbin]

There's a definite Carl Thompson thing going on there! Keep it up and you'll be building your own rainbow bass in no time.


ill make one and trade you for a wal Drool :rockon:

[oddio]

ill make one and trade you for a wal Drool :rockon:Keep practicing... (j/k). :wink:

Keep up the good work and you never know who might be chasing your instruments.