Lets design a bass by committee

[ChickenKiev]

I would be tempted to say 5, but would I be right by saying most bassists play 4 string? Or would that earn me a slap in the mouth? If the majority of people play 4-string I would say make it 4, then keep options open for a 5-string.

Oh, don't forget the token left handed version too, for a 10% added cost of course .

[Dom in Dorset]

Sorry I couldn't get to a computer this morning , anyhow, a quick count up has shown a majority in favour of a four string.
Lets turn our attention to the neck, how many frets? what construction? We'll look at headstocks and inclusion of block or other mounts later.
Call me boring but I'd like a maple jazz neck with maple board. 20 frets will do .

[LiamPodmore]

Maple/Maple (Birdseye preferably) and 22 Frets with a Zero fret too.

[bartelby]

[quote name='LiamPodmore' timestamp='1361976365' post='1993901']
Maple/Maple (Birdseye preferably) and 22 Frets with a Zero fret too.
[/quote]

yep, that'll do.

[JamesBass]

Maple/Rosewood with lacquer a la Rickenbackers. Or Maple/Maple, nicely aged and lacquered for me and 20 frets it's all you need. Profile ideally somewhere between a Jazz and a Precision neck. If we are talking necks, are we also talking neck through or bolt on etc?

[Low End Bee]

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1361894677' post='1992608']
I think it should have four strings for some songs but five for others, so we need a Low B that can sink into the fingerboard and lie flush when not needed. In similar vein, and pre-empting the fretted -v- fretless discussion, it needs to be both of course. That clever design which used to get posted every few months, the one where the frets can sink into the fingerboard and lie flush when not needed, would be ideal.

As to pickups, it needs both one and two. So what we need is a pickup design which can sink into the fingerboard ... oh no ... wait ...
[/quote]

This could work.

[url="http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/lookaroundyou/2000/200026.shtml"]http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/lookaroundyou/2000/200026.shtml[/url]

[BigRedX]

Number of frets isn't as important as the location of the heel on the neck which should be above the 19th fret minimum.

[charic]

[quote name='Dom in Somerset' timestamp='1361976271' post='1993897']
Sorry I couldn't get to a computer this morning , anyhow, a quick count up has shown a majority in favour of a four string.
Lets turn our attention to the neck, how many frets? what construction? We'll look at headstocks and inclusion of block or other mounts later.
Call me boring but I'd like a maple jazz neck with maple board. 20 frets will do .
[/quote]

24 frets

Wenge, Maple (Not a combination I've seen/heard)

[Dave Vader]

maple maple.
No frets.

[Dom in Dorset]

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1361979674' post='1993975']
maple maple.
No frets.
[/quote]
To keep things simple (or a least only less complex) the main design will be fretted, we'll run through any ideas for a fretless version at a later date.
Bolt on or through neck? Good question, I've always fancied a through neck so I'll vote for that.

[thisnameistaken]

Let's put a huge pickup right up against the end of the fingerboard to stop people from slapping.

[discreet]

One-piece maple! black dots! 21 frets!

[Dom in Dorset]

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1361980530' post='1993991']
Let's put a huge pickup right up against the end of the fingerboard to stop people from slapping.
[/quote]
Or a barbed spike?

[Low End Bee]

[Dave Vader]

[quote name='Dom in Somerset' timestamp='1361980097' post='1993986']
To keep things simple (or a least only less complex) the main design will be fretted, we'll run through any ideas for a fretless version at a later date.
Bolt on or through neck? Good question, I've always fancied a through neck so I'll vote for that.
[/quote]

Ok, 24 frets then, and a through neck, so it can look like a sandwich at the end.

[Dom in Dorset]

[quote name='Low End Bee' timestamp='1361982913' post='1994022']

[/quote]
Build in some cheesy rhythm box buttons for bossanova etc and I'll have one.

[BigRedX]

You're doing this all the wrong way around.

The number of frets is determined by the shape of the body (specifically the lower cutaway) and the position of the "neck" pickup and whether you want to leave any space between it and the end of the fingerboard.

Edited February 27, 2013 by BigRedX

[Dom in Dorset]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1361983576' post='1994041']
You're doing this all the wrong way around.

The number of frets is determined by the shape of the body (specifically the lower cutaway) and the position of the "neck" pickup and whether you want to leave any space between it and the end of the fingerboard.
[/quote]
The lower cutaway allows access to the upper frets but it doesn't determine their number. You could in theoy put frets right up to the bridge if it weren't for pickups getting in the way. In order to access these super high frets you just slice off the bottom of the body and put the controls at the top.

Edited February 27, 2013 by Dom in Somerset

[BigRedX]

But the space between them would become vanishingly small as you got closer to the bridge.

IMO you should have as many frets as your body shape and pickup positioning makes accessible up to a maximum of 36 on a 34" scale bass (any more and the space between them is too small to be useful). It should be at least 19 and the heel shouldn't start until after that.

[Dom in Dorset]

"But the space between them would become vanishingly small as you got closer to the bridge" - certainly , but my point is that you can have as many frets as you like and then find a way off accessing them or not as the case may be.

[JamesBass]

I'll add through neck to it as well!

[Fat Rich]

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1361983076' post='1994027']
Ok, 24 frets then, and a through neck, so it can look like a sandwich at the end.

[/quote]

How about an actual sandwich at the end?

[mckendrick]

Good one Fat Rich. Always get a bit peckish half way thro' the gig.

[Green Alsatian]

One-piece maple neck/fretboard with 22 frets. Wider than a Jazz at the nut, but doesn't have to be Precision-width (although I'm happy with full-fat vintage P-width!). Must feel chunky/substantial in the hand - no Ibanez SR-style toothpicks.

[Earbrass]

Let's compromise on the strings issue and have 5 at the nut and 4 at the bridge. We can then set up a sub-committee to blue-sky some ideas for interfacing the two. (A lifetime in IT has taught me a few things ).

Edited February 27, 2013 by Earbrass