Another stick bass project

[simwells]

I'm fairly new here but am planning another stick bass type project similar to the phaedrus one.

I've got hold of a large billet of Duralumin (it's an offcut from part of the Airbus A380 wings) which I'm gonna use for the neck/body.

First question there's no paticular reason why the phaedrus bass is parallel across the full instrument rather than the neck gradually tapering other than it being easier for him is there? Thinking I'd prefer the comfort of a more traditional feel neck.

[BigRedX]

From the days when there was more information on the Phaedrus site, plus what I learned from a brief exchange of emails was that the bass fairly much built around a 'slab' of steel. Not only is there no taper, but the pack of the 'neck' has no shaping either.

I hope you'll post your whole build diary here. Are you planning on using anything more durable for facing on the fingerboard? You might want to have a look at [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=450819"]this thread on TalkBass[/url] as well...

[simwells]

Ah ok, think I'd rather have something more comfortable to play.

Yes was thinking of doing an ebony fretboard (possibly) have no idea where I could get this sorta stuff from though, so any help would be apreciated.

BUT the only thing I was wondering is that the Allu is gonna expand and contract a hell of a lot more than a chunk of wood would, which might bring some problems.

And thanks for that link I'll have a look at it now.

Edited July 15, 2008 by simwells

[budget bassist]

[quote name='simwells' post='240316' date='Jul 15 2008, 07:31 PM']BUT the only thing I was wondering is that the Allu is gonna expand and contract a hell of a lot more than a chunk of wood would, which might bring some problems.[/quote]
I'm pretty sure it doesn't ya know, if it expanded and contracted that much i'm pretty sure a plane flying from glasgow to dubai would be a bit forked! Yeah it expands and contracts a bit in heat, but not a lot, and it has to be a lot of heat, i'm sure it would be a lot more stable than wood.

[Mr. Foxen]

[quote name='budget bassist' post='240369' date='Jul 15 2008, 08:48 PM']I'm pretty sure it doesn't ya know, if it expanded and contracted that much i'm pretty sure a plane flying from glasgow to dubai would be a bit forked! Yeah it expands and contracts a bit in heat, but not a lot, and it has to be a lot of heat, i'm sure it would be a lot more stable than wood.[/quote]

Hhm, planes do expand and contract bunches, but they are all made of same stuff. Mostly its the dead fast ones that heat up due to air friction, if you looked close ar a Blackbird, its all wrickly. Doesn't happen so much to airliners.

Kramers are generally happy enough, so you should really be fine. Sort of temperatures that will make any odds would be detrimental to your health.

[simwells]

Ah ok, sounds good. Yeah plane's do expand and contract a fair bit but the engineering is designed to cope with it.

But still anyone know of good places to buy woods useable for fingerboard (I'm still thinking ebony)

[Peaty]

sound wood at craft supplies

I have bought good ebony boards from them in the past.

[url="http://www.craft-supplies.co.uk/cgi-bin/psProdCat.cgi/Finger===Boards,2,,,Guitars===/===Sound===Wood"]http://www.craft-supplies.co.uk/cgi-bin/ps...===Sound===Wood[/url]

Their printed catalog is a lot better than their web one so worth getting hold of a copy

All the best
Pete

[simwells]

Thanks very much for the link.

Have started the bulk shaping of the dillet to an overall improved blank shape. This is gonna take a while!

[Mr. Foxen]

Depending on how much work you wanna do to make it, those wood recovery places sometimes have purpleheart decking and such you could use, also, some railway sleepers were rosewood.

[synaesthesia]

[quote name='Peaty' post='240617' date='Jul 16 2008, 09:23 AM']sound wood at craft supplies

I have bought good ebony boards from them in the past.

[url="http://www.craft-supplies.co.uk/cgi-bin/psProdCat.cgi/Finger===Boards,2,,,Guitars===/===Sound===Wood"]http://www.craft-supplies.co.uk/cgi-bin/ps...===Sound===Wood[/url]

Their printed catalog is a lot better than their web one so worth getting hold of a copy

All the best
Pete[/quote]


They are restructuring at their 'tonewoods' section at the moment, though you can still buy what they have and there is a helpful fella there. The person who managed their tonewoods sections left and left them scratching their heads a bit.