Dom in Dorset Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 Apologies for absence, I'm back now. You may remember my compact lightweight festival bass? (a cheap , disposable and easy to transport bass for festival gigs) It ended up (after several re-workings) looking like this: Time passes, I gigged with it a lot over the last year or two but I can certainly do better. I've bought a headless kit and I'm working on it's higher quality and less disposable replacement. I'm experimenting with body shapes , I'll make a plywood mock up before actually getting wood (fnar fnar) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trashbat Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 I love headless basses so I look forward to see how this develops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lw. Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 Headless basses are the ultimate in cool, the only suggestion I would make is that I think you can come up with a better body shape than that - but then I like curves so each to their own. Good luck with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted September 7, 2015 Author Share Posted September 7, 2015 It's all about minimalism , it's got to be as small as possible. The previous version had some curves and it ends up increasing the size. It's the classic cricket bat for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted September 8, 2015 Author Share Posted September 8, 2015 I am planning on a detachable lower body section for comfortable on the knee playing in pit band gigs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted September 8, 2015 Author Share Posted September 8, 2015 Plywood mock up to test for neck dive and tweak ergonomics. I may take a bit more off the top edge as this seems to make a good thumb rest. Artist's impression of bass in action: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted September 20, 2015 Author Share Posted September 20, 2015 I'm using cherry for the body because I already have some! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alyctes Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 Quite Westone Quantum-ish in general vibe, then. Nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted September 29, 2015 Author Share Posted September 29, 2015 Slowly taking shape... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 Looks a nice piece of wood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted October 4, 2015 Author Share Posted October 4, 2015 (edited) [quote name='Andyjr1515' timestamp='1443941599' post='2878756'] Looks a nice piece of wood [/quote] Thanks!It's cherry You won't see that but though! It will have another piece (just as nice) on top to cover the chamber that I routed out today: The bottom end is lop sided, this is because once it has a strap button the two sides will be equal and it will stand up straight if leaned against an amp. Edited October 4, 2015 by Dom in Somerset Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommorichards Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 looks like a really simplae but amazing build. Cant wait to see the finish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 Looking good, this is what I did with a knackered Hohner Stick Bass a few years ago. [attachment=202444:S5000495.JPG] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 Wow! What exactly did you do to it to get that? Mine has moved on a bit... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Don't want to derail your thread, tell you on Sunday...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 Looking good, Dom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted October 20, 2015 Author Share Posted October 20, 2015 (edited) So far it clocks in at 5lb , I'm aiming for 6lb finished. Edited October 20, 2015 by Dom in Somerset Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Sneak preview of the top? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlatEric Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Ooooo! Yamaha BX1 meets Westone Quantum!! Sweet. Look forward to seeing it finished!! You still got the twin, you modeled on my templates? Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted October 25, 2015 Author Share Posted October 25, 2015 More contouring and control chamber routing. The wood will turn red/brown when oiled. Trial fitting of the top Eric- The twin was my main bass for a couple of years , in the end I decided that I was better off with one higher quality bass (I'm playing a Jazz these days) the parts were used to make a fretless that I still use from time to time and the fretted neck will end up on this. I've stacked all the parts + strings on the scales and the bass should weigh less than 4 1/2 lb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 That's looking really good, Dom. Can't wait to see what it's like with the finish applied Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted October 29, 2015 Author Share Posted October 29, 2015 (edited) Finalizing the layout: The slightly odd neck pickup position came about because of the earlier attempt at a compact bass. I accidentally bought a 24 fret neck with a very long heel. This prevented fitting the neck pickup in the usual place, I moved it down a little and it's closer to a P pickup position. It seemed to give more bass than a conventional jazz and I've stuck with it for this bass (I'm re-using the pickups too) .It also helps fit in with the lower cutaway. The knobs are off a defunct effects pedal and are only 16mm in diameter. Edited October 29, 2015 by Dom in Somerset Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted November 1, 2015 Author Share Posted November 1, 2015 The top is taking shape, I'll glue it on tomorrow (I don't have enough clamps at home, I'll take it yo work) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted November 3, 2015 Author Share Posted November 3, 2015 I've glued the top on and given it a first coat of danish oil. It will darken a bit more over the next few months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alyctes Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 [quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1444520327' post='2883858'] Looking good, this is what I did with a knackered Hohner Stick Bass a few years ago. [attachment=202444:S5000495.JPG] [/quote] I've still got it. Haven't played it in a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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