20” scale bass

[jebroad]

I’ve recently started the build of a ridiculous idea. A 20” scale bass. 

The body and neck are from an old mahog bookshelf I’ve already got 3 bodies from. 

The idea is to use the low 4 string of a 5 string and tune them up to whatever the correct  tension is. It will be, at most, a step up from standard.

It won’t have a truss rod, just a graphite rod. The neck is tiny and half of it is in a neck pocket anyway. 

Ive just planed down the neck and shaped the body. The neck looks very thick in the photos but that was not it’s proper thickness. 

I’m using a piezo bridge only. 

 

[Frank Blank]

I play a 23 1/2 scale Taylor, this looks very interesting and not at all ridiculous.

[Silvia Bluejay]

This is very intriguing, and I'm moving it to its appropriate place, Build Diaries.

[ped]

Looks great so far! There are a few ‘small scalers’ here including myself. Watching with interest. 

[jebroad]

28 minutes ago, Frank Blank said:

I play a 23 1/2 scale Taylor, this looks very interesting and not at all ridiculous.

Good to know 

[jebroad]

21 minutes ago, Silvia Bluejay said:

This is very intriguing, and I'm moving it to its appropriate place, Build Diaries.

Thank you 

[jebroad]

5 minutes ago, ped said:

Looks great so far! There are a few ‘small scalers’ here including myself. Watching with interest. 

I’m under pressure now 

[jebroad]

5 minutes ago, ped said:

Looks great so far! There are a few ‘small scalers’ here including myself. Watching with interest. 

It should be finished by the midlands bass bash (5/5/18) if you want to check it out. 

[Jabba_the_gut]

Funny - I just started building (well I've drawn it out and and sorted some parts) for a 23" scale thing. I've also been looking at using the lower 4 strings from a 5 string set to get EADG or to use a 4 string set to get BEAD but an octave up.

Mine won't be finished (will barely been started as I have house DIY to do) but I'm looking forward to seeing this one.

Cheers

Jez

[jebroad]

1 hour ago, Jabba_the_gut said:

Funny - I just started building (well I've drawn it out and and sorted some parts) for a 23" scale thing. I've also been looking at using the lower 4 strings from a 5 string set to get EADG or to use a 4 string set to get BEAD but an octave up.

Mine won't be finished (will barely been started as I have house DIY to do) but I'm looking forward to seeing this one.

Cheers

Jez

Ohh, I think 23” is more sensible as 20” won’t  really suit EADG yet something more like GCFB

[jebroad]

UPDATE:

The neck is shaped and awaiting  slotted fretboard (I know I shouldve glied the f/b before but i got bored). 

The neck isn’t also mounted, tuner holes drilled and body shaped

[Jabba_the_gut]

I'm liking this!!

[Andyjr1515]

Looking great!

[jebroad]

5 minutes ago, Jabba_the_gut said:

I'm liking this!!

Why thank you. The fretboard should be arriving tomorrow so I’ll glue it then and I’ll install the tuners and then finish the neck, with Liberon finishing oil, and fret it when I can afford frets and fretpress

[Jabba_the_gut]

12 minutes ago, jebroad said:

Why thank you. The fretboard should be arriving tomorrow so I’ll glue it then and I’ll install the tuners and then finish the neck, with Liberon finishing oil, and fret it when I can afford frets and fretpress

Whereabouts are you? If you're local to me you can use my fret press when you get round to it.

[jebroad]

7 minutes ago, Jabba_the_gut said:

Whereabouts are you? If you're local to me you can use my fret press when you get round to it.

I’m near Uttoxeter, stoke/derby/burton way 

[Jabba_the_gut]

That's a shame - I'm in Gloucestershire. If you haven't completed it by the beginning of May, I could take the fret press to the Midlands bass.

[jebroad]

3 minutes ago, Jabba_the_gut said:

That's a shame - I'm in Gloucestershire. If you haven't completed it by the beginning of May, I could take the fret press to the Midlands bass.

Cheers, thanks for the support 

[Frank Blank]

Are you taking orders..?

[jebroad]

34 minutes ago, Frank Blank said:

Are you taking orders..?

For a midget bass?

[jebroad]

I’ve got the tuners in and the bridge in my possession. I glued on a bit of maple because the headstock was a little thin. 

 

[Frank Blank]

17 minutes ago, jebroad said:

For a midget bass?

I would genuinely like to try it and, as previously mentioned, if it were 23” and EADG I’d be double interested. Something about the shape of it and the way you are going about building it is just speaking to me.

[jebroad]

14 minutes ago, Frank Blank said:

I would genuinely like to try it and, as previously mentioned, if it were 23” and EADG I’d be double interested. Something about the shape of it and the way you are going about building it is just speaking to me.

Ok, this is only a prototype and a 23” with this body shape will be very much possible, are you at the midlands bass bash?

[Frank Blank]

8 hours ago, jebroad said:

Ok, this is only a prototype and a 23” with this body shape will be very much possible, are you at the midlands bass bash?

I am hoping to be.

[Owen]

I played a Uke Bass with these https://kalabrand.com/products/kala-metal-round-wound-u-bass-strings?variant=6032410753

on it yesterday. Proper Bass Guitar pitch and really nice. Nylon core so you will need a piezo pickup - but worth a thought.