6 String Bass Project

[Jimothey]

Thanks to @Bassman666 I'm soon going to the owner of a 6 string bass perfect for a project which has got my creative juices flowing....... 

I'm probably going to go one of two ways using a nice Poplar burl drop top I've seen, either using my Quincy as a template and make my own take on a Wick Corvette or just strip the body and top it but I'm not overly excited about the original body shape! 

 

Edited December 26, 2018 by Jimothey

[Andyjr1515]

I like poplar burl.  It's the mix of quilting and burl that makes it so attractive when the finish is applied

[Jimothey]

1 hour ago, Andyjr1515 said:

I like poplar burl.  It's the mix of quilting and burl that makes it so attractive when the finish is applied

Its going for quite cheap aswell £35 + p&p! There's another drop top which has more of the burl on it but it's mostly down the centre so you would lose a lot of it with the pickups and bridge etc!

My other option is some Golden Phoebe that might look quite nice?? 

[Norris]

That bottom piece looks beautiful 

1 hour ago, Jimothey said:

 



 

[SpondonBassed]

4 hours ago, Norris said:

That bottom piece looks beautiful 

 

Mmmm crinkly.
 

@Jimothey, I have to agree with Norris, it's my preference too.  I love a nicely spalted timber but the one shown is a bit fussy with the other figuring.

Six string bass now eh?  Geeky.  Heeheehee

[Jimothey]

42 minutes ago, SpondonBassed said:

Mmmm crinkly.
 

@Jimothey, I have to agree with Norris, it's my preference too.  I love a nicely spalted timber but the one shown is a bit fussy with the other figuring.

Six string bass now eh?  Geeky.  Heeheehee

Yeah I'm probably going to see how I get on with playing it before I start the project tho? 🤔

Maybe after that I might try and go fretless 😳

Edited December 26, 2018 by Jimothey

[Jimothey]

I've decided that I want to try and make a 6 string Wick Corvette (well my take on it anyway?) 

I've done a template by using my Quincy corvette copy to get the shape then increased the body width by 20mm to allow for the wider neck to keep the proportions the same...... 

I've just marked out roughly the bridge and neck pocket placement but I will use the original 6 string body as a template for exact sizes placement etc.... 

I've got some Sapele left over from a job that I might use but I'm thinking Ash would look a lot better if I decide to top it with the poplar burl of Golden Phoebe ?? I'm also considering a trans black finish?? 🤔 

[Jimothey]

Well I've just taken delivery of my new 6 string! when I unpackaged it my immediate reaction was 'jeez that neck is huge!!' but I had a little noodle and it's surprisingly really comfortable to play!! 

My plan was to make a new body for it but looking at it closer the body shape is growing on me so I might strip the body first to see what kind of grain etc it's got then decide from then so it might end up looking a bit like this instead?? 

 

Edited January 8, 2019 by Jimothey

[Si600]

That's a cool looking forearm contour.

[Jimothey]

Yeah I didn't notice it when I looked at the body in black but I kinda like it 😀

[Andyjr1515]

I like the look of that.

I was staggered how normal @eude 's sixer felt to play too.  I think you'll love this.

Edited January 8, 2019 by Andyjr1515

[Jimothey]

3 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said:

I like the look of that.

I was staggered how normal @eude 's sixer felt to play too.  I think you'll love this.

The more I play it the nicer it feels which surprised me as I've never picked up a sixer before!! 

I've been thinking about finishes and I thought something like this might look cool 

Wenge or Walnut veneered top but leave the arm carve and back natural (I think it's Alder??) 😀 

Edited January 9, 2019 by Jimothey

[eude]

9 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said:

I like the look of that.

I was staggered how normal @eude 's sixer felt to play too.  I think you'll love this.

It is one of the comfiest 6er necks I've played to be fair @Andyjr1515 , but folks certainly shouldn't be put off trying a 6.
Those out there who struggle with a 5 string neck should steer clear, but us bassists tend to have stronger and more flexible hands then most so it would make sense that we can easily adapt  

@Jimothey, I had the precursor to your Washburn Bantam, the MB6, my first 6 string bass! (pic stolen from elsewhere, I only have video footage of my playing mine live - oh dear) >>

Not nearly as cool as design as the Bantams, and very much of its time, but it was a lovely light and easy to play 6er.
Washburn made some cool basses, but they never seemed to hit to mark for most, which is a shame.
Aria were making really cool basses, and 6ers around the same time, early 90's (showing my age...)

Excited to see what you do with this, will you do a matched headstock too?

Eude

[Jimothey]

@eude I was a bit nervous about trying the 6'er as I haven't got the biggest hands but it seems OK to play, I do struggle to get the B after about the 17th fret but I won't really need to be up that end very often!? 

My first ever bass was a Washburn 4 string I can't remember the model tho I think it might have been either a xb100 or xb200 in the early 90's

I'm not sure about a matching headstock as yet I think after I veneer the body I'll have a look and see what I think? 

I leaning toward a walnut veneer (but I can't decide quarter sawn or burl) as I think the contrast would look really nice? Whatever I choose I'm going to just finish it with danish oil so it will be more of a satin finish 😀 

 

[eude]

28 minutes ago, Jimothey said:

@eude I was a bit nervous about trying the 6'er as I haven't got the biggest hands but it seems OK to play, I do struggle to get the B after about the 17th fret but I won't really need to be up that end very often!? 

My first ever bass was a Washburn 4 string I can't remember the model tho I think it might have been either a xb100 or xb200 in the early 90's

I'm not sure about a matching headstock as yet I think after I veneer the body I'll have a look and see what I think? 

I leaning toward a walnut veneer (but I can't decide quarter sawn or burl) as I think the contrast would look really nice? Whatever I choose I'm going to just finish it with danish oil so it will be more of a satin finish 😀 

 

I wouldn't worry about getting all the way up there on the B, I tend to work my way to another string once I get up beyond the 10th fret max, the clarity of notes higher up the B tends to get a bit mushy on all extended range basses I've played anyway.

I'm a sucker for a matched headstock, so it would get my vote anyway  

Eude

[Jimothey]

I really like both shapes so I can't decide............. 

Or

Both will be walnut veneered top but the corvette type shape will probably have a Sapele back 

Opinions please................ 😀 

[eude]

Trick, but I've always been a sucker for Warwick designs, so that would get my vote...

[Jimothey]

14 minutes ago, eude said:

Trick, but I've always been a sucker for Warwick designs, so that would get my vote...

So am I the corvette is one of my all time favourite bass shapes!! It was my plan all along to do my take on a corvette but I like the original body shape with the quirky arm carve 🤔

[eude]

No harm in doing that arm curve on a Corvette shape?

[Jimothey]

Might be a slight change of plan re the body shape here's what I came up with....... 😀 

[Andyjr1515]

5 minutes ago, Jimothey said:

Might be a slight change of plan re the body shape here's what I came up with....... 😀 

Ooooh.  I thought the other ones were fine, but this is VERY nice. 

[Jimothey]

1 hour ago, Andyjr1515 said:

Ooooh.  I thought the other ones were fine, but this is VERY nice. 

I didn't know whether to tweak the horns a bit more so they are a bit more turned in towards the neck?? 🤔 

[Andyjr1515]

1 minute ago, Jimothey said:

I didn't know whether to tweak the horns a bit more so they are a bit more turned in towards the neck?? 🤔 

Not on this design I wouldn't (but that's just my view - you have to remember that with your own designs, it is only your own preference that actually matters   )

[Jimothey]

1 hour ago, Andyjr1515 said:

Not on this design I wouldn't (but that's just my view - you have to remember that with your own designs, it is only your own preference that actually matters   )

Yeah I know but because I've made some bad judgement calls on previous builds I like to get other peoples opinions 😁

My ideas of woods for the body is 32mm Ash back (Chambered) with 6mm Panga Panga or African Walnut top and a 2mm demarcation line of some sort in between......... 

Edited January 11, 2019 by Jimothey

[Jimothey]

I managed to get the template cut and routed out today,

I've kept the pickups positioned the same as on the original body.......... 

I think it's coming along nicely just got to decide on what woods to use now................. 🤔