Dom in Dorset Posted April 14, 2019 Share Posted April 14, 2019 I'm attempting to make a bass from scrap pianos. This is a prototype short scale bass called T800 because it's telecaster shaped and has an 800mm scale length. Wherever possible I'll be using wood from defunct pianos, mostly poplar with mahogany veneer and oak for the fretboard. As far as I can I will attempt to keep the original finish and use whatever screws I can salvage from the donor pianos. 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted April 14, 2019 Share Posted April 14, 2019 Love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted April 14, 2019 Share Posted April 14, 2019 4 hours ago, Dom in Somerset said: 800mm scale length Sacriledge! (only jestering) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted April 14, 2019 Author Share Posted April 14, 2019 12 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said: Sacriledge! (only jestering) That's 31 1/2" in old money 😀 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted April 14, 2019 Share Posted April 14, 2019 Cool. Do you think that there will be any benefit from the wood previously being exposed to tonal vibrations? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pea Turgh Posted April 14, 2019 Share Posted April 14, 2019 Great idea! Lots of pianos are at the end of their lives - esp the wooden framed ones. Good bit of recycling and keeping the musical intention! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted April 14, 2019 Author Share Posted April 14, 2019 13 minutes ago, SpondonBassed said: Cool. Do you think that there will be any benefit from the wood previously being exposed to tonal vibrations? It would be impossible to say but I don't think it would make any difference. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pea Turgh Posted April 14, 2019 Share Posted April 14, 2019 (edited) I’d assume old wood would be more stable? You know what they say about assumptions though! @Dom in Somerset - I recognise that decking - have you had a few self built basses up on eBay ever? Edited April 14, 2019 by Pea Turgh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted April 14, 2019 Author Share Posted April 14, 2019 1 minute ago, Pea Turgh said: I’d assume old wood would be more stable? You know what they say about assumptions though! That would be a logical assumption ... most pianos seem to be made of poplar which isn't particularly hard which is one of the reasons I'm going for a short scale (lower tension on the neck) I may have to use maple for a neck if I try a 34" scale. The pianos I'm using are generally pre 1930. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted April 14, 2019 Author Share Posted April 14, 2019 4 minutes ago, Pea Turgh said: I’d assume old wood would be more stable? You know what they say about assumptions though! @Dom in Somerset - I recognise that decking - have you had a few self built basses up on eBay ever? I've sold a few bitsas and basses built from parts before, this is my first complete build. I have refretted guitars and basses and build a fretless bass from scratch so I've done all the processes but not all on the same instrument. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted April 14, 2019 Share Posted April 14, 2019 As @Pea Turgh says, good to see what would probably otherwise have been consigned to the scrap pile, finding a second life as another musical instrument. Proper recycling.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted April 14, 2019 Share Posted April 14, 2019 I'm waiting to hear what piano strings sound like on a bass. 😈 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted April 14, 2019 Share Posted April 14, 2019 8 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said: I'm waiting to hear what piano strings sound like on a bass. 😈 Apparently macca resorted to this behaviour upon snapping a string during a late night session 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted April 14, 2019 Share Posted April 14, 2019 Sounds grand to me 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teebs Posted April 15, 2019 Share Posted April 15, 2019 On 14/04/2019 at 07:36, Dom in Somerset said: I'm attempting to make a bass from scrap pianos. As far as I can I will attempt to keep the original finish and use whatever screws I can salvage from the donor pianos. What a fab idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted April 15, 2019 Share Posted April 15, 2019 Once it's finished, how will you keep it upright ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted April 16, 2019 Share Posted April 16, 2019 7 hours ago, fleabag said: Once it's finished, how will you keep it upright ? He's going to fit the legs back on... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3below Posted April 17, 2019 Share Posted April 17, 2019 What are you building from the cast iron / aluminium frame? Great shape bass, I built my first bass in 1974 - short scale telecaster made from elm coffin boards. Local coffin maker would give them away, try finding elm at giveaway prices these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted April 18, 2019 Share Posted April 18, 2019 20 hours ago, 3below said: What are you building from the cast iron / aluminium frame? Great shape bass, I built my first bass in 1974 - short scale telecaster made from elm coffin boards. Local coffin maker would give them away, try finding elm at giveaway prices these days. Try finding mature elm trees... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3below Posted April 18, 2019 Share Posted April 18, 2019 54 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said: Try finding mature elm trees... Exactly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted May 18, 2019 Author Share Posted May 18, 2019 More pics... trial fitting of the machine heads, I've also oiled the poplar wood on the face of the headstock with linseed and it's given it pleasing colour. Headstock from the back, I'll keep the veneer on this bit . In order to test out a few tools , techniques, ideas, etc and use up a few spare parts and end up with an interesting bitsa I'm also working on this: Bitsa body with contours and staining on the carved areas to blend withe the veneer. T800 neck with dots made from ebony from the black keys. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted May 18, 2019 Share Posted May 18, 2019 This is wild, loving it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted May 18, 2019 Share Posted May 18, 2019 Agreed @Frank Blank I have a neck that has lost a dot inlay - any chance you could make me one in exchange for financial reward @Dom in Somerset? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted May 18, 2019 Author Share Posted May 18, 2019 3 minutes ago, BreadBin said: Agreed @Frank Blank I have a neck that has lost a dot inlay - any chance you could make me one in exchange for financial reward @Dom in Somerset? PM me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted May 18, 2019 Share Posted May 18, 2019 May I suggest you name one of them Joanna please? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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