benh Posted March 13, 2021 Author Share Posted March 13, 2021 12 minutes ago, TheGreek said: I like the look of the Babicz bridges... Yeah I've had one of the Babicz FCH bridges on a bass before, very sturdy. As I seem to be veering ever closer to buying a Superquad pickup, I'd rather go for something a bit more conservative price wise though 😅 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted March 13, 2021 Share Posted March 13, 2021 As you can see on my Silk Bass I've had a pair fitted. My attitude was that it's a keeper, I have no plans to sell it so I'm going to have the best pick ups I can find. Money well spent in my mind. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted March 13, 2021 Share Posted March 13, 2021 6 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said: @Hellzero is quite right. As long as the neck heel is fitted to be properly against the back of the pocket it's the 'lift' you need to bolt against. Do you remember this one - I fitted a neck to one of @eude 's schooldays (?) projects. It was the shortest pocket I ever did (by necessity) - and it was a 6 string bass! The pocket was even shorter than @benh 's present one: For that, because I had no idea really what extra pull forces might be on a sixer, and the floor of the pocket itself wasn't all that thick, I went belt and braces and fitted an unglued dry biscuit joint into the front join area: It held fine and, to be honest, I think it would have been OK with just the bolts: So, @benh - best to extend the fretboard a touch in any case, as much for the 24th fret security as anything, and the resulting neck pocket should be perfectly adequate The bass, the neck and the joint have been rock solid too. I love this bass @Andyjr1515, thank you for bringing it back to life! Eude 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benh Posted March 13, 2021 Author Share Posted March 13, 2021 Getting to grips with Inkscape for digital designing this evening. I've premonitions of the physical drawing being destroyed by the dog! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted March 13, 2021 Share Posted March 13, 2021 On 12/03/2021 at 20:35, benh said: Another thought re: fretboard material... could look rather splendid, although maybe a bit much Do it ... you wanted unique, thats unique, right there, on a plate with salsa, cheese and guacamole 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benh Posted March 14, 2021 Author Share Posted March 14, 2021 Reminded myself why I've never bothered with any sort of graphic design... it's frustrating and I'm not very good at it. But, the dog can't eat this one 😉 Work in progress! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 Try to extend that lower horn a bit for better balance when playing sitting. And also better visual balance : win-win on both aspects. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HazBeen Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 Not wanting to take anything away from some of the constructive feedback I am reading, @benh if this is your first build my advice would be: accept that you are learning and that you will make mistakes, building is as much overcoming and finding solutions to issues as anything; this will not be your last build (trust me) so it is much more about enjoying the process and getting a feel for it; you are building your bass (yeah!) so nothing to stop you do whatever you want with whatever design which is the best thing about building your own instruments. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benh Posted March 14, 2021 Author Share Posted March 14, 2021 So I've been playing around with the digital version of my design. And although I like the basic shape, I've been trying to take on board the advice I've been given regarding neck pocket, body shape etc and added a few fun bits. Again I'm pretty sure it's very derivative of something or other but I can't think what! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 (edited) TBH I preferred the original....but we all have different taste. It's going to be near on impossible to design something that doesn't bear some resemblance to something else...it isn't plagiarism to acknowledge a design you like (unless it's a Rick) Edited March 14, 2021 by TheGreek 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 I'm preferring the new design it's going to be a nice bass when finished! I agree with Mick you'll really struggle to come up with a completely unique design, I just take aspects of other basses I like and kind of mix and match them till I'm happy with the design...... 👍🏻 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benh Posted March 14, 2021 Author Share Posted March 14, 2021 Thanks guys. The more I looked at it, the more I hated the "fin" at the back, got rid of it in this version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 2 minutes ago, benh said: Thanks guys. The more I looked at it, the more I hated the "fin" at the back, got rid of it in this version. Thats the great thing about making your own basses (I'm using the plural because once you've got the bug you will definitely make more! I'm on about build 8 or 9! 😁) you can change things and let them evolve! And love the spalted top btw!!...... 👍🏻 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benh Posted March 14, 2021 Author Share Posted March 14, 2021 Think I'm getting close to the final design now... liking this. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 It's looking interesting now. Careful you don't over-egg it and end up with a Bongo. [Checks to make sure underwear is flame proof] 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 It's really looking very good right now ! Congratulations ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benh Posted March 15, 2021 Author Share Posted March 15, 2021 (edited) Last one of the front, I promise (edit - I lied 😁). Played around a little more and I've got it to where I'm happy with everything. Messed around with scale lengths (as you do) and decided it just looks better as a 32" scale with 21 frets, rather than 34" scale with 24 frets. A few more decisions to make then I reckon I can start making firewood gluing and shaping the body blank. Edited March 17, 2021 by benh 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 Don't forget to reposition the pickup accordingly to the 32 inches scale. Now you can start the making some firewood. 🤣 PS : The end of the top horn is generally an octave indicator, so aligned with the 12th fret and it's a minor adjustment. 😉 PS bis : Do you know the exact position of a Stingray pickup ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benh Posted March 16, 2021 Author Share Posted March 16, 2021 1 hour ago, Hellzero said: Don't forget to reposition the pickup accordingly to the 32 inches scale. Now you can start the making some firewood. 🤣 PS : The end of the top horn is generally an octave indicator, so aligned with the 12th fret and it's a minor adjustment. 😉 PS bis : Do you know the exact position of a Stingray pickup ? Duly noted - hadn't thought of that, will adjust accordingly! To be honest I eyeballed the pickup placement from a front image of a Stingray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 (edited) I found this online. PickupPositionsForManyMakesOfBass.xlsx It only seems to quote a measurement for the 34inch five string single pup Stingray but I have no reason to believe it isn't representative of manufacturers' standard measurements. You could extrapolate for your chosen scale. Edited March 16, 2021 by SpondonBassed 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benh Posted March 16, 2021 Author Share Posted March 16, 2021 45 minutes ago, SpondonBassed said: I found this online. PickupPositionsForManyMakesOfBass.xlsx 16.15 kB · 1 download It only seems to quote a measurement for the 34inch five string single pup Stingray but I have no reason to believe it isn't representative of manufacturers' standard measurements. You could extrapolate for your chosen scale. That's really helpful, cheers - will do some maths and update my plans this eve. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rexel Matador Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 On 11/03/2021 at 14:15, benh said: Excellent point @Jabba_the_gut - and thanks for the edit @TheGreek! I'd considered that. Also toying with the idea of going a bit further and making it a set neck - especially if I'm going single pickup, the neck tenon I feel could be plenty long/strong enough, and hidden under the top. However this could soon overtake my meagre skillset! There's always the through neck option too - just a matter of gluing the wings on - no neck pocket required! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benh Posted March 16, 2021 Author Share Posted March 16, 2021 33 minutes ago, Rexel Matador said: There's always the through neck option too - just a matter of gluing the wings on - no neck pocket required! Very true - but I'd need to buy more wood then, and I'd definitely want laminations for stability if going neck through. Keeping it simple(ish) for now. There's always the next one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopthebass Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 I would make the neck pocket go all the way to the pickup. Keep fingerboard ending where you show it, and have some matching spalted wood on the exposed neck between pickup and fingerboard. And if you cut that piece from the top before gluing the two haves together (and before glueing to body) you can match the grain and have a nice tight gap. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benh Posted March 17, 2021 Author Share Posted March 17, 2021 Finalised the design now front and back. Will be hand drawing the side view to decide on thicknesses as I've about had enough of Inkscape now. Pickup and top horn placement moved (thanks @Hellzero and @SpondonBassed for the suggestions and the helpful spreadsheet) and control cavity planned. Also, the bridge, tuners and side dot sticks arrived through the post today - made me happy! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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