Jimothey Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 (edited) My little boy really wants a bass so I've decided to try and build him one! Being only 7yrs old he struggles with a standard short scale so I got given a crappy Burswood 3/4 sized guitar that in going to convert into a 24" scale bass So I started off with a template of a standard sized P bass then scaled it down till it looked right also making sure the neck pocket size is correct and the scale length will work out right too..... It did come out quite a bit smaller...... Here's the donor guitar And here's what it will hopefully look like? The body blank is gluing up at the moment so hopefully I'll get started cutting the body tomorrow........ 👍🏻 Edited March 20, 2022 by Jimothey 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted February 22, 2022 Share Posted February 22, 2022 Cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted February 22, 2022 Author Share Posted February 22, 2022 Got the body and neck pocket done today....... 👍🏻 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Nation Posted February 22, 2022 Share Posted February 22, 2022 How are you going to deal with the tuner holes? Fill them and veneer the headstock? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted February 22, 2022 Author Share Posted February 22, 2022 2 minutes ago, Joe Nation said: How are you going to deal with the tuner holes? Fill them and veneer the headstock? Yeah thats right but I'm going to fill them then get some maple veneer and cap the front and back.....👍🏻 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted February 22, 2022 Author Share Posted February 22, 2022 I've done a size comparison this thing is tiny it feels like a uke........ 👍🏻 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
durhamboy Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 Looking forward to see how this turns out for you. I have an Allparts maple Strat neck that's been sitting in a cupboard for years and was thinking of using it for a 25-1/2" scale bass for one of the grand kids. So, definitely following your build. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted February 25, 2022 Author Share Posted February 25, 2022 Pickguard cut, just got to chamfer the edges now and stain it, Making sure everything is going to line up which it all looks good........ Next job start contouring the body and fill the existing tuner holes ready to re-drill them when the new nut arrives....👍🏻 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alittlebitrobot Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 Love this. I'm looking forward to seeing more 👏 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted March 2, 2022 Share Posted March 2, 2022 Yes - fascinating. This is going to be a very cool bass. Might start a trend.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted March 3, 2022 Author Share Posted March 3, 2022 The body is all contoured and stained I decided to do a pine cap on the headstock so it matched the body and all the or tuner holes are filled so I'll be drilling them out tomorrow.... I can't decide on whether to leave the pickguard natural and just danish oil it or do it black? Opinions please........... 👍🏻 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alittlebitrobot Posted March 3, 2022 Share Posted March 3, 2022 This is cool! Personally, assuming the p/ups are black, I would go for the black pickguard so there's a clearer visual idea; dark hardware, p'guard, p'ups with a light body. I think the contrast would be stronger. But either way, I think this is fun (and something I've thought about doing in the past so I'm glad I can see how it goes without having to go to the bother of actually trying it myself) so I think you can't really go wrong here. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Nation Posted March 3, 2022 Share Posted March 3, 2022 I'm inclined to say a black stain on the pickguard (rather than paint), but it might look odd against the rosewood fretboard. Maybe leave it natural until it's all put together, or I guess you could make another one? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted March 3, 2022 Author Share Posted March 3, 2022 My gut is saying black but as this is for my little boy I thought I'd better give him the choice? and he chose natural just with a bit of danish oil on it.......... 👍🏻 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
durhamboy Posted March 4, 2022 Share Posted March 4, 2022 Always a good move to include the future owner/player in a few decisions, especially if it's a younger player. We all need to do our bit to encourage any children who are interested in playing an instrument to get as much enjoyment out of it as possible.😉👍 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted March 4, 2022 Share Posted March 4, 2022 19 hours ago, Jimothey said: My gut is saying black but as this is for my little boy I thought I'd better give him the choice? and he chose natural just with a bit of danish oil on it.......... 👍🏻 The lad has impeccable taste. I am watching this one with interest. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted March 9, 2022 Author Share Posted March 9, 2022 Last knockings just got the wiring to do and set it up then its all done! I'm happy with the way it's turned out and I think my lityle boy will love it!!...... 👍🏻 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted March 17, 2022 Author Share Posted March 17, 2022 All finished and set up! Headstock logo is on I've named it the 'B Bass' as my little boy is called Bradley One slight problem is that even though I used short scale stringd I had to wind the thicker part of the E and A strings and it had stretched the string a bit but it seems to be stable tuning but I might have to look for some 24" scale strings, I don't know if they do them?....... 👍🏻 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted March 17, 2022 Share Posted March 17, 2022 Splendid! Newtone Strings will make any length you want 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz39 Posted March 17, 2022 Share Posted March 17, 2022 That's a lovely end result. Great finish and look. How much does it weigh? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benh Posted March 17, 2022 Share Posted March 17, 2022 Love it! Bet your son will be over the moon 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted March 17, 2022 Author Share Posted March 17, 2022 1 hour ago, Daz39 said: How much does it weigh? My scales aren't working at the mo but I reckon its about 2.5kg 👍🏻 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted March 20, 2022 Author Share Posted March 20, 2022 Well I think the bass is a hit!!..... 👍🏻 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beely Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 I think you have accomplished more than you will perhaps, at the moment anyway, realise. Many years ago, 1965 to be precise, I was 9 years old and the only one of a group of pals who didn’t have a bike. As with most families, money was tight and there wasn’t any likelihood of me getting one any time soon. Without letting on to me, my dad, my pop, uncles and so on had scavenged around for bicycle parts; frame, wheels etc. My dad worked away from home at this time, leaving early Monday and returning late on Friday. Sunday night I was packed off to bed and my dad secretly set about assembling this bike. Goodness knows what time he got finished. I got up for school the next day; he had already left for his train, and I found this bike sitting in the kitchen. I’ve never forgotten that moment: “My dad made that for me”. It took many years for the deeper significance to become apparent, but at that point, the moment was enough. I hope in the years ahead, your son will carry with him a similar cherished moment. Bravo Sir. 9 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 Excellent! A great build and something that will stay in your and your son's memories for life 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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