Random Guitarist Posted August 6, 2022 Share Posted August 6, 2022 Pretentious title perhaps? After finishing up the Pitbull fretless I have been pondering building something for fun. I like the idea of a headless bass. I also like the idea of using renewable stuff. I ended up drawing incredibly crude ideas in paint and went from this: To This: In my imagination it's a kind of 'what bass would Kraftwerk build if Kraftwerk built basses.' I'm going to build with cheap wood from the local timber merchant (red grandis or rose gum) because it's cheap ands I don't really know what I'm doing. Also using a richlite finger board for similar reasons. So far i've laminated, laid stuff out, admired the straitness of the grain through the lanimations, and rough shaped the neck. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard R Posted August 6, 2022 Share Posted August 6, 2022 There's a thread somewhere on @Andyjr1515 using richlite for a fingerboard. If I remember correctly it was hard work, so worth checking it out. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard R Posted August 6, 2022 Share Posted August 6, 2022 Ignore the pic, this IS the thread I meant. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Random Guitarist Posted August 6, 2022 Author Share Posted August 6, 2022 Thanks, I read that before gluing, and approached the glue up with all due trepidation. I used a fresh tube of the recommended epoxy, and just placed a few weights on the board as it dried, no clamps for excessive squeeze out. I sized the finger board before gluing to the neck blank. Once dried the fingerboard was my router guide for the neck. I also superglued some small wood pieces in place before gluing to hold the finger board in the correct location. This weekend I hope to fit the string retainer and bridge so I can get junk string on to check out the bassic (sic) alignment. Once that's done I need to cut and attach the wings, finish fingerboard and neck shape, final sand and finish. Nothing to it. TBH I am a little worried about the wood I am using shrinking. I'm doing this one the best I can but am regarding it as a prototype build for the 'good' one. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si600 Posted August 6, 2022 Share Posted August 6, 2022 (edited) Holzsaiten wären interessant Edited August 6, 2022 by Si600 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Random Guitarist Posted August 6, 2022 Author Share Posted August 6, 2022 Ich würde Splitter bekommen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si600 Posted August 6, 2022 Share Posted August 6, 2022 Wahrscheinlich... Schleifpapier? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si600 Posted August 6, 2022 Share Posted August 6, 2022 Will that upper "horn" be strong enough, would a single cut be better? Just thinking aloud. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Random Guitarist Posted August 6, 2022 Author Share Posted August 6, 2022 That's a great question, and I don't know. I think it will be strong enough for 'normal' use, especially if I make it reasonably deep. It won't survive being thrown out a window or down the stairs. I intend to get this prototype built and then I will shorten the horn to whatever minimum length allows it to balance well on the strap. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Random Guitarist Posted August 9, 2022 Author Share Posted August 9, 2022 After a range of wood bashing activities I am making some progress. The neck is almost to it's final shape and the wings are cut, although the top one will be cut a little shorter. I have assembled the core with bridge etc and briefly put strings on it, no problems with strength or alignment appeared. I am actually very happy with the shape that is emerging, probably proof that beauty is in the eye of the beholder! To be honest I have made some silly mistakes on this build. So far none are critical, but if I decide I like the end result I will almost certainly built another with better timbers. The Rose Gum (or red Grandis) is OK for prototyping. The grain is straight and it cuts well, but it tends to break out strands more easily than conventional timber. (I have not built many guitars yet, but I have some woodworking experience) 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Random Guitarist Posted August 13, 2022 Author Share Posted August 13, 2022 It lives!. Lots of learnings and mistakes, but it plays and sounds good. 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Random Guitarist Posted August 13, 2022 Author Share Posted August 13, 2022 Right now I have not wired controls, just a jack socket. The Wilkinson pickup sounds really good, plenty of bass with really good definition as well. For some reason Amazon decided to offer me it at half price, bargain of the year so far, but would be worth the full price for sure. The bridge is an overlord of music one, mine is decently machined and lightly painted. Despite some of the negative comments it seems pretty good to me for the cost. Lubricating the threads with a decent grease is essential to be able to tune with your fingers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 Very cool. Like a 2022 version of the 20/20 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Random Guitarist Posted August 16, 2022 Author Share Posted August 16, 2022 Thanks, that's an interesting comparison, I hadn't seen these basses before. I must admit (a little egotistically) that I prefer mine. I wired it fully at the weekend and couldn't be happier with the outcome. I have D'Addario XL Chromes on there and the combination of strings & pickup produce a big punchy tone that I really love. The blend wiring for the second coil is pretty nice as well , although it seems like all the tonal change is at one end of the control. Balance on a strap is good and it's very comfortable to play. I prefer to play standing or sitting with the strap in place, so the lack of knee balance doesn't bother me, I still have a pretty thick neck shape and a flat fingerboard at the moment. I thought I could experiment to see what I like and then shave it down. So far I'm finding a flat board very comfortable but I think will try radiusing it at some point. The Richlite makes for a very good feeling fingerboard. For an all in cost of £175 I'm very happy, I made a list of over ten mistakes I can learn from. My next steps are to refine neck and fingerboard profiles, apply a finish, and work out a refined design for the next one. Building the next one may be a while away though 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 Love it! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Random Guitarist Posted October 4, 2022 Author Share Posted October 4, 2022 Just to follow up on this little beauty/eyesore . . . It's now my number 1 bass. It's light and easy play, the tone is not massively versatile, but I like the tone it has. The flat fingerboard has turned out to be very comfortable. The deep flat back profile is comfortable in the hand. I have had a lot of positive comments going out and playing it. The only downside is that I can't strip it down and put a finish on it, I need it available to play The obvious answer is to build another . . . Mrs Random will not be pleased. 4 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.