Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: elwoodblue on April 28, 2020, 12:35:07 AM

Title: Homebrew 6 String Bass
Post by: elwoodblue on April 28, 2020, 12:35:07 AM
 Years ago...
 TBrannon offered a 6 string bass body to the club here (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=16233.msg163872#msg163872).
 I gladly accepted the challenge. (Thanks!)

My inner muse suggested I try this build with only donated and found materials.
I thought I'd bring as much Alembic 'stylings' as I could given my imposed limitations.

Ed of "H" donated some Lakland pups and guts. (Thanks again!)
I had to spend $28 on some very cheap tuners.

Found some nice walnut, maple, and cocobolo in the wood bin.
No truss rod...I'm hoping the cocobolo lam helps with that.

I decided to have a fretless fingerboard. That makes for a nice viewing of the spalted maple,
but I can see my learning curve for playing the beast is getting a little steeper.
I have large hands..but a 6 string bass is new to me.  I might add some taper still,
the string spacing is fairly wide and parallel.


 I improvised this build with little planning...a Jazz bass of sorts ;)
Finding 5 huge Standel knobs in my parts drawer that fit was the kicker...I
knew the gods were looking down on me and laughing  ::)
I'll solder up the guts and post some soundclips.


Here's a link to a photo album(I'll add more pics inline soon):


6 String Thing  (https://www.slickpic.com/users/GeodeGuitars/albums/6-String-Fretless-Bass/?wallpaper)


 
 
Title: Re: Homebrew 6 String Bass
Post by: pauldo on April 28, 2020, 04:28:10 AM
The Standel knobs are everything!   A juxtaposition of the beautiful woods and the free form “jazz” build!  Love it.

Does the nut have extra slots?
Title: Re: Homebrew 6 String Bass
Post by: elwoodblue on April 28, 2020, 04:38:07 AM

Does the nut have extra slots?
The beginnings of a scallop-ed idea, I might scoop them out more to show
the layering.


(also...the bridge plate is a xylophone key... E flat)
Title: Re: Homebrew 6 String Bass
Post by: mario_farufyno on April 28, 2020, 05:13:00 AM
cool bridge
Title: Re: Homebrew 6 String Bass
Post by: edwardofhuncote on April 28, 2020, 05:45:29 AM
Nice to see it take flight.   8)
Title: Re: Homebrew 6 String Bass
Post by: David Houck on April 28, 2020, 07:30:33 AM
That Spalted Maple looks nice!  Congrats on the build!
Title: Re: Homebrew 6 String Bass
Post by: gtrguy on April 28, 2020, 10:02:35 AM
Nice! It's a great time to do projects like this!