Author Topic: Laminate thicknesses for Bass Body? (Read 273 times)

rusty_the_scoob · « **on:** June 14, 2008, 04:02:45 PM »

I'm planning to have my dad build a custom 5-string bass body with the tribute bat wings and a bolt-on neck.

The wood arrangement I've picked is attached. I may switch the uppermost maple layer on the wings to Maple/Purpleheart/Maple for even more detail.

I'd like to get him started on the body laminates and have chosen woods based on this site. How thick should each layer be?

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** June 15, 2008, 08:14:33 PM »

The thickness of the body is to some degree related to the type of electronics you use. So you want to make sure you have room for your electronics.

The standard body depth for neck through Alembics is 1.50. For the set neck Alembics it's 1.75. The depth on a Brown Bass is 1.75, which is the depth on older Series basses; this extra depth allow the Brown Bass to be retrofitted with Series electronics.

elwoodblue · « **Reply #2 on:** June 16, 2008, 06:35:13 PM »

Welcome to the club Rusty !

...and please keep us posted with your project.

cheers

rusty_the_scoob · « **Reply #3 on:** June 16, 2008, 09:02:56 PM »

Thanks guys! I plan to build an Alembic/Fender/Irwin thingy... definitely won't rival some of the things I've seen here.

Hmmm, I don't have my electronics picked out yet but I've been planning on an overall thickness of 1.75... it's what I'm used to. It sounds like that will give me some flexibility.

How thick should the Coco Bolo top and back be? I really have no idea... 1/4? 1/2?

rusty_the_scoob · « **Reply #4 on:** June 16, 2008, 09:20:46 PM »

I should mention - I want the Coco Bolo sound, not just looks, and since I'm building it with a bolt-on neck (Alembic Blasphemy, I know... sorry!) I get the impression it'll have a tonal effect with a Mahogany core....

keurosix · « **Reply #5 on:** June 17, 2008, 01:04:24 AM »

Hi Dan,
Welcome to the club.
I think a 1/4 thickness is what would be most common for an exotic hard wood solid body electric guitar top. This may also be dictated by the thickness available from the wood supplier, unless dad has an industrial planer that can turn any board thickness to dust. Practically any thickness would be feasable. Have you considered a set neck? I know that bolt-ons may be easier to manufacture, but a set neck when glued to the body becomes one with said body, and imparts an altogether unique and specific tonality. Alembic even has a few set-neck models, and I for one can attest to their sonic abilities! Are you going to put Alembic electronics in the guitar? The Activator circuit is really top quality and furnishes the classic Alembic low-pass filter sound. Available in a few different classic pick up configurations, and also a few different control options. Worth considering for any boutique custom built guitar!
Keep us posted, and especially with pics!
Kris

keurosix · « **Reply #6 on:** June 17, 2008, 01:07:32 AM »

Dan,
Have you chosen an aftermarket bolt-on Fender type neck? That would explain why you are bolting on, anywhoo.

rusty_the_scoob · « **Reply #7 on:** June 17, 2008, 04:43:46 AM »

1/4 sounds good to me... that seems about right. Warmoth offers laminate tops in 1/8 and it looks too thin.

I have chosen but not yet ordered a Warmoth Small Gecko 5 neck. It's 35 scale which will be new to me, but should be less of a gamble on how the B string will come out.

http://www.warmoth.com/gecko/gecko.cfm?fuseaction=include_gecko5_necks

elwoodblue · « **Reply #8 on:** June 24, 2008, 01:00:42 PM »

rusty, in case you didn't see this thread...looks similar to what you have in mind (substitute mahogany for vermilion)...
david's custom