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ABG first build HELP!
http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=17396		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  BenFontenot [ Thu May 29, 2008 5:31 pm ]
Post subject:  ABG first build HELP!
Hello, everyone

Right now I'm in the designing stage of making a fret less short scale 6 string acoustic bass. I won't be starting on the actual construction in about a month or so from now. As of right now I have a few questions for the guys who really know what they are doing.

I know I want the bass to be small. I was guessing a normal size short scale bass (32") with would that be ok? Thinking of all the tension because of it being a six string.

Wood choices, I was thinking of going plain sense this would be my first build and stick with Maple, Ebony for the finger board and something fancy for a top wood.

Construction wise. What would be easiest and best? I was thinking of having two half's of the many body shape and putting the neck in the middle and gluing it all together.

And all of the measurements... my be asking a lot but, how large should I aim to make the body for a nice balanced bass.

I'm not concerned about having electronics in this bass, its simply just for practice and to have something like a backpacker to always have with me.

I'm sure I will have more questions along the way of doing this but if you could shed your light on this topic I would greatly appreciate it.




While thinking of all this I'm aiming at something like the Kinal Kompact 6 string

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showth...tring+acoustic


Thanks,

Ben
Author:  Brad Way [ Thu May 29, 2008 7:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ABG first build HELP!
I am currently working on a 5 string neck thru. One thing I would have done different is to rough shape the heel of the neck before I glued the body wings onto the neck. I found once I glued it all together it was much more difficult to shape the neck heel with body wings in the way.

As for size of body? Do you have any preliminary dimensions?

I tried looking at your talkbass link it didn't work. Can you repost?
Author:  BenFontenot [ Thu May 29, 2008 7:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ABG first build HELP!
Brad Way wrote:
I am currently working on a 5 string neck thru. One thing I would have done different is to rough shape the heel of the neck before I glued the body wings onto the neck. I found once I glued it all together it was much more difficult to shape the neck heel with body wings in the way.

As for size of body? Do you have any preliminary dimensions?

I tried looking at your talkbass link it didn't work. Can you repost?



As of right now I'm still just getting an idea of what kind of shape I want. How can I find out all the lengths for the scale size I'm going for?

here are the pictures of what I would like to see my bass come out to be like.

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Author:  Rick Turner [ Thu May 29, 2008 7:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ABG first build HELP!
So far I'm not seeing much about this project that says "acoustic" to me, and as a "backpacker" type of instrument, it won't be very acoustic, so I don't think much matters other than playability. "Acoustic bass guitars" are a real non-event unless they are big, but a practice instrument like this could be fun. Just build a long scale thin bodied guitar.
Author:  BenFontenot [ Thu May 29, 2008 7:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ABG first build HELP!
Pretty much thats all I'm looking for is something like a backpacker to bring around with me downtown or wherever I feel like playing, but also looks and sounds like a bass.
Author:  BenFontenot [ Fri May 30, 2008 9:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: ABG first build HELP!
Is there a good site or book that I could look at to get all the measurments that I will need to know for getting started?
Author:  Brad Way [ Fri May 30, 2008 5:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ABG first build HELP!
Interesting design. If you set your scale length at 32" then you should be able to work from there. I usually use a cad system to take an known design and layout a variation from there. It helps me to keep things proportioned correctly. I will be unable to help for a few weeks because I will out of town but if you need some help with a CAD layout I might be able to get you something close (rough layout).
Author:  BenFontenot [ Sat May 31, 2008 1:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: ABG first build HELP!
Brad Way wrote:
Interesting design. If you set your scale length at 32" then you should be able to work from there. I usually use a cad system to take an known design and layout a variation from there. It helps me to keep things proportioned correctly. I will be unable to help for a few weeks because I will out of town but if you need some help with a CAD layout I might be able to get you something close (rough layout).




Thanks for the help and advice. I'm still just drawing out some ideas of what i would like it to come out like, but that Kinal bass I posted early is what I'm looking towards building. Just pm me when you are back and I can show you what I have so far.

Thanks again.
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