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Acoustic Bass Guitar
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Author:  Mark Groza [ Sun Jan 17, 2010 8:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Acoustic Bass Guitar
Show me your acoustic bass guitars.A friend of mine wants me to build him one. I need some ideas on body style, size, and top wood selection.
Author:  Timcacca [ Sun Jan 17, 2010 9:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic Bass Guitar
I bought a set of plans from a guy named Mark Stanley, he also gives a small tutorial on woods, construction, and design that might help with building an acostic bass. Check EBay, thats where I got mine.

Tim
Author:  Ti-Roux [ Mon Jan 18, 2010 12:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic Bass Guitar
I have a fender acoustic bass, and I would guess, by eye, that it's based on a OOO or OOOO shape, but bit larger and longer, and bit deeper. After played some, I could give you some suggestions:
1- Cutaway.
2- Maybe think about a arm rest (please!)
3- Joint the neck at 15-16 like the Martin ones, instead of 12 or 14... Best playability
4- I'd try redwood for the top. Purely personnal suggestion!

Good luck, and please give us news on this project!
Francis
Author:  Mark Groza [ Mon Jan 18, 2010 8:27 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic Bass Guitar
I was also thinking cut-away for playability.And 14 fret to put the bridge in a good spot.I've heard redwood doesn't take glue very good for bridges and braces,(splinters up easily)sort of a grain shear.So how about cedar top with walnut body? I have those woods ready to go.
Author:  jhowell [ Mon Jan 18, 2010 9:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic Bass Guitar
Here is a link to some interesting acoustic bass plans.

http://liutaiomottola.com/instruments.htm#mozTocId11443

It seems like about a year, a year and half ago there was a similar thread about acoustic basses that Rick Turner chimed in on. He brought up some really good points about why 4/4 and 3/4 double basses are the size they are. It takes a lot of acoustic body volume to get the frequencies low enough to be a bass. I suspect that if you put a pickup in the guitar, the volume issue will be much less of a factor.

Please keep us posted on progress. My acoustic bass project is along the lines of John How's -- body from Ace Hardware -- No. 3 washtub. :D
Author:  mateo4x4 [ Mon Jan 18, 2010 11:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic Bass Guitar
I'm finishing one up now and will try to get some info up later. I did a cedar top and made a huge error in how thick to make it. I just finished redoing the top with two layers of cedar (cross grained the second layer) because it all but collapsed when tuned up. I also did some carbon fiber reinforcement rods to keep the body from trying to fold in half. I guess that is what you get when a classical builder does a steel string bass for the first time! LOL
Author:  Ti-Roux [ Mon Jan 18, 2010 4:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic Bass Guitar
Mark Groza wrote:
I was also thinking cut-away for playability.And 14 fret to put the bridge in a good spot.I've heard redwood doesn't take glue very good for bridges and braces,(splinters up easily)sort of a grain shear.So how about cedar top with walnut body? I have those woods ready to go.


Never heard a cedar acoustic bass, but I guess that would work great. And if you have a good set of walnut, go ahead. I love walnut, and sounds great.
Author:  Mark Groza [ Mon Jan 18, 2010 4:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic Bass Guitar
mateo4x4 wrote:
I'm finishing one up now and will try to get some info up later. I did a cedar top and made a huge error in how thick to make it. I just finished redoing the top with two layers of cedar (cross grained the second layer) because it all but collapsed when tuned up. I also did some carbon fiber reinforcement rods to keep the body from trying to fold in half. I guess that is what you get when a classical builder does a steel string bass for the first time! LOL

I was just wandering how thick your top was.I plan to keep mine on the thick side plus i'm closeing the x brace quite a bit as well.I want the wings of the bridge over the x.
Author:  Darrel Friesen [ Mon Jan 18, 2010 7:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic Bass Guitar
Bill Moll makes some amazing archtop acoustic basses (and guitars) which he claims will hold their own in an acoustic jam. Pretty much as large a guitar as one could hold without standing it up. 20" body with 4" ribs and a 34" scale. Check out gallery number 2 for some pictures. http://www.mollinst.com/pages/Resources ... allery_2-b
Author:  jhowell [ Mon Jan 18, 2010 7:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic Bass Guitar
Thanks for the link to Bill's site. Man, he does some beautiful work.
Author:  mateo4x4 [ Mon Jan 18, 2010 8:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic Bass Guitar
Mark Groza wrote:
mateo4x4 wrote:
I'm finishing one up now and will try to get some info up later. I did a cedar top and made a huge error in how thick to make it. I just finished redoing the top with two layers of cedar (cross grained the second layer) because it all but collapsed when tuned up. I also did some carbon fiber reinforcement rods to keep the body from trying to fold in half. I guess that is what you get when a classical builder does a steel string bass for the first time! LOL

I was just wandering how thick your top was.I plan to keep mine on the thick side plus i'm closeing the x brace quite a bit as well.I want the wings of the bridge over the x.


to be honest, I don't remember, but it was way thin! Probably closer to .08"...with steel/electric bass strings I would go .10" or quite a bit more.
Author:  Mark Groza [ Mon Jan 18, 2010 8:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic Bass Guitar
Thanks Darrel, that was a nice link to Bill's site.What i'm looking for is a base with bridge pins. The guitar i want to build won't be a archtop though. So bring on some pictures guys.I
Author:  Mark Groza [ Tue Jan 19, 2010 9:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Acoustic Bass Guitar
mateo4x4 wrote:
Mark Groza wrote:
mateo4x4 wrote:
I'm finishing one up now and will try to get some info up later. I did a cedar top and made a huge error in how thick to make it. I just finished redoing the top with two layers of cedar (cross grained the second layer) because it all but collapsed when tuned up. I also did some carbon fiber reinforcement rods to keep the body from trying to fold in half. I guess that is what you get when a classical builder does a steel string bass for the first time! LOL

I was just wandering how thick your top was.I plan to keep mine on the thick side plus i'm closeing the x brace quite a bit as well.I want the wings of the bridge over the x.


to be honest, I don't remember, but it was way thin! Probably closer to .08"...with steel/electric bass strings I would go .10" or quite a bit more.

Wow Matthew! That was thin. Since i'm useing cedar,i'm thinking at least .135" top thickness.
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