Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi

I have a good friend who over the next 6 months or so would liek to attempt an acoustic bass working with me in my home workshop. Should be good fun and some great banter but i told him I have not had any experience with basses being only on numbers 3 and 4 ... what I need is some idea of a good spec body dimensions and inparticular bracing paterns for a 4 string. He wants to build with a slightly shallower body depth than a pure acoustic bass and incorporate a decent 'acoustic' pick up.

Has there been a thread on Bass dimensions and specs and what would be recommended in terms of pick up? Ideally a 'hidden under saddle or bridge with active component'

He has chosen to go with a Malaysian Blackwood/sitka combo... with cutaway... so nice and easy!

Any help greatly appreciated.

Frank,

There is a set of plans on ebay for an acoustic bass.http://cgi.ebay.com/ACOUSTIC-BASS-GUITAR-PLANS-LUTHIER-TONEWOOD-/150553661970?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item230db29212

I can't help with the pick up.

Steve

Thanks, actually looks quite good.

Does anyone have any opinion on using Western Red Cedar for an Acoustic bass top and what sort of thickness it should go down to? Very interested in thoughts on bracing too... I am begging now

Check out this thread over on Luthier Community http://www.luthiercom.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=1487. Cedar topped acoustic bass with very minimal A bracing, and CF buttresses to support neck torque.

Hi Dennis

Thanks for the link, appreciated... will check it out as soon as the admins confirm my registration!

Cheers

Frank