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Short Scale Resonator Bass Build

I got a large cookie tin from my mother in law(4" x 12" x 9") and decided to do a resonator bass without frets.

Thinking about using a Uke type strip Piezo, P Bass Pickups, 3-way switch, 250k volume and tone pots with a .047uf cap. Was thinking of using regular Bass strings for 4 string bass.

Using some square table legs(2 & 1/4" x 1 & 3/4" x 21") for the neck - bolted to a through the tin piece. The through the tin piece will have a hollowed out area at the end for side mounted tuners of some kind, may get actual tuners - may make something. The string ends will mount at the nut end of the neck like a Steinberger Bass.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on May 30, 2016 at 10:38am

A pic of the tin.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on May 30, 2016 at 10:42am

A pic of the table legs.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on May 30, 2016 at 10:44am

Through piece in the tin pics and a mock up of neck attached pic.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on May 30, 2016 at 10:47am

I'm going for 30" scale. will use a brass bolt for the nut and a steel bolt for the bridge with the strip piezo under the bridge and the Pbass pups close to the neck.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on June 1, 2016 at 6:58pm

These table legs being 2 & 1/4" wide are making me rethink my plans. A BassVI is really starting to nag at me. Maybe a set of 12 gauge strings and a 28" scale instead of the 30" scale. If I go that route I will have to rethink the pickups, Humbucker(coil tapped) in the bridge, strip piezo under the bridge and a P90 in the neck with 3 on/off toggles and 3 separate volumes?

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on June 5, 2016 at 10:01am

I decided to stick with the regular fretless bass idea, but will be 5 strings instead of 4. Not sure on scale yet, going back and forth between 28" and 30" scales.

Thinking of doing a low impedance pickup like the ones that Wayfinder and Buggy have made. Might also add some J Bass pups, Rondo has a set for 19 bucks.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on June 4, 2016 at 10:11pm

Got the through piece in the tin with support blocks and cut out a channel for the tuners. May use some eye bolts for the tuners. Probably will use some metal supports for the sides at the tuners since the cut out is so large. Started drilling mounting holes for the neck.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on June 5, 2016 at 9:55am

Got the neck attached. Time to remove the neck and move on to shaping the neck.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on June 7, 2016 at 11:06pm

Started work on the neck yesterday. Cut a channel for the 1/4" square steel non-adjustable trussrod. I usually glue them in to stop rattle from occurring, Had one guitar neck develop a bad back bow when I glued the rod in, so this time I stuffed tooth picks on each side to keep it steady and from rattling.

Then I started forming the back side. First I trimmed the edge with a 1/2" roundover bit in my router. Then I use a 1/2 round rasp file(round on one side flat on the other), utility knife blades(used as scrapers) and sandpaper. Got one side mostly done, should be completely done with the neck in a couple days.