Cigar Box Basses

Comment

Comment by Jillian Baxter on December 12, 2012 at 12:14pm

Where do you get polyurethane cord?

Comment by Jillian Baxter on December 12, 2012 at 12:11pm

Chris, if you are doing a 30" scale I think you can use regular bass strings.

Comment by rusty case on December 12, 2012 at 12:05pm

Well I'm wrung out! lol  That's abt all I got!

Hope some of the qualified builders come along for proper advice...

Seems to me somewhere between 7/16 and 5/8ths spacing, dependent on nut to bridge length, string diameter and material, and fretted or unfretted, plucked or bowed...  did I mention fingerboard scoop?

Then playing style will also come into play.  lol

This is FUN stuff!

:-)

rc

Comment by Chris on December 12, 2012 at 11:27am

I feel ya there, I'm a bit worried the string spacing will be too narrow with 3, but I'm certainly game to try

Comment by rusty case on December 12, 2012 at 10:49am

..just a comment, Chris...

Two strings is double the fun of one, brings more opportunity for a progression.

Three strings brings you the opportunity for a chord.

Best

rc

Comment by Chris on December 12, 2012 at 9:43am

Alright, I'm working on a regular CBG build at the moment, but once I finish that I'm gonna use the parts I have to make a bass.  I think I'll only be going 2 string, likely an E and A.  I have a 3 foot long poplar 1x2 for the neck.  Haven't measured out the scale length, but it'll be shorter than I prefer.  I've been looking around but couldn't find specifics; what size wacker strings would you recommend for an E and A string at ~30" scale length?

 

Now I'll have to figure out tuners, as the bass tuners I have probably weigh more than the entire rest of the parts

Comment by Wichita Sam on December 11, 2012 at 7:46pm

for Jullian and Yellowbelly,

 

I have built with both week wacker and polyurethane cord.  They have very different properties that effect design issues.  Weedwacker is relative stiff which makes tunability more difficult the shorter the scale.  If you're looking for ultra short scale, go with PU.  I have build true low E as short as 17" scale.  Both are excellent fretless, but if you are going fretted on PU, it is so soft that you need thicker frets to keep the tone pure.  I prefer jumbo/bass fret profile, but maybe you could get by with mediums. 

 

the best,

 

Wichita Sam

Comment by Yellowbelly Flatt on December 11, 2012 at 5:38pm

It all sounds good Jillian.....................

Comment by Jillian Baxter on December 11, 2012 at 5:33pm

Hey Yellowbelly. It is just time and priorities right now, not any concerns about it at all. I have the hardware all gathered up and waiting. A very nice rosewood finger board, gold fret wire and tuners.

Comment by Yellowbelly Flatt on December 11, 2012 at 11:00am

Jillian - get building. Seeing your ukulele I cant see you will have a whole lot of problems. n.b. I also play ukuleles.

What scale are you thinking of using for your bass? This was my 20 inch ukulele bass. Weed whacker lines for strings with under saddle pick up.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• …
• 32
• Next ›
• Page