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Bass git fret question

I am starting a cigar box bass project. 3 string, 30" scale. I was planning on using jumbo fret wire, but thought I'd ask what other builder's have had success with. Or, perhaps more important, what didn't work? Thanks in advance.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on August 14, 2017 at 6:55pm

Haven't built one with frets, but If I did I would use the Jumbo or Super Jumbo.

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Permalink Reply by Grandpa on August 16, 2017 at 3:45pm

Well, I have a good bit of Jumbo, so that'll be it. Gracias.

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Permalink Reply by Diglydog on August 21, 2017 at 4:54am

I used Jumbo on my 30" three-string. Worked fine and I think it looks in proportion. Good luck !

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Permalink Reply by Grandpa on August 21, 2017 at 5:21am

Nice piece, Digly.

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Permalink Reply by Geordie Hillbilly on August 24, 2017 at 7:43am

Hi Grandpa

I've made two short scale basses and as I used a second hand lead electric guitar neck I used ultralight bass strings - so if you used these as an alternative you could use normal size fret wire. Ernie Ball 6-string Slinky Nickel Wound Short Scale

Got to say, after playing a Precision for years, it's a joy to play with light strings and short neck.

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Permalink Reply by Grandpa on August 24, 2017 at 2:20pm

Jamie, that's a real nice build. A 6 string CBB. Awesome. Thanks for sharing your build. It looks like your tuners worked out well, even with the 90 and 74 strings. Wouldn't have thought to use standard tuners instead of bass tuners, which surely wouldn't fit on a Strat-style neck. How does it chord?

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Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on August 25, 2017 at 5:45am

www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/BassVI60sASG

Back in the 60's, Fender took a 3 pickup Jaguar and put a 30" scale neck on it with Baritone strings and called it the Bass VI. George Harrison used one on a few Beatles tunes.

They were usually tuned E - e one octave lower than the regular 6 string guitar. But you can do one in Baritone scale(27" to 30") using Baritone strings and tune in B, C or D. I made a 28" scale Dulcitar on a Strat body with regular scale strings tuned to C. works great.

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Permalink Reply by Grandpa on August 25, 2017 at 1:34pm

Very Nice, Paul.

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Permalink Reply by Geordie Hillbilly on August 26, 2017 at 1:29am

It sounds great playing chords - I'm actually in the middle of a build using half bass and half lead so I can add a bit of distorted lead as I am playing - kind of finger picking?

I'm also going to try a build with a separate pick up just for the bass strings so I can run two amps - Paul Craig's great suggestion! bass hybrid

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Permalink Reply by Grandpa on August 26, 2017 at 10:15am

What a place. I asked a fret question about a CBB two weeks ago, and today I look back on your replies, and I'll tell ya, which frets I should use is so far in the rearview I had to re-read it to remember! Thanks for your posts and pix...I got questions answered that I didn't know to ask, and ideas from you that have me a couple of months out thinking about which way to go. Makes me sorry I do best one build at a time. I reckon I see three, maybe four builds out, as usual, with all your shared experiences. Thanks for sharing!

Oh yeah...Jumbos!