The neck is Cherry. I added no reinforcement since it was just two strings. I think up to three strings would not really need reinforcement. I do not remember the tension per string right off the top of my head but I did research that when I built it. There has been no neck movement since it was built so I think it will be okay.
Mine is the old 30" scale. It feels more comfortable to me since I play 6 string most of the time and hand position is closer than on a 34". A lot of old original basses were 30" then 34" became more popular. Thanks for the good comments. Glad I could help out a little. Timing will definitely improve as you play and I think playing bass some has improved my timing also.
Doc, wow, I get it now in the key of G too. My timing is too poor to play bass, but it's cool to understand it some. And I might want to make a 2 or 3 string bass. Your scale does not look long in the photo. How long is it?
Doctor! That is a good explanation. Thanks. I sat here and messed around on a 6 string and I 'think' I figured out how to play rudimentary bass in the key E. Will read your explanation again, digest a bit and maybe make a 2 string bass.
The top most string is an open low 'E', an octave below a regular six string 'E'. The bottom string is an open 'A', an octave below the 2nd string down on a regular 6-string guitar. The strings a a 'fifth' apart which is common when playing bass, if playing a 'A' for example the off-beat is an 'E'. This fifth relation can be played at any fret down the neck, just like on a regular 4-string bass. Works really good on blues, old rock, country and even most gospel. I can play it any key, just like a regular 6-string guitar, all notes, sharps and flats are there. It would be easy to tune it to play 'easiest' in 'G' if that was desired but then it would be hard for another player to play it, I had every intention of doing it that way myself but the light bulb went off and I think any bass player can play it like this. 'G' is top sting-3rd fret, 'fifth' off-beat would be an 'D' which is bottom string, 5th-fret, an easy move. The notes that one usually play with 'G' being the root would be 'C' and 'D', the old I-IV-V chord progression. 'C' is bottom string -3rd fret and 'D' is bottom string -5th fret. All easy to get to when tuned like a regular bass, i.e. 'E'-'A'. ope this helps you some. If not just give me a shout or some other players here and someone maybe can explain it better than I have.
Nice looking bass. I am fairly ignorant about basses. Can you please tell me what the strings are and what keys it ends up being good to play in? I would kind of like to make a bass that play in the key of G.
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