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Help me decide on the body shape of my new project bass!


Rippin' Robin

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Posted

So, the ML is up in body sealer and it's been fun and I've learned some valuable things. So - the time has come to start thinking about my next DIY bass, using better wood, better electronics, etc - in all, a better bass than the cheap-ass ML I'm building for {censored}s and giggles.

 

Of course, this would have to be a pointy bass. I bring you the three main contestants for the body shape:

 

1. Explorer, the timeless classic and head honcho pointy bass of them all:

(I wanted to post a pic of L-1329's explorer but couldn't find any)

 

explorer_1.jpg

 

2. Variation on Explorer 1: The Kelly

There's something about this design.

 

jksn-u-kelly.jpg

 

3. Variation on Explorer 2: Ibanez Destroyer

Yeah, this says 'ROCK!' all the way. The middle yellow one, not the bass.

 

ibanez3.jpg

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Posted

I don't know about anybody else, but as far as I can tell your #3 choice, Destroyer, is a square, white body with "Image Hosted by Tripod" painted on it... I'd only pick that one if Tripod was paying for everything. :p

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Posted


explorer_1.jpg

 

You sir, have excellent taste in bass.:evil:

 

And yes the Explorer IS the end all and be all of pointy goodness. It's classic, modern, cool, and timeless all in one. It is what all other pointy basses aspire to be, and the rest on your list are only cheap pretenders to the throne. Also the Warmoth Explorer took the Gibby shape and tweaked it just slightly to give it much better looking, and more perfect proportions, and it looks incredible in person. The bolt on neck also allows a perfect mounting point for a strap lock that lets the bass balance well too, no neck dive at all. If you're going to rock the points, rock the only true pointy bass of them all. The rest are just gimmicks.:D

 

 

I'll help you out...;)

 

finished_body2.JPG

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Posted

Anyone ever try a reverse explorer shape? Seems like it should balance better. One of my half done projects is a lefty SX explorer guitar conversion, need to route the new control cavity and reverse the bridge slant before it'll be playable...

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Posted

Anyone ever try a reverse explorer shape? Seems like it should balance better. One of my half done projects is a lefty SX explorer guitar conversion, need to route the new control cavity and reverse the bridge slant before it'll be playable...

 

Pointyness is not about practicality!:mad:

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Posted

Well, practicality was a secondary concern, I think it'd look cooler that way.
:wave:

 

Actually those old Carvin pointy guitars and basses kind of had the reverse Explorer shape to them. They had a different twin point tail end though, but a similar upper/lower horn.

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Posted

Actually those old Carvin pointy guitars and basses kind of had the reverse Explorer shape to them. They had a different twin point tail end though, but a similar upper/lower horn.

 

Oh, yeah, the V220! :)

 

89_v220-small.jpg

 

Not at all what I'm looking, for though!

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Posted

I think we have overwhelming evidence for the Explorer.


L-1329, what did Warmoth actually change about the design? A pointier, less rounded lower horn?

 

Two things mainly. The lower half was brought in closer to the centerline of the body, so that the spread of strings is more in the middle. The Gibson had the lower half hang down farther, which made the strings look slightly off center towards the upper half. Doing this also made the front lower horn sleeker than the Gibson. Also the upper 'horn', if you can call it that, was brought farther back on the Warmoth than the Gibson. Those changes really gave the Explorer a much sleeker, well proportioned overall appearance. You can kind of see this on this page, just googled up...

 

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/1145338322055815200ZiBomv

 

The Epi Explorer shape is closer to the Warmoth shape though. They changed that upper horn and it's a little more symetrical than the actual Gibson.:cool:

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Posted

I've done an overlay and it's pretty apparent now. The Warmoth is slimmer with a much more recessed upper 'stump' horn, sharper lower horn and a more streamlined appearance overall.

 

explorers.jpg

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Posted

That a good way to see what I mean, although admittedly the angle I took that pic of mine makes the tail fin look smaller than it is, and the lower point slightly bigger. Still, that's a good overlay. The Epiphone and Hamer Explore shapes are closer to the Warmoth, and all three look much sleeker than the Gibson shape to me. It really looks sweet in real life.

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Posted

That a good way to see what I mean, although admittedly the angle I took that pic of mine makes the tail fin look smaller than it is, and the lower point slightly bigger. Still, that's a good overlay. The Epiphone and Hamer Explore shapes are closer to the Warmoth, and all three look much sleeker than the Gibson shape to me. It really looks sweet in real life.

 

My guitarist has a Hamer Explorer. I can work from there :thu:

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