Members DerekDRP Posted September 5, 2005 Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 is it as easy as it looks? I build r/c cars r/c trucks fly r/c helicopters . And when i look at the parts involved in making a bass guitar ( not completely making it but buying the neck and body and hardware slapping it all together ( tunning it and playing it ) ? BTW I build computers for a living. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Detox Posted September 5, 2005 Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 Shouldn't be a problem. I was about to build a Carvin 5-string, but at the last minute I traded one of my basses for a 5. Might still build one, just for the experience (especially in doing a set-up). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DerekDRP Posted September 5, 2005 Author Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 what is the hardest thing to do do on the build list ( just buying the parts you want )? or the $300 $400 paint job you want? Btw I still want it 4 strings. that bass carver kit for $359 you shown me ? can that be made with 4 string in mind? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Markee Posted September 5, 2005 Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 Probably not for someone mechanically inclined. If you were a shop rat in school, that helps. The hardest part is making your instrument look professionally finished. Take a look at reranch.com. There are books out that go thru the steps. If you think you will save money by doing this yourself you are wrong. The tools required to do the job right will cost twice what you pay for the experience of rolling your own. You might want to buy a project bass and start by refurbishing it first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DerekDRP Posted September 5, 2005 Author Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 well i am only asking becuse I want a custom paint job ( not your normal sunburst colors or your other colors ie black/red/green/ so on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Detox Posted September 5, 2005 Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 Originally posted by DerekDRP what is the hardest thing to do do on the build list ( just buying the parts you want )? or the $300 $400 paint job you want?Btw I still want it 4 strings. that bass carver kit for $359 you shown me ? can that be made with 4 string in mind? Carvin can sell you a 4-string kit. Have a look at the different necks you can order. From my point of view, the hardest thing about building it would be getting the body prepped correctly so that a stain finish wouldn't turn out blotchy-looking. If you're going with a different type of finish, that wouldn't be a concern. In lieu of doing body prep, I guess the next trickiest thing would be doing some soldering. Not a problem if you know how to do it, but not impossibly difficult if you haven't. From what I've read, Carvin kits come with directions for all steps of the construction, so you don't have to guess about how to do things too much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fretless Posted September 5, 2005 Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 I did a Carvin kit and a Warmoth p bass , the Carvin is super simple as everyhole is drilled and the nut is cut and they offer paint. The Warmoth needs the neck holes drilled , this is the tricky part , I think they offer nut work now , and the frets need final dressing , this is also a skill but you can tape it off and do it yourself with some steel wool and they also do paint, oil finish is real easy though, but if you want paint then this can be a challenge , tools and skill needed If you want a challenge then Warmoth stuff is Awesome , if you want a quick and easy build with less options ,then the Carvin kit is cool. Carvin BK4F in Walnut Warmoth Carved Dinky P in Black Korina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DerekDRP Posted September 5, 2005 Author Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 very nice bass dude. but i want some flashy paint job ( just not a wood finish ) I want a flashy finish on my bass so on. I want it to be totaly different then your guys bass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fretless Posted September 5, 2005 Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 a good nitro paint job {if you can find it } is around $300 , a crazy paint job , metal flake , air brush work etc. $300 + , if you want to do it yourself then I agree with Markee spend some time and money at reranch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members prima Posted September 5, 2005 Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 Like some others said, you won't save money. Also, I'd agree that in certain respects finishing can be the most difficult, depending on what type of finish you are trying to get. The bass I'm currently finishing up cost about $1000 in wood, electronics, hardware, etc. The guitar I'm working on might be more like $400. It just depends on what types of things you are putting on it, what woods you are using, what electronics, hardware, etc. I've started the fretless brother to this bass already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fretless Posted September 5, 2005 Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 Originally posted by prima Like some others said, you won't save money. Also, I'd agree that in certain respects finishing can be the most difficult, depending on what type of finish you are trying to get. The bass I'm currently finishing up cost about $1000 in wood, electronics, hardware, etc. The guitar I'm working on might be more like $400. It just depends on what types of things you are putting on it, what woods you are using, what electronics, hardware, etc. I've started the fretless brother to this bass already. Beautiful ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DerekDRP Posted September 5, 2005 Author Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 Originally posted by prima Like some others said, you won't save money. Also, I'd agree that in certain respects finishing can be the most difficult, depending on what type of finish you are trying to get.The bass I'm currently finishing up cost about $1000 in wood, electronics, hardware, etc. The guitar I'm working on might be more like $400. It just depends on what types of things you are putting on it, what woods you are using, what electronics, hardware, etc.I've started the fretless brother to this bass already. Holy moly is that a 9 striing bass? ( what ever it is its very sexy looking ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lug Posted September 5, 2005 Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 For me, one of the toughest parts is getting the neck pocket right. I fixed that problem by buying a carvin neck-thru neck and going from there. For a finish, Tung Oil or Danish oil is VERY easy to work with. You just rub on/rub off and very light sanding/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members prima Posted September 5, 2005 Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 Originally posted by DerekDRP Holy moly is that a 9 striing bass? ( what ever it is its very sexy looking ) No, it's just an 8 string. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DerekDRP Posted September 5, 2005 Author Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 Originally posted by lug For me, one of the toughest parts is getting the neck pocket right. I fixed that problem by buying a carvin neck-thru neck and going from there. For a finish, Tung Oil or Danish oil is VERY easy to work with. You just rub on/rub off and very light sanding/ allso very sexylooking bass. Btw guys what do you sugest? buy a built one ? wich i really dont wanna do. ( I want mine to be costum as much as i can get ). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Thrash Jazz Posted September 5, 2005 Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 Putting one together from parts isn't so difficult. There are a lot of good books available on it - you should check out www.stewmac.com. The hardest parts, I would say, are drilling the neck and bridge holes and aligning them properly. If you're even a little bit off, you have an expensive piece of firewood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lug Posted September 5, 2005 Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 Originally posted by DerekDRP allso very sexylooking bass.Btw guys what do you sugest? buy a built one ? wich i really dont wanna do. ( I want mine to be costum as much as i can get ). Thanks. For me, I'd rather build something uniquely my own design than another J, P, or other popular bass. Many love building copies that are actually better than the originals. All depends on what you want. Soundwise, it doesn't make a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members prima Posted September 5, 2005 Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 Originally posted by Thrash Jazz Putting one together from parts isn't so difficult. There are a lot of good books available on it - you should check out www.stewmac.com. The hardest parts, I would say, are drilling the neck and bridge holes and aligning them properly. If you're even a little bit off, you have an expensive piece of firewood. You can just dowel it and try again. Mind you, if you can't drill two sets of aligned holes then you probably can't dowel the incorrectly drilled holes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Thrash Jazz Posted September 5, 2005 Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 Originally posted by prima You can just dowel it and try again. Mind you, if you can't drill two sets of aligned holes then you probably can't dowel the incorrectly drilled holes. The problem is more with aligning them than drilling them. You have to get the neck in perfectly straight, then line up the nut slots with the string saddles on the bridge. Probably easy enough for a carpenter or woodworker, but a bit more of a headache for a rookie... it was a pain for me the first time I tried it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members prima Posted September 5, 2005 Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 Originally posted by Thrash Jazz The problem is more with aligning them than drilling them. You have to get the neck in perfectly straight, then line up the nut slots with the string saddles on the bridge. Probably easy enough for a carpenter or woodworker, but a bit more of a headache for a rookie... it was a pain for me the first time I tried it! I suppose if your neck joint is so loose that there's play in the neck then this could happen. I don't know the quality of the premade necks and bodies since I've never seen one before. This has never been an issue for me since the neck is so tight in the pocket that it only fits in one orientation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Thrash Jazz Posted September 5, 2005 Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 Originally posted by prima I suppose if your neck joint is so loose that there's play in the neck then this could happen. I don't know the quality of the premade necks and bodies since I've never seen one before.This has never been an issue for me since the neck is so tight in the pocket that it only fits in one orientation. The quality is usually pretty good. IME you only usually get stuck with a loose joint if you try to mix and match from different companies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassplayinguy Posted September 5, 2005 Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 Originally posted by DerekDRP very nice bass dude. but i want some flashy paint job ( just not a wood finish ) I want a flashy finish on my bass so on. I want it to be totaly different then your guys bass. you mean like this? . and yes, it is mine, and its for sale! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassman1956 Posted September 5, 2005 Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 Man, I do like the looks of that thing! But currently, I'm not gassing for a fretted 4 of any type. Well, maybe a Ric or a Ray... Originally posted by bassplayinguy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Narcosynthesis Posted September 5, 2005 Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 one thing to remember is that there is a difference between a load of parts bolted together into a bass, and an instrument remember you need to get the neck aligned and drilled properly, and probably the frets dressed and finished at least which isnt the easiest of tasks to do, but are doable with some patience, then theres the rest f the setup, truss rod and action, wiring and setting the pickups heights and so on finishing can be hard to do nicely, but that will depend on the exact finish you are wanting and what facilities you have on offer good luck on the build though, having a bass you made yourself would be awesome David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JC Bass Posted September 5, 2005 Members Share Posted September 5, 2005 I will second the vote for doing a Carvin BK4 kit. They are really easy to assemble and the only real challenge will be doing your finish. Reranch.com as mentioned will help you prep the body for a solid color and then you can go from there. Nitro finishes are a pain in the butt to do right, but if you are going to have some kind of graphic done on it, then you will want to do the filler/sanding sealer/primer/base coat finished before taking it to whoever does the graphics work. After that, do a crap load of clear coats according to the reranch directions. This guitar kit is a Carvin Bolt kit that I did. It turned out pretty good. The hardest part was the nitro finish I chose to do. Putting it together was a snap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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