Electric Upright V2.0 - Episode 1 - Designing a better bass
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- Armed with the experience of building and playing an electric upright, as well as buying and playing a lot of double bass in the last 18 months I'm in a much better position to build a much better bass.
Eshka's full series on the intricacies of violin design:
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I see a new episode - I watch it. It’s a simple as that
For sure!
Yeah. Me too.
Thats SO cool. I've had that exact same idea.Never understood why electric uprighs are always trimmed down to a basic stick with strings. That would be like the Steinberger was the standard shape for electric basses. This is like a Les Paul. The basic design of the acoustic instruments body, just smaller.
Awesome stuff, that top is going to look incredible when it's finished.
Oh that body blank would make a fantastic giveaway for a fan of the blade to be able to build a Bass 🙄 maybe ?
Always good entertainment on Fanblade , certainly a must watch for myself to learn from a master chef of fine instruments 👌👌
Well hell, right off the bat, I've started 2 electric uprights, haven't finished either 🙄 That cello body thing is actually a fantastic idea- I have a cheap student grade cello I got for free because the neck is severely warped. My original idea was to turn it into a 6 string tuned like a baritone guitar, possibly with frets, like an arpeggione or a viola de gamba. Now I'm torn....
And funny enough, I’ve seriously considered getting a Hofner clone body as a starting point for an upright as well. One of my started projects has a smaller acoustic body, so I can use a piezo to get a more natural upright sound (similar to a ukulele bass), and also have a magnetic pickup on it. 😊
That's exactly what I was looking for, a cheap cello with a screwed neck. There's a few photos around of people doing cool cello conversions, It'd be kinds neat to do a 5 string upright like that, my Dad actually had a viola de gamba when I was a kid, and a lute. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, as they say.
@@fanbladeinstrumentshaha! I guess not! ❤ Depending on what kind of color you go with, black binding can look great. I have a 335 kit guitar in the queue that has black, I’m planning on an aqua to dark blue burst that should go quite well with the black. Pickups and hardware are black too. Are you going to ebinize the fingerboard on this one?
I'm going to wait until I've carved the neck to make a call on ebonizing, the fingerboard and neck are from that same giant board so there's a chance they'll look like they're one seamless piece, I like that idea but I'll need to see it first.
@@fanbladeinstruments right, I did catch that they were the same wood. That would look pretty trippy if you got it to look like one massive board!! Are you planning on doung a back carve on the fingerboard? That takes out a pretty substantial amount of weight too. I personally like the look of it over a flat bottomed end of the fingerboard.
Happy a new series has started.
Well damn, how convenient.
I 've just started my own electric upright. I am going for the Yamaha silent bass 300 vibe. Thanks Geoff. 👍
I’m digging it so far. I think binding might detract from the grain pattern but that may change once the wood has finish on it. Which would possibly be too late. 😂✌🏻
I just discovered what it was that I knew was missing from my routine. I almost forgot how excited I was to watch your builds. This is going to be pretty darn good. Love the shape you're going with. With all respect, I would've liked to see you get bold and give this a slightly tilted back shape to the headstock. If only for side on aesthetics, as opposed to your original upright. Woulda took this to a whole different level. But your workmanship completely redeems you sir. This is going to look schmick either way! Thanks for the share. Can't wait to watch this one come together.
There's actually still time to do somnething with the headstock (pegbox😆), when I was rasping out the hole there was a little chipout on the back so I was thinking of gluing a piece across the back. It wouldn't be hard to make that a wedge shape then round the front edge off at the top a little, and I think you're right, it'd give it a touch of class. Great suggestion, thanks
Get in! Just as the winter sets in this side of the Planet, Fanblade returns! 😎
Seriously, who needs celestial TV anymore 🤷
How about a headless bass for that body blank Geoff?
I've missed this content; welcome back. The black binding could look really cool if paired with a high gloss white finish on the body. Pair that with an ebonised fingerboard with white inlays and you've got yourself something quite different and striking.
He's back!!
you never stop learnig mate we dont live longer enough and what we do learn we push out to remeber other new stuff lol
This is going to be awesome!
Geoff, I think you need many more clamps, you don't seem to have enough!! Nice to see you again and crafting another beautiful instrument, can't wait to see the rest!
One of the most true statements ever said to me as a high school student was from my woodwork teacher, "You can never have enough clamps". Words to live by.
Glad to see you back! I think for the other body it would be fun to do a piccolo bass
Yes, something like that, other people have suggested baritone guitars and Bass VI sorts of things, so it's looking like some sort of higher register instrument for sure
I´m a simple man.
I see Fanblade.
I click like.
I watch video.
Fanblade's back baby!!! You should consider doing a Billy Sheehan style bass, reverse p woth a mudbucker.
I'm allergic to mudbuckers, but a Fender wide range pickup has been on my list ever since Tony put one on the mustang, that thing rips. Could also try the scalloped fret thing... willl investigate, cheers
As for the body blank- what about something inspired by the Marleaux Diva? With the 3+ octaves 'infinite' fretboard that extends beyond the pickup and possibly the bridge? I think you could make a beautiful instrument! Cheers!
Black binding popped into my head an instant before you mentioned it. Just pick your color with the aim of accentuating it.
- Paul
Yes, I've been looking at pictures on line, black seems to look better on lighter coloured bodies where it's actually visible, I'm looking into staining options to make the grain pop, but keep it light enough to work with the black binding... it's going to be a delicate balance but I think I can make it work.
For the body blank, 5-string Rickenbacker but with a normal bridge, no pickup cover, & a neck shape that actually likes to be touched. It'd be really cool if you built your own 5-string Ric pickups.
I was aldo thinking a Rickenbacker scale length would be cool for that electric bass body. Same pickup placement as a Rick 4003 as well to see if it could make that distinctive "clank" sound.
I've actually got something in the pipeline for the 5 string Rick pickups, they're triangular and I think I've figured out why. Watch this space😉
4:39, did you mean pegbox (throwback to your first EUB build), cannot wait to hear the finished product
Yeah, it's actually quite hard to remember what terminology to use, I know I remembered to say it at least once🤣
I'm not certain what you mean by 'binding'. If it's a layer of finish, I would avoid something that conceals that beautiful grain. I recently viewed a video in which the craftsman repaired a silverware drawer and applied a 'grand piano finish'. That might look nice. Or a nice, traditional shellac might do the trick. If your concern is durability, there is always epoxy resin. It isn't very tradition, though. Tradition takes a holiday when one constructs an electric double bass, doesn't it? Liked and subscribed.
I think a cherry red stain with black binding could be cool. Also, I don't know what your pickup plans are, but a piezo and a magnetic pickup with a blend might be interesting, to add some versatility.
Just saw your other reply retarding pickups. I think the piezo blend could be interesting if it it mounted like an acoustic guitar. Without any sound holes, it shouldn't feedback at all, and if it does, you still have the magnetic.
It's looking great! I think you should do a baritone guitar with that body blank.
Cool suggestion, I'll add it to the list, baritone guitars are ganing in popularity. Could also go for something like a bass VI I suppose, thanks
Yeah, I've been toying with the idea of a 7 string baritone. It's probably because I like low notes and have a groove based play style, lol.
Good to see you back in the swim, Fan.
How about a "German carve"?
Indeed, the Ampeg Baby Bass has a German carve and I think they look great, I'm a fan. I have a cheap 6 string bass that has a German carve but it was quite uncomfortable under the hand while playing, although that's not going to be an issue here. I think the deciding factor has to be the thickness of the top, I'm not sure I've got enough to do a really prominent carve and do the style justice, I would definitely love to do that at some stage but I'm not sure this bass can accommodate it. Thanks
Just so you know, in the future... It would have been incredibly satisfying, and probably the highlight of the video to watch you chisel out and clean up that interior. I understand it was for time, but that's the kind of thing that people who watch these videos want to see. Cool project. Good job. Except that interior. That's a shame.
I understand what you mean, though I am torn. Another part of me, finds this utilitarian approach rather refreshing.
I recently cut down a few trees, cherry, walnut and olive, and I intend to plank them up and make some basses. After fanblade's first EUB build, I started thinking of making one for myself. I eagerly await to see how this turns out. Whether I would chisel out, route out or leave those internals rough, I suspect would depend on my mood at the time 🤷♂️
I would round over all the edges and use a nice dark stain. to blend the top and body. Binding might accentuate the boxiness. But thats just me.
A ceruse finish could look really good with the grain of the elm, if you're feeling up to the challenge
And this is why I love the comment section! Never heard of a ceruse finish before, just googled it quickly and I believe I have a new rabbit hole to go down😁 Don't yet know if I'll do it to this bass but it looks promising and the grain is perfect for it, awesome, thank you
@@fanbladeinstruments
No problem. And thank you for such great content.
I'm not sure if you saw it in or not, but I said in a comment on your last video that I've designed a filter preamp like the ones in Wals and Alembics and would be happy to send you a few spare ones for you to play around with. If you're interested just let me know if you are
Ahh, yes I did read that but ran out of time to get back to you, email me at fanbladeinstrumentsATgmail.com
(I've spelled out the @ with AT so that email harvesting bots don't get me) Cheers
If you could fit the other strings on it, how about an electric "sitar" in the style of the Danelectro ones with that spare body? Perhaps even attempt a bass version
Well now... I've actually got some theories on that. The buzzing sitar sound comes from the string vibrating against a block in front of the bridge, very lightly and right at the end of the strings travel. My theory is that a fretless bass is getting it's growling 'mwah' sound in a similar way, but it's vibrating against the fingerboard just in front of where the string is pressed down. I'm basing this theory solely on the observation that you get more Mwah when the action is lower. This is a theory that could warrant a whole video of it's own to investigate...watch this space😉
@@fanbladeinstruments somehow, I felt like this is something you would have put some thought into already! That definitely makes a lot of sense and I'd never even thought of that connection
I'll look forward to the video, and next week's as always!
The scale length of a 1/4 size upright is about the same as a standard Fender, 34 inches
Interesting, I'm learning a lot about the violin family. This one will be 1024mm (40.3 inches) so it's just on the short side of 3/4 scale. Way back, when I first measured my friend's double bass, that was the scale I pulled from it so that's what I've been using.
You should make a 6 string bass out of the body blank
Yes, lots of people suggesting some kind of extended range instrument, personally I'm leaning towards a Bass VI style, with a Spector carve and a whammy bar if I can find one robust enough.
Why not hog the guts out of your second blank, pop a top from the other shelf and put an f hole in. You may get a decent book match with the smaller body, and avoid some of the grain you didn’t like.
Cream binding? depends on the shade of the top once it's either stained or finished. What pickups are you planning on? Homemade? Humbuckers? Piezo in the bridge? or a combination?
I did think about that, I need to test some scraps with different stains to see what it looks like, I do have a little bit of cream binding left but not enough to do the whole body, it's too big😂
As for pickups It'll be a homemade magnetic one, essentially a refined version of the one from the first EUB. There's actually a recording of one in the video, the first song I put in was played on the double bass with the same pickup design, it's a sound I've grown quite fond of.
I've seen people have bad luck with piezos, last year I attended a jazz evening where the double bassist was having major feedback problems and the sound guy had to pull all the low end out, a not very nice time was had by all. I'm not sure what preamps were involved (if any) but you can't escape the physics of that body becoming one enormous microphone at gigging volumes. I think I'll steer clear.
@@fanbladeinstruments Dunno. Piezos can work well... I used to do the PA occasionally at a jazz club in London, and generally managed to get a pretty natural double bass sound with people using piezos. Best sound was a guy who had a custom made setup of a lavalier type mic/piezo hybrid with a mixer box to balance the two. Sounded great!
But then again, the volume levels (being a jazz club) were never that high. so feedback was rarely an issue.
Indeed at low volumes it's not an issue. My town is so small there's really only a couple of live venues, both of which are geared to cater for much louder bands, and very rarely an upright bass. The house rig on the night in question was an 1100w stack nearly as tall as the 1/2 size double bass plugged into it, and the poor player with her classical background had no idea how to control it, all she knew was that everything had gone very wrong. It shouldn't have been allowed to happen, if anyone had a clue what they were doing it wouldn't have.
Hey that’s pretty cool Man, a question I have about neck placement, when attaching a long scale Bass neck to a normal type Bass I guess, at what fret should the neck meet the body ?
There's no hard and fast rules for that generally, but the bridge and neck have to measure out to the right distance or your intonation will be all wrong. In the case of fenderesque body shapes I like to align the top horn with the 12th fret so it balances nicely, then I work out the neck pocket + bridge placement from there.
In the case of changing from one scale to another on the same body, the imortant thing as I say, bridge placement relative to the scale length. You'll most likely have to move the bridge, if you're going from a 21 to a 24 fret neck then you can either modify the neck pocket or shift the bridge or both, it's kinda up to you at that point.
@@fanbladeinstruments hey thanks for that, I’m doing a Frankenstein kind of thing with a fender style neck and am going to make a SG style body
Build a bass and stick a whammy bar on it, thats what you should do with the body blank
Interesting idea...I don't think it'll go down too well with the band, one of the guitarists retrofitted his Firebird with a Stetson whammy and we're constantly giving him stick for it going out of tune, I think I know what side of that arguement I'd like to stay on. And you can do better divebombs on a fretless anyway😉
@@fanbladeinstruments the kahler is a self-contained system, the trouble is they are expensive and hard to find in Australia, (dare I say nearly impossible in New Zealand). Hipshot also has a fulcrum style, still expensive, but more easily attainable.
@@fanbladeinstruments you asked for a suggestion, I gave you one out of left field.
Left field is good...How about left handed? There's nothing stopping me flipping the body and making a lefthanded bass. I've been wondering for a while how hard it would be to learn, I suppose it'd be like starting from scratch but with all the knowledge of how badly I'm sucking🤣
That is a thick body blank. What about trying a Spector style curved body?
It's bound to get bound lol..
I don't know how you did the talking, but your head was cut off. Just saying. It is weird.
I have a stutter and I edit the monologue extensively, it's easier if you can't see my face, i can make whole paragraphs look like they were done in one take.
Geoff, Please, stop chopping your head off when you're doing the talking segments of your videos. You've shown your face so it's not as if you're reluctant to do so. Please, please do proper head shots.
Please take this as constructive. Love your videos.
Can't do it, but I can stop with the torso shots