Acoustic bass

[tippie53]

I am designing a bass guitar based off the martin 000/OM body. Using a short scale 24.9 neck , and using it as a 12 fret neck for the bass ( CUT AWAY ) this will give a 27.5 scale. So I used Mutenye for the body , red spruce top and Rick Penta made me a fretboard. https://pentaguitarworks.com/
I have it ready for final sanding. I will be installing a pick up. I moved the braces and sound hole down a touch to accommodate the scale length. I used tortoise and ivroid for binding and purfling. Kept it rather simple for me. My friend Marly is our bass player and we think this will make a nice jam bass. I figure if you can make a uke bass this should not be that difficult so we will keep you in the link once finished. If I am happy with the outcome I will post plans here for you all to use.
I liked the idea of this as I can use a standard guitar case , parts as far as the neck , back and sides a readily available. I order some pick ups. I found out that you don't need special pick ups for an acoustic bass , just the bass amp so I will let you know what pickups were will be using. I ordered a number of them so see what they will sound like

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[phavriluk]

John, I liked your comment about designing a guitar to fit in a standard-size case. I've made all (8) of my projects so that they fit into classical-size cases. Including two twelve-strings. I've got two 12-strings that don't feel like I'm hugging a refrigerator.

[Stray Feathers]

I'm very interested in your project John. There are bass players in my family (not me) but no acoustic basses. And I'm curious about how bass ukes sound so good, and if that model can work on bass guitars. Bruce W.

[carld05]

I've built two acoustic basses. One I used the 0000 mold I got from you, John, for the body, but used the Stanley plan for the bracing (with some modification), 34" scale with JJB transducer for PU. It was a gift for a grandson who played standup bass in his high school jazz band and classical orchestra.
The other uses a J200 body and bracing pattern w/added height and width. It uses a Martin neck,fretboard and bridge that I got on eBay, 34" scale. Built up a heel for the neck and used a M & T 'neck connection. Body is Chechen with a Sitka top with great bearclaw. JJB 220 PU in it too. Got a Gator case for it, GL-AC-Bass. Sounds great both amplifed and not.

[tippie53]

From what I am learning this guitar project has me excited for the end result. My goal is to make an easy to carry and hold Bass. I will admit I am stealing a lot of ideas , and after all you have to make one first to see what going to happen.
Here are some more booth pics
I like the Mutenye as it has a Koaish appearance and the touch of reddish brown to the Nitro popped the color nicely. I really like the tortoise binding on this.

[Skarsaune]

Looking good John. That tortoise binding IS a nice touch.

[TEETERFAN]

Very nice appointments. Looking real good, John!

[tippie53]

love the look ot tortoise

[Skarsaune]

love the look ot tortoise

I ordered some for a repair job I did ... have a bunch of it left....gonna hold it up next to the guitar build I'm working on and see if I like it!

Dunno why I didn't think of it before.

[tippie53]

all finished I used a lighter set of bass strings but ordered a 5 string bass set. They should have a bit more tension but in all I am quite happy I used 36 to 90s and will now place 45 to 115 I am surprised at the volume for the thing. The tuners do make using a conventional case moot. I ordered a gig bag