Been watching this guy on Youtube called Scrap Wood City (among other great woodworkers and craftsmen) and I'm no inspired to try my hand at building a fretless 3-string acoustic bass / bass guitar hybrid tuned to E-A-D.
 
I actually want to try an archtop and use cello strings, a sort of high-ish bridge and somewhat-rounded fretboard to give that cello/contrabass-iness to the whole thing. Add some decent pickups, and of course complete with a miniature contrabass-shaped body!
 
As a disclaimer, I have basically no woodworking experience, and also very few tools. I'm hoping my attention to detail and overall creativity will be enough to make this a fun little first-timer's project over the course of some weeks, if not an actual useable bass guitar.
I just want to spout some ideas and see if there's any feedback.... perhaps in the end it becomes better that what I imagined myself.
 
I'm going to try to put together some detailed measurement-accurate CAD-renderings in Anim8or and see what sticks.
 
 
Merry Christmas, God Jul, Frohe Weinachten :)

Best of luck to you Davdud!!
 
This is a thread that Michael (Spacey) is an expert on.....don't know if he still visits here or not.
 
....and Merry Christmas!!

Good luck, a bass is an ambitious first project! I have built a few electric Mountain Dulcimers and lap steel guitars, but I am no expert.
 
Remember that Bass strings are very heavy and there will be a lot of tension so ensuring the neck has sufficient strength will be important.
 
Take a lot of care at the design stage, little things can be over looked and can cause serious issues that my not become apparent until its to late. For example a badly designed head on a lap-steel guitar I built means its awkward to string and tune.
 
If it all goes sadly wrong, don't give up, at least you will be able to learn from any errors and reuse things like the pickups and machine heads.
 
 
Finally, maybe consider a kit, it would be a good way of learning?

Cue Spacey...

I'm not an instructor for building electric guitar or basses but I will try to help and inspire if I can.
 
 
This weekend I traveled 600+ miles to Texas in bumper to bumper traffic at 85-90mph traffic- literally- to deliver this guitar. It's my first semi-hollow build.
 
I turned down building this guitar a year ago. A lifelong friends father had asked me to build him a guitar. He was 85 yrs then and wanted a light guitar. I declined. Because of who he is I decided to give it a go. He was the inspiration I needed. It was also good that if I succeeded it would be an unexpected gift to him.
My concern was "balance". I had nothing to go on -experience or plans - to build a semi-hollow. Sure didn't want a neck heavy ending.
 
One of the worst trips I've ever taken and it ended up being worth every second. I hope this helps inspire those wanting to reach out.
Top is old growth Curly Redwood- certified- I completed the certification and delivered it with the guitar.
Swamp Ash body, Flame Maple neck, Ebony fretboard, Spacey pups. (because Steve lists them as such LOL)  12" radius. 25 1/2" scale length.
Bone nut. Pearl fret marker and side dots.
 
Fortunately it turned out to be...I'm not comfortable bragging...he loves it. (I did too or wouldn't have taken it)
It also turned out to be a wonderful gathering. My friends brothers and wives also made it - I hadn't seen in many years- and their dad's eyes watered a few times. What a trip. Talk about inspiration to build. Nice to build what one wants but nothing beats seeing another blown away by ones "workings".
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



 
Hope this helps with the inspiration part.
 
Michael

Hi Michael,
Great story and glad to see this type of thing happening. Good to see/hear from you. :)  

Thanks Mesh.
I thought the certificate may be of interest. This is a shot before I completed it.
I also included shots of the bar code on the Ebony in the build book I supplied him. Getting nuts with woods so I try to record best I can just in case.
 
I can't imagine standing under a 400' tall tree....I can imagine building a guitar with pieces of one though!
 
 
 

Great story, beautiful guitar! 

She a beauty Spacey, well done. As for the OP, I'd recommend getting your feet wet with something easier that an acoustic bass. I wish him best of luck whatever he does. I build amps so I know how good it feels to create something with your own hands.

Hey!  That worked!  Hi Michael!  
 
Heck, I'm going to try it again...
 
Cue that girl in Kenny's picture...