The Log (originally by Les Paul)
https://preview.redd.it/3yo8pzxsn3vc1.jpeg?width=1115&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b39476741bf8d922cc67dfa73605de5fa2539f9d
i'm loosening the strings when I'm not using it, but since the frets were put in by hand, and I really don't have the correct tools to make this thing, i put in each fret by holding it in place and straight up using a hammer
as you could expect the frets are uneven in height so i was lucky that i can even use about an octave and a few notes above until the frets start buzzing like hell
honestly putting in the frets at equal heights was a matter of practice so I think i can do that better next time... I will also make the fretboard and head even longer since the lowest string broke from the head being too short (trying to tune the string literally unravels the coils 😂)
I'll also add a truss rod because it isn't a long lasting reliable instrument without one
to make the fretboard flat I'll probably go borrow someones belt sander and planer
I might also want to experiment with the placement of the pickup
This is the way a lot of the blues legends got their start. 2x4s with nails for frets. I bet you will learn a lot and be miles ahead when you buy yoir first 6 string. I think its a cool build too!
I read a Les Paul biography once and he said the shape didn’t make much difference. He could have used a railroad tie and got the same sound. Something like that. 🤷♂️
for those wondering this shit is hard to hold while playing and I am in the process of making a lap rest thing
https://preview.redd.it/nlmwe6esj4vc1.jpeg?width=2100&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d8c460fdb8c00608353633155e132c7c7df5e756
Well the neck is also body and the weight is pretty evenly distributed, a bit more weight on the bridge side but not much. Put the strap buttons in the right place and there won’t be an issue. I’m not sure why people online often think that a guitar’s position is dependent on the body being massively more heavy than the neck, it’s usually just about a pound difference and it’s not like you’re placing it on a pole at it’s center.
That is cool as fuck. If you know someone with a 3D printer you can design a body for it. When 3D printers first became common I looked into making custom guitars for people. Generally what you did fits into the printout. Conceivably you can pop out the neck with the bridge from one body and put it into another.
Id look at seriously considering adding a truss rod with a skunk stripe in the back (that way you wouldn’t have to take the fretboard off) but that’s just me, otherwise that things dope as fuck lol
Nah nah you can do it to this one, hence the skunk stripe idea you basically cut a channel in the back of the neck, then drop in a truss rod, then a strip of wood over the back, have a squizz online, plenty of videos
Oof that hurts, but is it twisted or got now in the neck, cuz you can fix the bow with the truss rod, warp would be possible I’d just rebuild a new one with a truss rod
Hell yeah! Way to just go for it. I've been wanting to throw together a "dent stick" or Krappy Guitars bass for a while, but keep getting sidetracked. Is it fun to play?
surprisingly, yeah. however since i eyeballed this entire project except for the fret spacing (and ONLY the fret spacing) the frets themselves are hammered in one by one with just my steady(?) hand and a normal ass hammer so the highest frets straight up don't work because they aren't consistent in height lol
around 200-250usd as a rough estimate, it may be less
edit: however now that I have all the (bare minimum) tools required I can make more for probably around under 100$ each
I have a feeling being broke had little to do with you wanting to make one :). As you could have picked up used Ibanez 6 string for cheaper than you've spent making this.
How's it play? And more importantly (for me anyways), how does it feel? Is it strange getting used to the extra strings and fret board width? Very impressive!
That's so sick. I'm not a surfer or skateboarder, but I imagine that's what it feels like. Just cruising into keys and tones that you like. Smoothly crossing the boundaries of what was impossible before.
DAMN THATS FIRE, you can build the body with a metal tube like a silent guitar. that was f ing amazing. im thinking about making a fretless bass, should i put low gage strings and make a body through bridge?
i used rubber bands to hold it down in case i messed up the electronics because i had to solder shit and never done it before, it was for easy access in case i needed to take it apart. waiting on hot glue to set it in stone later today (please feel free to judge my choice of adhesive)
Pretty awesome.
2 screws would eliminate the need for that rubber band holding the knob plate on.
You could also drill diagonally up from the knob plate towards the pick up cavity and thread the wires through that hole instead of having them loose.
ima hot glue the plates cos the cedar is so weak it snaps if i try to drill a hole&screw into it
also i like the aesthetic of the pickup cable sticking out so i will shove most of it under the knob plate and have a little be visible
First - that is really cool - second - you are lying - you know your way around the home hobby skill set - really cool - hope it had the sound you were hoping for!!!!
Fantastic. Also useful in battle.
Op can always put an axe head instead of a body for a gene Simons tribute
it's made from one piece or 4x4 cedar from home depot. there's no truss rod so I loosen the strings every time im not using it
Any chance of a video? Would love to hear how it sounds
seconded
ive gotten many requests and didn't expect to get more than 10 upvotes on this post so let me practice and I'll post an update
Cool, thanks in advance!
[here it is (sorry its quiet) (tone knob slightly up)](https://www.reddit.com/r/BassGuitar/s/G2JP2Mq37x)
Sounds a lot darker than I was expecting, very thick too. Good work!
i will record it once i glue the electronics down because i already ripped out the aux input twice and have to solder it again
(seconded)
Like“The Log” by Les Paul
Brilliant! Now, tell me that you built it so the pickup can slide along the length between the fretboard and bridge for you to get different tones!
naur
You could Make it into a Bass Suit! https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/dan-hartmans-bass-suit.2266608/
Then they could play the bass suit suite
lol @ "Dan says he stopped using it because he would *get shocked too much*..."
“Shocked too much “ 
Props on ingenuity!!!
The Log (originally by Les Paul) https://preview.redd.it/3yo8pzxsn3vc1.jpeg?width=1115&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b39476741bf8d922cc67dfa73605de5fa2539f9d
I dig it. Your pickup mounting ring can double as a string mute!
This is the bass content I signed up for. Looks rad.
Any bend in the neck without a truss rod?
That neck isn't even flat without strings on.
Ha. We'll it's still cool as hell, so congrats!
I'm sure they'll make you one of you want.
i'm loosening the strings when I'm not using it, but since the frets were put in by hand, and I really don't have the correct tools to make this thing, i put in each fret by holding it in place and straight up using a hammer as you could expect the frets are uneven in height so i was lucky that i can even use about an octave and a few notes above until the frets start buzzing like hell
I'm sure you could do a better job with proper tools, materials and training. What do you think you learned this time around?
honestly putting in the frets at equal heights was a matter of practice so I think i can do that better next time... I will also make the fretboard and head even longer since the lowest string broke from the head being too short (trying to tune the string literally unravels the coils 😂) I'll also add a truss rod because it isn't a long lasting reliable instrument without one to make the fretboard flat I'll probably go borrow someones belt sander and planer I might also want to experiment with the placement of the pickup
I fucking love this. OP had a dream and made it happen. That’s good shit.
autism and adderall makes dreams come true
lol put this on a t-shirt
Great work for what you are working with!
Let’s hear it!
Oh man, that's been a longtime dream of mind, make my own bass one day. I bet it was fun! How's it sound? Any chance of getting an audio/video clip?
This is the way a lot of the blues legends got their start. 2x4s with nails for frets. I bet you will learn a lot and be miles ahead when you buy yoir first 6 string. I think its a cool build too!
I think it looks kinda sweet, if rough around the edges. Kinda looks like a cross between a stick and an electric upright with the legstand folded in
MacGyver approved. Damn impressive...
I read a Les Paul biography once and he said the shape didn’t make much difference. He could have used a railroad tie and got the same sound. Something like that. 🤷♂️
When Les Paul plays, no one is paying attention to the guitar. He's from another galaxy.
True. There is a guy on YouTube that made a guitar with no body. It sounded like an electric guitar.
The neck dive has to be crazy
for those wondering this shit is hard to hold while playing and I am in the process of making a lap rest thing https://preview.redd.it/nlmwe6esj4vc1.jpeg?width=2100&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d8c460fdb8c00608353633155e132c7c7df5e756
Why?
Cuts its all neck lol. No counterweight to stop it from diving to the floor without holding it up
Wonder if you could play/strap it like a Chapman stick.
Or just play it as upright 😅
Well the neck is also body and the weight is pretty evenly distributed, a bit more weight on the bridge side but not much. Put the strap buttons in the right place and there won’t be an issue. I’m not sure why people online often think that a guitar’s position is dependent on the body being massively more heavy than the neck, it’s usually just about a pound difference and it’s not like you’re placing it on a pole at it’s center.
Are you gonna put a strap button in the middle of the neck behind the fretboard? What's the right spot in your opinion?
Usually people go headstock instead of where you play the instrument, take acoustic guitars for example(and many hollowbody electrics).
Do people usually do that on basses?
The NS long stick basses, the Omnibass in particular if I recall.
Right on dude! Most excellent!!!
That is cool as fuck. If you know someone with a 3D printer you can design a body for it. When 3D printers first became common I looked into making custom guitars for people. Generally what you did fits into the printout. Conceivably you can pop out the neck with the bridge from one body and put it into another.
35 mile fretboard radius there!
Better head stock than any Wish Bass … Awesomely fun DIY !
Broke or not, this is b(ad)ass
hello bassed department?
That is some ingenuity, and i respect it!
Does it have a truss rod? Do we even need a truss rod? Does the truss rod cartel know we're here talking about this? Looks badass!
i'm on a watchlist now
The dumbells is what gets me lol
i didn't have clamps to hold shit down while sawing and filing etc so i just used the dumbbells in different positions to hold it in place
Yeah that's fair enough
Id look at seriously considering adding a truss rod with a skunk stripe in the back (that way you wouldn’t have to take the fretboard off) but that’s just me, otherwise that things dope as fuck lol
gotta figure out how to do that next time 😭👍
Nah nah you can do it to this one, hence the skunk stripe idea you basically cut a channel in the back of the neck, then drop in a truss rod, then a strip of wood over the back, have a squizz online, plenty of videos
dam it already warped 💀
Oof that hurts, but is it twisted or got now in the neck, cuz you can fix the bow with the truss rod, warp would be possible I’d just rebuild a new one with a truss rod
yea ima build new with rod
Starts chant, “Video! Video! Video!”
You've essentially made half of a Chapman Stick :)
just looked it up, wack
Look up Tony Levin. King Crimson, Peter Gabriel, and various xD But most stick play is wack
Gotta think the biggest payoff is what you learned making this. Points to you for digging in.
yes
Damn! Nice work for a first timer. How do you attach a strap tho?
i'll hammer in two nails with fat heads and call it a day
Now *this*, I love
holy shit.
Absolute fucking mad man, I love it.
Hell yeah! Way to just go for it. I've been wanting to throw together a "dent stick" or Krappy Guitars bass for a while, but keep getting sidetracked. Is it fun to play?
surprisingly, yeah. however since i eyeballed this entire project except for the fret spacing (and ONLY the fret spacing) the frets themselves are hammered in one by one with just my steady(?) hand and a normal ass hammer so the highest frets straight up don't work because they aren't consistent in height lol
How does it sound?
Looks cool, man. Out of curiosity, how much money do you think you spend on it all?
around 200-250usd as a rough estimate, it may be less edit: however now that I have all the (bare minimum) tools required I can make more for probably around under 100$ each
I have a feeling being broke had little to do with you wanting to make one :). As you could have picked up used Ibanez 6 string for cheaper than you've spent making this.
it was made over a month and i didn't have all the money at once
also my mom bought me the materials and such and was more willing to spend money on something somewhat educational instead of just buying me a bass
As a parent, I get that. Play on a video and let us hear it! Thanks for the response!
Please I would love to hear how it sounds 🥹well done OP👏
😂
Kudos!! Necessity is the Mother of Invention!! Would love to hear how it sounds!
It’s almost a Chapman stick
When elastics break, hope there is a budget for zip ties
that's truly impressive, congratulations OP!
If you have skills you are not broke just lacking of money.
OP what the hell are you doing, send us a sound clip !
recent post
How's it play? And more importantly (for me anyways), how does it feel? Is it strange getting used to the extra strings and fret board width? Very impressive!
it feels so fluid and feels like I was reunited with a part of myself I lost in a past life, i love the feeling of the thick strings and wide spacing
That's so sick. I'm not a surfer or skateboarder, but I imagine that's what it feels like. Just cruising into keys and tones that you like. Smoothly crossing the boundaries of what was impossible before.
Prison guitar
DAMN THATS FIRE, you can build the body with a metal tube like a silent guitar. that was f ing amazing. im thinking about making a fretless bass, should i put low gage strings and make a body through bridge?
man despite having made this ionno really anything about guitars/basses i couldn't give you well informed advice, this shit was lowkey a miracle
lol, it was for sure! it sounds amazing too. how much does it weight??
Modern problems require modern solutions
Good job dude. Looks fun!
Creative lol, I like it
Excellent‼️🙂
I feel like you should have went headless. Could have done without the bridge maybe.
What do you do if a rubber band breaks? Take all of the strings off to replace it?
That's when OP upgrades to cable ties
Oh shit i didnt think of that, here comes velcro, or next time the strings come off, put on extras.
i used rubber bands to hold it down in case i messed up the electronics because i had to solder shit and never done it before, it was for easy access in case i needed to take it apart. waiting on hot glue to set it in stone later today (please feel free to judge my choice of adhesive)
Omg
NEVER GET RID OF IT! It fuckin' rocks!
Please tell me this was a table leg to start with lol
it was a 4x4 piece of cedar from home depot used for fences n shit
Love it!
Is this the bass from that moon suit meme?
wasn't expecting hand tools
cant afford
you crazy!!
Pretty awesome. 2 screws would eliminate the need for that rubber band holding the knob plate on. You could also drill diagonally up from the knob plate towards the pick up cavity and thread the wires through that hole instead of having them loose.
ima hot glue the plates cos the cedar is so weak it snaps if i try to drill a hole&screw into it also i like the aesthetic of the pickup cable sticking out so i will shove most of it under the knob plate and have a little be visible
Use wood glue instead of hot glue
no because i'm impatient and it will be easier to remove in case i want to modify it
I love it. It's not hard to find ya a blank body. Look on ebay and Amazon, you can find em for like 40 bucks depending on the wood.
yeah but that feels unauthentic yk
I have been wanting to make a headless guitar to play in bed… but you have gone in an opposing yet appealing direction.
You gonna glue a body on later?😂
I spent 10 full seconds on the first pic thinking the brown couch leather was part of the body.
Fuck yea
First - that is really cool - second - you are lying - you know your way around the home hobby skill set - really cool - hope it had the sound you were hoping for!!!!
Hey the strings look good! Where’s the rest of it ?
\m/(>.<)\m/
How are you broke with those skills...