Simplest possible bass guitar- homebuilt two string fretless

peterleroux

This little bass was a result of my curiosity about fretless bass and too much free time. It really couldn't be any simpler and still be a musical instrument. Built from a piece of teak that had been seasoning in the garage for 50 years, with an under-saddle piezo buzzer pickup and two strings (mostly tuned E-A but sometimes D-G or D-A). Not much to look at, but fun to play, and it satisfied my curiosity: fretless is actually not a big jump from playing fretted. I found I can play acceptably in tune

peterleroux

The big bridge, made from a cherry stump from my garden, conceals a piezo pickup, as per the drawing below:

peterleroux

Before and after-

The finish is Danish oil, fret markers are set into the top of the neck to keep the fingerboard clean.

Some details:
electronics- piezo direct to jack. I normally play through a behringer acoustic stompbox to buffer the piezo

String ferrules courtesy Tito Mboweni (at the time I made this)

I've written up the process in a little more detail here. Having played it on and off for a while, I have a few thoughts:
-ergonomics are as bad as they look. Without a body to anchor against, it is both neck heavy and difficult to position in one place.
-notes 'bloom' instead of having a strong attack. Most of the drummers I play with don't appreciate this.
-Danish oil is a fantastically simple finish to apply- wipes on with a rage

Manfred-Klose

i think the idea with the coins is just pure genuis ?

-ergonomics are as bad as they look. Without a body to anchor against, it is both neck heavy and difficult to position in one place.

why not try the invisible body shape, like the yamaha silent guitar ?
something that can be easily packed away.

do you have any sound clips or video clips ?

peterleroux

Manfred Klose wrote: i think the idea with the coins is just pure genuis ?

-ergonomics are as bad as they look. Without a body to anchor against, it is both neck heavy and difficult to position in one place.
why not try the invisible body shape, like the yamaha silent guitar ?
something that can be easily packed away.

do you have any sound clips or video clips ?

Thanks Manfred, a wire/bar frame like a silent guitar is a good idea, it won't fix the neck-heaviness but will give something to hold on to.

No sound clips yet, I must really get around to doing something about that

Jack-Flash-Jr

That is fantastic! +1 on clips.

Nitebob

fretless is actually not a big jump from playing fretless.

[/quote]

Sorry...what? ???

deefstes

Dude, this is totally awesome! I'd love to hear clips too.

Manfred Klose wrote: i think the idea with the coins is just pure genuis ?

...but also illegal ? though I doubt anyone would prosecute you for the 40c worth of damage.

peterleroux

Nitebob wrote: fretless is actually not a big jump from playing fretted.

Sorry...what? ???
[/quote]
um. fixed
that's what I get for posting while multi-tasking

peterleroux

deefstes wrote: Dude, this is totally awesome! I'd love to hear clips too.

Manfred Klose wrote: i think the idea with the coins is just pure genuis ?
...but also illegal ? though I doubt anyone would prosecute you for the 40c worth of damage.

here it is, from the Reserve Bank itself:

Wilfully mutilated coin

In terms of Section 14 of the Bank Act Number 90 of 1989, it is an offence to wilfully mutilate coin.

deefstes

peterleroux wrote:
deefstes wrote: Dude, this is totally awesome! I'd love to hear clips too.

Manfred Klose wrote: i think the idea with the coins is just pure genuis ?
...but also illegal ? though I doubt anyone would prosecute you for the 40c worth of damage.
here it is, from the Reserve Bank itself:

Wilfully mutilated coin

In terms of Section 14 of the Bank Act Number 90 of 1989, it is an offence to wilfully mutilate coin.

Although I'm pretty sure I remember you saying that you got those two coins along with a handful of change when you bought a plastic bag with toffees from a spaza shop and that they already had the two holes in them so they were ideally suited for this application, not right? ?

DDR4LYF

You could screw a pole to the back and use it like an upright!

shaundtsl

That is very cool, thanks for sharing!

Jack-Flash-Jr

DDR4LYF wrote: You could screw a pole to the back and use it like an upright!

This is a fine idea!