Bass Guitar Building

If you are considering getting into bass guitar building, there is a wealth of information available to inform you. If you want to build an acoustic bass, your road will likely be much more challenging. Building an acoustic instrument, even with the help of a kit, is a task that will require a considerable amount of woodworking ability. Building an electric guitar is usually a simpler route to go, although if you decide to build your guitar from scratch routing out the body, shaping the neck, etc., you are still looking at a task that will require some expertise and a number of specialized tools. This article will give you an overview of your options for building each type of bass and will refer you to online resources that provide further details and assistance.

Before you set out to try to build a bass, you need to know what you're getting into. Check out the basics of building each type of bass guitar below.

Plans

The first thing you will need if you are thinking of building an acoustic bass is a set of plans. In most cases, people don't give away their plans for free. Luckily, the price is nominal, usually no more than $25.00 each. Check out the links below to find affordable, high quality acoustic bass plans on the Internet.

• Flattop Bass – These plans for a Flattop Bass build a practical, mobile acoustic bass guitar. This instrument will remind you of a Martin dreadnaught six-string acoustic, just a little bigger. When you have a gig that you can't take the upright bass to, this guitar will be a wonderful substitution. You could even fit it in the trunk of your car! The plans for the Flattop can either produce a four-string bass or a five-string bass.

• Tinozza Acoustic Bass Guitar – The Tinozza is an aesthetically pleasing acoustic bass with a great sound and simple construction. The simple design and fretless neck create a final product that is elegant, practical and unique. The best part of this guitar is the plans are totally free!

• Savart-style Upright Bass – These plans are for a beautiful upright bass. The inspiration behind it was to design a bass that is as easy to play as an electric bass and sounds like a bass fiddle. The instrument uses electric bass guitar strings, and this helps the instrument achieve this hybrid feel.

Equipment

Building your own acoustic bass from scratch is a serious endeavor. You will need access to a number of specialty tools including hand planers, scrapers, table saws, drum sanders, spray guns and more. Plus, you need to learn how to use them. If you are new to this field of work, see if you can take a class at a college or better yet, see if you can find an experienced luthier that will work with you to build your first instrument. This is highly skilled work, and you will need time and patience to learn the fine points of the trade.

In most cases, bass guitar building gets a lot simpler when you are trying to build an electric bass. You can always find a kit to use. Kits are a simple way to assemble a bass that requires only minimal tools and experience. However, if you're interested in building a more interesting electric bass guitar, see the following list of plans for ideas and inspiration. The same sets of tools you need to build an acoustic bass will apply to building an electric bass.

• Mezzaluna – Mezzaluna is Italian for half moon, and this instrument is obviously inspired by that celestial shape. The Mezzaluna is a beautiful electric bass, and the plans are available free of charge.

• Folfcraft – Folkcraft has a simple, affordable set of plans for a straight ahead, no nonsense electric bass guitar.

• Music Instrument Makers Forum – The MIMF has several plans for electric bass guitars, including one for a Jazz Bass and a neck-through-body fretless model. The plans are affordable, and the MIMF is a reputable organization. You will receive a great deal of support to help you along on your project from this group of enthusiasts.

The best thing about bass guitar building is that you can learn a new set of skills while you build a unique instrument. Along the way, you'll likely encounter some interesting people who share your enthusiasm for music and do-it-yourself projects. As you get better, the plans you find above can be further modified. Pretty soon, you might have a unique design of your own that you can then sell to others who are just learning, bringing the whole process full circle.

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