In today's long overdue video we design and build the neck for the 8 string bass, and we don't quite get it finished, so stay tuned for the final episode coming next week!
The bass is coming along nicely. That neck looks great. I'd come check it out on Friday, but that's my birthday. 😉 Oh, and that whole airfare from the US thing. 🤣 Looking forward to the rest of the build. 😎
I've never played an 8 or 12 string bass. I'd like to build one, but the bridge has stopped me, as they are quite expensive. My metal working skills are non-existent, so I can't just build one as you did. Keep up the great work, and I look forward to hearing this bass in action.
Great build, as always. FYI, an 8x3 bar is actually a good bit (nearly 20%) stiffer than a 6x6 bar on its 8mm axis. The moment of inertia and stiffness of a beam is proportional to the cube of its depth. You have built a stiffer neck than you would have with two 6x6 bars.
Happy to see you made use of the carbon rods. If you could have used glue in the slots you would have achieved a slightly more stable neck, hopefully you don't get any rattle as the woods shrinks ands contracts over time. I'm sure the fingerboard glue will hold them in place for a good few years anyway! Looking forward to seeing the finished bass.
The Hagstrom eight string bass that I used to own had a very comfortable neck. It had Hagstrom's unique truss rod, which is a substantial chunk of metal and I guess that is what allowed them to have quite a slim neck. The thing weighed more than a boat anchor though.
I really feel for you, working out the spacing of the different sized tuners - it can't have been easy and, as you say, not much fun. This compromise situation might be why Rickenbacker, when designing their prototype 8-string, opted for a unique headstock shape. Unfortunately, there seems no means of adding my intended photos. A great, entertaining and very informative video, as always!
Looking great! Next time around, you could put some water thin CA glue along the carbon fiber to adhere it to the neck, but you're right, as tight as it is it should be fine. I just like the peace of mind I get from a little extra glue 😁 Incidentally, my Gibson flying V has the angled cuts on the headstock end like that Roclbass. I've played a couple 8 strings, but only briefly at guitar shops (I usually play the bass line from Jeremy by Pearl Jam 🤣). I'll probably make one eventually.
I must admit a bit of self-pride in recognizing the whole-tone scale before you said it. Even though I use them for exercise, I’ve never found much use for them. Good for clamping/un-clamping though. - Paul
It's an interesting one. I tried several octave basses, 8 and 12 string. I prefer the 12 string where the octave strings are loud enough to make a huge difference in the sound. Especially when slightly distorted. Plus, you get to detune them a bit for the chorus effect. I always wanted one of them, since I found King's X, and later when my brother bought his Hamer 12. They truly are special instruments. I'm nearly done building my own now. Got to play it today (not sanded and not finished, just couldn't wait...). As for the headstock, and that weird angle at the top, it's a pet peeve of mine. I usually see that on cheap les paul copies, however lately I played a Nik Huber guitar with the same thing :/ annoying...
I haven't played an 8 string but I've got a really rubbish 5 string (with a real baseball bat of a neck) that I want to convert into one. I just need to get hold of a suitable bridge. If I was going to build one from scratch (which given my complete lack of skill with carpentry tools is highly unlikely to happen anytime soon) I would be tempted to make it 32" to reduce the string tension a little
I shall be very interestin how you arrange the string spacing at nut and bridge - if I have one problem with mine (a Rickenbacker 4008) it's that the octave pair are just slightly too far apart, so if I fret heavily, my fingers have a tendency to spread the strings rather than press evenly on them both.
Looking good man, I’ve been collecting all sorts of wood and came across some pallet mater made of some very hard wood but not sure what it is yet it’s very nice wood and looks good for a fretboard… A question if ya don’t mind.. where do you buy the brand of strings with the red wrap on the end of the string ? ✌️😎👍
best video to date in my opinion! love the new tunes dude!
Great vid Geoff, and I'm very keen to see the finished product in action! See you on Friday 👍
Good stuff Geof. You've really got the fan belt humming
The bass is coming along nicely. That neck looks great.
I'd come check it out on Friday, but that's my birthday. 😉 Oh, and that whole airfare from the US thing. 🤣
Looking forward to the rest of the build. 😎
I've never played an 8 or 12 string bass. I'd like to build one, but the bridge has stopped me, as they are quite expensive. My metal working skills are non-existent, so I can't just build one as you did. Keep up the great work, and I look forward to hearing this bass in action.
Great build, as always. FYI, an 8x3 bar is actually a good bit (nearly 20%) stiffer than a 6x6 bar on its 8mm axis. The moment of inertia and stiffness of a beam is proportional to the cube of its depth. You have built a stiffer neck than you would have with two 6x6 bars.
Happy to see you made use of the carbon rods. If you could have used glue in the slots you would have achieved a slightly more stable neck, hopefully you don't get any rattle as the woods shrinks ands contracts over time. I'm sure the fingerboard glue will hold them in place for a good few years anyway! Looking forward to seeing the finished bass.
The Hagstrom eight string bass that I used to own had a very comfortable neck. It had Hagstrom's unique truss rod, which is a substantial chunk of metal and I guess that is what allowed them to have quite a slim neck. The thing weighed more than a boat anchor though.
The head stock profile angle looks back to the Framus tradition.
Warwick are the Wilfer family the genealogy of Framus
As requested, I have - and play quite often - a Hagstrom HB-8 bass. I also have a Rogue 8-string.
I really feel for you, working out the spacing of the different sized tuners - it can't have been easy and, as you say, not much fun. This compromise situation might be why Rickenbacker, when designing their prototype 8-string, opted for a unique headstock shape. Unfortunately, there seems no means of adding my intended photos. A great, entertaining and very informative video, as always!
Looking great! Next time around, you could put some water thin CA glue along the carbon fiber to adhere it to the neck, but you're right, as tight as it is it should be fine. I just like the peace of mind I get from a little extra glue 😁
Incidentally, my Gibson flying V has the angled cuts on the headstock end like that Roclbass. I've played a couple 8 strings, but only briefly at guitar shops (I usually play the bass line from Jeremy by Pearl Jam 🤣). I'll probably make one eventually.
I must admit a bit of self-pride in recognizing the whole-tone scale before you said it. Even though I use them for exercise, I’ve never found much use for them. Good for clamping/un-clamping though.
- Paul
It's an interesting one. I tried several octave basses, 8 and 12 string. I prefer the 12 string where the octave strings are loud enough to make a huge difference in the sound. Especially when slightly distorted. Plus, you get to detune them a bit for the chorus effect. I always wanted one of them, since I found King's X, and later when my brother bought his Hamer 12. They truly are special instruments. I'm nearly done building my own now. Got to play it today (not sanded and not finished, just couldn't wait...).
As for the headstock, and that weird angle at the top, it's a pet peeve of mine. I usually see that on cheap les paul copies, however lately I played a Nik Huber guitar with the same thing :/ annoying...
Epic
Like the build. 🙂
I've gone through the same headstock design issues that you have, converting a (too wide) 4-string neck to an 8-string one.
I'm looking forward to having a play on this!
I mean, can I have a play on this please? 😂
I have a John Birch rickenfaker short scale 12 string bass, and a Dean 34" scale 12 string bass. I've had the latter for over 20 years.
I haven't played an 8 string but I've got a really rubbish 5 string (with a real baseball bat of a neck) that I want to convert into one. I just need to get hold of a suitable bridge. If I was going to build one from scratch (which given my complete lack of skill with carpentry tools is highly unlikely to happen anytime soon) I would be tempted to make it 32" to reduce the string tension a little
Very informative as always. I liked the little clamping montage 😊.
Warwick basses known in some circles as the thalidamide bass.
The bass that design left behind.
Re: volute, I've glued on extra material to create them. 👌
I shall be very interestin how you arrange the string spacing at nut and bridge - if I have one problem with mine (a Rickenbacker 4008) it's that the octave pair are just slightly too far apart, so if I fret heavily, my fingers have a tendency to spread the strings rather than press evenly on them both.
What about mounting one set of the tuning machines at the bridge end?
Looking good man, I’ve been collecting all sorts of wood and came across some pallet mater made of some very hard wood but not sure what it is yet it’s very nice wood and looks good for a fretboard…
A question if ya don’t mind.. where do you buy the brand of strings with the red wrap on the end of the string ? ✌️😎👍
Rotosounds, you should be able to get them at any good music shop, or even online.
@@DrNoClu thanks for that
Very interesting. I didn't know such things existed. What scale length have you gone for?