Upright Bass Project

paperbag1213

paperbag1213

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Ok, so my band teacher (who i'm renting my U.R.B. from) decided that she was not going to lend it out again next year, so that her student can play it. I have no money, and even if I did my parents would not allow me to buy one even a cheap electric version.

So, my only option is to.....build one.

I've thought through all of it, and i believe that I am capable of doing it. But what i need is some plans or anything of that nature that can help. I'm limited to Home Depot for supplies, just to tell you what I'm working with. I might make it out of poplar or another wood that some of you might suggest.

So here are all my questions that i need answered. (I can't go out and buy special tools for this job, but i have basically a wood shop in my garage.)

I need to know how to add support inside of the body.

How to bend wood.

What to use for the neck.

What to use for the fingerboard (it might just be the neck)

The bridge

The tail piece

The spike that adjusts the hight.

All suggestions are welcome

Thanks :d
 
It's like $80. Called the Bogdon Box.

I really don't think you're ready for building your own upright Kyle.

It's really not as easy as gluing wood together.
 
I've checked that out Tyler, i didn't really like it, and i would have to go onstage with it.

BTW my neighbor to the left of me is a luthier (he'd charge me if i hired him) and my neighbor across the street is a furniture craftsmen.

If I need certain tools they would lend them to me, and I need help they'd show me what to do.
 
Indeed. Just find another shop or something. I'm taking on the task of FIXING an old german upright, and that alone is a daunting task. You're in over your head. Sorry to put you down, but there is no way in hell you're gonna be able to do this.
Just to give you an idea, my friend who IS a luthier (thats his job), spent a month fixing a bass that had a crack in it. Even though he had other work, this was a crack, on a flat back bass (easier to fix a crack on the back of a flat back).
Another friend (i pretty much know all the luthiers in town =D) gave us the bass he's working on, because he said he doesn't have the time. He said it would take MONTHS to do it right, and thats if we worked on it non stop.

Rent another bass, christopher makes fine basses (its what i love to play), and if you find a shop that carries them, and you're "buddy buddy" with em, ask for a blemished bass. I've got a 4000 dollar bass and i got it for 2500.
 
BTW, you'd probably spend more time and money trying to build one as opposed to finding a part time job, and buying/renting one. Buy a used one too, thats another option...
 
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Ill add my Db is renting me his second DB for a 10er a month for the term. I told him i couldnt afford one until i had atleast sold both my cornets and guitar. You could get a good enough one for around 1000 euro or so. Im saving for one of thomann, with spruce top laminate sides, ebony fretboad etc. Theres nice out there ind them.
 
its either build something or have nothing, those are my two options.
 
So, they'll let you pay for materials to build something,
but not to let you buy something without building it?

I think you're SOL man, sorry.
 
welcome to my parents logic. as long as they don't see me going to a store and buying something they're ok with it. So i basically build what i need...seriously.

I also just built a 1 string URB, very similar to the bogdon box, but free.
 
I was just thinking suggesting "Whamola" to you. :P

I say, you buy the one on MF, store it at your friend's house, and say you're going over there to work on it a lot.

You get unquestioned practice time, they don't know you bought it, everyone wins.

But then again, I'm also a bad influence on people younger than I am too. :P
 
ha, with what credit card, do you wanna buy it for me tyler...Pleasseeeee hah
 
I don't even have the cash for it right now, lmao.

Catching up on bills from a year ago right now. :P
 
I have a german made upright that I have ready for paint. But I have even a bigger problem ... There was this couple in town that worked with brass. Man they did wonderful work, so I gave them my tuners off my my Upright to clean and polish for me. They lost them. So far the only replacement tuners I have found is going to cost me like $300. The fingerboard is going to cost you at least $150 - $200. You will also need a bridge and tail piece. That's not including the costs of the materials to build the body and neck. Dude ... If you can't buy a cheap used bass, you will never be able to afford all the parts required to assemble a bass even if you manage to build one.

I'll wish you good luck, but I know its only a pipe dream.
 
You can pick up a Dean electrict upright for 500, it gets pretty good reviews. Think you'd be way further ahead than trying to make your own.
 
paperbag1213 said:
my parents won't let me buy anything
Click to expand...




Hardwood is VERY expensive. Just to build
a neck-only EUB out of minimally stable,
playable wood will cost you more than a
beater URB. My beater cost $250, and that
was retail [@GC]. Private sale shiuld be
much less.

Advertise. Advertise your need on the
bulletin boards at music shops and online
and everywhere thaz free. With your wood
shop tools and free helpers, you can build
an EUB for peanuts IF someone will donate
to the cause a trashed, smashed, unfixable
URB from which you could extract the neck
with tuners. All the expense is right there.
If all the damage is limited to the body you
have the actual playing section and you just
cut the heel to fit a 4x4 post, make a bridge
and tail piece, and get a piezo from Radio
Shack. That process is just cheap carpentry.
Not having a usable neck to begin with is
just hopeless.

Please don't take offense, and I admit I'm
not knowing you personally, or seeing the
complete picture .... but if you haven't yet
gotten to know your [your teacher's] URB
well enuf to realize the craziness of trying
to build one from Home Depot, perhaps
your parents are showing wisdom, rather
than an arbitrary stubborness toward you ?

I gotta admire your initiative ... but you
gotta work on the vision thing.
​
 
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paperbag1213 said:
welcome to my parents logic. as long as they don't see me going to a store and buying something they're ok with it. So i basically build what i need...seriously.

I also just built a 1 string URB, very similar to the bogdon box, but free.
Click to expand...

Well you'll be going to a store to by wood and stuff.

Seriously building a standard electric bass = do able. Building an upright = impossible for an unskilled, untrained person.

Instead of working on building one i'd try and persuade your parents.

Going with the idea that you will be getting an upright no matter what- compare the cost of building one to a $500 plywood one. Also explain that if you are forced to build one its likely you'll spend $500+ and just have a bunch of wood and parts.

If you get a job to pay for it, wheres the problem? - get to the real reason they don't want you to get one.

If all else fails go with the investment in your future. So you play bass, great you play both upright and electric, you instantly become a more desirable musician and assuming this is the way you want to go will allow for more doors to open for you. - if this guilt trip fails get new parents.

that or hang around music stores to practice.
 
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