5-string fretless bass build

Figured I'd start a picture thread, I'll keep updating this as I progress.

Fun with glue








both body pieces are glued and ready to carve, neck is just mocked up.



Body is oak, neck is oak and poplar.


The design. Haven't figured out a headstock design I like yet, the odd design of my tuners make traditional design headstocks impossible. I've figured out a few I like, just nothing I'm in love with yet.


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UPDATE 1 12/14/08
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Neck gluing begins.. I'm doing this in three parts, the outer pairs of 1/2" wide oak/poplar strips will be glued together. The truss rod slot will be cut into the middle piece, then it will all be glued together. After its all glued together, the basic profile of the neck will be cut with a bandsaw. I think this will make the process a lot easier, rather than trying to get 5 pieces glued together at once. Also cutting the truss rod slot before gluing elimates the need for me to route a straight 1/4" wide groove, I can just cut a 3/8" deep strip off the middle piece(already 1/4" wide) before gluing.

The pieces all together measure 2.25", perfect width at the base of the neck, so I don't have much extra material to trim off, just a bit for the taper.

I really should have more clamps.





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UPDATE 2 12/15/08
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Both outer pairs of the neck are glued, seemed to go very well despite the lack of sufficient clamps. Plotted out the template for the side profile of the neck, as well as a life-size outline of the whole bass, just for jollies . The design looks better life-size!

I'm a bit concerned with the width of the neck, its not as fat at half scale as most 5-strings. Might have to play soft to keep the B string from buzzing the E string. Worst case is I swap out the nut and make it a four string. Don't think I'll have to, I like the idea of a low action, narrow neck fretless. Lots of mwaaahhhh!

Looking around on the web I've found 5 string bass bridges with a 16mm spacing, which is slightly less than I'm looking at.. roughly 16.75mm spacing to keep the same distance from the outer strings to the edge of the fretboard. So this tight of spacing has been done with success. Its a fretless after all, really wailing on it isn't the idea.. that's what the Ric is for.

I'll post some pics when I get the neck all together. Ordering the nut, fretboard, and truss rod today. Going to do some pro/e work and design the bridge.
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UPDATE 3 12/16/08
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Got the neck glued up.

Truss rod slot cut in the middle piece:





Gluing:



all together:






It came out very straight and square, I just hope it holds close to this straight after shaping the back of the neck.


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UPDATE 4 12/18/08
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Neck shaping is pretty much done. Still have the head to do, and I'll probably continually touch up the backside of the neck as I go, especially the heel area once I get the body parts glued on. I cut the general profile on the bandsaw and went to town with a rasp thing and sandpaper. Probably about 10 or so hours worth of shaping on the neck. Can't wait to get the body added on!