I couldn't afford an upright bass... so a relative and I built one.

[pr_capone]

I've been wanting to learn how to play an upright bass but they start around a thousand dollars and that just isn't the kind of jack I keep around the house.

I did some research and decided on a modified "cigar box" build. Wine create for the body, modified basic bass neck, weed whacker strings, piezo pickup to make it electric, and scrounging up materials for the bits and bobs.

You all know my wood working skills are top notch but I still had a relative do the wood working for me. This is what we came up with.

[ping2000]

Nice work!

[el borracho]

How long did it take you to build?
How much money did you spend?
How does it sound?

[pr_capone]

How long did it take you to build?
How much money did you spend?
How does it sound?

About 10 hours of actual labor.

$170 in parts.

I can't play for shit so no real good idea but from the little we have plucked sounded pretty good.

[EPodolak]

That's excellent. Give us a youtube recital soon.

[Psyko Tek]

About 10 hours of actual labor.

$170 in parts.

I can't play for shit so no real good idea but from the little we have plucked sounded pretty good.

but do you play with enthusiasm, and love for the music?


ain't that all that matters

[MIAdragon]

but do you play with enthusiasm, and love for the music?


ain't that all that matters

Or does it double as a ramp of some sort?

[TLO]

I was hoping for another doggy door type situation. :(

[loochy]

You just found your new business. Refine your process and start selling those!

[aturnis]

Very cool. Check out Kansas' own Split Lip Rayfield for a little inspiration.

http://jugtones.com/images/blog/07.Split%20Lip%20Rayfield/split_lip2.jpg

[headsnap]

Very cool fellow home luthier!

[Dinny Bossa Nova]

That is definitely at the complete highest level of groovy. 5 stars. Attaboys and escalades.

You are clearly not the average schmo, pr. The banner thing and this. Gumption jumping out the gym.

Good thing you weren't hankering a tuba.

Dinny

[RealSNR]

How the hell does that thing not sound like utter ass?

[mdchiefsfan]

About 10 hours of actual labor.

$170 in parts.

I can't play for shit so no real good idea but from the little we have plucked sounded pretty good.

You should take it to Guitar Center and find a 12 year old. They'll show you how it's done.

[Dayze]

from cat ramps to luthier.

impressive, Sir.

[Dinny Bossa Nova]

How the hell does that thing not sound like utter ass?

Damn, SNR.

Can't at least, every once in a great while, briefly entertain Mr. In-Between?

Dinny

[MahiMike]

Awesome. Very cool.

[Lzen]

Pretty cool. But I gotta ask why did you use weed whacker string rather than regular strings for an upright bass?

[RealSNR]

Damn, SNR.

Can't at least, every once in a great while, briefly entertain Mr. In-Between?

Dinny

Just asking. I assume using the electric pickup helps negate the amount of twang there would be.

I'm also curious how you can play more than a couple notes before those weedwhacker strings stretch and go out of tune.

[scho63]

I've been wanting to learn how to play an upright bass but they start around a thousand dollars and that just isn't the kind of jack I keep around the house.

I did some research and decided on a modified "cigar box" build. Wine create for the body, modified basic bass neck, weed whacker strings, piezo pickup to make it electric, and scrounging up materials for the bits and bobs.

You all know my wood working skills are top notch but I still had a relative do the wood working for me. This is what we came up with.

I'm not a musician but that is really awesome! :clap:

Happy playing.

[Couch-Potato]

Very interesting. Excellent work. I do some DIY wood working as well.

If she plays well at all, maybe even if she doesn't, you may have just found a nice little product. People will buy these at places like cracker barrel, silver dollar city, idk other Missouri hot spots... could do well on etsy or ebay store online.

Really cool man congrats!

[Pitt Gorilla]

About 10 hours of actual labor.

$170 in parts.

I can't play for shit so no real good idea but from the little we have plucked sounded pretty good.It looks cool, but I'm not sure I understand your trajectory here. If you wanted to learn to play the bass, you could get an outstanding Ibanez for just under $200. Once you learned on that, you could work toward an upright.

I certainly don't mean to bash the work, as I think it is very cool (although, I would have used regular strings, if you've pickups on it). I just think it might have been worth your time and money to learn on a regular first.

[pr_capone]

It looks cool, but I'm not sure I understand your trajectory here. If you wanted to learn to play the bass, you could get an outstanding Ibanez for just under $200. Once you learned on that, you could work toward an upright.

I certainly don't mean to bash the work, as I think it is very cool (although, I would have used regular strings, if you've pickups on it). I just think it might have been worth your time and money to learn on a regular first.

Excellent point!

There actually is a reason for the upright instead of the regular bass. When I was a kid I broke my wrist playing baseball and it had to be rebroken 3 times. I have very little dexterity in my left wrist and cannot turn my palm over enough to press the strings down.

This up and down angle of the bass let's me play a stringed instrument again.

[pr_capone]

Pretty cool. But I gotta ask why did you use weed whacker string rather than regular strings for an upright bass?

Just asking. I assume using the electric pickup helps negate the amount of twang there would be.

I'm also curious how you can play more than a couple notes before those weedwhacker strings stretch and go out of tune.

The strings are steel core, they are made by a company to specifically be used as bass strings.

[pr_capone]

Very cool. Check out Kansas' own Split Lip Rayfield for a little inspiration.

http://jugtones.com/images/blog/07.Split%20Lip%20Rayfield/split_lip2.jpg

He was a huge inspiration in making this. I'd be can make a gas tank and a single weed whacker steering sing... I could do the same with my rig.

[Lzen]

The strings are steel core, they are made by a company to specifically be used as bass strings.

I'm confused. I thought you said they were weed whacker string? Is that some brand of bass strings? Or are you talking about the actual string that is used in a trimmer?

[aturnis]

Actual weedeater line. He has a sweet capo too.

http://assets.rockler.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/364x364/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/2/7/27853-01-1000.jpg

[Demonpenz]

can't wait to hear how you inflated your groupies.

[cosmo20002]

I think the upright bass had its finest moment when Moe was playing it and the bow slipped and it flew into Curly's mouth.

[Toby Waller]

but do you play with enthusiasm, and love for the music?


ain't that all that matters

Not if you actually suck......well,it's true

[Lzen]

Actual weedeater line. He has a sweet capo too.

http://assets.rockler.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/364x364/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/2/7/27853-01-1000.jpg

ROFL

[Lzen]

I looked up those strings. Apparently, it's a brand.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/140891901599?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true

[pr_capone]

I looked up those strings. Apparently, it's a brand.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/140891901599?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true

Yup, those are exactly the ones I have.

[aturnis]

ROFL
I stand corrected. Had read a bit on them back in the day and the author made it seem as though the string was actual weed eater string. Seemed consistent, so I never questioned it. I'm assuming the author was mistaken themselves.

Seriously though. With that homemade stand-up, cap needs to get a kazoo and get to work.

[stevieray]

Thread worthless without vid.

[Marcellus]

Mad props. I have played bass for a long time now but I have never actually played an upright though I have wanted to.

[LiveSteam]

Pretty impressive

[RealSNR]

The strings are steel core, they are made by a company to specifically be used as bass strings.

I learned something new today.

The body/neck of the instrument supports the tension and pull of the strings pretty well, then?

[pr_capone]

I learned something new today.

The body/neck of the instrument supports the tension and pull of the strings pretty well, then?

It had to be reinforced quite a bit. This was the original neck I purchased (with extended headstock). You can see the amount of work that went into creating the support needed, both in the inside of the crate and on the neck itself) for the tension the strings put on the instrument.

https://www.cbgitty.com/cigar-box-guitar-parts/standard-cigar-box-guitar-necks-select-wood-headstock-and-fretting-options/

I'll be taking possession of the instrument in a week when the finishing touches are put on. I'll try to figure something basic to bang out on it and post it up.

[Radar Chief]

Dude, that's badass! :thumb:
Get a tuner, and post a video of just a basic bass walk. I'm real interested in what it sounds like.

[Radar Chief]

Mad props. I have played bass for a long time now but I have never actually played an upright though I have wanted to.

I've been plunking around on an upright for a few years now. I still suck at it but I'm just in it for the fun of playing anyway, not looking to go gigging with a band or anything.
My Dad let me borrow one of his bass guitars, an Ibanez 5 string fretless, and I've played around with it some but I still spend most of my practice time on my upright.

[pr_capone]

Just got the thing home. Don't know how to play it.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wNaZQQW6Zuk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Chief_For_Life58]

thats fuckin awesome! nice

[Dinny Bossa Nova]

You have a winner, pr. As I said before, the complete highest level of groovy.

Congratulations, well done.

:clap::clap::clap:

Now get to practicing.

Dinny

[MOhillbilly]

Check out AJ Gaither. He's pretty fuckin awesome and i dig his style.

Mostly cause he's a one man band, sings about whiskey, pills, weed, and whores. dude plays a mean slide on his homemade cigar box guitars.

[stevieray]

Just got the thing home. Don't know how to play it.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wNaZQQW6Zuk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

That is way bad ass.

:rockon:

[Mr. Flopnuts]

That is impressive as fuck. Kudos, dude.

[Dinny Bossa Nova]

FWIW, pr.

IMO, you have not been playing long enough to suck. If you'd been playing for 2 years and sounded like that, you may have a point.

But that's not important right now.

It is clear to me that you have the ear and the feel to know what you're attempting to play is supposed to sound and feel like. You are 90% of the way there. All you lack now is finishing up.

Reps, practice, familiarity then old hat.

Enjoy the journey, old chap.

Dinny

[Valiant]

About 10 hours of actual labor.

$170 in parts.

I can't play for shit so no real good idea but from the little we have plucked sounded pretty good.

Well get good at in and make some bank by selling them.

There is a top mandolin guy in KC that creates them. Artists from all over I read in the pitch come to buy his instruments.

I always wanted to make a violin.