I want to build a standard tuned four string electric bass for art. This is my first cigar box instrument and despite the many hours of research I was still left with a few questions. I know I need a truss rod or something to act as one, but I don't know exactly what to use (size, material, shape) and how to go about installing it into the neck. How long should the neck be and of what material? Should I purchase a separate piece of wood of the fretboard or just place the truss rod on the back side of the neck? How should I install the neck onto the box? If it's fretless would it play similarly to a regular fretless bass or would I need a slide? Could I use pieces of a metal coat hanger? Should I just use a piezo disk and 1/4" jack? Where would the best place to install the disk be? Any answers/advice would be greatly appreciated from one bassist to another.
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Hi Will. I would start out by getting an old bass neck and grafting it onto a reinforced cigar or wine box so you can learn how to set up and learn some basics. Since you play already it will be much easier because you know what a bass needs to feel like. Later you can make your own neck, and I can help you with that. Use electric guitar strings. Peace, Richard in Tennessee.
Are you planning to use a standard electric bass bridge/tailpiece? If so, I don't think a piezo would be the best choice. As for truss rods, you can get an adjustable one way truss rod from Stewmac for around 10 bucks. Check out youtube for videos on installing truss rods
No I planned on using either a bolt and screw or a homemade wood block
Well Will, a truss rod is a very good idea with a 4 string bass, Adjustable truss rods - as used in factory guitars - can be bought or you might want to use something like a piece of square section steel. Something around 15 to 20 mm? I'm sure that there will be other offers of help and advice on this question. The truss rod is normally fitted in a channel in the neck that is under the fret/fingerboard. The scale length of bass guitars is around 32 inches so the length of the neck can alter depending on body size. Personally I prefer the neck to join the body at the 24th fret. Wood for the neck? There are lots of ideas on the nation about this and I'll leave that advice to others.
There should be a sepaate piece for the fingerboard / fret board as this also adds a bit of extra strength. I would suggest that a through the box neck would be a good idea for a first build. Quite simply the neck extends all the way through the box and out the other end. This means that string attachment is easier and the box is only used as a sound box.
If you want to play fret less you will not want a slide. I have used a disk piezo very successfully on a bass but the sounding board was very thin. The installation area for the disk will vary from instrument to instrument and is best found by trial and error but I found that somewhere between the bridge and the neck is a good place to start. Strings are also a personal thing but I would suggest that you start with a set of electro-acoustic bass guitar strings [lightweight] with the set up that you a proposing.
Also what strings would work best for this guitar?