Do's and dont's of CBB-making?

Posted by Ben on September 21, 2014 at 4:12pm

Hello Lads,

I'm about to finish my first CBG and am looking to build a CBB next. While there is a wealth of information about CBG's there's little about CBB'S. I know about the rule in CBB-building regarding the scale-length but what about the basses (+ neck-length/-width/-attachment, etc...etc..)? 

And while we're on it: I try to build my instruments with as much recycled/upcycled components as possible and I have a couple old necks (from acoustic guitars) that I'd like to use for my builds. Am I encounter problems if I use the old neck from the acoustic guitar on the bass?

cheers

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Replies

  • Where's Uranus? September 21, 2014 at 7:21pm

    As in all things, it depends. Mainly on how tight you are going to make your strings, and what you are going to tune to? If you are recycling an acoustic neck, you'll either have to make a very short scale bass, or strip the frets out and use it as a fretless neck.

    If you're going shorter scale bass, go with using a separate bridge and tailpiece. I have a 30" scale bass, that has the string length of a 34" scale bass, because there is 4" between the tailpiece and the bridge, the bridge is like midway in the body. For your average 24" acoustic neck, I'd want to leave 4 - 6" if possible. so figure that into your design.

    I actually have a commercially built 24" scale bass, and it uses regular bass strings, but they are rather floppy, it has 2 -3 " between bridge and tailpiece.

    • Dan G. > Where's Uranus? December 26, 2014 at 1:37am
      Hello, I'm sorry, I realize this post is quite old but maybe someone will have email notification or some such and see this. What is the reasoning or formula for the spacing between bridge and tailpiece? Is there a rule of thumb? What would happen if you had no distance, or too much distance etc.? (I mean aside from the effect that would have on scale length etc.) I've seen examples of almost no distance, where the strings kinda dive down immediately after the bridge or where the bridge is crowding the tailpiece at the bottom of the face. Besides not looking very well proportioned, what's the acoustic science going on there?
    • JL > Dan G. January 13, 2015 at 7:36am

      There is no formula for the spacing between the bridge/saddle and the anchors for the strings.  It is about making sure the strings are anchored solidly. No one wants to be playing and all of a sudden the strings pull out and THWAK you in the face.

      It is often easier to anchor the strings in the tail if your instrument has a through neck sticking out through the other end of the box. 

    • darryl kernaghan > Dan G. December 26, 2014 at 4:59am

      Dan,while i'm no font of knowledge,remember,effectively ,at the crossing of the bridge you are just looking for a termination.the business MAINLY happens between the nut and bridge,anchorage will effect tone and resonance sure,but you are mainly looking for enough angle to make a crisp bridge effect

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