I have not built a bass CBG yet, but have been thinking about it for a while. I have a pretty large box I can use, and I was toying with making it more of an upright bass, kind of like a cello. I thought if I put an extendable foot on it, it could be played while sitting down.
I don't think I want to go all the way to a stand up bass. But building it cello style might allow for someone to play it in both a conventional (under the arm) method as well as upright sitting down.
Anybody got any thoughts? I don't play bass, not yet anyway, and I am just curious if any bass players would actually use it in the upright configuration, or would that mess with your muscle memory too much?
Replies
I hadn't thought about the mic stand option. This is a good idea.
I was sort of planning on putting a collapsible strut in the bottom, like a leg from a camera tripod. If the player was going to use it conventionally, they could just collapse the strut inside the box, or extend it for more upright playing while sitting down.
I would have to watch the mounting of the strut to make sure it didn't cause any unwanted vibrations though.
My initial thought was to do a 2 or 3 string model, with weed wacker strings.
With 3 strings one can play the octaves - "as usual" ;-)
How about something like these? On my build list.
3 string upright bass 37inch scale Kevlar core nylon strings.jpg
upright bass.jpg
upright bass 2.jpg
Hi Dan.
as well as playing C.B.G.s (mainly slide) I play a multitude of basses (of many scales) plus double bass - a cigar box one that is like a long bass guitar and a conventional electric stand up bass.
The cello idea seems a good one for the reasons that you have said and also much easier to transport than a double bass. Would you use bass guitar tuning? Probable easier than cello tuning, but depending on the scale length it may be awkward to find the strings you need. Strimmer or weedwacker strings might be a thought.
For the size of a cello. I would probably play it as an upright and play it sitting down, Once a bit of muscle memory is ingrained, upright is not a problem,
I play an EDB (Stagg). It's a 3/4 electric upright.
Imagine you're building a fretless long scale bass guitar, with slightly stronger radiused fingerboard and neck angle compatible with the tall bridge. You can go the "less standard" way and mount it on a mic-style stand. This way you can change it's position between "totally upright" and "bass guitar, floating in the air"...
Like here:
Put one (rod) piezo PU under the bridge, the second under the lower ("body") end of the fingerboard...
"Right hand" muscle memory is probably not a big problem (angles are different, but hey, it's still bass). Plucking hand will have to adapt...