www.JoshCurry.com - Projects

Home Made Bass Guitar

I can't really explain why I want to build a custom bass, it's not like I don't have enough of them already. I want to do it just to see if I can and to be able to say that I did. This is probably going to be a really long page. I'll try to update it as I go but there might be some big gaps in time.

Originally, I was going to build a body that was identical to my Jackson JPB which is actually a copy of a Marleaux Consat bass. Several people from the Talk Bass forum encouraged me to come up with my own design. Good advice.

This is what I came up with for my original design.

I was so excited I even made a photoshop mockup of what it might look like done with some nice hard woods.

Click Here to see the full size version.

This is the initial body cut out of MDF just to see how it would really look. Not bad, but not great either. The rear is too flat, several people pointed this out. I would have to agree.

The same body with some hardware to kind of see how it all fits together.

After some serious modifications and tweaks this is the final design that I am going to build. I rounded off the back and extended the top horn a bit for better balance (I hope).

Click Here to see the full size version.

The prototype body all cut out with pickup routes and holes for the knobs and the bridge. It still has some paper stuck to it. I actually print the design out from CAD and use spray adhesive to stick it to the wood.

This shows the control cavity already routed out. You can see the ground wire that goes to the bridge as well. I glued the body together with the ground wire in there because it would be easier than trying to fish it through later.

Another hardware pic to see how it will all look.

This entire project has been on hold for a very long time. Hopefully I will be able to pick it up again after I am moved and can set up a workshop again. I have also gone back to the drawing board and am working on a 4-string design instead of a 6 to make it smaller and easier to manage.