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I started this project about 3 months ago with my 4D buddy Popeye, sort of started a thread looking for huge hardware but here is a new thread with a mock build. Really need someone to stand next to it when it's standing but its taller than me and I'm 6 foot.
Here's some snaps
here's some more pics. We are using elephant ear bass tuners. I've half built the bridge plate. Need to make a control plate. Had checkerplate at work so thought why not.
Pau shell dot markers are half inch size and 12mm black MOP markers for the 12th fret
shots of the headstock has flame maple veneer. We though a tobacco burst theme will look good with the maple fingerboard
Holey Moley....tis the sunburst whale!
Looks great Woks it will take a year to wetsand!
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Jaysus Mary & Joseph, that thing is beyond mental!
Love it , checker plate bridge - doesnt get more Aussie than that
Very interesting. What radius neck are you going for?
I can't help but think that the ridges on the checkerplate bridge will make it hard to get a good footing for your bridge height screws.
Are you going to make your own pickups or maybe use some blade style bass pickups?
Can't wait for the demo video, it should be a side splittin laughter filled event. How much does it weigh already? If it is taller than you there is probably no chance anyone could play the thing standing up haha.
One guy for the neck, one guy to pick or play it standing like a double bass?:eek:
Have you thought about where you are going to get the strings from? With a 51" scale length, they certainly won't be off-the-shelf items.
Good point as double base scale length is between 105cm (41.3 inches) to 110cm (43.3 inches) and probably best place to start.Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon Barden
Which still leaves them around 10" short. Unlikely you could make that up from the excess wound bits at either end. They could be custom made, but they would be very expensive.
hey guys cheers for the comments and good questions.
@ Simon the fingerboard is between 12 and 16" radius needs a bit more shaping. Not sure how the checkerplate will go it's all an experiment. 51" scale strings need to do more research. Pickups are 6 string bass pickups should just be wide enough. I purposely didn't angle the pups to get maximum width. I thought about double bass strings but not long enough. Might have to fork out for custom made strings. I'll message the dude on Youtube with the massive flying V see where he got his.
@ Waz not sure on the weight but the neck weighs almost as much as a whole guitar. Guess it would be around the 10-12kg area.
Not sure how this axe will work ! It's all trial and error at this stage
Just nip down to that unmentionable hardware store and get a couple of rolls of fencing wire in various gauges :)
haha cheers DK the thought crossed my mind ! If custom strings costs end up being crazy might have to go down that path haha
Once you've finished this one, you could do a baritone version. ;)
haha cheers for the idea Simon, we won't be rushing out to make another double scale axe, especially a baritone neck, double scale means 4 times the area for sanding, staining and final coats !
More room to get a nicely graduated sunburst finish though. :)
Would piano or harp strings work? I have no idea of their lenghth, gauge or whether they are ferrous or not.
Ah, the joys of building off the wall guitars . . . man, I hope it all comes together OK.
I'm another one who can't wait to see it being (team?) played!
haha cheers Max I will check out harp or piano strings you never know could be around 1.3m long which I need.
Might take two people to play this axe, I think it will be likely be a massive slide axe
You'd need some polished schedule 40 pipe worn over your forearm to play slide on that leviathan of an axe!
haha cheers Frankie will keep that in mind !
It is probably only for lead breaks up above the 12th
haha something like that JB, I doubt I'll be able to reach past the 5th fret - it's too far !
You'll probably need it to be in an open tuning. Maybe a Keef G style tuning and so drop the need for the bottom string?
Ry Cooder's Contrbass Lap Steep used piano strings. You can hear it on the Last Man Standing soundtrack. I was looking for a picture of it, but can't find one online.
cheers for the suggestions Simon and Fretty. Surely there is a really long scale lap steel that may have strings long enough. I had a quick look at piano wire and looks like its just wire and not wound strings and no ball stoppers on the ends. I will keep researching
You're almost certainly going to have to make your own ball ends. As long as you have access to a metalwork lathe they would be easy to make. You could probably even make your own wound strings. You'd have to put a ball-end on first, and then wrap the wire back on itself whilst trapping the wrap wire in the core wrap. Then stretch the core wire between a swivel and an electric drill with a very slow speed setting (or even a hand drill), turn the drill on and feed the wrap wire out so that it spirals its way up the core wrap.
There are quite a few videos on YouTube on hand-wound strings. Here's one:
http://youtu.be/YbizZatTilU
And another string making video:
http://youtu.be/4_MVOZnhLVc
This also shows a lot of useful tips.
http://youtu.be/Hec8TkKB8Pg
What about Double Bass strings?
The 43.3"/110cm scale is still too short.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fretworn
Hey Simon thanks for the YT video links I'll have a look, I missed them from last night (my time)
Also your double bass string conversion should be 43.3"/110cm or 1100mm
Imagine the callouses those strings would give you. I faintly (and painfully) remember when I first started playing the EX-5 and how tender things were after trying out the fat B string for a few hours. This monster could be 2 - 3 times thicker than that.
Hey Waz, as it is double scale everything I plan on using the low E string to be no bigger than 0.1 inch or about the width of a E bass string. Trying to get my fingers around the neck even at the narrow end I'd be lucky to play a chord with my medium sized hands hahah
I'd guess it will more than likely be played as a slide guitar, might have to build a stand to play it flat and have a stool on wheels to move up and down the fretboard haha
Thanks! Now corrected. Seem to have picked up some sort of virus and my brain isn't functioning well today.Quote:
Originally Posted by wokkaboy