fingerz Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 So, after playing just about everything I'm thinking of getting a 5 string passive 35" scale bass built. I want to keep things simple and love the honesty of passive sound... I know Lakland do a passive 5 but the body is a bit small, and seeing as so much stuff is sooo expensive off the shelf, it seems I could get all I want built for me for similar money... I know quite alot about how basses work. I wonder if anyone has any experience on achieving that vintage tone in a newly built instrument. Pickup winding etc(these would be done for me), are there different tonal ranges in tone pots? Body thickness, moisture content. I like Ash/Rosewood sound. It would be great if I could learn anything from your experience, I've never done anything like this and if I do, I need to have all the info to minimize risk of disappointment. So any tone tips? Cosmetic stuff I can do me-self! I understand not many people will have had a passive instrument built, but if you have, or know loads about it, it would be great to learn some more stuff. Thanks alot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fingerz Posted March 30, 2009 Author Share Posted March 30, 2009 Anyone? .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harryharold Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 (edited) i built myself a passive 5 string about 5 years ago and it's still ym only bass thoug i have modded it countless times, a few things i learnt in the build 1 pickups, if you're going passive you need something powerfull, i have a basslines mm5 in mine and it packs a lot of power, it did cost as much as everything else put together but its worth it 2 good quality wood, unless you're an incredible craftsman your first home built bass isn't going to be very well made compared to a professionally built one so compensate by getting nice wood, and by nice i mean not too heavy but with loads of sustain - do some research. 3 the B string, it really hard to get it tight, even with a long scale and heavy strings mine isn't as tight as i'd like it, there are many factors when getting a tight B string so try to get all of them and you should be ok. 4 pots don't change your sound, the capacitor on the tone knob will, but it's mainly your wood and pickup choice that will affect it EDIT: just realised that you're getting it built, forget the home made stuff Edited March 30, 2009 by harryharold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Give Prosebass on here a shout if you haven't found a builder yet. I also hear Wizard do custom wound pickups (hopefully someone will clarify that!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fingerz Posted March 30, 2009 Author Share Posted March 30, 2009 Cool. Thanks for input. The tone nob capacitor is an interesting one, but I s'pose its easily tuned over time-not like its permanent like the woods would be.. Oh and Harryharold congrats on the DIY. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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