paul h Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 In a desperate attempt to stop myself from buying chocolate doughnuts I decided to build a new bass out of an old curtain pole and some spares I had lying around. Everything is attached by either nails or gaffa tape. Played through a Zoom B2 and an Ashdown combo. Recorded on a stills camera. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 Reminds me of Jack white in the recent guitar film Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted August 13, 2010 Author Share Posted August 13, 2010 It was very much like that. But with a bit more swearing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayman Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 Ha, awesome, and better build quality than a Fleabass at a fraction of the cost. I'm off to get a donut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Rich Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 Very nice, and no problem making them left handed either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrenleepoole Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 Brilliant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budget bassist Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 haha brilliant! Did you just tape a pickup, a bridge, a tuner and a jack to a curtain pole? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 [quote name='paul h' post='923929' date='Aug 13 2010, 02:33 PM']It was very much like that. But with a bit more swearing.[/quote] You gotta play it live now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted August 13, 2010 Author Share Posted August 13, 2010 [quote name='budget bassist' post='924116' date='Aug 13 2010, 04:42 PM']haha brilliant! Did you just tape a pickup, a bridge, a tuner and a jack to a curtain pole? [/quote] Bridge and tuner? Nothing that fancy. I put a nail through the ball end of the string to fix it the headstock end. Then I nailed a saddle from a bridge at each end. The other end of the string is passed through the hole for the intonation screw on the saddle. It stays there thanks to an electrical connector. Then I wedged a guitar slide under the string t act as a bridge. The pickup is attached to the jack with electrical tape and all gaffa taped into place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7string Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 Very cool You are the new MacGyver of bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted August 14, 2010 Author Share Posted August 14, 2010 I now have an image in my head of turning up to a gig with a box of spares and making a bass during the intro of the first song. Of course I haven't gigged with a real bass in years so maybe I should do that first? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guybrush threepwood Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 This is the coolest thing I've seen in ages! The sound reminds me of Les Claypool's whamola Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted August 21, 2010 Author Share Posted August 21, 2010 Thanks fella. The electrics have fallen apart since...but I will do some work on it when I can be bothered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Admiral Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 That's a fantastic bit of improvised construction - sounds great too. I actually built this for an American friend of mine for his birthday, out of stuff I had knocking about at home and bits I picked up on eBay for peanuts. The 'body' is a bit of floor joist left over from the repairs to my kitchen floor after a Boxing day water leak, the nut and bridge are made from scrap aluminium angle. The tuner is a Schaller M4 (eBay - £3.50), and the pickup is from an old 70s Strat copy, which was donated FOC by a guy on another forum. Strung with a .46 E string from an old Les Paul, and plugged into an overdrive pedal - played with a slide it sounds awesome : really loud - instant Seasick Steve. I had to make a case - to take it to the states as 'hand luggage' (amazed I got it on board actually, as it's really heavy and would have made a good weapon, but there you go) , and the hardware for that case cost more than the diddly bow! I have some spare parts left over - so I'm thinking of making another one now. [attachment=57156:Reduced_1.jpg] A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 [quote name='paul h' post='924755' date='Aug 14 2010, 11:07 AM']I now have an image in my head of turning up to a gig with a box of spares and making a bass during the intro of the first song ...[/quote] As you're making it you'll have to shout out 'Can you tell what it is yet?' Rolf says 'Brilliant'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
optimus Posted September 24, 2010 Share Posted September 24, 2010 I've just found this and can't stop watching it. Brilliant work Sir! You MUST gig it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfoxnik Posted September 27, 2010 Share Posted September 27, 2010 Genius; absolute genius! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted September 27, 2010 Author Share Posted September 27, 2010 Thank you all. It did kill ten minutes! It is now slowly falling apart in the corner I leant it 30 seconds after finishing the video. Maybe I should stick it on ebay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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