Build my own jazz bass

[jshows12]

I want to build my own "jazz" 5 string bass. I am not sure where to buy the stuff. I want to spend maybe $500 or so... Does anyone know where I can find this stuff?

Jon

[jshows12]

bump

[Sensible Musician]

first of all, definitely do it. once you get to the point where you can do all your own work you will have better instruments than anyone could build for you at any price. because you can e.g. play a neck as you're sanding it, getting the perfect profile by feel. nobody can do that for you

okay so ppl talk about building and assembling with the same word. are you talking about building an instrument (bandsaw and lumber yard) or assembling (intarwebs and credit card)?

in either case you start with design. figure out exactly what you want and then figure out what it takes to make that happen. if you're building literally draw it on paper and account for every part - materials, dimensions, etc

if you are assembling figure out materials [from what is commonly available] and dimensions [from what is standard].

[RussB]

Have a look around at Warmoth.com

[mistermikev]

mightymite
that's about the only place I know of where you could build and stay under $500 w/o buying wood and router.

[Sensible Musician]

k so we're talking about building in the lego sense. this is a project guitar.

http://www.guitarfetish.com/Bass-Bodies-and-Necks_c_293.html
http://www.rondomusic.com/partsbodies.html

also consider buying a real cheap beater that has good resonance and the dimensions you're looking for and using that as your hot rod platform. advantages:

much much very extremely much cheaper.
try before you buy. some necks are special, and you don't know which until you play them
you get an instrument with either a meaningful or mysterious history
it's countercultural
maybe you're not a fight the power type. at <$100 per, you can be a gear page bon vivant and buy an even dozen of them



IMO all the guitars that are assembled with parts from warmoth, et al are at least 50% wasted money unless you get features that you can't get off the shelf. the only thing i buy in that vein is warmoth superwide neck