5 String Bass Guitar

5 String Bass Guitar

This was my first build of a 5 string bass guitar and was of my own design. A bass guitars strings are traditionally tuned to E, A, D & G notes (left to right as looking at the Bass face on). A 5 string bass guitar can be built by either adding a higher C above the G (right) or a low B (left). The low B extends the power of the bass as the foundation or base (no pun intended) of the band's sound. The high C allows the bassist to add a new dimension to soloing and take the lead role usually reserved for the 6 string electric guitar.

I love the deep growl and heart thumping, driving power of the bass so decided to add a low B string.

It has been observed that when a low B string is added to the traditional 34" scale bass guitar the low B can sound rather "mushy" and not as crisp or well defined as the other higher 4 strings. By extending the scale length to 35" and recalculating individual fret spacing, the problem is remedied. 36" is also an alternative but may be too challenging for smaller hands.

This Bass would be of my own design and constructed of Bubinga species wood with maple and rosewood again with an ebony fingerboard. The bass is a 'neck thru body' design in construction meaning that the body and neck are continuous and the neck is not attached to the body by screws or bolts.

Passive Gotoh pickups and bridge was used with Schaller tuning heads and straplocks.

* * *

(L>R) Raw wood stock showiing rosewood, bubinga, ebony and more bubinga.
Maple stock for neck lies diagonally in front of exotic species.

Bubinga Species used for body is thicknessed in planer.

Thickness calipers measuring dimensions shown

Wood shown on table saw.

Partial assembly already completed
(see previous posts for details on steps)

Truss Rod in slot in neck shown.
THI Inlay Logo on paper above)

Carbon Fiber Rods glued and clamped into neck.

Assembled body with truss Rod showing.

Components placed on top of partially assembled guitar.

Neck laminates used were previously glued up and clamped.

Partially assembled body on left with another partially assembled body on right.

Another photo of partially assembled guitar with hardware components.

Ebony Fingerboard already slotted for frets sits on bass neck.
Fingerboard still needs to be contoured (radius added)

Body with Pickup cavities ready for final assembly.

Fingerboard being planed to required radius.
Radius is checked with templates (not shown)

Fingerboard Glued and Clamped to Neck.

Fingerboard attached to Bass, ready for final wiring and hardware.

Side view of bass in vice.

Fret wire being installed in fingerboard of bass guitar.

More fretwork with nippers in foreground.

Frets are leveled and filed then crowned and polished.

Getting Close.

Closer.

Done.

Completed Five String 'Albany' Model Bass.
(I name my models after Rivers I've Canoed)

5 String Bubinga 'Albany' and a 4 string Cocobolo 'Abitibi' Basses
(designed and built by ThunderHouse Instruments)

* * *

Read More!

Works In Progress

*******************************************

I have a number of works in progress waiting for my return to the shop. Several models of custom basses can be seen standing in the background. The wood varies from Quilted Maple to Wenge and Walnut. Laminated necks are primarily figured maple with various exotic wood cores. The instrument at the rear right is an acoustic flat-top acoustic bass. At the left of the photo I have a stack of four Precision-like clone bodies. In the center foreground numerous violin backs and bellies are stacked with several violin molds to the right.

*******************************************

Read More!

My Gibson EB-1 Bass Guitar

In 1970 I heard a hard rock band called 'Mountain' which just blew me away. The band consisted of an incredible lead guitarist by the name of Leslie West. Corky Laing commanded the drums like no other. Steve Knight on keyboards added subdued textures to the loud, "in your face" mix. Finally my hero, the late Felix Pappalardi. Felix had a degree in music from the University of Michigan but unable to find a suitable employment conducting an orchestra, garnered fame as producer for the supergroup trio 'Cream'. In 1969 Felix met Leslie and formed 'Mountain'.
Felix's bassmanship and finesse on the instrument was unlike anything I had heard before. His tone was unique and sounded like a buzz saw which complemented the bombastic sounds emanating from Leslie's Les Paul Jr guitar. Felix developed his sound by playing a rather unpopular Gibson bass called the EB-1 (simply, the Electric Bass One). Rumour has it that Felix had this violin shaped short scale (32") bass modified by Gibson with some sort of electronic circuitry (or perhaps just different capacitors) which when driven by his Sunn amplifiers, gave it that unique buzz saw sound. The violin shaped Gibson EB-1 should not be confused with the violin shaped Hofner Bass played by Paul McCartney in "The Beatles". The EB-1 can also be seen in action being played by the phenomenal Jack Bruce in the 2005 'Cream' reunion DVD at Royal Albert Hall in London.

Looking far and wide I was able to locate an EB-1 in London England which a friend of mine was willing to pick up for me but I also found one in Lansing Michigan. I just had to have it so I scraped together my savings, my salary, yet being childless, I couldn't offer my first borne - I made the purchase.

I am the proud owner of a 1957 Gibson EB-1 in pristine condition with all original parts.

Just had to brag!

* * *

Read More!

EB-1 Wiring Diagram (By Request)

Gibson EB-1 Wiring Diagram

By request here is the wiring diagram of the EB-1 Bass as best as I can decipher.

Now, the control cavity of the EB-1 is rather compact and although there are few components, it is difficult to poke around in there to trace the wiring. For that reason, the wiring diagram attached should be used as a guide rather than being taken as fact. Electronics is my weakest link so I can't troubleshoot the schematics by reason & sight alone. The bass was built in 1957 and the components haven't been disturbed since that date so I don't wish to tug and move the original wiring too much.

The 2 large ceramic capacitors have values of 0.05 MF & 0.01 MF and these particular ones are rated at 400V. The pots have no value on them but Gibson used 500K for many of it's basses and I'm assuming these are the same value. Again, I'm not about to fiddle with the 'innerds' to measure the value at this time.
I checked out my Les Shatten Wiring Diagram books for an EB-1 but it wasn't included in his early editions. Perhaps he has included this instrument in more recent editions.
Les Schatten Wiring Diagram Books
Les Schatten Designs

A poor photo of the electronics cavity. (damn camera busted trying to turn the flash off!!#@%&!)

Hope this helps somewhat. If not, get back to me and I'll see if I can refine the schematics.

Jack Bruce probably played an unmodified EB-1. It is my understanding that the late Felix Pappalardi of the 60-70's band 'Mountain' had his EB-1 modified with different capacitor ratings and some other unspecified changes. Gave him that signature 'buzz saw' sound in conjunction with his Sun Amps. Check out his dedication page here.

Click on Frame to Enlarge
(Caution - Quick rendering, may not be accurate)

Poor Quality Photo of EB-1 Electronics Bay

Read More!

Shop Equipment

Some of My Shop's Equipment

Top (Left To Right) (1) Delta Table Saw, (2) Drill Press, (3) Oscillating Spindle Sander Bottom (Left To Right) (1) Stationary Disc & Belt Sander, (2) Homemade Buffing Wheels, (3) Bending Iron

Top Row (1) 6" Stationary Jointer, (2) 18" Delta Planer Middle Row (1) Craftsman Tilt Head Bandsaw, (2) Router Table Bottom Row (1) Delta Surface Drum Sander, (2) Craftsman Radial Arm Saw & Scroll Saw, Spray Paint Guns

Laguna HD 16 Bandsaw

Read More!