6 String P bass build

Maker of handmade contemporary bass guitars (made in Melbourne) and teacher of bass guitar lutherie. Find out about the latest builds here.
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David Searle Guitars
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Joined: 05 Jul 2013, 20:52

6 String P bass build

Post by David Searle Guitars » 03 Feb 2017, 17:18

Hi all,
Q: What do you do when you want that P bass vibe but there's just not enough strings???

A: Build a whopping great 6 string 36" scale P bass of course!

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Super light weight Alder, Neck made of figured red American Oak, highly flamed maple fretboard, two truss rods, loads of graphite rods, Aguilar 6 string P bass pickup, Hand made 6 string 'traditional' style P bass bridge and a lightly reliced finish (crackled lacquer). Oh...and passive of course!

More shots on the way!

Cheers, David
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drbass
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Re: 6 String P bass build

Post by drbass » 03 Feb 2017, 18:13

Maaaaaate :)
- Kermit 6 multi, Kermit Gaia 6 fretless, Kermit Rockmachine 5, Manta 5, Manta 5 YOLO, ("Red Baron" 5), Q 5, (Sandberg Classic S2-5), (Thumb-4)
- Genzler Magellan 800, 2 Genzler BA12-3
- EBS OctaBass, Boss MS-3, Line6 G50
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David Searle Guitars
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Re: 6 String P bass build

Post by David Searle Guitars » 03 Feb 2017, 18:24

well it all starts about here...

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Check out the size of the neck pocket. I've lived in smaller appartments in my younger years!

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David Searle Guitars
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Re: 6 String P bass build

Post by David Searle Guitars » 03 Feb 2017, 18:32

and then this...

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Red Oak with just a bit of internal engineering.
This neck blank is made of three pieces of American red Oak that was also used in 'Big Burd'. As this will be a 36" scale neck with a fairly slender back profile, I thought that it best to use the same graphite rod and truss rod pattern that was used in the the last build.

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The fretboard is a highly figured piece of flame maple with the finished dimensions of 60mm at the nut and 100mm at the dusty end.....
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David Searle Guitars
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Re: 6 String P bass build

Post by David Searle Guitars » 03 Feb 2017, 18:35

...and then....

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Fretboard glued down

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Fretboard trimmed to size and fret slots being cut in. I've placed a strat marking out template next to it to give some idea of scale on this might beast!
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David Searle Guitars
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Re: 6 String P bass build

Post by David Searle Guitars » 03 Feb 2017, 18:37

...more....

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Fret dots in and the end of the fretboad trimmed as well.
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David Searle Guitars
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Re: 6 String P bass build

Post by David Searle Guitars » 03 Feb 2017, 18:38

......and yet more...

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Ok...enough already......
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narcdor
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Re: 6 String P bass build

Post by narcdor » 03 Feb 2017, 20:14

Lovely! Also, is that semi hollow in the background, that yours too?
'65 Fender Mustang, '15 Narcdor Precision, '64 Framus Star Bass, Stingray Classic, '14 Streamer NT1
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Bassboy
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Re: 6 String P bass build

Post by Bassboy » 03 Feb 2017, 21:00

I feel a shoreline gold body with cream pearloid pickguard
Might be in order here David, well that's my preference, :lol:
Looks killer
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Classic5
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Re: 6 String P bass build

Post by Classic5 » 04 Feb 2017, 18:59

[Absolutely superb as usual :thumbup:

And I'll have to agree with Bassboy's comment:
Bassboy wrote:I feel a shoreline gold body with cream pearloid pickguard
Might be in order here David, well that's my preference, :lol:
Looks killer
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Glockenklang Blue Soul, Glockenklang Double, TecAmp Puma 112 Combo
"Money will buy a fine dog but only kindness will make him wag his tail"
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David Searle Guitars
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Re: 6 String P bass build

Post by David Searle Guitars » 13 Feb 2017, 19:45

Frets in, neck mostly carved, pickup route done...coming along nicely :thumbup:

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Headstock veneered with maple....

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Daniel Kinnaird
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Re: 6 String P bass build

Post by Daniel Kinnaird » 14 Feb 2017, 08:04

Very nice! Looking forward to seeing the finished product!
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SneakyJak
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Re: 6 String P bass build

Post by SneakyJak » 20 Feb 2017, 20:29

Trans green?? Don't think Peter has one in that colour and it actually looks surprisingly good.

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Classic5
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Re: 6 String P bass build

Post by Classic5 » 17 Mar 2017, 15:07

OK.....we know it's finished :yep

Show us the pics :bat:
IB-Classic#001, Xotic XJ-1T 5,Yamaha BB1024X
Glockenklang Blue Soul, Glockenklang Double, TecAmp Puma 112 Combo
"Money will buy a fine dog but only kindness will make him wag his tail"
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David Searle Guitars
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Joined: 05 Jul 2013, 20:52

Re: 6 String P bass build

Post by David Searle Guitars » 20 Mar 2017, 19:09

Well it is finished! And it's done it's first gig! :thumbup:

Here it is in all of it's lightly reliced finish!
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