MIMF

Here's another of my "creations". I like to take classic vintage instruments and twist them around a bit, in this case I thought I'd use the Hofner Violin bass as a starting point... I've normally got a pretty fixed idea of what I'm going for before I start but this project was a bit of a departure from that. I knew some of the features that I wanted to incorporate in the design but some came along as I was building it, one such feature was the scroll headstock and what a job that turned out to be!!!

I did want the over hanging top and back before I started and no knobs on the top but apart from that most else evolved during the build. These pictures were taken before the final flatting and polishing so the finish is a bit suspect in parts but I really want to get a few "miles" under the belt before I do the final fettling.

It's semi hollow and pretty much has the same basic dimensions as a Jazz bass, string through body and lots of weird bits! I have quite a few build pictures which if people want I'll be more than happy to post.

Wow! Great job. More pictures please. I've been seeing some outstanding instruments here lately. My hat's off to all of you. It will be a long time till I get the nerve to post my work again. Keep them coming.

That's a really beautiful bass. I really like it that the classical shape and "modern" electric bass blend so well.
And as Jim said, more pictures would be great.
I'm curious how you've build your body.

Those controls are at least borderline genius! Nice idea there.

Very creative and inspiring! I'd love to know how you did the scroll headstock. Is it attached to the neck or are they all one piece? Thanks, in advance.

That's funky! How's the balance? The scroll headstock fits the overall concept, but sure looks heavy. Agreed on the cleverness of the controls, though! So, those are just your typical pots with big wheels on the posts? I'm going to have to store that idea away for later use. Good stuff, Mr. Richards!

Very creative indeed Chris! I love the scroll headstock also. Did you do the carving?
The controls are a great idea. I'll be looking for a way to use that idea also.
I'll bet that the neck pickup will give some really mellow tones, being that far toward the neck.

Hi, thanks for all your comments. I must say I'm quite proud of the headstock, it was a really late decision on the design, I'd already cut a guitar shaped headstock on the neck then had this crazy idea to do a violin style. Fortunately there's some pretty good youtube videos of violin makers carving these things, so at that point I innocently went ahead.. Ugh, I still have nightmares about it!

Carving spirals is quite a "head exploding" experience and it did take me an age... Also regarding the tuners, they're standard bass guitar units with lengthened barrels such that they don't extend through the opposite side of the headstock, wanting to keep the headstock light weight I wanted it as small as possible and therefore keeping the tuner bushes on the inside and not having them going all the way through allowed me to keep the whole thing quite small... As the body it's built from Poplar/Tulip wood so it's light weight and the balance is good.

The body has an arched back and front and is constructed a bit like a 335, I was going to cut "F" holes but things were getting a bit tight on the top so abandoned that idea. The controls are Blend, Volume, Tone and yes they are just standard pots with big wheels.

I was originally considering doing a relic finish for that old violin look but the whole job was taking an age, sanding around the over hanging edges was VERY time consuming and I needed to finish it as I had other jobs so the finish is not like new so to speak which I quite like anyway... I had considered doing a violin style tailpiece but then decided on a string through, again this was a late decision but it was beginning to look too "bent" towards a violin.

Anyhow I'm pretty pleased with it, some of the carpentry and design preparation could have been a bit better but it was fun to do (apart from the headstock!!!)

Here's another of the headstock

Thanks for the extra pictures. A really cool project.

Very successful though I can't imaging spending the time it must have taken you to sand it, stain it, varnish it, level it and buff it. I'm glad to hear that the weight is reasonable.
I'm wondering where the strap buttons are and whether you thought about adding an end pin to it like an Ampeg babybass?

Truly master class work!
I also LOVE the shape, sort of a Firebird-violin and it just plain works!

Thank you Douglas.. I was quite surprised to see this build pop up again so to speak...I still have nightmares about carving the headstock!... Yes it was intentional that it looks a little Firebird'ish, generally speaking most of my own design guitars are inspired by classic designs and I love the Firebird, I've built a few guitars around this shape. As business goes I wish someone would come along and buy a job lot of my guitars, I've got an "attic full" of the things!...All my paying jobs are Fender or Gibson stuff, restorations or vintage style paint jobs... British musicians are so narrow minded!