Instrumental Madness

If it's not a guitar or a bass guitar discussion, and it's got strings, put it here.
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Michael Baresi
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Instrumental Madness

Post by Michael Baresi »

Occasionally my love of building instruments and my love of art meld and become "Instrumental Madness" (The title of this art piece instrument I built)
Its a hollow body with a luan plywood top and back, maple fretboard,bone nut and saddle with a brass door hinge for the tailpiece.
More of a wall hanging than an actual instrument although it does play.
Enjoy
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Chris Reed
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Re: Instrumental Madness

Post by Chris Reed »

I like your thinking, but why so many frets?

Here's the fretless upright bass I finished yesterday, made from a washing up bowl and some scrap wood I had lying around (I originally typed "crap wood", which is equally true).

Image
Bowl bass front by profchrisreed, on Flickr

Should come in handy at this coming weekend's ukulele festival, though some purists will complain that it has steel strings.

BTW, I like your device (what else can we call it), though I'm at a loss to know how you would hold it, let alone play it. Action pics perhaps?
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Michael Baresi
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Re: Instrumental Madness

Post by Michael Baresi »

Hi Chris, hows the tone on that bad boy?
re: my piece, as I said, its more of a wall hanging than a real instrument. Just for show.
Chris Reed
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Re: Instrumental Madness

Post by Chris Reed »

Michael Baresi wrote:Hi Chris, hows the tone on that bad boy?
re: my piece, as I said, its more of a wall hanging than a real instrument. Just for show.
With a resonator on the back it sounds like ... I suppose a very cheap and quiet plywood bass with some banjo twang to it. Surprisingly good sustain though - the through neck I guess.

I shall find some time today to brace the top, as the bowl isn't quite up to the string pressure, and bolt on a resonator of 6mm MDF. Then perhaps I could do a sound sample.

And Michael, we need a sample from you!
Steve Senseney
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Re: Instrumental Madness

Post by Steve Senseney »

I do like both instruments!
Chris Reed
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Joined: Thu Feb 02, 2012 6:26 pm

Re: Instrumental Madness

Post by Chris Reed »

Ah, but will you like how my bass plays?

Unmodified sound sample, recorded on my laptop's built-in mic which isn't good on bass frequencies:

https://app.box.com/s/7vb0g4vy9l7trwv391gn

I added a bass line to a recording of me playing and singing, and boosted the bass slightly so it matched what I'm hearing:

https://app.box.com/s/rszkg8frfc8d3ov9l9e8

It's very unforgiving of poor technique (!) and pretty twangy, but should be fun at the uke festival.
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