One piece bass?

shwabilly

shwabilly

Jun 2, 2013
284
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Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
www.reverbnation.com
#1
I did a search on here, and did'nt find anything.

This is probably a silly question, and I'm not a luthier, but does anyone make, or has anyone seen a one piece bass (or guitar), as in, body and neck cut and made together from one slab of wood?

I'm sure there would likely be some structural issues, but it was just something that popped in my head, and I'm curious if it's been done.

Thx.
 
#3
shwabilly said:
...has anyone seen a one piece bass (or guitar), as in, body and neck cut and made together from one slab of wood?
Click to expand...

2960112OnePiece_unknown.jpg


Don't know anything about it, but it doesn't look entirely functional.
 
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#12
There was a guy in Luthiers Corner who made one recently, I'll see if I can find the thread. Pretty cool aesthetically, but tough to find a piece that big with no inherent flaws. I don't see any big advantage over neck through or bolt on, but interesting anyway.
 
#14
shwabilly said:
I did a search on here, and did'nt find anything.

This is probably a silly question, and I'm not a luthier, but does anyone make, or has anyone seen a one piece bass (or guitar), as in, body and neck cut and made together from one slab of wood?

I'm sure there would likely be some structural issues, but it was just something that popped in my head, and I'm curious if it's been done.

Thx.
Click to expand...
Using One Piece of Wood for Body and Neck
 
#15
shwabilly said:
I did a search on here, and did'nt find anything.

This is probably a silly question, and I'm not a luthier, but does anyone make, or has anyone seen a one piece bass (or guitar), as in, body and neck cut and made together from one slab of wood?

I'm sure there would likely be some structural issues, but it was just something that popped in my head, and I'm curious if it's been done.

Thx.
Click to expand...
FS: Custom Les Paul 5 string. single piece for the entire bass jens ritter inspired
 
#17
Not quite on point but former Santa Cruz Luthier Scott Walker (who makes some beautiful high end custom guitars for folks like Steve Kimock, Barry Sless and Neil Casal (of the Chris Robinson Brotherhood) and even a custom 5 string MandoCello for Michael Kang of String Cheese Incident just came up with a guitar series called the Katana.


"I spent 5 years setting necks and fitting dovetails while working at The Santa Cruz Guitar Company. This is where and when the idea of incorporating a Japanese style neck joint came to me. And 10 years later it has come to reality.

In the new Katana model there is also a few other ideas implemented.

  • One piece solid body (Mahogany or Walnut)
  • One piece neck (Cocobolo or Paduk)
  • No truss rod
  • No glue or screws for neck attachment
  • No cavities
  • The neck is fretted, there is no fingerboard.
This guitar is about as bare bones as it comes. The idea of the body and neck interacting together and the reaction between them are really highlighted here. Using old air dried woods, quarter sawn and stable really provides a strong resonant musical platform you won’t see or hear in any other guitar.

The arch top style bridge matches with the neck angle and geometry of the guitar, given the player plenty of real-estate to really dig in to the strings. This really gives the player an unconscious freedom and expression with the right hand.

The Damascus steel tailpiece and pick guard give it a solid, “tuning fork” musical quality that really is unique to this guitar.

Other specs:

 
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#18
I met a guy who had a one piece bass custom made for him by Bernardo Rico (BC Rich). Bernie made the bass and Alembic did the electronics. It was a stunning instrument. Also I believe that John Entwhistle's Buzzard basses were one piece (all carbon fiber).
 
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#19
Gelvin Guitars does. It's called the Gelvin OPS. But he just does it for guitars AFAIK.

He also does something called the OGS where he bookmatched two halves from the same piece of wood and runs a single glue joint up the middle of the body and neck. So although there's a glue join, it's between the two single piece guitar/neck halves rather than between the body and the neck.
 
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#20
Gilmourisgod said:
There was a guy in Luthiers Corner who made one recently, I'll see if I can find the thread. Pretty cool aesthetically, but tough to find a piece that big with no inherent flaws. I don't see any big advantage over neck through or bolt on, but interesting anyway.
Click to expand...

Looks are about the only advantage I'd say. The downside is you need the body and neck to be some Wood suitable for a neck like say maple. the Ritter is all one piece flamed maple to solve the problem. A basswood neck just ain't gonna cut it. Someone mentioned Wishbasses. They COULD be made once piece but typically they are neck-though with wings glued on and neck one kind of wood and wings another. Interestingly SX now sells an "Andromeda" bass which is a two piece bass (note Ritter actually has an added fingerboard so is two piece) The SX has a one piece ash body and s one piece maple bolt-on neck. Solves the decent wood for neck problem. There is no fingerboard, just frets mounted right in the neck wood. Judging from the amount of whining over practical features of bass (truss rod adjustment etc) This one piece idea gives basically no change in tone with a big added pain if you need repairs etc.
 
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