First Project - Tele Bass Short Scale

[Cadinho]

Hi,

Well, for my first project I was thinking on building a short scale bass, 30 inches scale neck, in a telecaster body.

I was just wondering about the sound of it...

I just got the wood for the body... brazilian wood... cedro, I guess it´s close to Ash.

and a maple and cedro neck - 30" scale.

Rickenbacker Pickups (00030).

I´d appreciate some pointers on what should I be concerned about, since it's my first time building it.

Thanks...

[SwedishLuthier]

I'm not sure if you mean a Tele-bass or a Tele-guitar-shaped bass. Remenber that the first P-bass had a Tele shaped head...

I would stay a litle more mainstream with the first project. Do a full scale bass. Then you will have many more sources for references. Its easier to meashure a friends instrument, etc. I would go for a standard J or P-bass.

If you decide to build a Tele-shaped bass, I would still make it a full scale bass. A 30" scale will only (IMO) give you a rubbery strings with duller sound och the notes vill go out of tune more easily only because of the preasure from your fingers. At least go for somethin like 32". It will give a little more tension to the strings.

It would bevery interesting to hear how those woods will sound together. Keep us posted

Peter

[Cadinho]

well, by the "tele bass" I meant the exact same shape as a telecaster guitar.

concerning to the neck, the scale of it was taken from a hofner bass as well as that Stewmac Fret Calculator. Hofner has special strings made for this short scale basses witch has the tension needed for this kinda scale.

at least that's what I´ve figured out when planing this project.

I´ll keep y'all posted.... thanks for the info.

[unclej]

my partner at the music shop makes a great line of short scale basses..you might check out his website to pick up some hints.. www.birdsongguitars.com

nearly all of the major bass string manufacturers offer a short scale length and they sound just fine.

[Cadinho]

thanks for the link... and the tips...