Apeiron Fretless Bass V2.0: Should I Auction it?

[@Kevin.odonnell]

“Fender already makes Fender” 100% agree. No need for another P or J clone!

[@zhiracs]

send it to Les Claypool's home address with a sticky note that just says "tell me what you think"

[@timsway]

do you have his address? :)

[@akashicvizion]

Better yet: send it to Leland Sklar-- He modified his own stuff back in the early 70's (think his "Frankenbass"!).... **He** could put it to the test!!

[@HENRYCOGIS]

I'm waiting for the strings made fron repurposed wood.

[@BlareWolfgang]

And the electronics.

[@BobJones-bh9qz]

And absolutely drowned in totalboat epoxy

[@timsway]

lol. you lost me there, Bob Jones. Honestly, my biggest pet peeve are the "epoxy guitars" where people just take a bunch of crap and shove it in resin, then say the guitar is "made of ..." No, it's made of resin, which is terribly unfriendly to the environment. I use epoxy very sparingly. I do, however, soak a lot fo my stuff in Totalboat Halcyon, which is a water-based, low VOC finish they make and I proudly endorse.

[@highlyvenomoustoad]

@@timsway wow way to shit on burls guitars...

[@timsway]

@@highlyvenomoustoad lol. Don't mind me. Who am I to talk? I'm just making guitars, too. I should be doing something better with my time and skills, like building homes for the homeless or feeding the hungry.

[@orryfishburne5326]

Im really loving the direction its going in. The all wood look is gorgeous, and it sounds fantastic. I can understand why people would want u to hide the tuners, but i agree with u, i dont think it takes away from the aesthetic and looks just fine. Absolutely love the EKG design on the finger board, and the bleed gives it a nice characteristic. Definitely an improvement on the bridge. I like the floating bridge idea, it would make it super easy to replace or mod to a players liking too. Maybe for the knobs on the pots for the pickup u could make a low profile knob out of wood, so it matches and blends with the wood on the back of the body?

[@timsway]

thanks. great ideas. noted!

[@isaacshepard7809]

This is my third time watching this video. That bass is just amazing

[@timsway]

you know there are updates too, right? kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHzTlWWQaJl2d6csi=z8mdkxXZPjMPrIZi and kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqDScpakhZmCbrssi=mq35CpEgNa27HTOg

[@FrankenVLOG]

I love this design and idea. Especially the EKG fret markers.

[@birddispenser]

I would honestly buy something like this, I really love the sound and look. The hidden pickup gives it such a cool look honestly

[@JUNK_ZONE]

I love the shape of this bass. Like, a lot.

[@kevmac1230]

Coming from a old bass player they look and sound great.Seems you reached your goals.

[@AlluvionMusic]

I LOVE IT!!! That neck is gorgeous! I really really love all the updates.

[@whythesenotes-adventuresin5576]

This bass SOUNDS amazing. And I'm damn picky when it comes to my basses. I'm guessing it's just as playable as it sounds. I'm not a big fan of active basses - I just like to keep my batteries outside of the wood - but otherwise I'd 100% bid on this if you put it up for auction. Bonus points for 6:06 Linus & Lucy; 7:08 Somewhere over the Rainbow. Those are some of the things that also just come to my fingers sometimes when I play.

[@Jarom.M]

I love the super clean look and the heart beat line is a nice touch.

[@johnpaxton2518]

Love those "EKG" markers! Great design. You're getting better (and more interesting) all the time! Thanks for being informative as well as entertaining.

[@sgsax]

I love how these sound. The look is so far outside the box, you can't even see the box anymore. Truly a unique design. Personally, I like the headstock as-is. The only change I might make is as others have suggested to use a different material for the tuner knobs. Thanks for sharing!

[@sapelesteve]

That Bass is really amazing Tim! Great design and playability. You are becoming the Luthier's Luthier, or something like that. I wish I knew how to play Bass because I would purchase one in a heartbeat! Keep up the great work & tweaking of those instruments as you are great at it IMO! 👍👍😉😉🎸🎸

[@timsway]

thanks man. Next up is to see if I can apply some of this to six strings, once I finish this.

[@adammono1839]

Really nice concept and really great development of the idea! Maybe add roller knobs to the controls like a jaguar or jazzmaster, then you can mount the pots sideways in the cavity with the roller knob popping out. Also maybe wood tuning pegs?

[@RyoCanCan]

I'd looooove one. Amazing little thing. Maybe a 7 string, headless? Would look rad as hell.

[@joeldcanfield_spinhead]

Love love the EKG position marker. I haven't been playing bass lately (like, a few years) and I wanna change that now. Find a way to auction it among your oldest fans, longtime followers.

[@pileofstuff]

Cool instruments. And an extra thumbs up for the Vince Guaraldi demo!

[@Metalbass10000]

I like these builds, definitely. Haven't checked in with you in quite a while. I have been planning a somewhat similar idea on a build in Winter. I have some ideas on the controls, but I'd want to try my ideas, work out any issues, before just throwing words out there. As for the tuners, my wife and I do make tuner keys out of numerous woods, and a few other materials. We also work with a few local artists and artisans who work with stones, crystals, severely oxidized metals, and fused glass. Also for the tuners, aside from the keys being made out of wood, on a few builds recently we had tapped holes in the tuner post and made special plugs with a threaded pin on the bottom to screw into the tuner post, to give it a different look. We used Gaboon Ebony, off cuts from the fretboard, for the tuner key and for the top of the tuner post, curly maple, blood wood, one with a type of stone, also matching the tuner keys and complimenting the stone inlay on the fretboard (I don't remember the name my wife would remember the name), and one with hardened aluminum which we had anodized. black to match some of the rest of the hardware. Those were some of my final ghost builds, and our current builds will finally not have somebody else's name on them and I will no longer be bound to any type of NDA, so I will finally be able to proudly show my work as my own.

[@timsway]

nice. I was thinking wood veneers on the metal tuners from cutoffs of the top wood used on the bass. Nervous about going totally wood (even though I have old upright basses with wood tuners)

[@danielvandoorn]

Gorgeous design. Can't wait to see where you end up with it.

[@timsway]

there is a version 3 and a fretted 5 string: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHzTlWWQaJl2d6c kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGjEmXyfbtitapY

[@DommoDommo]

Maybe for the tuners you can put them on the inside of the headstock instead of the outside like a classical guitar head but inverted.

[@TrevorVonSeggern]

Really looking forward to part 3. These are incredibly creative bass guitars!

[@timsway]

you don't have to wait! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHzTlWWQaJl2d6c

[@janetowens7288]

Very clever the way you did the fret markers.

[@texasorange285]

Creative souls like yourself....keep pushing the envelope musically!!!! The tone is clean. Your refinements of the 2nd version, and of the Bridge are beautiful!!! The Fret markers are sweet!!! We so look forward to the finished model. Please consider making this an affordable instrument. Can’t wait to see the “design”of the Bass “case”or “bag”. Hemp??? Organic???

[@timsway]

The goal of this is to make it affordable but boutique in quality and design. cheers!

[@RickMeasham]

Love v2's hidden pickup but v1s lack of figuring in the timber makes the whole unibody thing more obvious and beautiful.

[@PeterHBoer]

I wasn't expecting a Carry On Wayward Son reference, cool. Nice builds too !

[@timsway]

lol. neither was I

[@superflymosher1901]

I love your work and channel Tim! That Bass is frickin awesome dude! Great work 🤘👍!

[@juliodifelippo]

Wow, man, even better and better. Cheers!

[@miguelromero3256]

this "model" per se is absolutely stunning and if you ask me is very worth pursuing in all aspects

[@ghosthawk65]

Great to know all your CNC ‘waste’ is put to good use. A fair few luthiers seem to cut off and discard so much wood, I often wonder how environmental and economical that is. Oh, and your bass is sublime. What about giving it a double bass style head with wooden peg tuners?

[@timsway]

it's a thought! cheers.

[@cd0u50c9]

I second the open headstock idea with wooden pegs!

[@andrewmundenandcadfellmast4624]

Love the look and the whole concept Tim. Have you considered planetary geared tuners? Kind of tge best of both worlds. The look of old style wooden tuners, but the practicality of geared tuners

[@isaacramirez3729]

I'm in love with this! I will probably build one and there's a local wood shop that sells scrap cuts for cheap

[@johngrant5749]

Very sleek. Love the lasered pulse markers. How about wood tuning keys?

[@timsway]

I was just writing with someone else about that. it's an idea... probably a hybrid?

[@johngrant5749]

@@timsway yes wood keys, I have seen it done on commercial bass’s, still with metal parts but covered in veneer.

[@MichaelStoneham]

Great job on this development of a low cost but decently made bass. I like the idea your making something different.

[@jonnydregz3677]

I love that bass it’s so thin & cool Tim good work Tim.

[@ResidentRob]

You should use a metal wheel for the pots vs a knob. It's be more flush but still a bit more friendly compared to a bare pot

[@mjschaeffer2112]

I love the fretboard! Looks great and sounds great.

[@karabarkdull2929]

I really like the 2.0 version the best keep up the good work your ideas are awesome

[@FeuerToifel]

nice bass! for the tuners, maybe changing those big metal grip pieces with selfmade wooden ones? and the knobs in the back, maybe just a ring of wood that lets you grip them better, but not increasing the height of them

[@RMFW469]

I just stumbled across your channel a fe weeks ago, and very glad that I did. Love this design and hope that we eventually see a few production models. I'm now subscribed with alerts, I definitely want to know how you decide to sale this Rev 1 design. It would be a great addition to my arsenal.

[@negotiableaffections]

I'm a fine artist/3d maker but in the mists of time I dabbled in music, guitar, bass, kbd and production/engineering. BUT it was when I stood on a stage with a bass that I felt 'right'? If I could run into your shop and grab one item and leg-it out, it would be that V2.0 - the thumb rest/ridge is an inspired idea [i never liked those little screw on rests!]. Beautiful piece of design Tim.

[@timsway]

thanks! I've messed around before with thumb rests. this is the best, most versatile one so far.

[@MarkGutierrez]

Next level Tim. I'm with you, less material, less manufacturing time, as few CNC operations as possible, and reprogram guitar/bass culture.

[@timsway]

And I was using cuts of wood with knots and stuff, which usually get tossed aside by guitar (and fine furniture) makers :)

[@genekloszewski5484]

Great job tim!, i love that bass!

[@chascopley]

2nd one sounded markedly better. Cool to see the improvement on the design. I def would be interested in one down the line especially if the build is cost effective

[@timsway]

cheers. The goal I'm shooting for is a pretty high end looking, sounding and playing instrument for close to but under $1k. I need to clean up a couple spots and speed up the cnc and process just a little more...

[@garagemonkeysan]

Great video. Love the look, so clean and smooth. You're onto something here. For knobs how about a slim disk with a hole or divot...flush with surface? Mahalo for sharing! : )

[@michaelmenkesOZSKIB]

Cool upgrades, especially the bridge options. A few thoughts: anyone who uses their knobs is not going to like the rear access setup. Assuming you want to stick with the EMG kits and their pots , I'd suggest you use a belt or gear system to extend the pots to couple wheels that can fit on the bottom or edge. I'm sure you can CNC up some wooden gears efficiently. This would allow you to even use a preamp with stacked pots and use more than one pickup. There should be more dig in room for the right fingers. You've essentially built a ramp. You could more literally build a ramp just where the pickup is to get it closer to the strings and recess around it for a more traditional bass feel. Your deeper thumb rest was a good idea but its a little too high and I've seen you struggle to find it. part of the thumb problem is also the shallow area for digging. If you had to sacrifice anything to get better right hand ergonomics and some on the fly control access, I can't think of anyone who can practically use a third octave. And on the tuners, black hardware and a black-stained bridge would hide that metal look, but you could also try building wooden peg heads. Nickel is also way more organic looking than chrome, and often the same price. Matches the strings better too.

[@timsway]

all thoughts I've had and some I'm considering, some I'm not! By design, it can't do everything. There's a reason amphibious cars aren't everywhere. they are not good cars OR good boats! lol. :) Sometimes we're better off picking one over the other. thanks!

[@michaelmenkesOZSKIB]

@@timsway it’s actually giving me ideas about accessible but hidden knobs

[@JoelBass68]

Heck yeah I wanna play it! It's got the tone I've had in my head for decades and have never found.

[@victorispanget]

Vince Guaraldi! Well done sir!

[@messihr]

Have you considered making wooden saddles with screw adjustments that are set into the body? You can keep the all-wood aesthetic while still recapturing the adjustable bridge functionality.

[@timsway]

fun idea! Trying to keep production (read: retail) costs low by simplifying as much as possible.

[@johnlagoss5932]

Is there a place you put lists of the materials you use? Those active pickup sets sound great.

[@timsway]

I bought them from this guy on ebay. And he's a super nice and helpful guy, not just some crap peddler: www.ebay.com/usr/dont_tell_the_wife_guitars

[@jonjensen7809]

Love it!!! Without reading through all of the comments, I'm sure it has been mentioned... Wouldn't a pickup option be a piezo blade-type bridge? I have a 3-octave fretless with bartolinis, and a piezo in the bridge. Makes it sound even more woody... Wonderful mwahhs 😁 Either way, cool as hell... I would definitely be interested in playing this beautiful instrument! Nicely done 👍

[@shawnfunstuff]

I've built a lap steel, I would buy this as a kit with CNC files but I don't see it for sale. A maker space opened up in town and I could use their CNC. Nice work!

[@timsway]

This is my proprietary design so no kits or files, but I do have other inastrument designs that I sell plans for. Guitar and bass. NewPerspectivesMusic.com

[@davebauerart]

Love the all wood look. As another commenter said, wood knobs might look good! Love how it balances when you hold it with one hand. Do you think you'll make a similar guitar, not fretless I guess!

[@timsway]

I could do similar fretted instruments, too, and may try, but adding frets does take away from the concept a bit.

[@funkingitup1805]

Reminds me of the guy that makes Wish Bass for the past few decades. He sells them for absurdly low money, but they are pretty roughly finished instruments that you finish yourself..

[@timsway]

I've seen a few of them. The quality tends to be sporadic and a little low, and the designs themselves range from wicked cool to downright uggo, but I totally dig what he's trying to do. I'm trying to bridge a gap between stuff like than and the ridiculous prices of upper end, boutique basses. Check out newer versions of the bass and you can now design your own at ApeironBass.com!

[@I.O.M.]

These look awesome. As a primary upright player I love your idea for this bass.

[@timsway]

I spent most of my career on upright, too. I think I'm trying to find something between a fretless bass guitar and an EUB. I think this bass could fit in with a jazz trio or a power trio.

[@famitory]

this seems like it would sell well in 5 and 6 string varieties, 5/6 players seem to love their raw wood aesthetic

[@timsway]

Once I get the 4 string buttoned down... :)

[@realitystudioscustomshop]

Love this process, v1 and V2 definitely worth having

[@ernestnatiello]

Tuners are awesome. it's part of what makes a bass look like a bass.

[@Zakariahdeadinside]

Im not a huge fan of fretless but woth that being said id love you have it for my acoustic sets i love the sape.

[@gramursowanfaborden5820]

a wooden bridge with separate saddles for each string is simple and adjustable without need for filing. action height could be adjusted with shims if you're a purist or a screw from the back if you're not. the control knobs could be recessed into a pocket on the back, which would stop people saying they'd get in the way, maybe at an angle near the corner, or large biscuit wheels poking a bit out of the near side, then the controls would be even closer than on a traditional design! see what people say THEN.

[@timsway]

think they would say, "But it's STILL not EXACTLY like my Fender!" lol. I think the fretwire bridge is enough. I prefer the all wood bridge, of course :)

[@ZOOTSUITBEATNICK1]

Really love this bass a ton!

[@Furtheronmusic]

Sounds good and looks excellent to me. Love the inlay

[@christofferniemonen8872]

lovely build!

[@bassedtaz]

Some excellent design concepts there. Especially the shape, as it pertains to the extended fingerboard. I also love the thumb ridge. I personally don't like the controls on the back, but that's not a key feature for me. Overall, at only the second prototype iteration, its looking very promising indeed. Props buddy.

[@varungonsalves3304]

I'd love to see the volume and tone knobs recessed into the body. Obviously not entirely, but like fairly deep I guess.

[@nram3930]

I'm really digging this bass, and how it's coming along. Fantastic work! I'm working on my own project bass which was in the works for a long time now, however I am already looking forward to make the next one! And I want to try and make the cheapest 6 string fretless (shortscale, 32" probably) I can. Cost effectiveness can be surprisingly inspiring sometimes.

[@timsway]

lol. yes it is. The more limitations you throw at something, the more creative you need to be to work around them, the more interesting the results.

[@VisionOneCreatives]

Cheap is my middle name. Haha. I’d like to own one. You can even go pickup straight to the jack with no controls; I’d be down with that to keep costs further down. I see the cost incentive to keep the traditional tuners, though, I’d probably mod mine to hide the paddles. I have a couple of ideas for that which wouldn’t help production costs.

[@centerfoldstands2750]

I don’t play bass but I would still buy it! Great design!

[@chasmenear7130]

Additionally, this is well worth getting the CNC 'bugs' addressed, and placing into production.

[@smuhhhh]

I'd probably buy one of these. Very cool

[@chasmenear7130]

You are quite the interesting designer, Tim..And by all means- retain the fretless growl within the production builds- SO lacking in many fretless bass guitars- at least without a great deal of finagling! The compliments are well deserved!

[@jimbecker5675]

I really like this design...inspiring. 'Might have to try something like that sometime on my project list. 'Could be interested in Vectric files if you ever decide to offer them.

[@timsway]

cheers. Something like this I will probably not set the files because it's ind of right in my bread and butter wheelhouse. I am considering designing an instrument just to sell as files... you think there's a market?

[@jimbecker5675]

@@timsway I do believe that there is a market for guitar files, although the major interest always seems to be with reproducing the "names". One thing, though, and it comes from someone I know that does sell files...you have to caveat the heck out of things because all too often a buyer will think that a Vectric (or other) file is "totally turn key" and not understand that the file is a starting point that they have to adapt to their machine, material and needs. There is no "push a button" type file, especially for something like a guitar where some dimensions, etc., are very critical and precise.

[@timsway]

@@jimbecker5675 true. With my diy guitar kits I include some dxfs for cnc users (although the kit is designed for non cnc) and I have a video that accompanies it to help user walk through. If I were to do a cnc file type thing, I'd do it similarly to include a "behind the paywall" instructional. I have dome some guitar files for vectric users and part of my "in the labs" series there, too. Some have a little practice :)

[@karlchernoff4541]

great desine, i'm dreaming to play on such gem

[@MangledGuitars]

Very nice design man

[@spungeegoodness1144]

It looks like a great design. I'd like to play one!!! Think you should auction it off and see what someone else sounds like playing it.

[@fatherrikhi3464]

Oh hell yeh I'd buy one- I have a couple of Wish basses, which have some similarities. They're great Sound brilliant too

[@thewabisabicollective7170]

I really dig it,man! Your builds really inspire me and I look up to you as a luthier!!! I so appreciate the vids!! keep em coming!! ~Beauty & Peace~ Kyle-

[@Leo_ofRedKeep]

Why not cut wooden knobs out of the top wood for controls on the front?

[@tdlvsabs]

tim you never cease to amaze me! will you be at made in ct this year in naugatuck ? would love to see you again.

[@timsway]

Tom! No, I'm not doing that this year but I have been taking "the Jambulance" out and about. I just did elephant's trunk and I have Aug. 14 at Coe Park in Torrington where my truck will be the "green room" for the performers. I have a couple more in the works. there's a calendar at newperspectivesmusic.com!

[@timsway]

Hey Tom, I may actually be at the expo on Sunday the 15th, driving my truck right in to the building!

[@tdlvsabs]

@@timsway I hope to see you there. its good to see people in person from time to time. im picking up a 3/4 " maple heavy duty pallet from work today.

[@tdlvsabs]

@@timsway that would be great im dying to see that truck and hopefully ill have some pics to show you.

[@rodshop5897]

Heh, like number 666. I understand the aesthetic you are going for, but I'd prefer a bridge more like version 2, and I'll go with a separate nut as well. Really like the look, it's similar to what Rob Allen does with his. He only has the single volume knob, and it's built into and matches the bridge. The top wood works really well on your design. For the tuners, an idea you may like is to use smaller bass tuners - I like Sperzel's locking tuners (smaller than most, good ergonomics, light weight) and they do a rose gold finish that would seem more in keeping with your wood choices. As far as the control knobs on the back, you may have a little bit of thickness to counter-bore them slightly and recess them a bit more into the body. Are you thinking of selling these as kits or as finished instruments? I could see buying a kit and customizing it myself. Or even buying plans to be able to make one of my own.

[@IAMHOPFROG]

you always amaze us

[@mattf9096]

I really like the look of the instrument! I'm on board with the wood on wood on wood thing with no paint or pickups. One suggestion I would make is to move the knobs to the front, but instead of normal knobs have oversized disks that sit flush like jog wheels on electronics. You could potentially make those from stabilized knots if you wanted them to work with the aesthetic in a different way.

[@timsway]

check out v3.0. there's a video :)

[@mattf9096]

Well I guess you beat me to it lol good call

[@Somelights_NL]

The EMG does the job greatly! A bit there is a lack of sustain in notes, but that's not the pickup's fault but the fingerboards due to its softness. Overall lovely bass.

[@timsway]

next one will be some denser wood. I think I found a good, locally felled option :)

[@Somelights_NL]

@@timsway Glad you changed your mind about the fingerboard. You may also try epoxy or CA glue coating. So what kind of wood you found?

[@timsway]

@@Somelights_NL oak was never a choice, it's what I had on hand. Picking up some locally felled black locust soon.

[@Somelights_NL]

​@@timsway It's nice to watch your fretless builds! I found out in google that black locust is 1700 by Janka scale, it is definitely harder than oak, it's even harder than maple, but still not enough to make the notes resonate sustainable on a fretless bass. I've built myself 6 fretless basses (and 2 more are in process now) in the last 13 years and made a lot of experiments in changing the fingerboards to see how different woods affects the fretless sound and I came to the conclusion that the harder the fingerboard is, the stronger it gives out all the frequencies of the instrument as a whole, as well as the fact that the fretless bass is influenced by the fingerboard wood most of all. So you want what's over 2000 Janka scale, or your high notes will sound somewhat dull and dead. But since you're kinda wood vegan and don't have much choice, you might want to consider the epoxy coating at the end, which will improve the notes resonation tangibly, especially the sustain. I can guarantee you'll love the epoxy coating, it is like a fingerboard sound booster. :-]

[@gckbowers411]

The EKG waves register a bit too close in my brain to wood imperfections or errant pen marks, and imo it kind of makes it more cluttered-looking and less like a nice blank piece of wood. I'd be curious to see what it looks like carved out but without the black.

[@russdoesburg1720]

I love the look, i would buy one but i do not have skills needed to play it yet. I really like the clean face, and the fret markers. You could do a lot with that too. Maybe make something that looked like a flock of birds .

[@matthewf1979]

Richlite tuner knobs! That would set those tuners off and blend them into the aesthetic.

[@MrGREYMATTERS]

Man, you can get your JACO going on that instrument! BRAVO, TIM!!!

[@rationalemusic7747]

Definitely would be interested if it were put up for auction. As for the knobs on the next design, you could do away with them entirely and ship it with an all-wood volume pedal!

[@timsway]

lol. the basses I gigged with for about 10 years didn't have any knobs and I never missed them. I used an eq pedal, a compressor and a wah. I frequently "rode" the wah by keeping my foot stil on it for a quick, dramatic tone change without fluctuation. I used my tuner as a mute.)

[@rcjd7834]

I think you should definitely auction it off. I would love to have a fretless to play, and have considered buying a cheap knockoff of some sort to rip the frets out of. When you say you could make these quite inexpensively, what sort of price point were you thinking of? I would absolutely love to have one.

[@timsway]

The goal is them to be less than $1k but look and feel more like a boutique, $3k+ instrument

[@rcjd7834]

@@timsway Nice! If you are going for the boutique feel, maybe you should add a piezo that could be mixed in, sort of like the Ibanez AFR. Just a consideration, piezo on fretless is always cool.

[@chrismitchum452]

sick as it is! Love it brother. One question is how is the pickup mounted inside? is it pressed up against the top or is it floating just under? am interested in doing something like that in the future just curious how the string vibration is being picked up. \m/

[@timsway]

there is a foam pad under the pickup that compresses a little when screwing the back plate on to hold it tight. that's it!

[@rindred]

If folks are so worried that the control pot posts are going to snag, I've got a suggestion. If it's technically possible with the CNC, cut out a piece that's like a sloped mound with holes cut for the control knobs. The depth at the "tallest" point could be the same or just less than, say, a Gibson "speed knob." That way, players could pop in any knob they like and have it "recessed" into the body. You could, of course, include wooden knobs made from the cut-out pieces; again, if the CNC can do it, contour the top of the wooden knobs to have a shape that would make them easy to turn when it's flush with the top of the piece.

[@timsway]

You're on to something. The first one I recessed the whole rear cover, for battery, jack, etc. But now that I'm zeroing in on placement and parts, I could make just the knob area custom fit the depth of the pots themselves... This is why I share ideas openly before I consider them complete. Thanks!

[@Semnyi]

if it were mine i'd have you mill a space under where you could pluck the strings. great concept.

[@timsway]

Check out v 3.0! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHzTlWWQaJl2d6c

[@SMee67]

They were some funky tunes, especially the last one, love it.👌🏽 Amazing work, mate, they look so fresh and sleek.👍🏽 You could always put a reserve on it in the auction so you get what you think it's worth, anything over that is sheer bonus.😉

[@timsway]

If I do an auction I'll reserve it at material costs (about $200) :)

[@SMee67]

@@timsway There ya go, that'll work, and I'm sure she'll go for much more than cost!👍🏽

[@timbeaton5045]

I like the design. And the fixed "bridge" could still work assuming you always use the same gauge strings, as I indeed do. You could then "bake in" the string compensation in the same way that many acoustic guitar saddles do. And yes, not so important on a fretless, but still an idea. Mildly concerned about the area between the end of the fingerboard and the body, though. Sounds like the body is a little too close to the strings, and you seem to get a constant clicky edge which sounds like the string is contacting the body when you play harder. Would personally prefer the path between the bridge and the fretboard to have a bit more "breathing space" with the body. But maybe that's just MY particular playing style. Am definitely thinking about using this design idea for a build, myself, now, as i do really like the aesthetics, but maybe with a bit more customization to my own playing style. (I do tend to pluck the strings a bit hard!)

[@timbeaton5045]

Kudos for "Just the way you look tonight"!!

[@knedy]

With low profile tuners you could probably be able to make a headstock cover type thing, I don't remember where I seen it but I think it's one of those weird old european guitars had on in metal or plastic

[@timsway]

There are some options but I do get nervous straying too far from modern bass tuners under the tension of these strings. Add cost effectiveness to the equation and... :/

[@dustism]

This is so insanely sick

[@nadiapaiva8170]

You're such an inspiration, Tim! Loved the video. Also, I'd say auction!

[@jasonpryor2215]

I’d have used a big slab of brass for that bridge. Yes, it would add some weight, but sustain for days though.

[@timsway]

the cool thing about this design is that could easily be done/added on.

[@asfodhell]

Looks very nice ! I'm too afraid to start using a fretless Bass ... I started that instrument 10 months ago and learned/recorded/uploaded 46 tracks so far. One of these days I'll grab an old and tired one and rip the frets apart 😅 I would definitely go for a "no knobs" design on yours. Anything can be done through an EQ pedal/amp anyway ! Maybe just an On-Off switch. You could try to make wood "sleeves" around those chrome tuners ? I also think there's potential for a much more unique headstock shape.

[@timsway]

Pull the frets out of a $100 bass. That's always the best, first fretless :) I gigged for years with basses that had no knobs at all. I absolutely did all of that with my feet, better and more effectively.

[@asfodhell]

@@timsway I have a 118€ bass already, but that's my precious ! 😅 Not butchering it !! 😂 Just the nylon coated strings (50€) and EMG P (75€) pickup are more expensive than the instrument itself .. But it sounds and plays soooo well.