Fret Markers, Hardware & Strings - Finished! Ep 5 | Completing a Custom Bass Guitar from Scratch

[@jan-ovepedersen5764]

I'm a bass player, and I've enjoyed your two bass builds. I've enjoyed more than a 1000 of your guitar building videos as well. Please create more unique bass instruments. I would love to see you make a 5 or 6 string bass of your own creation, no need to copy anyone just keep on being your creative self. Greetings from Norway :-)

[@mathieufoley2339]

this!! Would love to see a 5 or 6 string as well!

[@voornaam3191]

Tusen tak! When you like building a bass yourself, consider buying a kit guitar. During the build of a cheap Les Paul clone, I decided to make a tiny bass of it. A picolo, but a guitar is even smaller than the picolo scale. And still it sounds pretty okay! Such conversions work great on strat guitars, too. Got some. Now I'm working on something like the Vox Teardrop that Bill Wyman played. One of my friends has an arthrose problem, so I'm building a 1-string bass. Did you ever play a one string bass? That is far more fun than you'd think. All you need is four good bass tuners, a 4-string bass bridge, and a bass nut. Pickups were not made for a bass, you can buy bass pickups, or check out those kit guitars humbuckers first. Using a guitar neck can gets you in trouble (what frets?) for the frets get bloody close at a certain point. Option is taking a file and making it fretless, by the way. Ah, and when you got humbuckers, often there is no epoxy, so you can add a coil split. It does not replace a single coil, still, it adds an extra tone option. Just soldering and two cheap switches. Do you see? For about 200 euro you can build yourself a serious tiny bass. Do you know I pay almost 40 euro for a set of strings? The bass is worth only 4 or 5 sets of strings, really.

[@voornaam3191]

Haha, in Flika, Hordaland, I spotted a parked car. Summer 2016. Sticker on the rear window says: I AM A GIRL AND I PLAY THE BASS, SO WHAT?!

[@DanPeacock]

"I feel like I need to build more basses." Yes. Yes you do, Ben. I am spending August doing my first (mostly) scratch build and making my second bass guitar. I driving a stake in the ground and committing to this! You continually inspire.

[@hafengr]

That neck make this one of the most beautiful Bass guitars I have even seen in my life. Simply perfect!!

[@stickman393]

It's not said enough: Kudos to the editing.

[@IlBiggo]

45:48 :D

[@chriszaferes5984]

Still my very favorite luthier of all times! You should build a 5-String bass next!

[@TheBorderRyker]

You really really really need to build more basses! That is the classiest bass I have ever seen. It’s a thing of beauty dude! ❤️‍🔥

[@davidgallagher8573]

This bass is amazing, I have never wanted something more in my life. Who ever wins this bass is a very lucky person. Please dont change a thing

[@Larroparko]

Your content, skill, craftsmanship and narration are superb! Thank you or whomever convinced you to take the leap of faith and share your beautiful craft.

[@ViperVents]

great work Ben. I love your design language. just a thought on future series. how about you take famous players from guitar/bass history and make a Ben Crowe designed 'signature' model inspired by them? I would love to see your take on a Prince instrument or perhaps a Victor Wootton bass. thanks for all the time and effort you put into your work for us to enjoy

[@aCeruleanStateMusic]

Beautiful instrument. And yes, more basses!

[@emersonvieira2533]

Ben,you is a MASTER!!

[@DstandsforDoomed]

Yes Ben! You DO need to start building more basses!

[@markfisher2282]

Bloody brilliant how you extend the length of the two treble side strings to allow proper nut break angle. No need for those fancy tuner pegs. You are good. Much better than most. You make this shit exciting.

[@jeffhopkins5704]

I agree, we need more bass builds!

[@CMRWoodworks]

This series is great. I have thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing!

[@DacotaWolf]

I appreciate that he said Faraday cage. Awesomeness!

[@jimrs2k]

Yes to more bass guitars Ben, if you think back a few years you spent a few hours with some local Somerset players,most then visited your workshop for a setup tutorial. A good few years ago now but even then you wanted to build more basses, I would love to see it happen.

[@nonolaporte3195]

I'm watching this today, enjoying every second of Ben's fiddling with tiny brass pieces, knowing that he actually removed everything to fret the fretless bass... I just love Ben Crowe.

[@spikegifted]

Well done, Ben. Great job, well done! I love the bass - and you need to build more basses.

[@davidtomsett]

23:36 The sound of the fret file on the fingerboard is like Dr Who’s Tardis taking off

[@WantedVisual]

MORE BASSES! MORE! Also, maybe something with the pastel stains?

[@geoffkeeler5106]

Excellent work as usual Ben, thanks for the series. More basses please!

[@bdonaldson0906]

Just a tip I picked up from Trogly's Guitar Show. He used a small vacuum actuated dent puller to get those pesky back plates off. I've used one for awhile now, they work great.

[@seeteasea5497]

Ben, please never stop. I’m not always convinced by your designs, but I am in love with your craftsmanship.

[@mcaruso44]

Love how this bass turned out. Now just make sure to pick my name in the raffle!

[@PastelComGini]

This was a great build. I'm not a long term follower, but I'd guess it's top ten tier. Maybe not by the amount of work put on it (it's not a Complication or a Nebula), but because it's a simple (for Ben's standards), beautiful, functional hand made instrument. I love it.

[@natersonjones]

YES Ben please build MORE BASSES! Next one make it a multiple ply neck through!!! That would be an epic build to watch! Love your work!

[@metalheadmalpass3939]

Those inlays are beautifully elegant. I still think it should be named "The Capybara"

[@johnsidoti3215]

thanks for doing a bass build.. I'm in the raffle!

[@alpeterson]

Always cool to see a bass get strings for the first and only time in its life.

[@Projacked1]

Wow, I never saw sanding with oil before, really cool Ben.

[@zeffneeson7599]

Love this bass build series 👌building my first bass at the moment been good timing 😁

[@guitfidle]

I've used wood coffee stir sticks for fretless lines. They are made of birch, a nice solid pale color wood, which works great as a contrast against any darker color fingerboard. Especially purpleheart 💜💜💜💜

[@jack6944]

Tip for the soldering, its best not to apply solder and then reheat it or to carry it on the iron, the best way to get a clean smooth finish is; 1.Place the wire on the part you want it to stick to 2.Put the iron to the part and the wire so they both heat up slightly (this only has to be for a split second before you apply the solder) 3.Gently push the solder wire onto the heated area, this should melt instantly, until you have the required amount on the joint, then remove the iron and wire and wait to cool following this should help give you a smooth joint because it makes sure you have fresh flux on every joint, if you carry it on the iron or place the solder on the join and have to reheat it this boils off the flux and can leave you with ugly or poorly conductive joints. This probably wont be easier at first but it should leave you with better functioning and looking results and youll get better at the technique the more you practice.

[@danielwalter7106]

Hand tool build. You said it was a priority. Nice bass. Wow. Sounds huge. Like mine, took me six months.

[@rhinovandriver]

It's been an honour watching you build this amazing instrument. As a bassist, I was memorised. I wish I could say more,.... just wow 👌 👏 👍

[@kennethluebberke8216]

I've told you this before Ben, but it demands repeating. You are a master at your craft and your artism is glorious!

[@michaelmather3817]

More Bass! Yes please

[@jimgraves4197]

I would quite happily play that bass every day for the rest of my life.

[@darylccc]

Fantastic build, the brass inlay fret markers are genius. Totally need more bass builds! I'd love to see a multi-laminate maghony through neck with splated anything side cheeks, matt nickel hardware and jazz bass pickups, with an ebony thumb rest.

[@charlespiper2439]

Ben, always with the unique ideas about standard items in regards to guitar building, e.g., fret markers.

[@odiec5567]

Loved this build, can't wait for that shotgun style build with a dean zelinsky-esque neck one day.

[@duncanthompson957]

Stunningly gorgeous!

[@Ralf1erudd]

Using that timber was amazing considering the blow through qualities of it. Did you think about injecting the major problem areas with epoxy and then just sanding it back to surface level to stabilize it all. The scene that made me see this was when bits were breaking off as you first stained it. Watching more you need is a hand powered nibbler. It doesnt distort as it cuts a bit each side. Used in car restores without distorting the panels.

[@ChrisHopkinsBass]

Kinda reminds me of 80s Aria PJ model basses for some reasons. I love it

[@mulgerbill]

That's right up there with the most gorgeous bass shapes to ever be born As to future projects, I'm gonna send a googlie down and suggest a Ben Crowe imagining of the magnificent Jaguar body shape but-and here's where it comes back at you-make it LEFT Handed so us special people can finally enter a raffle! 😁

[@glennnortonjr2455]

Beautiful Bass and I love watching you make Guitars but the off the cuff comments is what I really like.

[@stephencarey6114]

Nice work Mr C. Very nice bass that. Thank you for this series

[@claudevieaul1465]

Beautiful... I've done something similar with the fretmarkers when converting a bass to fretless - in my case I made the front of the fretboard completely dark, and I filled the cuts in the side with white epoxy - bright enough to show up on stage, and only visible to the player.

[@MLoerAudio]

"What I'm gonna have to do is do this in a sort of semi-complicated way." Ben Crowe, making things more complicated? Never!

[@rakentrail]

Ben, after the 2500 paper try another buff using the back of a piece of wet/dry sandpaper. You might be surprised! 😉

[@MangledGuitars]

Pretty sweet build. I love the wood grain

[@davidhill5684]

Really nice build, more basses definitely!

[@shoutdowncreative2705]

maybe make a bass version of one of the previous guitar builds? like a bass nebula or (if u really wanna torture yourself) a bass complication or take all of your fave aspects from all of the crowd designed builds and design a "bass'ed on a true story" build. the possibilities are nigh endless. maybe even make a bass version of whatever was your own 1st guitar u ever owned. like a history lesson. i have other ideas as well if u wanna hear them...

[@Mojen_Marc_Music]

Love the brass "fret" ends. Kinda reminds me of some sort of victorian measuring device. Almost disappointed you didn't carry that theme on with the headstock :D

[@bustedfender]

Yes Ben, you really, really need to build more basses. Thanking you.

[@jipes]

Love the very elegant fret markers ! Beautiful build dear Ben

[@Insanalyst]

More bass is always the answer

[@BarryRowlingsonBaz]

One of the Crimson guitar course alumni (Guy) did an amazing job refurbishing my fretless fretboard to a gloss finish - apparently it required many layers of superglue and sanding but now looks and plays amazing. Also +1 Ben for not playing "Walk on the Wild Side", aka the fretless "Stairway".

[@diluteduk]

Yes! Build more basses!

[@jimbecker5675]

Excellent end result! Looks great! Sounds great!

[@ByronDerby]

Ben - how about recreating SOME of the coolest / imposible to buy but possible to recreate..intricacies of your favourite guitar...Andy Summers Tele, David Grohl's Gibson, Prince's madcat....to just scratch the surface...concentrating on their guitars..not them....Not making THEIR guitar...but showing how you could recreate a "double binding" or a brass bridgeplate (aged if you like)....Just a thought.

[@seankelly7211]

Ben, I`d love to see you make a double-neck electric (6 & 12 string), with as much weight relief as possible.

[@irondavebennett8635]

CONGRAT'S Frank Wechgelaer, well done, I think that bass will play amazing, please share your thoughts. Cheers!

[@rotosound_uk]

Loved this build, Ben. Thank you for stringing it up with a set of Rotosound strings too! We got a little worried when we saw the appearance of another brand in the previous episode 😉

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Lol. Perfect timing. I've been meaning to get back in touch with you guys for a while now. Fancy doing something fun?

[@rotosound_uk]

@@CrimsonCustomGuitars hell yeah! Dropped you an email to the office@ email

[@hereas1]

More basses, yes more basses, oh and more basses.

[@DaveDickens]

Wow! Those fret end markers are fiddly. Great stuff Ben! Cheers Dave

[@SHUB_MetalZone]

that was another pleasant build, as all the previous ones... i bet a lot of people now await another bass build, why not in an totally unexpected and/or unseen bass guitars shapes, as you like to do many times for your guitars 😉

[@KyleSevenoaks]

Definitely build more basses! When I finally get my chance to go to the workshop, it'll be a bass.

[@bastian4260]

That is one of the most beautiful bass I've ever seen. Nice job!

[@robwallis1277]

A gorgeous instrument with a beautiful tone. Inspiring me to get back to my own builds after my other projects are done

[@jnhncck]

Surprised you didn't nip those brass inlays down with the fret end pliers. Nevertheless, more than one way to skin a cat. Outstanding product and a pleasure to watch you work. 🤟

[@tonywoodford8296]

Love this bass build 👌🤟

[@megalove_music]

Thanks Ben! Love these videos!

[@guarango1134]

Acoustic build sometime?😁 amazing content man!! Ben rocks

[@Furtheronmusic]

Can you guarantee I win the raffle 😉 Might steal that body shape and make my own I think.

[@martywright1829]

NICELY DONE

[@B0uff0s]

more bass builds would be nice :) cheers

[@BinarySounds]

ground wire to the shield paint is completely redundant. The pot shafts touch the shield paint so the whole thing is already grounded and does not need the extra wire. Grab a multimeter to confirm. It's like this on all my guitars.

[@fury161]

amazing,more basses,please!!!

[@vanshankguitars]

If your shielding paint is conductive (as it should), there is no need for the extra ground wire from the cavity to the back of the pots. One pickup cavity to the other now is a different story.

[@John-qw4jf]

If your pot is connecting to the shielding and you add an extra wire from the pot to the shielding, you are actually CREATING AN EARTH LOOP. Do this for the other pots and you are CREATING MORE Earth Loops. It doesn't matter. They are all inside the shielding anyway. You only need to worry about Earth Loops when connecting things like Mixers and Amplifiers which can put noise from their AC power supplies onto the Earth Circuit.

[@vanshankguitars]

@@John-qw4jf that's what my other comment is about. All the research I've done about earth loops deals with high voltage circuits and equipment fed by separate power sources.

[@John-qw4jf]

@@palleclaI agree. Well, it is Earthed and it is a Loop but if you read the entirety of my original post you will realize why it isn't REALLY an Earth Loop.

[@nadiapaiva8170]

You need to build more basses! Do a short scale next 💪

[@lastweekslightning]

Yes! Yes you do need to make more basses! 😂

[@christophertodd6405]

As always, very nice work.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Thank you, I appreciate that

[@autoazure]

I like the jazz and precision pickup configuration therby allowing access to both tone types! I much prefer a heavy instrument so I hope it has some weight to it. Also, the subtle fret markers. Only the electronics require to be perfect (i.e. active essential for some players). Fantastic job!

[@imatvejevs]

Multiscale 5string bass all the way! May be acoustic bass sounds more complex? :) Whatever it is we are going to watch it 🔥

[@ryanferris7841]

Sounds lovely! And it’s a stunning looking instrument them brass inlays are cool

[@aaax9410]

Well Done Ben , came out a treat :)

[@chriscutress1702]

Make a nice 6 string bass guitar. That would make a great project for your 2022 Build Off.

[@MR-vg7yn]

Probably should have used flatwound strings, results in a more typical "fretless sound". I _really_ like the body and headstock shape. Not a huge fan of the amber finish on the body, those pot caps and the hardware color, but the final result is still great overall. I'd definitely like to see more basses.

[@aditivienna2194]

Beautiful.

[@Fliegenpilzkonsument]

Very cool instrument. I love the shapes. The next bass should be a five string all black firebird made out of burnt basswood or ash with silver or aluminium wing-shaped inlays on the body and maybe even some single feathers on the fretboard. Maybe with some red accents, such as rosewood strips in a multi-laminate neck.

[@JackRoadkill]

Love the bass, Ben. Seeing as you asked for suggestions for a build, how about a 335-a-like?

[@joecarstens5201]

Great build! I'm not a big fan of single-cut basses, but this one is gorgeous. May I suggest a 5-string, maybe even headless (got one from Hohner (!) and it's great, lightweight and well balanced)? And: thanks to this channel I summoned the confidence to modify some of my instruments and even complete a (cheap) bass kit with some success (and loads of blunders, of course). I have braved the terrors of german customs and ordered stunning stains and wipe-on guitar finishing laquer, and they did the trick: easy to use and with a more than tolerable result even for people like me with (still) somewhat questionable skills and absolutely no intention to fuss around with spraycans. Thank you so much!

[@transcendkira]

It looks amazing! Would definitely be excited to see more basses too.

[@funkyfender1]

Such a beautiful instrument mate… you should definitely make more basses! Next one? 5 string, fretted, active/pre-amp and invite Scott Devine (Scott’s Bass Lessons) to put it through its paces Changes to this one? Different knobs and….. flat wounds (smoother glissando without annoying over-ringing harmonics you get from very bright round wounds, resulting in a warmer sound for fretless - or ground wound/half-flat, which are nearly as bright if that’s what you’re after,, but which won’t gouge grooves into the finger board!

[@jarnoverhoeven3118]

If you have fretlines, fret dots in between are not really an issue, if you do not have fretlines, you definitely want the markers on the fret positions.

[@nigel4425]

Nice build - I think I would have put D'Addario, or Rotosound Tru Bass Black Nylon Tapewound strings - would look awesome and should play great.

[@EricDavidFloyd]

Looks excellent

[@daveredfern8258]

Gold flake epoxy Benny boy. Bugga the brass fillets. 😉