Designing, Cutting, & Shaping the Body & Headstock Ep1 | Making a Custom Bass Guitar from Scratch

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

The first 1,000 people to use the link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: skl.sh/crimsoncustomguitars07221

[@PaulCooksStuff]

@Christie Malry Audiobooksmastering your craft is knowing the cut-off point at which you need to make decisions. That is thinking it through.

[@Timberwolf69]

The idea with the glow-in-the-dark "frets" sounds intriguing...

[@GerasimosHandmadeGuitars]

Indeed!should look amazing

[@pocketchange3543]

21:27 "this might evolve" is like Ben saying "this is a one day build"🤣 but that's half the reason I love watching him.

[@LisaHarsh]

Just so you know. I fell in love with this bass when you pulled out the body wood. I saw your vision Ben and it wasn’t until the finish went on before others saw what I did. Yes watching this series again.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Thank you Lisa :)

[@Forest_Fifer]

Have you bought your tickets yet or are you just relying on the winner to donate it to you?

[@LisaHarsh]

@@Forest_Fifer I bought all I could afford first day. Unfortunately not enough tickets but yes I did.

[@Kabayoth]

Teletha's "Challenge accepted" smile just melts me.

[@atakdragonfly1675]

I'm still crying because I loved it in its stark, ghostly spectre natural form. It was so beautiful like that. That wood was so clear and white, almost bluish white. I loved that.

[@ralphy3393]

I know I’m a year late, but I absolutely love the love and care you put into this bass. And the p-bass you did a few years ago.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Thank you. Never too late for kind words

[@adamhoward5145]

I love the wood for the body, it looks beautiful with the dark parts, matches the fret board perfectly....very nice. Oh & to answer your question...I saw a Beaver! Loving this build already

[@seeteasea5497]

Finally a bass

[@spikegifted]

At last! Another bass!! When was the last time we saw a bass in a Crimson video? Can't wait to see how this turns out!!

[@robwallis1277]

It's amazing how subtle changes to an existing shape can look so radically different. It looks great so far. Can't wait to see how that body comes out with some carving and a finish applied.

[@RonMack07]

Looks like a Gator between the neck pocket and the pick up cavity really cool build

[@jamiekrautkremer9962]

I saw the preview image and all I could think was “awesome, we’re getting the videos of Lisa’s bass!” 😄

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

lol. absolutely

[@RyoCanCan]

That headstock has major ESP custom shop vibe. Love the shape, great combo of old and new stuff in the build.

[@f.b.jeffers0n]

Awesome alliteration with Arnold always applies and adds beyond boundaries because - basically - beautifully choreographed content can catapult the careers of creators deep down to the depths of depravity doused in a deluge of dollars...

[@f.b.jeffers0n]

Especially everyone eager enough to eat earnings and follow the feast by frantically farting feces...

[@mattisvural7866]

Honestly that bridge is gonna be killer!!

[@1-eye-willy]

im glad to know im not the only luthier who makes shapes and templates with other guitars as a guideline, and deviate from there until its my own desighn. i once traced an ibanez RG and turned that shape into a great value abasi larada shape that looks alot like the shape oof that bass your making

[@BLBlackDragon]

This build is already amazing. I'm loving it, and I need to get back into the live streams. Fretless/Glow Frets sounds so very cool, though I would want a completely black fretboard to enhance the glow.

[@greganderson8374]

"I like starting new projects. I don't seem to be good at finishing old ones" - No Sh!T Ben, I love watching you build guitars, you are incredible, but I would like to see you finish them. It is frustrating not to see an incredible build finished.

[@LisaHarsh]

Not only is this finished. It is gorgeous and I really want it. The livestream chat all agreed. That this is my bass. 😁

[@stickman393]

Nice change of pace in the background music - love it!

[@timdeeter8197]

Definitely keep it fretless with the glow in dark powder. That would be an awesome effect.

[@addictchris2503]

The blue painters masking tape is all I ever use for the super glue and masking tape trick. 30 guitar builds and not once has a single template slipped. I usually wind up wishing it didnt stick quite as well as it does...

[@rauschguitars]

What a coincidence! I also just started a new build before finishing the previous build.

[@jamesh5460]

YES! A bass! Going to beautiful.

[@bassplayer137]

I’m absolutely in love with the shape of the body! Like you said it isn’t the standard double cut. I think coloured epoxy for the body (blue for example) would be a nice alternative to glow in the dark.

[@barbarapreddy616]

Love the bass design and the change in the wood color on fretboard. Coming along guite nicely Ben. Can't wait to see it when it's completely done.

[@daveandrews5485]

Utterly, utterly brilliant. Want!

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Here's your chance: raffall.com/307428/enter-raffle-to-win-bass-guitar-by-ben-crowe-hosted-by-crimson-guitars

[@Kabayoth]

Let's see Ben build a Guitarviol. For that matter, how about an electric violin/viola?

[@DoomHeron91]

Ben, thank you for building a bass. I've been waiting since the pbass for a new vid. Please do more.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Will do!

[@gavinjones3637]

This is the first single-cut bass shape that I like.

[@andrewmize823]

I think you should go whole-hog with the glow-in-the dark powder. Fret slots, body inclusions, everything. It would look amazing on a dimly lit stage.

[@jack6944]

i like the edits of streams, i feel like ben talks more fluidly

[@ArielMantovani]

Ben, as I said in a previuos comment I'm atonished with your craftmanship. I'm participating in the raffle, because if I win the bass, every time I play it, I will feel like I'm visiting your workshop. There will be also a piece of Crimson Guitars in Argentina.

[@Citizen_JQP]

I love these guys. Wish I was local so I could visit

[@jamesonpace726]

Glorious woods...!

[@ChrisHopkinsBass]

That headstock is giving me some Peavey/Schecter vibes. Really goes well with the body style...I've always been a fan of the headstock design that Fender used for the Performer and Katana guitars and basses that came from Japanese factory in 85-86

[@keithstrout1338]

Love the ash body, and would love to see you build it fretless. All your builds are always on point and love watching you massage the wood into art. Keep doing what you do

[@ArtemisiaSayakaRandazzo]

A Bass Guitaaaarrr!!! Yeah!!

[@ericl6460]

That tiny hand drill is amazing

[@billsguitargarage]

That body is amazing.

[@mcaruso44]

I love the shape of this bass! Glow in the dark epoxy in the fret slots could be very cool.

[@MrLinkDay]

That body wood texture is pristine, really beautiful! Fretless with glow in the dark seems like a neat idea, maybe experiment with filling some wood cracks with glow in the dark as well?

[@mikedavis3841]

Glow in the dark. 👍👍👍

[@xeno42alpha]

the cat is an essential part of the build process

[@ConjuredUndead]

Can’t wait for the rest!

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

coming soon. This series has been filmed and the bass is finished, just the editing to go. It's giving me some time to work on my workshop extension and the hand tool build :)

[@ianthomson9363]

I like the way the transition between light & dark on the fretboard leads into the shape of the headstock. I'm not filly on board with the single-cut body shape yet, but it's better than some I've seen. Lots more glow in the dark powder please!

[@jeffhopkins5704]

Finally! A custom bass.

[@midi510]

I think this is the first time I've seen you use a vacuum. I use my shop vac all the time. You usually just blow or brush sawdust and shavings out of the way, which means you have to vacuum or sweep them up later. (Plane shavings make the best fire starter.)

[@ironblast5]

This is shaping up to be one of the coolest builds yet. Deffinitly like the glow fret lines idea and staying fretless I do think it should get a hard epoxy treatment on top to seal it after so you can use round wound strings. I also think doing soap bar style wood pickup covers would be cool but have the pole pieces exposed thru the cover and just add a 2nd quarter pounder p for the bridge position this would look and sound amazing. Also lusithand make a filter based preamp like a Wal that would pair very nicely to this

[@hikkeen]

Glow in the dark inclusions sounds real cool. Looks good so far.

[@timdeeter8197]

OMG!!! Finally a BASS!!!

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

And more will be forthcoming. I enjoyed this one very mch

[@fairguinevere666]

I reckon as much glowy stuff as possible. Maybe even get your hands on Stuart Semple's Lit powder. Probably a contoured set neck? And maybe a piezo and tapewounds if you go fretless.

[@hereas1]

Yay a bass finally, fretted and luminous with pj pickups for versatility at a gig and also matches j nut thickness. please don't hide the wonderful colours of natural woods too much aslo would love to see distressed brass effect on hardware and knobs if possible. Brass scratchplateish designy thingie also. Love it.

[@spikegifted]

Off topic - Love the Sub, Ben. My personal favourite is the Sub without date... Much more balanced look.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

I agree, though the date bubble has really grown on me.. and that is something I really never thought I would say!

[@grante886]

Nice to see you have your SUB on while in the workshop 😂 Only a Rolex 😀

[@robertmansell3667]

Been waiting for a bass 😍 I’m getting a Fodera vibe from the body and the headstock is Peavey esque but what I love is it will be unmistakably crimson when it’s finished that piece of Ash is stunning already,love the gold hardware too,can’t wait 🤘

[@scottblair8625]

I really really like the shape of both the body and headstock. I vote glow in the dark fretless and body inclusion fills.

[@lenwhatever4187]

From a learning view point, a fretless would have taught us something new. We have seen fret installation many times but setting up a fretless neck is somewhat different. When you first said fretless I thought good, maybe I can learn something. Oh well maybe another time.

[@PaulCooksStuff]

Stick with it. Without spoiling too much, lots of things change throughout the build.

[@KyleSevenoaks]

Yes! More bass content please! :D

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

will do

[@jeremycraft8452]

Was the book Melvyn Hiscock’s “Make Your Own Electric Guitar,” perchance? Great book.

[@fociidannick]

My fretless bass isnt going glow in the dark, but they are colour shift pigment haha so the edges of the frets will be coloured and the centre white, and visa versa depending on how you look at it 😀

[@vapertainment5313]

"Laboring under the misapprehension that I have a sense of humor" has officially made its way into my vocabulary.

[@jonathanoakey4745]

I like the idea of the glow-in-the-dark powder in the inclusions...

[@Avonidsed]

Just got my tickets

[@dhausmig]

I would like to see glue in the dark frets as well as filling voids in the body.

[@gibek2600]

I love your dog trying to get in at 21:48 :D

[@ewenlyr9548]

If you put glow in the dark epoxy on the holes in the body, fill some of the frets holes with that too, it would maybe looks kinda good I think

[@metalheadmalpass3939]

Capybara shaped bass. 🤘

[@joninawhitecoat]

For a fretless bass I would also have a pickup closer to the bridge. Pickups in the "P" position don't really emaphasise that high midrange that really makes a fretless sing. What sort of finish are you considering for the board? If you're going for polished look then a polyester coating looks stunning and will protect the board.

[@jamesonpace726]

Gee, good thing you educated the expert luthier....

[@joninawhitecoat]

@@jamesonpace726 I'm not sure what part of my comment you thought was criticism. Recommendations as I've played fretless basses for a number of years. The recommendations that Ben asks for in most of his build videos.

[@Forest_Fifer]

Spoilers.....

[@gerrykavanagh]

The design sort of reminds me of Tosin Abasi’s instruments, how the top of the upper bout extends along the neck

[@activese]

Hi Ben, Glow in the dark in the body, interesting to watch how will it integrate in the dark parts of the wood and with the finish as well, but not fretless. Take care.

[@jimmypenrose1401]

Beautiful piece of ash. Not seeing ash as much in the US these days as we used to; the emerald boring beetles have really done a number on it. I lost 3 beautiful ash trees in my yard to them back in 2016. 33:45 I want to see Ben do a chainsaw guitar build! Personally, I'm all about fretless bases.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Sorry about your trees. Unfortunately, Mrs Bun won't let Ben anywhere near a chainsaw...

[@jimmypenrose1401]

@@CrimsonCustomGuitars The day that you are NOT duly terrified of a chainsaw or a table saw is the day you should never go near one.

[@Kwaker76]

Hey Ben. Great content as ever. How about doing a build with Talitha?

[@danwat8996]

I love your vids and I've probably watched every one for about 2 years now. Not quite summed up the confidence to build my own bass yet but soon will. I have made lots of tweaks to my basses including recently moving the single pickup towards the neck adjacent to where it was previously.. Just this 40ish mm positioning made a significant difference to the sound. When you decide on pickup placement, you seem to go by aesthetic rather that sound and I wondered if there was a way around this. Maybe building some sort of jig (a la Leo) and trying out different pickup positions before routing the cavity..

[@jefferywarburton2116]

With automotive sheet metal you would start at one side and move across to the other. Automotive cylinder heads are tightened from the center outward but in stages.👍

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Thanks for the tips!

[@christianfairhurst3877]

Build a kora next. Failing that, how about a National Steel style slide guitar, or just a dobro?

[@BleedingOz]

I’m jealous of that hand drill! You should sell them on crimson shop…

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

This particular age of millers falls drill does not come up often, at all.. I've only seen three!

[@tahoemike5828]

@@CrimsonCustomGuitars So, the patent is probably expired and you could make them???

[@ant1sokolow]

I like the body wood. It ressembles cork, viewed under magnifying glass. Very unusual. For a fretless perhaps a piezo may be a good idea with a mix/balance pot to blend in the magnetic pickup. A piezo may bring some "woodiness" and full-range sound to complement the otherwise mid heavy Precision . Also the bass will stay visually simple and uncluttered.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Cool idea, thanks

[@jasondavid3969]

Why am i getting Bill Bailey vibes?! 😜😂😎🇬🇧 Nice work

[@transcendkira]

Don't know why people are doubting the design, it's easily one of my favourites I've seen and really suits that gorgeous wood!! And the fact it's a design for a bass delights me as a bassist!

[@transcendkira]

Again this channel has me wishing I could design and build guitars. I've always wanted to start but there are many barriers lol. You just do such amazing work.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Thank you so much. This means a lot coming from a Bassist.

[@Hey-Its-Dingo]

I'd say bolt-on neck, and use Dan Thompson's (of Guns and Guitars) signature angled support screws at the heel joint. (Since he is in GGBO this year as well as last year)

[@bygota]

Which animal I see at 24:29? A capybara 😆

[@mattf9096]

I feel like whether it is fretted or fretless would depend on if it's going to be a giveaway or auction or something like that. Most players prefer a fretted instrument since it's overall more versatile in terms of tone and player skill level. I do think filling in the voids with something cool (glow in the dark or not) would be a nice touch.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

I've said in the raffle that if the winner wants I would be happy to install frets.. no worries

[@TheScottsawesomeart]

yes to fretless and glow everything!

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

bring on the glow :)

[@bronsoncarder2491]

Davie504 has entered the chat. lmao I'm loving the design, that ash is gorgeous. That headstock shape is great too, I really like how that turned out. My main issue with using the glow in the dark epoxy as grain filler for this is... what color is that when it isn't glowing in the dark? That kind of odd just barely green color? Idk, it could certainly work, I'm just not sure. Definitely do some offcut experiments before you decide on anything. lol As for making it fretless... fretless bass sounds amazing. And, hey, you wouldn't have to spend a whole video doing fretwork, like you usually do. lol I say go for it.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Thank you, and don't worry, Ben always does tests and seriously considers everything before it happens on a guitar/bass. And yes, going fretless should save a lot of time. lol

[@edkovac8978]

Fretless with glow-in-the-dark fretlines wiuld be cool 😎

[@scaira60]

Ben Beautiful Rolex Submariner, I can’t wait for your watch themed guitar build👍👍🎸🎹🎼👨🏻‍🦯👨🏻‍🦯

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

thank you! And me too.. the watch build will be following the completion of the hand tool build.. so, soon?ish?? lol

[@donjensen6805]

Would definite put something in the inclusions, glow in the dark or something with metallic pearl epoxy...won't matter what you use everything you build looks awesome...

[@dan__________________]

I see that you have a straight bit in that router table. Please get yourself a spiral flush trim bit and try routing with that instead. You will be amazed.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Thank you for the tip, we'll try it out

[@grif900]

I see a dog or a bear in the dark patterns ,the eyes I see are where I imagine the bridge will go.

[@spaggymerbles]

The glow in the dark stuff sounds really cool, and I'd like to see it. Have to say though, my personal opinion, I don't like it for this guitar (bass). Truth is I love the natural pattern of the body and fret board, and somehow the glow in the dark stuff would kind of ruin the natural beauty of it. I'd also like to see this fretless, because of the pattern of the fretboard (frets would get in the way of that, and I'd love to see it all). Just what I think. You do you! Looking forward to the next episode of this build!

[@DaveDickens]

Hi Ben you need to stop your bench wobbling 😂 great video as always. I should remember to cut the truss rod channel while I have a straight side, always forget.🤔 cheers Dave

[@marcialavine1272]

Ben, you've told us what you use for your mechanical pencil before (read the reviews- seems prone to breakage due to plastic internal parts, so will wait on it- it's expensive for a pencil), but you haven't told us what type of eraser you use. I've found those to be just as important as the pencil and hardness of lead- and MUCH harder to find good ones that won't crumble away immediately, or smudge and smear instead of erasing. Since you do a lot of drawing on rough surfaces, I'd like to know what eraser you find works well when designing directly on wood, and also doesn't smudge when using on paper. Thanks!

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Ben uses a standard Staedtler pencil eraser. Hasn't gone wrong so far...

[@paulneeds]

Ah - @Lisa Harshberger’s Capybara bass!

[@ibolazzz]

I wonder if grain-filling the ash body with glow-in-the-dark powder mixed with epoxy is something worth considering. I don't think I've ever seen that done, and in my head...it looks pretty dang cool :)

[@gordonhodgson8403]

Hurley Gurley. Nice

[@VAXHeadroom]

1) Your throwout bearing on the bandsaw needs to be adjusted 2) I'm going to make a new fretless neck for a J-Bass that I have (the stock neck is shattered at the nut) - I don't see the template Ben is using on the Crimson shop - can I buy one? Please?

[@Furtheronmusic]

Love the body wood and shape. Did I lose the plot? I thought it was going to be fretless but you cut slots 🤔

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Just wait...

[@danielanderson2893]

What do you mean "next week"? I want to see it now!

[@atakdragonfly1675]

Crazy beautiful that wood is. Nice shape going! I'd like to see you go nuttier on the contour and bevel carving.