Home made Bass fiddle

Please note that I have removed my original youtube because of possible copyright problems with my accompaniment song. That section has now been deleted.
This is a full size Bass fiddle made from common lumber parts. Most of it is made from lumber found at any home improvement center. The Bass can be built in about one week-end and the cost is about $100. This Bass will hold it's own in any Bluegrass or Country Western group or just for fun-time jamming.I bought a commercial Bass to see if I could learn how to play it but decided they are too fragile for me. So I did some internet research and designed my own. The one I built sounds as good as the one I bought so I sold the commercial one. Now I don't have to worry about the sound post tipping over, humidty, cracks or antyhing else that would require a luthier to repair. This Bass has all the standard parts including a sound post, Bass bar, and supports on the inside. If you have ever thought about learning the Bass fiddle, this Bass might be the choice for you also.
If you are interested in building this Bass Fiddle, a complete set of construction plans is available in ebook form at:
Smashwords.com
Do a search for BUGET BASS

[@fisherthomas3815]

Ken, my father and I followed your plans from the online ebook and made one of these as a summer project this year. It turned out absolutely great. I just wanted to thank you for such an awesome idea. We will have lots of fun in the future playing folk and old time songs on it!

[@stevepethel6843]

Wow that is amazing tone and creative building...you played that tone was GREAT

[@robertlowe5444]

I can't believe someone disliked this. I think it's genius. I have built many guitars, this is going to be my next project this summer. I've always wanted an upright bass, but couldn't justify the price. I also love the sound that's coming off this one. Thanks for posting the video. Keep up the great work.

[@TawdryTempest]

This guy whipping up his own bass. Amazing!

[@rosicroix777]

Beautifull job ! You ended up w/a fantastic upright bass for a fraction of the price, TY for posting the video & keep up the good work.

[@festbloch4135]

Good work. Sound nice. Good smart idea

[@fviannaval]

I love this! Congrats on a job well done!

[@tracymcdougal6381]

Awesomeness overload

[@alvagoldbook2]

It sounds a whole lot better than I'd expect. Awesome use of low cost materials to make something awesome.

[@anastasiocatalan416]

It’s a very decent project. It’s something out of the ordinary, simple, unique and beautiful

[@renhoek3851]

wow, how impressive! you have such a wonderful talent, wish I could make something like that one day

[@CamTarn]

That's absolutely brilliant :D I love how practical an instrument this is, down to the carrying handle. I'm thinking of building a simple bass for outdoor busking with a small group, and while I don't have the woodworking skills to attempt something quite so complex, it's really encouraging to see that it's possible to get a great sound out of such humble parts.

[@MRrwmac]

Merry Christmas! Thanks for sharing all year and wish you all the best in 204!

[@RockabillyRambler]

damn, sounds good :D

[@sjeter61]

this is a really cool build!! I make banjos and other stuff,,, this is now on my to do list. Just started playing bass, and Id love to play one of these puppies. thanksSteve Jeter

[@CircuitsAndStrings]

That's a sweet instrument. Nice work.

[@kimdmerritt]

Awesome, just bought the directions. I have no idea how to play standup bass but I've always wanted to learn.

[@postcardsfromheaven]

sounds great first ! and brilliantly put together. thanks for sharing

[@calliopeguy]

I don't know much about using a bow but I'm quite sure the fingerboard part of the neck has to be rounded to allow access to each string with the bow. The fingerboard on the neck on my Bass is completely flat. I just don't have the skill or the equipment to make it rounded. Making the cuts on the sides could be done easy enough

[@deejannemeiurffnicht1791]

thats very true. absolutely,the curve helps the bow make contact with an individual string. however, would the side cuts really matter? however, for straight forward fingering, plucking, and certain slap style this bass would certainly do just fine.

[@spencerrawlins7159]

The curves do matter, for sitting on a stool and using the German style bow, and sometimes French style, the bow goes where the curve goes. Also. Maple would be very nice to use on the peg, when you play a bass the whole thing resonates which gives it it's deep tone. Avoiding using plywood would give it a better tone.

[@XMorbidChaosX]

Spencer Rawlins would it be good for rockabilly type of slap bass

[@cosmicathesongstress7466]

That-that... Is just freaking amazing! wow! :D

[@MohamMad-ul4zk]

Awesome Work!

[@robertlowe5444]

I think you have something wonderful. I bought the plans and plan on building one soon for myself. I have been building instruments for many years, and I just want to comment on the great job that you have done. I also want to comment; that no matter what you build, somebody is going to tell you that you should have done something different. I can't believe there's even one negative. Keep up the good work, and thanks so much for posting this video.

[@mbaddoo]

WOW! Great Job Ken! Sounds like a store bought.

[@donhamblyn8463]

very cool, looks great

[@TracksWithDax]

Sounds AWESOME Ken!

[@AndyBigDaddyWilkinson]

Looks great....sounds great...

[@bearshield7138]

Exquisite

[@iwaegian]

That is great. nice work

[@emersonsrandomvideos248]

Whaaaaaaaattt 100 buck? You must be kidding me? That's awesome!!!

[@Davmm96]

Real nice bass and explanation!

[@Rachels123]

wow very nice! you put a lot of thought into your bass. the neck angle seems correct.

[@rickmannoia5659]

That came out really great. I make Cigar Box guitars and my next project is a bass fiddle. I am searching ideas. Thanks!

[@deltafour1212]

I love it! Love how you did the neck. It looks pretty straight not much curve if you decided to cut the sides to use a bow I wonder if you could make a budget violin this way?

[@daveartwood]

The flat finger board is similar to electric bass. If you used walnut for the finger board or neck it would change the tonality. Excellent design!

[@assymcgee1]

Hello Ken, I was wondering what became of your plans and video on your 20 note street organ? Love the book and really highly enjoyed the video! Best wishes from Michigan!

[@sly5999]

Seems loud...for a box. The box for a 100 bucks. Stick on a box with strings. Nice. Quite some thing to look at. Where can I hear this baby sing? You got to have someone playing on this doubleboxter...for a couple songs. Can't wait to hear that!

[@icantintyou]

very cool

[@TravisBowlin]

do you ever sell these? Im working on a stand up right now.. but thats a beautiful instrument

[@nemo227]

I would love to hear a professional bass player give us a sample of a walking bass line.

[@ilyasnamozov2914]

Its like a musical instrument built by furniture builder

[@derekhoward-anderson5584]

so cool man wow me

[@sislertx]

You are so clever...surprised you didnt put a cut out in the side..a v cut out maybe?

[@stephanypineda8200]

I want one 💔😭😭😭😭😭

[@rockabillymike9398]

Do you want to sell it?

[@dhimes3]

Ken ...plans fort sale?????//.....great job

[@epage9919]

This is a great video - thanks so much for sharing it! I'm curious to know your thoughts on ways in which your design could possibly be lightened (1x2s instead of 2x2s for the frame - smaller trim pieces around body, etc) without compromising its strength. Keep up the good work and thanks again for sharing your creativity!

[@kenschweim6159]

That is an excellent question. I seriously thought about using 1 x 2s but got involved in other projects. It would be interesting to get the stock (before cutting to size) amount of 2 x 2s required and then 1 x 2s and weigh them to see if its worth the change.

[@morgant8406]

Hey any way you can put up a bit more info or can you send me some steps and what i would need? Thanks!!

[@PootaurStuff]

Ugly but sounds nice, and thats what counts! I'm a violin maker and getting ready to make my 1st electric contra double bass! I'll be making mine with oak so it will be strong. The scroll I expect will be 15" alone! Not bad, bud... I put a thumbs up!

[@vierto8878]

yes you can use bow if you play only the first or the last string ....

[@Ucceah]

very nice build! now you gotta practice making it sing ;)

[@DonCrowder]

Ken, I don't know a Bluegrass or Country bassist who even owns a bow so that's not really an issue. I agree with you on sourcing parts from eBay. Do it myself all the time, but I'm not sure I've enough woodworking skill to take on a project like this. Have lately enjoyed playing guitar at acoustic jam sessions but would love to be able to play bass once in a while. I flat out can't justify the expense of an upright bass for a gig that doesn't pay anything so DIY is pretty much my only option. Been checkin' out youtube videos (cuz that's what ya do when you want to know something). :) Enjoyed your video!

[@kenschweim6159]

When I made this bass I was looking for a "Beater bass", one that I could throw into the back of the truck and go. It's fun to play and certainly is a conversation piece. When people ask where I got it, I like to tell them "Menard's" (local home improvement center)

[@nostalgiakarlk.f.7386]

You should make ut arched so you can bow it too.

[@MrBass4art]

Where can one find the direction for making a similar bass. And to use a bow on this style one would use not a bass bow but a cello bow

[@kenschweim6159]

Look in the description for the video for info on an ebook with construction plans. You can also go to Amazon.com and type in my name and find it there. Unfortunately there are no provisions for use with a bow.

[@MrBass4art]

@@kenschweim6159 actually i own a regular plywood upright bass. I have been looking a cigar box violin to make the inlays so to use use bow on on a cigar box violin would work on this instrument just on a larger scale.

[@chrisw9121]

love it :-)

[@dlawlis]

So it does NOT have a soundpost in it? Have you tried them in the ones you've built? It looks and sounds great btw!

[@calliopeguy]

Yes, it does have a sound post! The sound post is strategically glued in place and is made from a piece of standard 3/4" wooden dowel rod. I have made five of these bass fiddles and all have a surprisingly good sound with the sound post glued in place. I think perhaps by stating that I don't have to worry about the sound post (because it is glued in place) you may have interpreted that as not having one.

[@dlawlis]

Yeah I misinterpreted ya. I used to play upright and I was lucky enough that one of my bandmates at the time was a luthier who did a lot of work on uprights. He had plenty of nightmare stories about soundposts and bridges and just about every other part you can think of ;)

[@xaza5625]

So its basically a homemade upright bass

[@TheBigburcie]

Is the top the same 1/4 inch ply as the sides? What type of wood?

[@calliopeguy5822]

Top, bottom, and sides are all made out of the same plywood. I think I used oak plywood only because it has nice wood grain

[@webblewobble5481]

calliopeguy your back!!!

[@musicallymaximized2694]

Did you glue all the pieces together with wood glue?

[@kenschweim6159]

The parts are all screwed together. The trim is attached with a brad nailer.

[@musicallymaximized2694]

@@kenschweim6159 How wide is the bass? Also, how deep? Thanks for all your help!

[@paytopray1468]

do the electric bass tuning pegs fit with all double bass strings

[@kenschweim6159]

All of them that I tried worked but I cannot honestly say any bass pegs will work. I think maybe a trip to a music store might be a good idea so you can look at a bunch of electric bass guitars all at one time and see if there is going to be a problem.

[@met-andre6007]

HI!

[@msarkez]

Hi I cant find the construction plans on smashwords.

[@calliopeguy]

I just checked in at smashwords.com and did a search for BUDGET BASS and it came right up

[@stormgeddon]

the boss

[@richardwebb2348]

It is designed to be plucked, not bowed.

[@man04321]

great tone for such a cheap bass

[@fzli24]

Is the neck angled?

[@kenschweim6159]

No

[@elijahdycus4648]

Fadzli Zahari on most Basses, yes it is angled back.

[@sampokemppainen3041]

Nekromantix wants to know your location.

[@chox7140]

He looks like a Kevin

[@RedfishInc]

Man that thing is yuge!

[@gfc3255]

What a hell is that, and the super flat bridge, nice try, but you should have to study a bit more about the instrument before making one. But the way, nice sound.