How I Re-Designed the Traditional Bass Guitar: Industrial Design Process

Learn the process to create beautiful designs just like this. Enroll in my online industrial design course, Form Fundamentals. bit.ly/335vsqO . This video explores the industrial design process, from napkin sketch to prototype. I talk about formulating a product design goal, creating design criteria, starting with crude napkin sketches, and finally going into 3D CAD. The final result of all of this effort is a CNC'ed bass guitar prototype.
I've gotten MANY comments asking when/where you can buy the bass. If you're interested, click the link here to get notified when the instrument is ready: www.studioello.com/bass-notify
Big shout out to Two Cherries Instruments for CNC'ing this bass guitar for me. Check out his channel on KZbin: / twocherriesins
Industrial design sketching, Product design development, CNC, 3D CAD, Industrial Design, Visual Storytelling, Design Language, Form
Time Stamps:
0:00-0:35 Introduction
0:36-2:50 Identify the Problem
2:51-3:43 Creating a Design Goal
3:44-4:27 Prototyping
4:28-5:00 Establish Design Language
5:01-10:00 Concept Sketches
10:01-11:20 3D CAD
11:21-12:20 Cultural Contexts
12:21-13:21 Neck Design
13:22-16:27 Final Fabrication
16:28-17:41 Is it Comfy???
Join my mailing list to get notified of special announcements: www.studioello.com/mail
Join my discord channel: / discord
Follow me on Instagram: / mauriellodesign
Follow me on LinkedIn: / mauriellojohn
Check out my Behance: www.behance.net/mauriellodesign
Want to learn more about my work? Check out my portfolio: www.studioello.com
Want to work with me on a design project? Contact me here: www.studioello.com/about-1
PLEASE NOTE: There are other luthiers doing things within the realm of ergonomic guitars. This video sorta makes it seem like I'm the only person doing this, and that is not the case. This design is just my take on it. I just wanted to point this out!
John Mauriello has been working professionally as an industrial designer since 2010. He is an Adjunct Professor of industrial design at California College of the Arts. All content was written and edited by John Mauriello.

[@caryd67]

“It’s okay if a lot of people really hate this design, I only need a few people to love it” - some pioneer guy

[@Design.Theory]

lol thanks for watching :)

[@manukashyap20]

That's a "designer product" for you. Have you seen the dresses? 😂😂

[@boden_gamerboy6139]

@@Design.Theory nice bass, man wonder what she sounds with a vintage amp

[@gameseeker6307]

@@manukashyap20 clothing is different

[@the4given196]

@@Design.Theory hey i really love the design and i am looking for a new bass anyway(already set the alert) but im curious on the price range, because i dont have that much of a budget.

[@pippin45]

As a designer and bassist, I honestly don't know the last time I was so excited about a video recommendation from the algorithm. First of all, beautiful work. Secondly, the body shape silhouette is similar to the .strandberg* Boden body shape, albeit significantly more carved. I also think it's really interesting that you went with a multiscale design, I'm curious if that was part of the brief or if that came about naturally as part of the ergonomic requirement. I think my biggest critique would be the decision to design for seated playing, especially if the genesis of this project came from a gigging bassist. There aren't an awful lot of gigging environments for a bassist to play seated, and the hard line along the "whiplash curve" at the belly cut seems like it would press uncomfortably into my stomach if I were standing with the bass for an extended period of time. Clearly I haven't held the instrument, so I have no way of knowing for sure, but to me that seems to be the only part of the design that seems out of place for a gigging bassist outside of maybe an orchestra pit scenario. Perhaps that would be something to consider as you develop it further. Either way, really great video, and, once again, absolutely gorgeous design!

[@Design.Theory]

Yes, I'm a big fan of all of the ergo guitars. I wanted to try and take it in a different direction. I haven't used the strandbergs or any other ergonomic guitars, so I have no idea how they compare. But mine is insanely comfortable. I think that the belly cut does look uncomfortable. Even though it is not actually uncomfortable at all in practice (the break angle is very similar to a Fender belly cut) that's a common perception that I hear. So I may need to tone it down

[@TheDoomerBlox]

​@@Design.Theory As someone that has spent an immense amount of time limit-testing a little, unusual computer mouse* - to the point where the way I use it is much unlike anything you'd normally see; Almost all people have many preconceived notions of how things are "supposed" to be, with expectations of how things are going to be based on those past experiences. These expectations, based on spending your life living in the past? They are usually wrong, or very wrong! The usual reaction to this Radically Different mouse, are expectations of failure; that it shall be uncomfortable, damaging in the long-term, or otherwise lacking. Truth is, however, that after spending a lot of time adapting to a new "mode of operation" for a computer mouse: Where most movements are very small, and almost exclusively performed by the fingers - achieved through radical Hardware (unusual set of design goals, well executed) and Software (in this instance, aggressive mouse acceleration) - What we instead have is a mouse that offers very unusual endurance, with a mild increase in overall performance. It doesn't spontaneously turn you into a God Among Men, but if you're able to practice twice as hard for three times as long - and despite all that with less cramps and overall "price to pay" - you very well could be if you put that practice to good use. So - do not be afraid of that which people who have been stuck in a certain paradigm may be wary of! As long as it seems to serve the design goal well, and seems to help despite "looking" wrong due to not fitting within an existing paradigm, you are likely to still be on the right track. The only thing which "Looks" are good for that Effectiveness In Practice is not, is mass-marketing. :^) * (the mouse in question is a Zaunkoenig M1K, though the M2K is surprisingly still usable as if it was just as wheel-less)

[@robadobflob3405]

yep, I couldnt stop thinking "Damn this guy basically did exactly what Ola Strandberg did and received very similar results"

[@davidsands3785]

As a random nobody musician who couldn't play his way back from the crossroad, I have to say 1:54 through 2:05 bothered me, only because in your address to the vintage lovers, tone wasn't once given as a reason for the passion, let alone the paramount proclamation. That said, who doesn't want a space bass that won't cost you an arm and a hunch back?

[@Design.Theory]

@@davidsands3785 I still would argue that it's more convention than tone. There's a principle called the mere exposure effect. Basically, the more you are exposed to something (such as a specific type of tone) the more you like it. Sound is ultimately subjective, so that's what I think is actually happening with vintage instruments. I could be wrong though. This is just a hypothesis.

[@tinybabybread]

*sees a boiling, deformed horrific face screaming as it melts in lava* "Ah, this is comfort. Inspiring"

[@Design.Theory]

lmao

[@Mr.Abreu.76]

Not lava, molten steel

[@hugotimmo4989]

You should definitely patent this design or get it manufactured by a larger company - it is too cool to be stolen or not to exist at all.

[@Design.Theory]

Thank you so much!

[@Salvara]

I don't know if it's the same with patents but the only part of a guitar you can copyright is the headstock.

[@OdaKa]

@@Salvara You can also patent or copyright or whatever the exact body shape. You can't prohibit people from making a body shape similar to yours, but you can legally prohibit them from copying the exact shape.

[@rusqqqq]

For real, a company like strandberg are all about this kinda thing

[@callumnash3236]

Unfortunately a patent costs around 10,000 dollars locally and 25k internationally. Its prohibitive and why most 'inventors' have to come from rich families or get extremely lucky with investment capital. Normally compromising the design to ensure a fast return on profits for investors. The function of a patent is to demonstrate a solution to a problem. You can copyright the shape of designs but any small adjustment means someone can copy it. In truth, the intellectual property system is a terrible way of rewarding invention, it's used mostly to prevent new ideas from being exploited (an example bejng Google, apple and Samsung's race to patent smart phone technology which is why phones have looked the same for nearly a decade).

[@vvutangmc]

Im an absolute Fender purist and i dislike new designs, but this bass right here made me shout "I WANT IT" The thought process and the design goal resonate with me so much, I love my P bass but like an old couple we fight everyday and it is always for ergonomics! Thank you for rolling the ball in our direction it was about the time! I'll keep an eye on this channel

[@Design.Theory]

Thanks so much for watching! If you are interested in getting notified about when the production line is ready, feel free to sign up by clicking the link in the description

[@JoeTaber]

It's great to see all the iterations, it's easy to forget that so much of design is throwing away your first ideas to make room for better ones. The key is that what you throw away wasn't waste, it was a necessary stepping stone on the journey.

[@Design.Theory]

Very true. The design process is iterative. Each concept brings you one step closer to truly understanding the problem and creating the best possible solution.

[@freshdachs6200]

That philosophy translates really well into life itself and how you approach any goal you want to accomplish!

[@ErikB605]

"Tradition is nurturing the flame not worshipping the ashes"

[@Aaron628318]

Don't fall in love with your first idea, as they say...

[@sarenswiftfoot9811]

The angled frets actually make a tone of sense looks comfy now I'm realizing how weird it is that they're traditionally parallel

[@DaDandyman]

You can actually find fanned frets on a whole lot of basses and guitars for metal.

[@jkwe101]

Probably a manufacturing decision, but I agree! Angled frets seem way more ergonomic.

[@sunraiii]

Check out the Ibanez EBH1000 - they have a couple of other models with fanned frets, electric guitars too, but that one was especially comfortable to play when I tried it out a while ago.

[@chubetube]

@@jkwe101 they also increase the scale length of the lower strings so they don't sound muddy

[@samlindrea]

@@bengal2441 lol

[@Iknowthismeme]

The ergonomic design is actually pretty cool, it’s fresh and it gives futuristic vibes. I don’t mean that the fender isn’t beautiful or iconic, but sometimes we need to try new things. The fact that it’s not only asymmetrical in two directions like the fender, but also in the third dimension, really represents the possibilities of music.

[@deskslam4232]

Only problem with the new design is the old design works just as good… if it’s any more costly than those I ain’t buying it. I’m more of a function over form person, I guess?

[@Iknowthismeme]

@@deskslam4232 well the benefit of something being more ergonomic is that it further prevents bad postures that lead to actual body problems. I admit that I've got a passion for the art of ergonomic design, so I might be biased.

[@chromaticswing9199]

Well the new design was specifically made to solve the ergonomic issues the old design brought up. So therefore, the old designs simply don’t work as well when it comes to ergonomics.

[@LhunVideo]

In the future, I would highly recommend getting a cheap vr headset and porting your models to it as a middle step. You can see and "feel" it in vr if you are using a proportional model.

[@vermidian_]

And specifics on softwares or features in softwaresbto do this with? I'm totally ignorant.

[@error.418]

@@LhunVideo Except the Quest 2 is hard locked to a Facebook account, which is a no-go for many people.

[@error.418]

@@lalystar4230 None of that is accessible to the average consumer.

[@amoliski]

@@error.418 The average consumer isn't creating 3D cad models for 3D Printing/CNC either, so I'm not sure what the issue is there. Plus, even if the average consumer was doing these things... the average consumer has a Facebook account.

[@error.418]

@@amoliski Look, having to hack around Facebook being built into them is a terrible excuse.

[@HansyPants184]

This is gorgeous! If you're looking for testers my brother and I picked up a CNC with a big enough surface to cut this. I just wanna play one so bad lol. I've picked up a great case of carpal tunnel and a finger amputation over the years so I always get excited when people value ergonomics over tradition and manage to infuse such a gorgeous aesthetic into it! I have almost 70 years of production of classic basses to choose from. I want to see more of the guys like you who look at the human body like a keyhole that you're milling a key for.

[@Design.Theory]

I'm so sorry to hear about your carpal tunnel/finger amputation. I am very excited to hear that you're doing cool stuff!! Feel free to email me on the email address listed on my "about" page and maybe we can figure something out? Who knows.

[@tonytru5219]

I want to buy it! Such a clean awesome design!

[@RedPandaStan]

As long as the sound is the same or better, it's a good innovation. That's the rule for instrument redesigns.

[@Design.Theory]

I posted sound samples of the prototype on my instagram. Link is in the description. It's just the prototype, though.

[@AcrimoniousMirth]

As someone educated and qualified in industrial design who ended up in a CAD roll straight out of uni I really found this very refreshing. I try and bring what I’ve learnt and know into all the jobs I’m given but I don’t have the same freedom of creativity that is expressed here and that’s certainly something I need to regain as my career progresses.

[@SmackedyGaming]

As a bass player I think it is a beautiful design that looks very ergonomic. I’m curious how the tone is going to sound with the smaller body size and the grip hole. There is a certain resonance that a big chunk of solid wood delivers. However, it mostly depends on the pickups. Great work, looking forward to seeing the final prototype!

[@Design.Theory]

I'm curious, as well. I think it will probably be okay. Wood and resonance definitely play a part in electric instruments, but pickups seem to be the biggest single factor.

[@a.krawion1872]

The lack of Mass will affect the sustain. You can see this problem with Warwick Thumb bass. I would personally put active pickups to make it less noticeable.

[@pippin45]

@@a.krawion1872 Michael Kelly basses have a really interesting solution to this problem. They basically mill out a pocket underneath the bridge, then insert an aluminum block and mount the bridge to that. It basically results in the bridge being mounted to a way higher mass material to improve sustain without having to worry about increased weight. Maybe ​ @Design Theory could play around with something like that.

[@pippin45]

​@@Design.Theory I commented below, but Michael Kelly basses have a really interesting solution to this problem. They basically mill out a pocket underneath the bridge, then insert an aluminum block and mount the bridge to that. It basically results in the bridge being mounted to a way higher mass material to improve sustain without having to worry about increased weight. Might toy around with something along those lines?

[@brendanerskine4158]

Primary consensus is that body wood is way down on the factors that affect tone compared to pickups, pickup location, preamp, strings. Sustain is somewhat subjective but some claim neck through to hold more sustain, though I think a high mass bridge is a biggest the biggest factor. Sadowsky NYC chamber their basses compared to the (now) German made without an change in tone.

[@ill_hex8103]

Here’s a couple of interesting design changes I’ve written down for conceptualizing a guitar: Rubber padding on the edged in contact with the legs like on a high-end Flying V An Ormsby-style output jack to wrap the cord around the strap button A radical body design where the neck is twisted outwards 35 degrees and the body is twisted inward 15 degrees, like on a Torzal guitar Natural Geometric Chambering on OD Guitars Snakeskin Pattern on Dean Zelinsky Guitars Compound Radius Pyramid frets on Petillo Guitars Removable memory foam that’s placed on the neck (my idea) An 8mm concave around the heel of the neck (i believe it’s an Ernie Ball thing) A double-action truss rod that can be adjusted with an allen key on the side of the neck like with Warmoth guitars. An Ernie-Ball shaped headstock with a Valiant Inspired Diamond-Shaped Volute Magnetized guitar nuts, screws, covers, and pickups, kinda like a Relish Guitar design Being able to adjust the individual string heights for the nut like on Valiant Guitars 4-Screw Jack ring on Reverend Guitars And Tall knobs/toggles for better reach (my idea) kinda like how professional drivers modify their stick shifts to be incredibly tall so they can shift gears easily. Yes, some of these designs may have a patten on them, so you can’t freely use them, but I like to think that there’s a way to take from those pointers and build something new out of it without a lawsuit

[@fieora]

"I have to bend my wrist quite a bit" me: Laughs in shamisen

[@Design.Theory]

Just looked it up. lol. that is a carpal tunnel machine right there

[@ethanjen1]

Design is process. I love the process as much if not more than the actual product. I have been an Industrial Designer for 27 years and the process never gets old to me. I was more focused on environments and trade shows but again the process still moves linearly and it still excites me every time. Beautiful work. My favorite part was listening to you explain the inspirations and how you help the viewer understand where the conceptual relations are found within the process throughout the design phases.

[@jarredbarber]

it's a curvier strandberg (which makes sense, since strandbergs were designed with similar goals in mind)

[@Design.Theory]

it's a strandberg on acid

[@Design.Theory]

Learn the process to create beautiful designs just like this. Enroll in my online industrial design course, Form Fundamentals. bit.ly/335vsqO . I've also gotten MANY comments asking when/where you can buy the bass. I still need to make a few tweaks, and then I'll do a short production run of 5 to 10 instruments. If you're interested in buying one, click the link here to get notified when the bass is ready: www.studioello.com/bass-notify PLEASE NOTE: There are other luthiers doing things within the realm of ergonomic basses/guitars. This video sorta makes it seem like I'm the only person doing this, and that is not the case. This design is just my take on it. I just wanted to point this out!

[@bleakflouw930]

i want one of these basses :D

[@AndroidFerret]

Absolutely amazing idea

[@Sagekeyboard585]

The ergonomic design reminds me of Abasi guitars and Stranderg(as many others have mentioned). I really dig the aesthetic as I feel like the Fender/Stingray standard is starting to get a bit overused.

[@combo306]

Exactly. Looks like Tosin Abasi's Larada in almost every aspect... good designers come to similar conclusions.

[@static_motion]

@@combo306 I'm pretty late to this, but it's also sort of reminiscent of Tosin Abasi's "Blur" guitar (built by luthier Rick Toone) which was conceived in a very similar fashion (ensuring maximum ergonomic compatibility with Tosin's body specifically).

[@lemonyth]

I'm a software design and developer, with a commercial app in the pipeline, but for some reason for the past few weeks I've found your vidoes on design and the rigour, time and mental effort of it all really motivational. So... thank you so much.

[@churrundog]

Wait, was your friend Adam's last name "Neely", by any chance?

[@Design.Theory]

B A S S . Please pass this along to Adam Neely, I've never met him but I love his videos. His channel was one of the major inspirations for me starting my own.

[@abrupt.cr4sh]

I was looking for this comment.

[@Ali-ky2yo]

Amazing content, so many gems of knowledge and inspiration within this video. Really insightful for a PD student like me. Would love to see more content where you break down your honest design thinking and inspiration behind the work you produce, I feel like most design educations don't teach you the reality of how people get from initial to final designs. Keep it coming!

[@Design.Theory]

More content is coming soon :) The reason why I cannot talk too much about my professional work is because it might reflect poorly on my clients. Imagine if you were my client, and you paid me to design something, and then six months later I launch a video outlining everything wrong with the design, every single problem, every single mistake. As the client, that could be interpreted as bad PR, and you'd probably never work with me again. That's why I specifically chose to outline a personal project, where I can speak very openly about what I liked, what I didn't like, and what I learned.

[@Natron27]

As a creative and a bassist, I’m feeling quite blessed by the algorithm today! Thank you for the great video!

[@pw.70]

That's a great insight into your design process. I loved the natural influences that you designed into the body of the guitar. 10/10, mate!

[@ayfahmy1]

Wooow, this is really informative and insightful for the whole design process, and the way of thinking, you are one of the best channels I follow that talks about design as you address the mindset and how to think about design which is unique about you and your channel John, Much appreciated your hard work and effort to teach people about design :)

[@Design.Theory]

Glad you enjoyed it! I had a lot of fun making this design.

[@MrStoneheart65]

Thank you for the great detailing on the thought process behind the designing. As an instrument maker, I believe looks are indeed an important part of the instrument, as it is the first contact between the player and the instrument itself. But I am really interested in seeing your thought process behind the multiscale setup, the choices made for the neck dimensions, and the playability of the instrument. In my opinion, a headless system would have complemented your body design, as the headstock tend to take away the focus (this part of the instrument is deeply rooted in the players minds, and is where the historic branding can be found) from your work. Great video !

[@Design.Theory]

This is an excellent question. I actually have footage of this, but the video was just getting way too long, and I was worried that it would not be as interesting to people who aren't REAAAALLY into lutherie. But I'll outline some of the decisions here. The multi-scale setup has ergonomic and string tension benefits that are great...but for me, it was actually the only way I would have been able to get such an extreme cut at the bottom of the body. This extreme cut was necessary to allow the instrument to rest at a 45 degree angle while the player is sitting. The 45 degree angle was very important for ergonomics reasons (it brings the instrument closer to your body). A "regular" bridge would have made the body too long (making the lowest frets too far from your body), whereas the multiscale bridge perfectly follows the contour of that bottom edge of the body. I looked into a headless bass, but I wanted to make the body as short as possible so that the player didn't have to reach excessively in order to reach the lowest frets of the instrument. The headless system would have lengthened the body a little bit more than I would have liked. I also find that with the ultra lightweight tuners, the instrument balances absolutely perfectly once all the electronics/pickups are in. It leans towards the body, but only slightly. You can literally place the instrument in your lap, take your hands away, and it just sits in place perfectly....at least for me it does. I'd need to test it with a lot of other people to make a conclusion regarding balance. I actually think that if I were to redesign this bass, I would go with something even more out there and weird, probably a hybrid between a Chapman Stick and a bass guitar. I find that the upright electric basses are actually ergonomically superior. But that's an entirely different topic.

[@MrStoneheart65]

@@Design.Theory thank you for the explaination !

[@mcatueno]

As a bass player and luthier, I'm loving this video, and I absolutely agree on many of our topics!

[@venge2761]

At school, I have projects with a similar design process. This video really helped me out, especially with reaching the design goals.

[@amberpasta9379]

I’ll buy one. I’m a small person so the idea of having a more comfortable instrument always peaks my interest.

[@tinybabybread]

piques* but yeah

[@18JR78]

Buy a shortscale. Done ☑️

[@amberpasta9379]

@@18JR78 did that. Done ☑️

[@mattystewart8]

@@tinybabybread saved me having to do it 😂

[@JuanLuisBst]

I thought I was watching a video with millions of views (and it will be). I just want to say that you have an impressive future and you know it, keep uploading this types of videos! Also good editing and camera coverage

[@JuanLuisBst]

Btw i dont know why i got this in my recommendations, i dont desing or play bass😂

[@Design.Theory]

Well thank you for watching even though you don't design or play bass! I appreciate your kind support

[@Dafniforfree]

Very interesting! Glad that I got this on my recommended! I wish you all well with your project!

[@AriKolbeinsson]

Extremely nice design process, I love the iterative approach you take, and that you anchor it in discussions with possible users. Design is how it works, not how it looks, and that is really exemplified in this prototype! Good luck, keep us posted :)

[@bassplayinMacFiend]

Wow, a bass design that deals with my biggest pet peeve, the overly bent wrist on my plucking hand. I’m seriously impressed and would totally check out your bass when it’s available. Thank you also for the insight behind your design.

[@Design.Theory]

Glad you like it! I had a lot of fun making it. If you're in California you're more than welcome to test it out.

[@peterbaan9671]

As a bass player, I would say, if somebody have problems, they might use bad technique. So solving the issue with engineering is not necessary the best way. But beside that, while it's not really my cup of tea, your bass design is certainly stunning and looks very comftable. Keep it up! :)

[@theocaratic]

I mean, technique is an important part of the puzzle, but if you can make an instrument that doesn't cause so many of the ergonomic problems in the first place, it may even free them up to focus their technique on making good music, not avoiding injury. Guitars in general aren't very ergonomic things, so if we can ease that a bit it may be an overall benefit to musicians' bodies.

[@peterbaan9671]

​@@theocaratic - Using any tool including an instrument is not really a natural thing. You have to train your body to be able to use every tool. So if you train your body to use something badly, then it will cause injuries. Also, if you not train enough or train in a bad fashion, you can injure yourself. If you don't warm up yourself you also can get injured... So I don't believe one can concentrate on music more because of a slightly more ergonomic bass. I mean, the body's shape is basically irrelevant if you stand up and have it hang from a strap. The neck profile is might be better to be assymmetric, I don't know and I hope it will introduce a new trend across the market to be more innovative. However the new neck profile can introduce many problems, like warping or unexpected behaviour of the truss rod. So it's not that I'm not familiar with the problem itself, but I do think the solution will be useful for a very narrow margin of players. I think most people would want to have that because of the exotic shapes and not because it solves a problem. I still root for this project anyway :)

[@cellokid5104]

As an aspiring luthier, this is very interesting to watch. Many cues for my own future designs

[@andrewcasey8580]

I absolutely love this idea and design! I hope that this design (and people experimenting on instrument shapes) catches on.

[@johnisch88]

I'm surprised you didn't stick with the headless, I think it makes a bass way more comfortable when playing standing up. The weight is all in the body, none at the end of that long lever. I have basses that are basically the same weight, but the headless feels lighter due to where the weight is.

[@laszlonagy02]

Yes but it's a pain in the ass to tune and that's enough to designe an as comfortable headed bass.

[@Akazu69]

This reminds me a lot about Stranbergs (probably due to them also prioritizing ergonomics) Looks great in my opinion. Basses tend to look weirder or just funkier than most guitars, so I feel like this is a design that would appeal to a lot of people. Also - how comfortable is it to rest your thumb on the neck pickup compared to the bridge pickup?

[@Design.Theory]

I would imagine neck pickup rest might be less than ideal, but I'd have to try it out to know for sure

[@cameronblanchette6687]

Damn that's a good question. I tend to rely heavily on resting my thumb on the pickups and the thought didnt even cross my mind.

[@TheLotusEater725]

To me it looks like a hybrid of a strandberg with a warwick. I could easily see Victor Wooten or Alex Webster slapping out some sick riffs on it.

[@Akazu69]

@@TheLotusEater725 100%

[@Nossairito]

So very glad I got recommended your channel. I especially like the little nuggets of creativity wisdom you drop here and there, I noticed that I came to realize a few of them in my own output forms of songwriting of calligraphy as well. Really, really cool stuff man.

[@Design.Theory]

There are so many parallels between design and songwriting. Both music and design are languages to communicate transcendent abstract ideas.

[@jeffhampton6972]

This is a fantastic video! First one of yours I've seen. I'm a small-time guitar guitar, but am very focused on ergonomics, and have loved trying different things out. It's really enjoyable to see what others are doing, and to hear your thought process. I appreciate having been able to see this.

[@Design.Theory]

Glad it was helpful! I'd love to see your designs some day

[@squishy949]

Really interesting video, as a bassist who so far has only played 'classic' designs I'm really curious to try an instrument like this. My main question would be if it's possible to select and arrange pick ups to get a more classic J or P sound. I do like the "modern double humbucker" sound but P and J sounds are so common and useful. Perhaps something like Fishman Fluence pickups would go well in a design like this to give it ultimate flexibility of tone?

[@Design.Theory]

Never heard of Fishman Fluence pickups, but I'll check them out. I'm open to designing it as a J bass or even a P. But I'll probably only make 4 or 5 of these. I don't think I'll go into full production with them. Thank you for watching!!!

[@LukeLendrum]

@@Design.Theory how much to reserve one? 😅

[@Design.Theory]

​@@LukeLendrum check the link in the description and I'll notify you when it's ready. I'll probably just auction them off individually. I'm only going to use absolute top tier electronics/pickups/hardware/everything else, so it's going to be a premium instrument.

[@cathalwhelehan]

this really did make for incredibly interesting watching; just seeing where some of your ideas originated (the gymnast, the different flowers/herbs etc) was fascinating. I'm pretty much a purist when it comes to guitars so, while the end result isn't really my thing in terms of looks, I do find it interesting that bass designs are so much more diverse and freestyled than the designs typically used on six-string guitars, which don't often stray too far from what could be considered "the norm" - I've often wondered why that is. One question though: did I understand the "comfort" tests correctly (in the prototyping section)? Has this bass been specifically designed for seated playing? I'd be interested to know how it works in a standing position. Thanks for a great video - subscribed!

[@Design.Theory]

Just a guess: I think it has to do with the fact that guitar is kind of the "default" instrument to learn how to play. Therefore, the type of person to pick up a guitar is maybe a bit more conservative? I don't know. It is designed for both seated and standing playing. Thanks for watching!

[@phobson70]

The organic nature of the design reminds me so much of a human heart. Fascinating.

[@chasmenear7130]

Thanks to you, and other designer/engineer people for working on ergonomic issues with instrument designs! This by the way is a great design!

[@aldomarten3222]

I've been looking forward to this one since the teaser posts, great video! It's really inspiring to see a design process breakdown in practice and realize how flexible and enjoyable it can be, contrary to the rigid feel you sometimes get from theory alone. On the bass itself, what are your thoughts on the headless design? With the reduced weight & size it certainly improves the ergonomics; reduces neck dive and makes it more portable. It also looks sick af.

[@Design.Theory]

Thank you for watching! I had a lot of fun making this design. I like headless designs. The only reason I didn't use it for this concept is because I wanted to make the body as short as possible for ergonomic reasons, and the instrument happened to balance perfectly with a headstocked (headed? non-headless?) design.

[@tonal.states]

Great design, looks nice! If you're to continue with this instrument journey i'd recommend you checking out Strandberg's Enduraneck profile for asymmetrical necks and body shape (what it offers on playing positions is nice), also Rick Toone's ergonomic designs, which are on another dimension of anything out there hahah cheers

[@Design.Theory]

Thanks, will do! I am familiar with Strandberg guitars. And yes, Rick Toone is basically on a different plane compared to the rest of us mortals haha :)

[@rigo6801]

This is by far, one of the best design videos out there! I freaking love that you went throught all the design process while explaining in that much detail! Would love to have much more videos like this! 😃

[@Design.Theory]

There will be more videos like this!

[@jasoncherry3404]

This was an excellent video, you covered all of the technical aspects of the design process as well as the different stages of design for the bass itself. At my age a small more ergonomic design would be appealing to me because it would make playing a lot more comfortable and enjoyable. Hope your design works out and can’t wait to see the final product. Keep up the amazing work.

[@mfC0RD]

I love the idea of reinveinting the bass. It's my favorite instrument, but I must admit it could be more ergonomic. Rick Toone made something similar and came up with the beautiful Orchid bass.

[@Design.Theory]

That bass is really cool. I wanted to add my own twist to it

[@TheLuizfrds]

okay, but how it sounds? doesn't the most important aspect of a musical instrument is how it sounds? how do you researched the ressonation theory and how did implemented in your designs?

[@Design.Theory]

Great question! Going to wire it up asap.

[@tiranobanderas5655]

The answer is very simple, he didnt research anything at all. He just designed something he thought looked cool, and never tested if it worked at all. As a game asset designer, that's a cool idea for something, oh you guessed it! a game! but for a real life product this is just like making a prop... he made another comment 4 days ago saying he'd test it out and tell us how it went! Now he's said it 7 hours ago in this thread and we still havent got a video proving that the instrument even sounds good at all. Another commenter who's a bass player pointed out that the tone might be different due to the smaller body size and the weird grip hole, and here i am, wondering if we will ever get any evidence that this isnt just for the looks and it actually provides a good sound quality. It's not enough for it to just "make a sound", it needs to be actually the sound of a bass. If this instruments just makes a sound that isnt even close to what a bass sounds like, then its clearly a failure. No matter how ergonomic it looks, if you cant make the product do its intended function, then its worthless. So, what are you waiting for? Show us how it sounds. Sorry to be this blunt, but it really seems to me like you actually just flopped a lot in this video.

[@crazyayhan7533]

Not an expert on this subject but as far as I'm aware electric bass isn't an acoustic instrument so resonation and all that is still kinda important but not the biggest factor on the sound of the bass. You know there is pick-ups, amp, pedals, material it's made of and all that. As a bass player myself I really don't think that shape of the bass really changes the sound of it. Even Leo Fender himself used a block of wood for his first guitars then added other pieces for cosmetics, ergonomics etc.

[@Design.Theory]

​@@tiranobanderas5655 as Crazy Ayhan mentioned, body shape has almost nothing to do with sound quality when it comes to electric instruments. The overall resonance of the wood is definitely a factor, but there are probably at least five or six other things in the signal chain that matter quite a bit more. If this were an acoustic instrument, it would be a much bigger factor. I will wire it up ASAP, but it might take a few weeks. The pickup rout doesn't properly fit the pickups inside (this is why you build prototypes). So I'll need to fix that, and then install the bridge etc etc. I honestly might just wait until I get a final batch of instruments to test the sound and tweak accordingly...but I wouldn't be tweaking body shape at all to change the sound. I'd be tweaking the preamp/pickups mostly. EDIT: Also, please show kindness in the comments section. There's no need to be combative and jump to unfounded conclusions.

[@danielmcnamara_]

@@Design.Theory For the most part, the tone of a solid body is defined by the electronics. Some pickup companies make their demo videos using the shittiest guitar they can find (bare knuckle has a video using a concrete guitar) to prove how irrelevant the body is to a solid-body guitar's tone. It is a factor for hollow bodies or semi-hollow

[@daviddavis1322]

There is a shocking amount of information and intrigue. Super thanks for this.

[@phillipbayes3408]

THANK YOU SO MUCH. I imagine you know how useful this is to young designers like myself, who are trying to woodshed all of these concepts from scratch. So much love for you and your channel

[@Design.Theory]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jakemartin8414]

This is a great video but it’s really weird that in a video about guitar design we never have a chance to hear the sound of the finished guitar. It is very visually striking-sure, but if I can’t hear it-how do I know if it’s designed well?

[@Design.Theory]

i posted sound samples on my instagram

[@TrateMusic]

I'm a musician including bass, and a graphic designer. This really makes me think about a lot of different things that i hadn't considered before, like how am I playing my instruments and how could that be affecting me in the long run? How do i create progress through my designs and get what's needed into the designs and keep what's not needed out? Real interesting content, thanks for sharing!

[@felipeharger]

Fascinating process! This bass is a game changer! Congratulations sir!

[@tim_arterbury]

Wow that was amazing to see much of your design journey in detail! Thank you for sharing.

[@baddleacks4128]

no idea why more bass players don't play in classical position, the standard just gets so uncomfortable after like 5 minutes. awesome design!

[@MrNeosantana]

Bass necks are very long. Classical positions are a bit straining for a bass player. Notice how this design has a pretty short scale length.

[@baddleacks4128]

@@MrNeosantana true. Although i get wrist pain in standard way faster than my shoulder gets sore in classical. Even less so now that i target shoulders in my workouts.

[@MrNeosantana]

@@baddleacks4128 For guitar, classical position is the absolute best and healthiest. For bass, I just find it so straining and unpleasant.

[@jorge.rubiales]

@@MrNeosantana Not really, there are several studies that relate the classical position with one leg up to spine and hip long term injuries. The baroque lute position is the optimal solution (with a strap)

[@MrNeosantana]

@@jorge.rubiales The classical position I'm talking about has both feet down

[@kanishksingh6393]

Amazing Work and process. Most of the design students nowadays don't focus on this stuff. They just want to complete the process to reach sexy renders to post on insta. ! I am eagerly waiting for the course. Also, what art movement did you mention?

[@Design.Theory]

art nouveau. Thanks for checking out the video!

[@ricardop2279]

I could not agree more. Those is what I call the Insta designers. They forget that rendering, sketching or animation it is the easiest part of the process, the real core (theory process) is often skipped and we end up by having concepts only and not products.

[@kanishksingh6393]

@@ricardop2279 Agreed!. We know rendering is important but its not design, its just a part of design.

[@runningwithscissors0911]

I so much agree with you and am so glad someone is thinking about guitar design this way ~ ergonomically that accommodates a minimal / injury free and long playing life.

[@AmirTapir]

Dude, what a great video!!! Loved the explanation and process of the design! Cheers!

[@admiralgenericaladene890]

you can just tell when your first to the recommended train.

[@alexlasher2525]

This comment isn’t about your design, but I’m bothered that you said Fender basses were a huge improvement on upright basses. That’s just not the case. The electric bass shapes we’re familiar with today were designed to be easier for guitarists to learn, not because of ergonomic problems inherent in upright basses. The posture of playing an upright may even have some ergonomic advantages over electric basses. They’re also louder than guitar style acoustic basses. Both have their pros and cons, but saying that the fender designs were a huge improvement is an over simplification and it’s more wrong than it is right.

[@Design.Theory]

Yes I'm actually very glad you pointed this out. A lot of the design decisions behind the Precision bass were around helping with the learning curve. Hence the name "PRECISION" bass...precision in fretting the instrument (a lot harder to get precise intonation on a fretless upright bass). I actually did point this out in one version of this video but it didn't make it into the final edit that I posted on KZbin. It's really hard to know what information to include (or not include)

[@cameronblanchette6687]

Exactly my thought lol

[@Semaphoront]

Nice video. @Alex: As an amateur bass player, I can confirm this. The main technical problem in playing the double bass is achieving a balanced posture where the instrument sits safely against the player's body and he/she does not need the hands to hold the instrument. As well as developing a bit of strength and callouses. That takes a bit of practice, but once that is achieved and it is correctly set up, it is quite an ergonomic instrument to play. (Transport is a different story though...) No struggle with wrists at bent angles. In contrast, that can be a problem with the Electric bass, both due to the design but also problematic traditional concepts about "correct" technique. Adam Neely has good videos on the topic. However, it is a complicated question, does the player have to change, or is it the fault of the instrument? Not an argument against improving the design, and video has great suggestions, but the idea that the optimal design will make playing totally effortless is a bit of a false promise. Facility on an instrument requires practice, no way around it.

[@Design.Theory]

@@Semaphoront Great thoughts here. The instrument should make it easy to utilize good technique. This is not an excuse not to practice, but there's no reason for the player to be struggling with their instrument ergonomically.

[@TheVoitel]

Yes. From all the stringed instruments the most ergonomic ones are probably those that are held upright, such as Cello or Contrabass. This is because the fingering hand can have the most natural position. On sideways instruments you need to turn your left hand upwards, which is pretty much one of the extreme positions your hand can be in. This is one of the big advantages of the classical position, as that allows us to angle the neck and thus reduce this hand rotation a bit. Braccio style instruments like the violin have a pretty hefty rotation in the wrist. But an upright neck just takes your hand in the most natural position.

[@ZAPcon]

wow! truly beautiful work, man. You absolutely nailed each pillar of your design philosophy here!

[@Design.Theory]

Thank you so much!

[@NhatNguyen-sm7cp]

Great video and definitely great leather jacket. I'm a product design student and your videos helped me alot whenever i'm in the thinking zone. Keep up the great works

[@dankmemesdeaddreams2309]

I disagree a lot with "Fender bass guitars were a huge improvement over traditional double basses", it's just a different instrument for a different use

[@jonbongjovi1869]

i get your point, but there's simply no doubt of the HUGE difference. (EX: most humans travel by car, ergo, BIG BASS = dumber than SMALL bass.) (EX: umpteen young ppl started on then GAVE UP Bass, solely cuz their instrument was gigantic and unweildy.) That's not to say the upright should be phased out. Everyone loves them! But they are scientifically more illogical than a bass guitar.

[@sixstringsamic.3717]

"Its time to move on and try sonthing different" Said the guy who looks like elvis.

[@Design.Theory]

Hopefully Elvis before he got into the drugs. RIP Elvis.

[@francescocitro3704]

i love all your shapes and designs!!! 😍😍😍

[@danielirvine7468]

This was awesome man ! I’m a bass player And love design so this was for me Just subbed to you’re channel Can’t wait to binge you’re vids

[@RalseiGaming]

it looks like crap that’s all i’m saying

[@Design.Theory]

see 2:20

[@Cyborg_Lenin]

This inspired me to make myself a guitar. Hope to do something as cool as this

[@elihusolano5993]

I love the level of thought you have put into the design. I am just a regular joe and have never completely dedicated myself to learn an instrument because non feel completely right. A few years ago, I have had the idea of designing an instrument. Something taking the likes of the Chinese Erhu, and the baroque guitar, something that can be both, easily bowed and strummed. And a lot of people were like “you would be ruining existing instruments”. What you said about the being nostalgic to the old design, I really agree with that. The love for tradition should not halt innovation. I hope that one day I can resume my quest for that instrument that I dream of.

[@MOZOGuitars]

Love your design ideas and creative thinking!!

[@johnskerlec9663]

This is great work. I love the unusual organic shapes you came up with. I play a Strat and appreciate the shape fitting to me, and realise how ahead of its time it was way back then. Great work.

[@Design.Theory]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@draciano]

I really hope there will be an episode 2! Great vid bro, subbed right away

[@blakemcnamara9105]

The phrase, "Rethink the bass guitar" really does well to capture the post-modern era's affinity for reinventing the wheel.

[@Design.Theory]

I bet you people were saying the same thing when Fender re-thought the upright bass and made the precision bass. I'm not comparing myself to Fender in any way, and I probably will never reach that level. But my point is that innovation and development doesn't just arbitrarily stop at this particular point in time.

[@sam-tr6ub]

this is a really well made video! good job mate!

[@mattisj.419]

I really want to see you play it when it's finished! This was awesome, thanks

[@BLBlackDragon]

This design is absolutely amazing, and a great practical exercise in organic design theory.

[@kirachouinard3490]

I love this! One of the reasons I've avoided learning guitar is for this reason, comfort. I would buy this in a heartbeat

[@rafamacamp]

Very nice design. I'm currently finishing my college on product design, and one of the things that said to me that this would be a good career for me was a bass that I've designed from the ground up. In my case, I made the bass with my bare hands, but I had prior experience by making my 2 guitars. I always liked the physical part of the design, the prototyping and the execution. Found your channel today by accident. Very cool content, man! Will be binging you on the next days.

[@johnxaviermusic]

The first time that YT algos got it right. This video is for me. Thank you for all of this hard work and for sharing.

[@wanderbolt9498]

Honestly that thing looks cool as heck

[@Design.Theory]

I appreciate that very much :)

[@sreville]

Love to see these initial sketches so we can see the evolution..honestly, I love this design ❤️

[@creeperbombrf3898]

this is the most beautiful instrument i have ever seen

[@jasonnorman1239]

I love it! That is a beautiful piece of art.

[@NorseBound]

I really enjoy the look of it so far . Keep up the good work.

[@Design.Theory]

Thanks, will do!

[@konstantinoschristofi7300]

definitely one of the most (if not the most) educational youtubers when it comes to industrial design. Bravo sir!!!

[@Design.Theory]

Thank you so much! I appreciate that

[@AlexSolisMercado]

Dang bro, that's some quality content right here. Keep it up, I love it :D

[@gokukakarot6323]

Awesome, this is one of the best guitar video.

[@krisler132]

I love how sleek and organic it looks at the end, also man the way it fits in your lap is so cool! I wonder what it'll sound when plugged in an amp because there's a difference in sound when compared to a solid and chunky body guitars

[@lordhawkridge4116]

This has to be one of the most beautiful designs I've seen for a bass. I'd love to see this for sale one day, replaced gbd SG design as my favourite.

[@ileutur6863]

Thanks for being upfront about this being a very niche product and solving a problem only a few people have. I understand that bass is a big instrument and can easily get uncomfortable for people who play long hours or have smaller hands. I'm thankful that I'm not among those people so I can stick to more commercially available designs

[@ludlow555]

What a beautiful instrument

[@ralphmodynlosugarteeth3188]

I'm fascinated with your work. Really interesting content

[@howardtowler6146]

Bass looks amazing

[@tadrimmey8746]

You are a very good designer! I really appreciate your point about the transfer from model to reality. I have done similar work in the industrial world and know how that can go. Also, as a bassist, I really like your strategy of design and want one. Great job!

[@sunnyclimatemusic]

10/10 will buy! I have wrist issues from playing guitar and bass. Not only does this look like the most amazing bass I could image (and it is inspiring me for my next custom tele project), but it makes me want to buy it for all the right reasons. Thank you so much for thinking of the comfort and ergonomics that have been forgotten in the mainstream musical instrument industry! Subscribed, liked and followed.

[@Design.Theory]

Link in description if you're interested in getting notified when it's ready. Also, if you happen to be in California, I'm looking for beta testers to try it out before I go into production.

[@sunnyclimatemusic]

@@Design.Theory I signed up on the link! Thank you! I am in Seattle, WA, but would beta test if ever given the chance.

[@FlyingMaori]

Beautiful piece of work. Love it

[@Design.Theory]

Glad you like it! I had a lot of fun making it

[@dejaeviz]

as a multi-instrumentalist, i am very attracted to the shape of this bass. i would head straight for it if hanging on G-Centers wall and want to try it out ... the shape in your lap looks fantastic.

[@FretboardToAsh]

Honestly, I really like the way that design works with the slanted frets. Finally something that compliments the slant, rather than just make everything seem out of place.