Custom Bass-Guitar Hybrid / How Would You Tune It?

[@robinleebraun7739]

Awesome. I’ve never seen anything like it. Truly a hybrid bass/guitar. Not a baritone, not a bass VI. Unique. And your build quality is also amazing.

[@timsway]

thanks!

[@Mentott]

I bought a custom 7 string guitar from Steve Wishnevsky a few years ago. Similar concept. Three bass strings and four guitar strings. It is a huge black metal looking beast. Sounds great, but a challenge for me to play. I also have a few harp guitars. I like this compact version. Nice build as always. Keep up the good work. As a builder/restorer I always look forward to your videos.

[@riverryan6216]

Check out the Charlie Hunter hybrid guitars

[@nasticanasta]

what do you think 8 string guitars are?

[@Commander_Grub]

@@nasticanasta Still guitars though. They're just extended range. But hey, there's one for everybody! 8 string may be for you, others may prefer an actual bass like this one.

[@RetroPlus]

Making the pickups have the same angular design as the fretboard was a genius design choice, looks so good

[@timsway]

So I did that using the true math of the scale, which means the angle of the pickup is slightly different than the anfle at the end of the neck and slightly different than the bridge angle. I think next time I might cheat and extrapolate the pickup from the fingerboard line, so they are perpendicular instead of slightly askew.

[@justinkase8642]

Amazing build! I'd tune it in an alternate NST (New Standard Tuning). Instead of CGDAEG, I would opt going a fifth below that, so FCGDAE. Now you have the same range as a normal guitar plus the range of a regular 4 string bass (minus the low open E). A lot of potential for interesting sounds and chord voicings!

[@tomsenkus]

My thoughts exactly.

[@thepeacefulenemy4026]

You beat me to it. An all-fifths tuning, without the “compromise” of NST. Good call. They could always tune down another half-step if they just had to have that low E, but I’d go with your version myself.

[@JoshZanders]

Thirded, I spent years playing a fifths-tuned bass and always thought about extending it into guitar range with something like this. You could get some really cool wide-spread voicings!

[@TheHonkler6868]

its a 24 fret so why not go all the way down to E B Gb Db Ab Eb. Most 6 strings only go up to 21 or 22 so detuning a half step will give you the full range of both a bass and guitar. Maybe do E B G D A E to make all the open strings naturals Edit: relized that the second tuning i suggested is literally standard tuning in reverse

[@Screwhead]

I messed around with doing NST on a 7 string fanned-fret, so FCGDAeg, and it was pretty awesome to play, but I hated how "fast" you went up in notes, and I hated the high G because I always hated the major 3rd/high B of "regular" tunings.. Ended up making a tunning I call Mirrored Tuning, that's half fifths and half fourths; FCGDgcf. 4 fifths, 4 fourths, and everything 3/2/1 octaves apart for the FCG strings.. Great for doing doom-drone metal!

[@Anthony-di5xl]

This is amazing, as a bass and guitar player this gets me real excited.

[@murrylancashire]

Check out Charlie Hunter, if you haven't already. He's already mastered an instrument like this. You can hear his playing on in repair, from John Mayer. The bass and rhythm guitar on that track was played on a single instrument in one take.

[@brycnaird6210]

Charlie Hunter is the master of playing hybrid guitars. He uses a pretty unique tuning as well.

[@stevepethel6843]

I love the tonal variety you get it is very impressive.

[@theHumanBryno]

Charlie is truly in a league of his own. I don't know if there's anyone that can do what he does as well as he does. Nate Lopez is also really good.

[@JoelWallington]

Very cool thing you've made here. I once saw a two piece punk band in the early-mid 2000s where the vocalist played what he called a 'gitbass'. It was some kind of SG iirc that he had swapped out the low E tuner for a bass tuner and screwed a bass pickup to the body way over to the side so it was really only under the bass string (might have had a single saddle from a bass bridge too, I can't remember exactly. The rest was guitar strings from low E to B (no high E). He played in standard tuning just doubling up the bass notes on barre/power chords. Had two output jacks running to two amps. Very diy and very punk. Not really the same as this, but you reminded me of that cool teen memory.

[@phreddcatt]

I love the sound you are getting out of this. Perfect for a Jazz guitar/bassist and a drummer to do an economical two piece.

[@timsway]

yes! I've been into the bass vi for that reason but something like this makes more sense, for the right kind of player (which I am not, lol)

[@phreddcatt]

@@timsway Maybe not, but I enjoy your playing. You are very creative/inventive.

[@skaldlouiscyphre2453]

My first thought was a 2 piece grindcore band.

[@modernmusicstudio303]

This is crazy skill with an even crazier instrument. Great Job!

[@Cpw1959]

Hey Tim, What an inspiration. you’ve managed to build a magical instrument once again & have now peaked my interest in trying to figure out my own Bass hybrid. Thinking 4 string Bass and 3 string guitar.

[@timsway]

I think I would prefer more bass than guitar also :)

[@AqueousMantra]

That little truck is awesome

[@Bad.At.Guitar]

i love how you play that thing so effortlessly, as if you've played them forever

[@stevendegoodmojosmet4034]

Wonderful awesome guitar sir, Bravo.

[@JR-dd4ec]

Tim I hope you read this comment: I am 44 and I am literally dying of cancer. I FREAKING LOVE YOUR VIDEOS AND HOW YOU PRODUCE PRODUCTS AND YOUR SPONCER YOUR VIDEOS!!!!!!! Until the day I die I'm going to watch everything!!!! You are great Tim please continue how YOU like to make products ok??????? I was a guitar player and if I had normal health I'd really want to buy one from you lol. Just know who cares what anyone else thinks of you and your work you truly are a great player and maker.

[@timsway]

Thank you for the kind words and I'm sorry to hear about your condition. I'm glad you found me.

[@vagelispolymeros7285]

The shape and design are really beautiful!!! It is both vintage and futuristic in a classy way. I hope it gets popular!

[@Talisk3r]

Very nice instrument. Love the look. The pickup is where you win because it's not generic and it really fits the overall look.

[@newrussianunderground]

Amazing stuff! Thanks, that make my day and inspire me

[@sergiocedeno5944]

Beautifull result Man! Love it 🙌🏼

[@Cristofre]

I have an electric and an acoustic guitar that I converted to this a few years back. EAdgbe. Very handy playing in a duo or solo. It helps to learn partial chords and different voicings of chords.

[@plywoodcarjohnson5412]

I think two pickups far away from one another might help. So neck pickup for bass and bridge pickup for guitar. Why not two controlcavities as well? And add an extra string ! Good stuff! Great upload! Thx!

[@rindred]

I just wanted to note the beauty of that slab of maple - that's the perfect flame for a guitar neck.

[@Dylan-Juhan]

This thing slaps. As a multi instrumentalist and a jazz musician, just thinking of all of the possibilities and the solo giggability excites me. Thanks for the video!

[@Skeletor4753]

Very similar to Hybrid Guitars from NC. Charlie hunter tunes his 6 strings like this EAD (down an octave from usual) gbe standard pitch. I have messed around with a lot of low tuned guitars with a lot of long scale lengths I would say try and get the bass side somewhere between the 29-29.5 range to help tighten it up a bit.

[@spxyx]

Nice job on a very unique instrument!

[@arkavagoswami3068]

I do love your experiments n learned a lot from you.keep it up.cheers from India❤🤘🏻

[@velocelt]

I have NO idea how one would tune that, but I'm thinking you're gonna get some great use out of the fiber laser and I'm always struck by how nice an simple a plain wood guitar is with no crazy, glassy-smooth paint job. I love the look of the natural wood just showing through a nice transparent or lightly tined finish. Kinda makes me regret wasting so much time trying to get the paint just right on the kit guitars I've been building. I can think of all kinds of cool things you'll be able to do with the fiber laser though. I look forward to seeing you learn to get innovative and creative with it in future projects.

[@timsway]

I get the appeal and protectiveness of high gloss, thick finishes, but I'm with you. I want to see and feel the wood. My factory instruments feel like they're wrapped in plastic!

[@BWorks]

Sounds amazing!

[@floydlay9189]

Love your work Tim,,great job!

[@cartoonliker4666]

Excellent job on the guitar and cool design too. 👍😊 I really enjoy watching your videos of building electric guitars. Keep it up!!

[@stevepethel6843]

Yes...and you keep getting better and better and better.you play bass and guitar very well on separate instruments or like you did here both at the same time. You got it sounding good looking good...being good

[@Bleats_Sinodai]

Brilliant as always my friend! Another successful project!

[@struttmusic487]

Absolutely amazing! Another incredibly original design and build. Probably the only guitar maker on the internet I'd actually be interested in buying an instrument from

[@mikekowalchuk6802]

beautiful

[@jel6692]

Awesome design Tim! Love the sound.

[@Lannser]

Beautiful build man!

[@scottbaeder37]

loved the ruck whose bed sides become ramps!

[@mark6302]

looks awesome, love the bolt inlays

[@TheMusicalMedic]

This thing would be awesome with a humbucker closer to the bridge and a single coil right up against the fretboard like a tele. As far as tuning goes, I'm an 8 string player so my head goes to something like EAEADG

[@AidyJames]

Definitely DADADG. I use a Digitech Whammy's +1/-1 setting to add "bass" and higher octave parts with reverb and delay to fill in the gaps. I've thought of using something like this, but I've never seen it done. This is amazing!

[@yobrethren]

Cool style and the design could work great for that Swampy groovy blues country or jazz!

[@PaisleyPatchouli]

Very pretty, and an original, inspired design. I have fiddled a bit with extended range guitars myself, and getting the tuning and string gauging is a very tricky (and fun) part of the process...

[@xD3adKl0wnx]

Super cool! Thanks for sharing it!

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

Those are some *_seriously_*_ fanned_ "fanned frets" if I've ever seen any. Glad to see someone takes the concept seriously.

[@timsway]

I'd say these are properly "pushed to the limit" :)

[@danzifer]

Man that's so cool! Many have dreamt it but rare has it been realized. There's baritone guitars, tenor basses, chapman sticks and everything in between but I like how you made it your own.

[@CorbenEdward]

I played a K.Yairi acoustic with this same concept minus the multi scale and it was very interesting to say the least. Very cool for looper jams I bet.

[@dfbess]

I like it! love the way it sounds!

[@ITigerbaum]

Very cool.

[@piperofsimms]

That whole design is brilliant. I'm ready to order. [Tucson,AZ

[@jwstout007]

If you want to watch a guy that plays a hybrid guitar/bass like this one, go find Charlie Hunter. All I can say is that if you’ve not heard him play, you’re in for a treat! Good lookin build, that mahogany is a nice looking slab!

[@DoctorWhomThe1st]

Wow this is amazing

[@mirkosmi1800]

Tim, this is good work and a good idea...very interesting

[@DonaldMohrMusic]

You missed an opportunity to do split output like the novax or the hybrid guitars or the old Joe Beck guitars. For what you built probably Joe Beck's tuning of A D G C E A but tune the G and C up an octave. So it's like a guitar tuned A to A but the two middle are up for nicer chords. makes single lines harder but then send those two low strings to their own isolated output and you're onto something.

[@DeadKoby]

Very nifty. When I see your use of CNC, it reminds me of Hartley, and how many guitar makers said you couldn't do that with the machines.......... he produced the Peavey T60 and T40 as the flagship models......an extremely high quality instrument that was remarkably affordable. It's fun to see your innovations, and how things are coming along. For a independent maker, it's unique that you're not doing things the way it's always been done.

[@johnisch88]

You're always making cool stuff! If you look at Novax guitars that Charlie Hunter plays they have three bass strings and five guitar strings. He plays bass lines on the bass and chords/solos on the guitar strings. It's a unique way of playing that I just can't do (with limited attempts at learning how), I guess it's kind of like limb independence on drums, but it's finger independence.

[@timsway]

Hunter's instruments were definitely looked at in the process of designing this :)

[@kenmearns6164]

Love it Tim, what a great sound👍

[@KTheStruggler]

One thing that stood out to me is how you got the laser engraver up onto the table you have it on. I 100% would have stubbornly tried to pick it up until I hurt myself before I did it like that haha. Awesome build!

[@timsway]

that's why I filmed the process. an example of working smarter, not harder :)

[@y007p3]

Great to see people doing something that’s genuinely different! Bravo! Sounds cool! I think if you upped the string gauge on the bass strings then the definition would be a bit more refined.

[@MaxOstro]

I literally thought recently what if there was just a regular guitar but with E and A strings tuned an octave down, and then there's this

[@Dave-Rough-Diamond-Dunn]

I loved the way you moved the laser unit to the bench! I have osteoarthritis, and kids in their 20s, and they're always telling me off for moving things that their boyfriends had already tried to move for me, but declared too heavy for them to move. What you did, is how I move heavy things! I can't carry a 15kg carton of beer, but I can move something that weighs 150kg by myself if I have to! 🙂👍

[@timsway]

Work smarter, not harder! - Only those who have thrown their backs out, etc., REALLY understand that :)

[@EnvisionedBlindness]

this is the djent machine we all needed 7 years ago without ever knowing we needed it

[@carlosapers1344]

I tunened mine CGDAEBf# (sort of new standard). With .10 to .125. It’s a 7-string fan-fret.

[@spurioustransients]

That is especially nice. I've been thinking about a hybrid instrument like this myself for a while and I approve of your use of multiscale length with the fanned frets. That's quite cunning.

[@natalyakeane]

im building something along a similar theme. a 7 string tuned in all 5ths, with the low string being the low E string of a bass. which if i remember correctly puts the highest string at an A above a guitar in standard tuning's high E. somewhat inspired by charlie hunter's hybrid guitars.

[@natalyakeane]

while i dont make guitars with reclaimed materials i do have a similar philosophy on not producing masses of waste and damaging the environment. im working with composite materials to make instruments that will hopefully outlast me by centuries, and the goal is to build something that will be the last guitar or bass a customer would ever need to buy. im also working on some custom tailored ergonomic designs to match individual peoples playing styles and most comfortable playing positions.

[@ExcaliburPaladin]

I am owner of 8 string and it is great for playing bass riffs and guitar stuff, only problem is with pickups, yes they are stock and cheap, lack brightness. I dont know if expensive Duncans will carry it better but I think seperate for thick strings and thin with gauges would help with tone.

[@JaimeMartinp]

Really cool, only thing I might have done differently would be the electronics, adding the possibility of 2 independent outputs for bass and guitar (for a drive tone on guitar and cleanish bass mainly). A split coil à la P-Bass may do the job and look nice.

[@maomao180]

Nice concept

[@sgsax]

First time I saw one of these in the 90's, I thought it was pretty wild. Had to watch for a while until I figured out what was going on. It was also the first time I saw fanned frets, and it wasn't until decades later that I figured out how those worked. Really visually interesting design here, clearly has your fingerprints on it. Love the aluminum highlights. Use of the laser for the embellishments seems appropriate for a company called Spark. Thanks for sharing!

[@timsway]

I didn't even think of that. Spark. lol. cheers!

[@GaryOshust]

Beautiful, Tim! 49cc Club Rules!

[@timsway]

unfortunately it hasn't taken off yet :)

[@GaryOshust]

@@timsway When everybody knows the cool kids are in it, it will.

[@_OopsieDaisies]

that is such a beautiful guitar! I have no knowledge when it comes to wood/metalworking but your videos are super interesting :)

[@claudevieaul1465]

Fifths, absolutely. Since it's a hybrid already, I'd give it a range to match. Start at a low A (whole note lower than a regular low B on a bass). I've tuned to fifths before (I also play cello and Chapman Stick, so I'm used to it) and recommend flatwounds for this. Getting it to Djent comes later 🤘😎🤘🤣

[@acdclexu6296]

thar wpuld be intresting for new standard tuning from c or b in the bass

[@pileofstuff]

That unit really shines as a fingerstyle instrument.

[@samambrotv]

Very cool! I bet it would sound heavy as hell with high gain or fuzzed out.

[@awogbob]

The jazz playing was a pretty compelling demo nice to hear such a split between the octibes and the tone rolled off masks gbr differences a bit

[@mockingbirdex3450]

So glad to have found your channel. Great video, new subs.

[@martinmanuel6228]

I love the concept of this. My only suggestion for the next iteration would be a dedicated pickup for the two bass strings that would be matched better.. I’m not sure aesthetically how it would look but I’m sure you would make it work. Nice one Tim.

[@timsway]

I did think about that but it started to get cluttered looking. then I thought about making two separate pickups in the same housing but realized I would probably just be making the same basic pickup, only smaller, so why bother? LOL

[@martinmanuel6228]

@@timsway I guess the benefit would be you could maybe mess around with some active electronics for the bass part. I think you could make a classy looking split pickup for sure man.

[@faroironandcustoms6577]

Really cool, TS!!! love it!!!

[@davebauerart]

Cool idea! Love the style and finish of that neck. The fiber laser is going to step up the branding and customization ideas.

[@GeorgeSmileyOBE]

Tim, what are the brand, style, and model number of your eyeglass frames? I need something big like that for my old stigmatic eyes.

[@timsway]

I don't know. I got them at BJs optical a few years ago and got big to act sort of like safety glasses to keep woodchips out of my eyes.

[@timsway]

I used to always wear NOS military issue BCGs (Birth Control Glasses) that I really liked. Cheap and easy on ebay: www.ebay.com/itm/312556172807

[@GeorgeSmileyOBE]

@@timsway thank you Tim. And for the link, which looks tortoise shell, while yours are black. I’ll hunt around. I need those bigger lenses for peripheral vision. That price is right, many thanks.

[@bethanygresoski3126]

Looks like a good instrument for a guitar show. 🙂

[@opcode114]

I’ll take one. Thanks!

[@wolvetica]

different kind of Multiscale. I love it and want one

[@TravisMus]

personally, I don't understand it. but I think it looks killer man. awesome work

[@TheOtherJackBlack]

I knew the second I saw that truck that it was gonna have a CT plate on it lol been seeing a bunch of those in the area lately. I've never seen anyone make something like this partial bass partial guitar before and it's pretty sick. Hella nice job

[@vontinkles]

Love the build ...and the truck too! Honda Acty? Very cool. 😎

[@timsway]

that truck is great. thanks!

[@danielcaetano7979]

the first tuning that comes to my mind is standard for both, so E A for bass and and E A D G for guitar... or totally standard E A for bass and D G B E for guitar. Anyway, the guitar turned out great!

[@timsway]

fun idea. I've been pretty stuck in traditional tunings form most of my life. While any instrument can be tuned any way, this one really excites the possibilities.

[@DonKelleyMusic]

I like your logo in the fretboard... looks similar to the logo for the band The Warning, which is embedded in their bassist's custom Spector bass fretboard (fret #3? I think). Very cool choice.

[@stevensiwinski]

The kei truck is awesome. Wouldn't have expected anything less from you

[@timsway]

Except for when I need to go somewhere on the highway, That's been my daily driver or 4 years and I absolutely love it.

[@stevensiwinski]

@@timsway Haha! I've been considering picking one up for a while. Maybe this year will be the year!

[@DevinJuularValentine]

EADead maybe, I think I'd definitely split it 3/3, so you still had access to the full range of bass on the lowest guitar string, but also had access to chords. I'm not a lead player so I don't care too much about losing the high range of guitar. I absolutely love this idea and want to try it myself 100%, so many possibilities. Perhaps an easily engaged full muting system for the bass strings - either physical, or split the pickups for bass and guitar side, allowing to easily mute either - I'd want to do something like that to keep things clean when just using the guitar strings. Oh and also be able to process the signals separate, have a bass and guitar amp out there etc. I also feel like this instrument would need it's own techniques and approaches, which is so exciting that you've produced this. I can't believe I hadn't thought about this before - the only solution I could see was just having a double neck bass/guitar lol! Edit; from the comments I see you're not the first but this is the first time I've ever seen something like this and I consider myself an aficionado of the weird 😅 Eeadgb would also be great just to have a root bass note for bar chords etc. Royal Blood eat your heart out!!

[@edwincancelii2917]

Nice humbucking pickup.

[@MirlitronOne]

To be honest, I thought you were going to throw the laser away and just keep the packing case! 😂 A few years ago, I built a filter to split off the lowest octave of a regular electric guitar and put just that octave through an octave divider. It sounded pretty good - I could apply different effects to the bass and mid frequencies and try bi-amping, etc. I like this true guitar / bass hybrid.

[@heavenly2k]

I want this so badly holy shit

[@hydorah]

Yo Tim, bit of a case of the brown and crusties on the wheel arch of your pickup 04:04 .... Looks like it's time to rub that down and repaint it while that wheel arch still exists. It's so annoying when you're just a little too late and the metal crumbles away... I'm doing some filler and fiberglass on the wing of my car today... I was too late!

[@timsway]

I know, it's on my list to repair.

[@sapelesteve]

Fantastic & interesting build Tim! I wouldn't have a guess as to how to tune it. Looking forward to hear how it plays though. 👍👍🎸🎸

[@Tokolos]

Really enjoyed the process)) Love this concept. …would probably open tune.

[@peterjohnson4932]

This was great! I'd tune like you did, Standard/Octave down. What scale lengths did you go with Tim?

[@timsway]

I think it's 28" to 25". I don't remember exactly without going back to the plans

[@peterjohnson4932]

@@timsway That's OK. Just so I know what ballpark we're playing in. A short scale bass at the low end tells me a lot. Looking forward to the followup. Thanks Tim!

[@Mati12Osorio]

The guitar of the future, for those who don't want to deal with finding a bassist, ideal for those!

[@jarnoverhoeven3118]

Fan of Charlie Hunter, and thinking of building one also. My thoughts are 7 string, 3 bass, 4 guitar, bass and guitar strings in fourths, and have the tuning of the lowest guitar string be the middle bass string.

[@timsway]

that would be cool

[@christopheranthony1200]

This is going to take off and explode guaranteed 🤙 🎸really awesome build🎸 🤘🇺🇸great video sir🇺🇸🤘

[@ZOOTSUITBEATNICK1]

love the battar

[@nicks.8003]

One tuning suggestion might be E-B-E-A-D-G, like the bottom 2 bass strings and then the bottom 4 guitar strings. This would allow some major chug/ metal chords since you could play the bottom 3 strings as a bar (like drop D) to make power chords, and then use your to 4 strings to fill out chords. Or take that up in pitch a bit if you don't need the low E. Maybe B-F#-B-E-A-D. Just use a string tension calculator to figure out what gives you good tension for a playable feel since floppy strings are no fun to play. And you probably need longer strings too. Circle K is my go-to for custom thickness baritone strings.