multi scale bass

[Basvarken]

I've been playing around with the idea of building a multi scale bass. So with fanned frets. Just for fun. Something completely different.
Last few days I made some drawings.

Based on the model of the Brooks EB-N.
But with Thunderbird-ish headstock. Tuners: 2 above, 3 below
Natural Mahogany with yellow stained spalted maple top



Also based on the model of the Brooks EB-N.
But with Flying-V-ish headstock. Tuners 3 above, 2 below
Natural Mahogany with yellow stained spalted maple top



New body model with a hint of Thunderbird/RD
Natural Mahogany with spalted maple top



Explorer model with Flying-V ish headstock. Tuners 3 above, 2 below
Finish Gun Metal grey.



Explorer model with Thunderbird-ish headstock. Tuners: 2 above, 3 below
Finish White Pearl

[gearHed289]

Wow (as usual)! I've had a little fascination with fanned frets over the past few years. I just feel like I'd have to start playing a bunch of tapped arpeggios on something like that.  What scale lengths are you thinking? Another thing I've been thinking about is a 32'' scale 5 string tuned EADGC. For a multi-scale, I think maybe 35'' to 33'' might be good.

[Basvarken]

These drawings are based on 34-37 inch scale

[4stringer77]

How about a hockey stick option for explorer shape head stock? G string tuner might be a reach but at least it would look cool. 

[Basvarken]

I like to keep the strings running as straight as possible from the top nut to the tuners.
With a hockeystick that is not going to work.

[BTL]

The Explorer/V mashup looks the best to my eye, but I'm wondering if your target audience might prefer better upper fret access.

[Basvarken]

Yeah, I may want to make the cutaway deeper, or at least make a profile so you can reach the higher registers.

[Highlander]

 

[Basvarken]

Made a new drawing.
Changed the vertical fret from the 12th to the 8th.
And made it a 10-string instead of 5-string

With the vertical fret now at the 8th fret the bridge makes a sharper angle. And so I decided to change the Explorer body shape too.

The scale is still 34-37". But I may want to change that to 32-35" in order to make this bass a bit less unwieldy...



Only question is, can my friends at ETS Hardware tool me a bridge for this beast? 

[Basvarken]

And tweaked this one too

[morrow]

Reminds me of the Dano Wild Thing .

[BTL]

32"-35" fanned-fret 15-string Explorer would be absolutely ridiculous in all the best ways.

[Basvarken]

Haha, yeah. Completely over the top. 
But the guy whom I built the twelve string Explorer bass for, is dead serious. He wants me to build it...

[BTL]

Yeah, I assumed this was a commissioned build, and I'm just standing by to bask in the glorious ridiculousness...