Print PDF
Favorite
Email
Step 15Prototype #2: Bass guitar Hardware :
Bass guitar hardware is very important. Without a proper set up your instrument will sound like garbage. The hardware for a 4 string bass guitar is as follows:
1. 4 tuning machine heads: These are where the strings will attach to at the headstock.
2. 1 nut: The nut is made of wood, plastic, graphite, or bone. The nut is placed just above the top of the fretboard and is the beggining of the scale.
3. Strings: With all the varieties we all have our preference. I prefer DR Black Beauties.
4. Bridge: The bridge of the bass guitar is where the strings will fasten to the bottom of the instrument. It is the end of the Bass guitars scale and is also where the strings can be adjusted for height.
5. Pickups: you aren't going to get sound from an electric bass guitar without the pickups. The pickups are located within the 10 inches below the fretboard and before the bridge. Choose a style of pickup that you like. I would recommend any form of humbucker or combination thereof.
6. Controls: These will consist of at least 1 volume control and 1 tone control.These controls should be matched to the requirements of the pickups you will be using.
***********************************************************************************************************
For the 4 tuning machine heads locate their positioning on the headstock. Drill 4 holes through the headstock to accommodate the cylindrical shaft that the bass strings attach to. Mount the 4 tuning machine heads onto the headstock from the underside of the headstock.
Mount the nut onto the neck just above the top of the fretboard. Make sure that the nut is evenly mounted.
Mount the bridge at exactly 34 inches from the nut on the body. You will be able to adjust the string height with the saddles on the bridge.
Route out spots for the pickups within the 10 inches from the bottom of the fretboard to the top of the bridge. The placement will depend on what type of pickup you are using. The most important thing to remember about the depth of the pick up cavities is that you want to be able to adjust them so they are not to close to the strings but also not too far away either.
As for the controls, you will need to route out an area on the back of the body that will house the control knobs. You are going to have at least 2 knobs and an audio jack. The two controls are going to be an audio volume control and a tone control. Refer to a wiring diagram for your chosen pickup setup. Route out a connecting channel from the control knob cavity to the pickup cavity using a drill. This will serve as a channel for the wires that connect the pickups to the controls.
***********************************************************************************************************
Over top of the pickup cavities and along portions of the body I plan to cover in an ebony wood veneer. This will create a sort of cover for the pickup cavity.
1. 4 tuning machine heads: These are where the strings will attach to at the headstock.
2. 1 nut: The nut is made of wood, plastic, graphite, or bone. The nut is placed just above the top of the fretboard and is the beggining of the scale.
3. Strings: With all the varieties we all have our preference. I prefer DR Black Beauties.
4. Bridge: The bridge of the bass guitar is where the strings will fasten to the bottom of the instrument. It is the end of the Bass guitars scale and is also where the strings can be adjusted for height.
5. Pickups: you aren't going to get sound from an electric bass guitar without the pickups. The pickups are located within the 10 inches below the fretboard and before the bridge. Choose a style of pickup that you like. I would recommend any form of humbucker or combination thereof.
6. Controls: These will consist of at least 1 volume control and 1 tone control.These controls should be matched to the requirements of the pickups you will be using.
***********************************************************************************************************
For the 4 tuning machine heads locate their positioning on the headstock. Drill 4 holes through the headstock to accommodate the cylindrical shaft that the bass strings attach to. Mount the 4 tuning machine heads onto the headstock from the underside of the headstock.
Mount the nut onto the neck just above the top of the fretboard. Make sure that the nut is evenly mounted.
Mount the bridge at exactly 34 inches from the nut on the body. You will be able to adjust the string height with the saddles on the bridge.
Route out spots for the pickups within the 10 inches from the bottom of the fretboard to the top of the bridge. The placement will depend on what type of pickup you are using. The most important thing to remember about the depth of the pick up cavities is that you want to be able to adjust them so they are not to close to the strings but also not too far away either.
As for the controls, you will need to route out an area on the back of the body that will house the control knobs. You are going to have at least 2 knobs and an audio jack. The two controls are going to be an audio volume control and a tone control. Refer to a wiring diagram for your chosen pickup setup. Route out a connecting channel from the control knob cavity to the pickup cavity using a drill. This will serve as a channel for the wires that connect the pickups to the controls.
***********************************************************************************************************
Over top of the pickup cavities and along portions of the body I plan to cover in an ebony wood veneer. This will create a sort of cover for the pickup cavity.
| « Previous Step | Download PDFView All Steps | Next Step » |
 |
Add Comment
|
