● Design and Drawing Preparation

The first thing I'll need to do is decide on building procedure. This will overlap with the body design directly. As I've discovered in work related industrial design projects in the past I often get to a point where I must analyze "fit, form, function" components and decide if the pretty design is feasible and will the components fit properly, ergonomic issues, how it will be manufactured, materials used etc. With regard to this bass body I want to chamber the inside for acoustics and need to decide on how it must be constructed easily and yet still look great and function well. I don't want to throw a ton of research and development into this project, I just want it to work well enough so I can make improvements down the road if required. I also want anyone with few tools to be able to build this without too much difficulty.

So I've completed a shape I want to use. I've analyzed the components I want to include and I'm going to draw out the chambering in my 3D model and control cavity for pots and pre-amp. I have the dimensions fro the neck heel and where it will fit into the body. Ive designed my f-hole for the sound to project. As I create the chamber I also discover that Instead of making the body from 1 piece of ash (which would be really difficult for anyone to build unless you are well equipped), I can build this from 4 panels of wood cut to shape and layered together. This would make the process longer for those with few woodworking skills but would give excellent results in the end. The lumber should be available at Home Depot or Lowes for the thickness required. In my MDF model I will be cutting and assembling these templates and most likely making modifications along the way.

The body panels consist of 4 layers as mentioned earlier. The bottom panel is 1/4" thick, the mid-bottom panel is 3/4" thick, the mid-top panel is 1/2" thick, the top panel is 1/8" thick. This brings us to a total of 1 5/8" thick (1.625"). These layers will allow me to cut out all shape, chambers, neck joint, control cavity etc. without too much difficulty. In effect they will be glued and clamped together in the end. Following that would be some shaping on the edges to round them out and some shaping on the back for hip comfort. When all is sanded then final finishing takes place followed by attachment of neck, bridge, pickups, electronics. This is the "cliff-notes" version and although there is a lot more to it than what I've described, you get the general idea of my methodology.

Feasibility study, continuing design, research, drawings time is 5 hrs. Total time on project so far is 8.5 hrs