● Materials You Will Need

So far I've purchased some MDF panels I will be using for my templates. Also I will be assembling these panels for test fitting as well as design analysis. I have purchased these panels with the same dimensions required for the panels I will be assembling the final product.

I have made one small change to the process I plan to build to. Originally I was planning on the first to be of ash. As this is not the type of lumber that is readily available to everyone I will make the first from poplar. Firstly because this wood is available at Home Depot or Lowes at the thickness I will be building with. Secondly because these are stock thicknesses which require little planing or dressing prior to assembly, (which is really a good thing for the novice). Thirdly, it is a relatively good "tone-wood" that other major manufacturers have used in the past and has very close tonal qualities to basswood not to mention its workability. Fourthly, it's not an unpleasant wood to look at. it has a green tinge to it which can be stained after the building process to a darker color and look quite good. Fifthly, the cost. Poplar is about half the price as ash and if I'm going to build this bass body I want to know I haven't sunk a small fortune into something that may not have reached my expectations. I want the building experience to work for you as well. I surely would not expect anyone to follow my plan unless I got excellent results in both the build and sound.

You will probably find that the poplar you get may only be available at maximum widths of 5"-6". This is fine because we can "butt" joint them together prior to cutting. The only thing you want to ensure is that the joints of each panel are staggered in the stacking process to be certain there are no weak areas of the final build.

So far my time invested in this project is about 10.5 hours