| Author | Message | ||
| edwardofhuncote
Advanced Member Username: edwardofhuncote Post Number: 340 Registered: 6-2014 |
Well, I guess technically speaking, the negative space cut-out doesn't weigh anything... though I suspect there's a scrap box at the Mothership full of discarded Omegas. =) I'm just wondering for the sake of a (hopefully soon) custom build fretless 5-string, what to plan for with regard to heft. Of course I realize it has a lot to do with wood choice... just looking for a cross-section of averages here. | ||
| lyla53
Junior Username: lyla53 Post Number: 50 Registered: 8-2013 |
Many variables of course but 11lbs +/- (more likely +) would be my estimated average. | ||
| hammer
Senior Member Username: hammer Post Number: 698 Registered: 9-2009 |
Mine is less than that at 9.6 lbs but its a custom 3/4 size body. | ||
| edwardofhuncote
Advanced Member Username: edwardofhuncote Post Number: 344 Registered: 6-2014 |
Thanks guys. I have given some thought to the 3/4 body. Aesthetically I like the full size better, but I'm open here. I have no current trouble with moderately heavy basses... my Persuader is manageable for 2-3 hours, (with set breaks of course) but I do have an old (left) shoulder injury that may figure in one day. Since I'm planning to have this as my main bass for a very long time, seems logical to think this part through carefully. | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Senior Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 516 Registered: 6-2012 |
Fortunately, just having an omega will reduce the weight by a few oz - ! Hey man - every little bit helps! OK - getting back to being serious, your wood selection will have a significant impact on overall weight - possibly more than the body style. For example, Crown of Creation weighs in at (+/-) 13lbs. She has a full traditional point body and the woods are vermillion (top and back) and a thick purple heart core (see pic).  I could've probably offset the amount of weight inherently associated with this body style by choosing lighter woods, but I really like vermillion and purple heart. One thing that helped a little was specifying continuous wood covers for all cavities. Wood weighs less than brass. If the type of wood used for the body is not critical to you, I'd ask the elves' advice re: the lightest combinations. But, remember, the body will need to be heavy enough to balance the weight of the neck...and long scale 5-string necks can be heavy - especially if they have ebony or purple heart lams. But, you won't have any frets - so that helps! | ||
| edwardofhuncote
Advanced Member Username: edwardofhuncote Post Number: 345 Registered: 6-2014 |
"Crown" is one of my favorite basses on this forum, infinitely classic cool. =) It's actually partly responsible for the inspiration to do this build. I always suspected she was a bit of a heavyweight. I could handle a 13 pound bass for a while, but I'd be concerned it might lead to trouble long-term. Ideally, I'd like to end up between 10 and 11 lbs, if at all possible less than 12. I elected the 32" medium scale rather than long, but also planned for 3 purpleheart laminates in a classic taper neck. I'm not settled on wood yet... probably gonna' have a discussion with Mica and/or Susan when the time comes to make a call. At the moment, I'm leaning towards a mahogany core, and either vermilion or maple front and back laminates, in pre-1980 style with no accents or pinstripes. I'm quite drawn to the soft horn Omega pattern, like "Retro" and "Smitty". | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 4164 Registered: 5-2009 |
I have thought of wood recipes a bit as well for a prospective custom in the future. I have been thinking a 3/4 size standard point 32" scale body with tummy contour with a Coco Bolo top and back with Walnut Core with Vermilion accent wood with a Maple neck with three ebony stringers and the ebony fingerboard .If possible a non chambered body with front loaded electronics on brass plates. I am not that worried about the weight. The 3/4 size body might help a little with that . Series II electronics. Dreaming is fun for the future ,it's the way of the future. | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Senior Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 517 Registered: 6-2012 |
32" scale will help you to get away with slightly less body size / weight to balance the neck. Vermillion is a bit heavier than I expected, but, if you use thinner pieces for the top and/or back laminates, it will have less impact on the weight. Here's a thought: Vermillion top, mahogany core and figured maple back with continuous wood covers. Tummy contour (as Wolf mentioned above) will also shave off a few oz. As you probably know, many of the early ones (pre-80) had a very creative mix of woods - often quite different on the front & back - and this could be a nod to that. | ||
| andertone
Junior Username: andertone Post Number: 17 Registered: 12-2002 |
Has Alembic ever considered "chambering" ala Roger Sadowsky to keep the weight around the 9 lb range? I sure am spoiled with two of Roger's NYC basses that are less than 8 lbs. I know, affects the sound, but IMHO not that much | ||
| andertone
Junior Username: andertone Post Number: 18 Registered: 12-2002 |
Something like this:  | ||
| fc_spoiler
Senior Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 1721 Registered: 5-2006 |
I think they did :-) If I'm not mistaken its standard for the series I and II basses, there's a good view of it on instagram: https://instagram.com/alembicguitars/ I was surprised by how well you can hear the effect of the chambered body with my Series I when played unplugged, I'm pretty sure it also affects the amplified tone. (which must be in a good way, 'cause its a tone monster!) :-) | ||
| edwardofhuncote
Advanced Member Username: edwardofhuncote Post Number: 347 Registered: 6-2014 |
I remember Joey once thought his Big Red Spoiler had been intended to be a Series bass because it seemed too light not to have hollowed wings... as it turned out, the BRB is just an unusually light bass for it's Standard Omega size. Though I haven't asked yet, I suppose the Elves could lighten up a custom build by hollowing the core some... seems there would be a point of diminished results with balance, especially on a five-string. I 'preciate the feedback fellas... got gigs lined up all weekend - tonight, double-header tomorrow, and Sunday evening too... couple more weekends like this one and it'll be time to move on to the really exciting phase. =) | ||
| edwardofhuncote
Advanced Member Username: edwardofhuncote Post Number: 348 Registered: 6-2014 |
Just another thought... I read somewhere on this forum, (and pictures seem to bear this out, though I can't seem to find Mica's post) the Anniversary Model Omega body is a little smaller than the Standard, but bigger than 3/4 sized. That might be my compromise. (FWIW - Wayne's Anniversary Model 5-string in the Swap Shop is what made me think of it) | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 8515 Registered: 6-2000 |
I wrote a big post yesterday but I guess I forgot to submit it :\ Anywhoo... we do chamber bodies that do not have back laminates, and we hog is out a bit more than the illustration above. To make it lightest weight though, use a top and back and have the construction fully hollow core. Skip the tummy and elbow shaping and we can make it more hollow. Other ways to lighten things up: make the neck width as small as you can stand it. Really, I mean, stress yourself even if only slightly, and it will pay off big time in the weight. The neck is the heaviest thing (it's not hollow and only gets transected by the pickups and bridgeblock, which are both heavy). The smaller you get the neck, the less fatiguing the bass will be to play both for the fingers and the back. 32" scale will help too. Further on the neck, if you don't mind the warmer sound, use Mahogany for the primary neck wood. To understand how the density of the wood affects the overall weight, consider the Essence 4-string bass. A typical one weighs in at about 8.5 pounds. Mine is made from Cherry and Kingwood with a Maple and Purpleheart neck and it weighs 10.75 pounds. We made an lightweight Essence with a Mahogany, Walnut and Birch neck and a Mahogany Zebrawood body that weighed in at about 6.5 pounds. Other little things you can do is to swap out for Hipshot Ultralight tuners. Have a wooden bridgeblock made so you can swap it out and see if you need the extra mass for sustain (or opt out of the block entirely). Use plastic or wooden backplates. Have the shim style tailpiece. Every ounce here and there will add up. And Gregory, you're right about the body shape sizing. Standard Omega is large, Anniversary Omega is medium and the 3/4 is the smallest. Of course, you'll have to consider that upper horn length for the balance of the whole thing - no point in making it light weight then having it neck heavy. Lightest weight top wood is Curly Redwood - but note that like most lower density woods, it will keep the bass less bright that using higher density woods. Not so noticeable with a Maple neck, but remember every specification has its tradeoffs, and you have to prioritize what attributes are most important to you. | ||
| edwardofhuncote
Advanced Member Username: edwardofhuncote Post Number: 349 Registered: 6-2014 |
Word^ Thanks, Mica & All! I gotta load up the Persuader and Mesa rig, and head off to the gigs now... got plenty to ponder while driving this weekend. | ||
| hammer
Senior Member Username: hammer Post Number: 699 Registered: 9-2009 |
Building off of what Mica indicated, one of my Signature basses has a Mahogany/Purpleheart neck and when I compare it to the Signature Custom (maple, ebony, purple heart) I prefer the mellower sound of the former. |
