Results 1 to 21 of 21

Thread: 2016 Wildwood Mandobass

  1. #1

    Default 2016 Wildwood Mandobass

    First of all, I've written this whole project up in detail (and with a soundclip) at my blog post on it.

    But, to sum it up -- I had this playing "in the white" at a show on Friday after two days' build. I was really pushing myself to get it done quickly. It's vaguely based on the sizing of old Gibson mandobasses with a touch of the aesthetic of the 30s Kalamazoo mandobasses. I wanted it to be durable, functional, and something I didn't care about getting all scratched-up like I knew it would be.

    The scale length is shorter (34") which is similar to a few early Gibson MBs and I've strung it with upright 1/4 scale strings (Corelli 350s) though I may try roundwounds for the heck of it at some point. It's tonebar-braced, the body is entirely 1/16" birch ply (flat top/back), and the center 3/4" of the (maple) neck runs through from the headstock to the endblock.

    After playing a lot with various bridges since Saturday I'm happy to say I've arrived at the tone/power I wanted out of it and it easily supplied bottom-end growl for a two-guitar, two-mandolin group even with my original (not-best-sounding) bridge setup. The current bridge isn't the one that's still on it (though it's similar but has a 3rd foot in the center to engage that portion of the soundboard).














  2. The Following 12 Users Say Thank You to Jake Wildwood For This Useful Post:

    + Show/Hide list of the thanked


  3. #2
    Registered User atbuckner21's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Monterey, TN
    Posts
    243

    Default Re: 2016 Wildwood Mandobass

    This is gorgeous man! Thanks for keeping such a cool instrument alive I love the blacktop!
    TKD Falcon F5

  4. The following members say thank you to atbuckner21 for this post:


  5. #3

    Default Re: 2016 Wildwood Mandobass

    Danke! FYI it's actually "forest-green-face." :D

  6. #4
    Registered User Simon DS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Peace and Love
    Posts
    2,416

    Default Re: 2016 Wildwood Mandobass

    Really nice.

  7. #5
    acoustically inert F-2 Dave's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Halfway, MO
    Posts
    2,128

    Default Re: 2016 Wildwood Mandobass

    Cool! Nice job. Do you play seated or standing?
    "Mongo only pawn in game of life." --- Mongo

  8. #6

    Default Re: 2016 Wildwood Mandobass

    I think seated is more comfortable. I haven't figured out how to do standing right, yet.

  9. #7
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Howell, NJ
    Posts
    26,874

    Default Re: 2016 Wildwood Mandobass

    Really nice.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  10. #8
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Duluth Mn.
    Posts
    443

    Default Re: 2016 Wildwood Mandobass

    Very cool Jake. Are you putting a pickup in?
    Chief. Way up North. Gibson 1917 A model with pickup. JL Smith 5 string electric. 1929 National Triolian resonator mandolin with pickup. National RM 1 with pickup. Ovation Applause. Fender FM- 60 E 5 string electric (with juiced pickups). 1950's Gibson EM-200 electric mandolin. 1954 Gibson EM-150 electric mandolin. Custom made "Jett Pink" 5 string electric- Bo Diddley slab style. Jay Roberts Tiny Moore model 5 string electric.

  11. #9
    Moderator JEStanek's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Pottstown, Pennsylvania, United States
    Posts
    14,284
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: 2016 Wildwood Mandobass

    Nice work and it sounds pretty cool, too.

    Jamie
    There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. Logan Pearsall Smith, 1865 - 1946

    + Give Blood, Save a Life +

  12. #10

    Default Re: 2016 Wildwood Mandobass

    I love that sound clip on your blog. I don't know why but I kept expecting/hoping you'd break into The Pink Panther Theme!

  13. #11
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Los Angeles, CA
    Posts
    119

    Default Re: 2016 Wildwood Mandobass

    Well done Jake! Very impressive tone w/depth and body!

  14. #12

    Default Re: 2016 Wildwood Mandobass

    Quote Originally Posted by Chief View Post
    Very cool Jake. Are you putting a pickup in?
    It'll get a K&K Big Twin installed with a jack mounted in the string-ends, probably.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Bass View Post
    Well done Jake! Very impressive tone w/depth and body!
    Thanks! And thanks to all the other comments, too.

  15. #13
    I may be old but I'm ugly billhay4's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Lakebay, Wa
    Posts
    4,162

    Default Re: 2016 Wildwood Mandobass

    Tres cool, Jake.
    Very nice sounding especially with the soft pick.
    Bill
    IM(NS)HO

  16. #14
    Registered User Jill McAuley's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Co. Mayo, Ireland
    Posts
    3,569

    Default Re: 2016 Wildwood Mandobass

    Looks and sounds fantastic - love it!
    2018 Girouard Concert oval A
    2015 JP "Whitechapel" tenor banjo
    2018 Frank Tate tenor guitar
    1969 Martin 00-18




    my Youtube channel

  17. #15
    Registered User Simon DS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Peace and Love
    Posts
    2,416

    Default Re: 2016 Wildwood Mandobass

    Sounds great. How much does it weigh? I was wondering if you could attach a small weight under the head, and thereby bring the centre of gravity up so you could play it easier standing up. Or maybe it's ok already?

  18. #16

    Default Re: 2016 Wildwood Mandobass

    Thanks again, guys, and here's some updates and replies:

    #1 Will weigh it tomorrow for ya -- it's not heavy, though, at all.

    #2 It stands-up just fine and I've figured out a good posture for playing upright -- very much like playing double bass but with the soundboard at slightly more of an angle to make flatpicking easy. I also tried it "thimbles" style with a couple of fingerpicks and found that I could use my double bass techniques (adapted) pretty easy with those, too. To get that "3/4" angle of the body I'd have to make a 3/4-installed endpin like on the old Gib MBs. Maybe for mandobass #2? -- though I don't play at that angle, really, as it kills my left arm that way. I like to be a bit more behind the neck.

    #3 Two more bridges later and I have a winner -- 3-foot, mahogany, and rosewood-topped/adjustable:


  19. #17

    Default Re: 2016 Wildwood Mandobass

    Superb blog post. Well done.

  20. #18
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Saint Augustine Beach FL
    Posts
    6,633

    Default Re: 2016 Wildwood Mandobass

    Digging that bridge Jake. The whole concept is very cool.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  21. #19
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: 2016 Wildwood Mandobass

    Nice going, Jake! And it sounds great.

    Just curious, you say the top is tonebar-braced. I assume you induced some kind of arch in it?
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

  22. #20

    Default Re: 2016 Wildwood Mandobass

    Up in the middle of the night with the little one at the moment -- nope, it's simply flat and I expected a tiny bit of depression with tension -- which it has -- but it's sort-of designed-in since the idea is that this functions more like a banjo than a mando in terms of structure.

    Thanks Charles.

    Other notes from the last couple days -- strings are settling-in and sounding more to my liking... and I added strap-buttons and that's how I've been playing it since this morning (held mariachi-bass-style/elec bass-style) and I like it best this way. I may have to fill my endpin hole, now! Still haven't weighed it, yet, but it's about as heavy as your average Fender P or Jazz bass in total.

  23. #21

    Default Re: 2016 Wildwood Mandobass

    Wow. Very cool with a nice sound.

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •