I Built a Headless Bass with Dingwall Pickups (Full Build & Demo) │ Music Video JP

Let’s change it up; I built a bass this time. I wanted to get the Dingwall sound into a 5-string headless bass, so I installed the FD3N pickups and even the Darkglass Tone Capsule that would come with an NG-3.

The build process was pretty smooth sailing, though hand-planing and carving the wenge neck was a beast. The biggest issue encountered was the body blank warping after glue-up. I think it’s due to this particular piece of black limba being laughably light (2.7 lbs/boardfoot) and needing longer clamping time in winter temperatures.

Though the bass is small relatively small, that 37″ low B-string makes it feel massive. Off camera, I played around with mostly metal tones, and the aggressive sounds I can get out of this bass are super satisfying.

Check out B.M.’s bands:
Coffin Rot: https://coffinrotofficial.bandcamp.com/
Livssyke: https://transylvanianrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/livssyke-solace-in-worms
Arlone: https://transylvanianrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/arlone-reign-at-dawn

Specs
Body: Maple burl on black limba
Neck: Wenge, dyed maple veneer
Fretboard: Indian ebony
Pickups: Dingwall FD3N
Preamp: Darkglass Tone Capsule
Bridge & Headpiece: Nova Guitar Parts
Scale: 34″-37″
Fretboard Radius: 16″
Frets: 24x Jescar 43080

Supplies
Finish: Crystalac Brite Tone matte
Dye: Transtint
Sealer: Mohawk’s pre-catalyzed sanding sealer
Grain filler: Z-poxy finishing resin
Abrasives: Eagle Abrasives Super Assilex

00:00 – Intro
00:11 – Jointing drop top
01:03 – Planing body
01:54 – Laminating body
02:44 – Cut neck laminates
03:24 – Laminating neck
05:06 – Warped body
05:25 – Cutting body
05:46 – Neck rod channels
07:08 – Fingerboard
07:30 – Shaping
08:15 – Fret slots
08:47 – Fingerboard binding
10:09 – Inlays
10:41 – Fingerboard glue-up
11:08 – Pickup cavity
11:39 – Neck details
12:20 – Neck pocket
13:19 – Fingerboard radius
14:03 – Install frets
14:32 – Nut slot
15:44 – Route body cavities
17:53 – Cavity covers
18:33 – Neck carve
20:15 – Body continued
21:44 – Grain fill
22:55 – Apply color dye
24:49 – Level and crown frets
25:29 – Clear coat
26:33 – Assembly
27:38 – Beauty roll
28:42 – Sound demo
30:29 – Photos