How to Build a Chambered Headless Bass

The Chambered Body

• 1). Obtain a body blank for the size of body you need and of the wood you desire at least 1 1/2 inches thick. Select a similarly sized piece of 1/4-inch thick wood for the top.
  
  
• 2). Draw the outline of the body shape on paper, cut it out with scissors and tack it to the blank with rubber cement.
  
  
• 3). Carefully transfer the outline onto the wood with a carpenter's pencil or white chalk and carefully remove the template. Cut the blank to the shape of the outline using a band saw.
  
  
• 4). Place the paper body template onto the blank for the top and draw the outline onto the wood with pencil or chalk. Cut the top to the shape of the outline with the band saw or scroll saw.
  
  
• 5). Sand the body and the top with 80, 120 and 240 grit sandpaper in succession.
  
  
• 6). Draw the outline of the cut-outs for the neck (neck pocket), pickups and controls. Rout out the cavities to the desired depth. Cut a slot at the end of the body for the tunable bridge as you need access to the tuners at the end of the bridge.
  
  
• 7). Draw the outline for the chambers, in any areas that are left. Drill out the chambers with a spade bit set to a depth of no more than one inch then rout them out for a clean finish. Drill the hole for the amplifier plug into the control cavity.
  
  

The Headless Neck

• 1). Cut the headstock -- the part at the top of the neck that holds the tuners -- from the neck 2 inches above the nut -- the grooved strip that keeps the strings in place.
  
  
• 2). Draw straight lines from the grooves in the nut to the end of the neck. Drill a hole 1 1/2 inches from the nut on each line. The holes must be small enough that the balls at the end of the strings are kept from pulling through them, even under tension.
  
  
• 3). Use a slotting file to make 1/2-inch slots along the line from the holes toward the nut.
  
  
• 4). Slide the neck into the neck pocket and attach to the body with four screws.
  
  

Finish

• 1). Finish the wooden parts with stain, varnish or paint.
  
  
• 2). Attach the fret board with glue. Leave to set overnight.
  
  
• 3). Install the pickups, controls and the bridge.
  
  
• 4). Pass each string through its hole at the top of the neck, along its groove in the nut, over the bridge and into its tuner. Tune to pitch with an electronic tuner or an in-tune instrument.