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Bass of the Week: ODD Guitars Hive 3D Printed Bass Guitar

by Kevin Johnson | Thursday, February 7th, 2013

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As 3D printing becomes a more accessible means of creation, it seems that imagination is our only limit. ODD Guitars realized this and put the technology to use in instruments.

Odd Guitars Hive Bass Guitar

“3D printing allows designs to be manufactured that could not be manufactured through traditional means,” the company writes on their website. “The 3D Printing technology used in ODD guitars is called Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) and builds the components by spreading a thin layer of nylon powder, that is then fused in the correct locations for that particular slice of the component. The layer is then dropped down a fraction of a millimeter, and another layer of powder is spread on top of the first, and the process is repeated until the component is built. The typical layer thickness is 0.1mm.”

One of their two bass models is the Hive: a Les Paul inspired bass with bee theme. Built around a wooden inner core, the Hive’s body 3D printed body has a beehive like hexagon motif with miniature bees inside. The rest of the bass is made from more traditional parts, including a Warmoth Pro Angled maple neck with a rosewood fretboard, Gotoh tuners, and a Schaller bridge. It sports a pair of EMG Hz 35 passive pickups controlled with a 3-way toggle switch.

Here’s the Hive in action along with other 3D printed instruments:

ODD Guitars Hive 3D Printed Bass Guitar Gallery:

ODD Guitars Hive 3D Printed Bass Guitar Specs:

Body: 3D printed Duraform PA Outer Body
Finish: Dyed and Painted Orange With Chrome Trim
Body Core: CNC Machined Mahogany
Neck: Warmoth Pro Angled Maple Neck
Scale: 34˝
Fretboard: Rosewood with Inlay Dots
Frets: 22; 6150 Sized
Nut: Corian
Pickups: EMG Hz 35
Bridge: Schaller 463
Tuners: Gotoh GB7
Other: Schaller Strap Locks, D’Addario Strings, Hard Case

More: electric bass, ODD Guitars

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Comments:

Edward Thompson-Matthews says:

February 16, 2013 at 10:40 pm

Cool idea. I like the concept of 3d printing for manufacturing of all sorts of things, including musical instruments, for various reasons, including manufacturing costs, freedom of design, superior structural engineering, and reduction of waste and carbon footprint. However, I cannot justify a purchase for any other purpose except for its novelty. Why spend over $3000 for a guitar that may not even sound much better than a “regular” guitar that costs a fraction of that? If the price can be reduced to compete with the “Made in China” instruments, even non-guitar instruments (strings, woodwinds, etc.), then I can see these as viable low-end instruments, for students and the like. Until then, I say stick to the wood.