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

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

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Leave a Reply to Nkrumah Frank Forson Cancel reply

  1. where do I buy this thing?

  2. shame about the cameras in the video trying to avoid close ups of the bass player.

  3. will this bass guitar last longer?

  4. do u have 5 strings of this type?

  5. I’m guessing it is too light and has pretty lousy sustain.

  6. Really nice piece of music.

  7. Seems like a rather ridiculous price.

  8. 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.