How thin is too thin? Neckthrough bass

[Matthew Lau]

Dear MIMF,

I've recently decided to build myself a short scale bass, sorta like the Les Paul log or a Steinberger with a head.

Ideally, I want something I can whip out in a day with minimal jigs, a router, and a jigsaw.....especially important with a toddler and newborn.

How this is too thin? Fender seems to be 1.5 in. Rickenbacker seems to be 1.25 in.

I'm trying to figure out what board from my wood stash I'll be using. I'm thinking of using port orford cedar.

It'll be a P bass, with hip shot hardware.

It'll be my first solid bodied(?) hardware.
Later, I plan to screw wings to it for better ergonomics (and let me experiment with different shapes)

[Jarno Verhoeven]

Parker Fly guitars used to be VERY thin, so 1 1/4" should be fine.
I recently (well a year ago) St.Vincent inspired shortscale bass, and I used a shortscale bass neck off of Amazon (given that you wanted it to be a quick project). Not too terrible, I myself did not do any work on the neck profile and frets (just the headstock), but with a bit of effort, I think they can be made pretty decent.

The body has big bevels on top and bottom running out to just over 15mm on the edges, original also has a big belly (or, well) cut which I forgot to add.

[Peter Wilcox]

For me the minimum thickness has depended on how the controls are mounted, and how deep the cavity has to be routed to accommodate the pots. This usually turns out to be 1 3/8".

[Matthew Lau]

Thanks for the tip!

I forgot that I can just buy a short scale neck, and save a ton of time.
We'll see.....still need to clean the garage.

[Barry Daniels]

I saw an Ibanez a couple of years ago that had an ultra thin body. I have no measurements but it looked to be a maximum of 3/4". Even thinner at the edges. I seem to remember that the body was laminated.