For the past few weeks/months I've been getting my new shop all setup. Here's the first bass I managed to get made with all the new tools. Let me know what you think! Also I am looking for some people local to Sacramento, CA that might have some spare time to check out my instruments and give me some feedback.

Details:
SF4 Model
Set-neck with Flame Maple/Black Maple Lams
Ultra Thin 3 Piece Wenge & Flame Maple Neck
1 5/8" Nut Width
Ebony Fingerboard
Ebony Headcap Veneer with Flame Eucalyptus Lam
Mother of Pearl Side and Face Position Dots

Hard Maple Body with Flame Red Gum Eucalyptus Top
Hand Carved Top, Back, and Heel

Hipshot Brass Bridge – 3/4” Spacing
Hipshot Ultra Light Tuners
Hipshot O-Ring Knobs
Seymour Duncan J and MM pickups
VBT-SS Controls (Volume/Blend/Tone - Jazz Phase/MM Series/Parallel)
Recessed Barrel Jack
Recessed Schaller Strap Locks

http://www.scottfrench.com/images/SF4Bl.jpg

Here's a close up of the carved top.

super sweet lookin!

give any discouts for fellow californians!

I'm down here in Mo'town, and that is a nice looking bass, and I think you've managed to come up with a distinctive look. Congrats.

Has a Curbow vibe going on. Can we see a clear headstock shot?

Looks wonderful - I like the curves of the carved top! Must have taken you quite a while huh?
Great job!! :D

Scott, you already know how much I appreciate your work dude!

Nice bass.

Peace,
JP

PasdaBeer, actually CA residents have the pleasure of paying AN ADDITIONAL 7.25%! SWEET!

coyoteboy, Thanks! Can I add you to the list of people I might contact in the future when I have new stuff to test out?

Brendan, Yeah, I agree about the curbow thing. I have built two basses in this shape that were flat and I thought they were pretty darn original. Now with the carvings it does remind me of the petite curbow I think.

rusty, Yes, the top and back carvings took a good few days to do.

JP - The feeling is mutual!

Dig the more traditional sc look... more les paul-ish than the normal gambit of sc basses with that carved top... not sure if I like that far of a recessed lower bout, but cool nonetheless. I have family in the bay area... maybe I'll take a day trip one of these days.

I just realised something... no logo?? How can that be?? Cmon Scott, with such extensive carving skills, I'm sure you can do something about that :D It's the first bass outa ur new shop too!

Just to even things out here, what I liked best is the deep cutaway that Baofu complained about. It's a cool design. I'll probably end up stealing ideas from you as well when I am good enough to make my own bass. I am already going to steal ideas from JP too. I think from him I will take the bass side 'horn' of the Zia. Or whateve you call that horn-bout-thingy on a SC.

Wicked.

Peace
Nick

That is the best looking bass I have seen. Its classic and timeless, and yet modern.

Great Job.

great:) I wonder how it sounds, probably as great as it looks

nice!

it has a "raw" vibe to it - i really dig it...

Sweet bass. I see what Brendan means about a Curbow, but it is certainly an original shape that pays tributes to some classics.

I really like that the singlecut doesn't look like a tumor, which is tough for a lot of luthiers to achieve. And, the lower horn looks nice. The exaggerated cutaway doesn't look out of place, either.

The bridge pickup looks pretty close to the bridge, but without playing it, I can only base that on my old fretless Curbow that has a Jazz pickup that close to the bridge and would probably benefit from it being a little further away. Of course, a jazz pickup is not a MM pickup, is it? :D

It looks like a nice bass, and I'd love to see a 5 string tuned EADGC with a piezo. It's a bass I could easily see Steve Swallow playing. :bassist:

Very Sweet looking bass!!!

Alright, some local talent to check out.
Nice work, I really like the carved top. Nice original choice of woods.

I live in Sacramento, so I wouldn't mind checking that out.

But I agree, first bass needs to have the mark of the craftsman.
I mean, in 20 years or so that bass is going to be floating around and somebody is gonna post one of those "can you help me identify this bass" thread.
And it's gonna go something like this: "Whoa, that's the first bass made by Scott French".

While I'm a fender guy, I dig it lots. It somehow captures something old and lute-like about it , while being modern too. I also like the cutaway to get to the high end easily. Wish I was close enough to flog it ferya:)

Sweet!

By all means, Mr French, contact me about bass tryouts. I may actually be looking to get a six sometime in the future. Also in the future, I may be able to offer Helicopter service in partial exchange for said six.

(I'm beginning commercial helicopter flight training soon!)

Nice!

Scott, I am from the Sacramento area. Check your private messages. Nice bass!

Wow! I am really liking that. Nice work!:hyper:

That is really cool looking! You have an East Bay volunteer if you need one!

I know other people have said it already, but I'd also like to add that I dig the design of your bass. I honestly didn't think Curbow when I saw it. I think it's quite original.

Whoa, thanks for all the positive feedback everyone.

Baofu, Thanks, let me know if you want to come check some stuff out. It will be a while before I have some more basses ready though.

rusty, I am hugely picky about aesthetic things like logos and inlay. It seems like 95% of the inlay and logos you see don't do anything to enhance an instrument's beauty. I have a logo in the works, but until I have something that really looks perfect I will continue to leave the fingerboard/headcap blank.

By-Tor, Folmeister, coyoteboy, BassWhore - Thanks for the offers. This bass is leaving on tour today but I'll have others in the works so I will try to contact you guys when they are finished (soon I hope).

I dig it!! Needs more strings, though.. :D

Although I don't know the dimensions of the body, (I like `em BIG), I love the aesthetics of your bass.......beyond and above any of my comments below.

Positives;

- Love the carved body!!!!
- I would love it even more if it was chambered, like a Les Paul or a PRS....it looks like it is, even if it isn't
- The controls appear they would stay out of the player's way when playing aggressively/slapping
- Pup/electronics selection is refreshingly different for this style of bass and first class
- Upper body extends to 14th fret......great for resonance
- Straight-string pull to the tuners

Neg's;

- The cavity control cover isn't wood that continues the grain/figure of the wood.......it's the "industrial" look of man-made material
- The bucker pup seems to be positioned too close to the bridge.......too middy for my taste as that position is so close to a node for the strings
- The backside isn't bookmatched....."hello, Home Depot!" If the rest of the bass wasn't so beautiful, this wouldn't matter.

Couple of suggestions, (as for my tastes);

- A binding, like abalone, on where the top meets the sides, whether real or faux, would really make this baby dazzle
- As rusty says, a nice logo, (preferably inlaid), is needed.
- Zero fret, please

As I implied before, your bass is a pleasure to see! Great work!

Rick, Thanks for taking the time to check out my bass and write all that out. That's some great feedback and I appreciate it a lot.

Edit: Also, all the things you mentioned are/will be available as options on my future instruments. The original plan was for this one to be for me so I just built it to suit my own tastes. ;)

really nice!! :rolleyes:

interesting looking instrument, you have great skills. :ninja:

I forgot to mention - I love the way you laminated the flame maple in between the black maple. It looks like a flowing river of gold to me :D

I second Rickbass' opinion about the lack of a matching control cavity cover though... Not that it really detracts anything from the bass, but I sure wish it was wood :)

Any pictures of your intended logo so far? Perhaps we could offer some suggestions on it ;)

One more thing - do let us know if you have a website up in the future. I'd love to check it out :)

"I think it's quite original"

See, here's the thing.

I think that's a very nice looking bass, you obviously have alot of talent.

I just cannot understand the "new fashion" type of thing going on with these singlecut contrabass looking instruments over the past couple years. It seems EVERYONE makes a disproportionate singlecut body now. Sorta like how EVERYONE has a Musicman humbucker offering now.

It gets a little much. Someone please tell me: is there an actual benefit to this new fad? Not being confrontational, but am I missing something?

Well it is ver different from other single cut designs Ive seen.

As far as advantages, aesthically (sp?) they are superior for many people.

There is also the balance issue which is adressed by these shapes.

Many believe better resonace and neck stability are the result of the elongated neck/body joint.

As far as the fact that everyone has a singlecut, Everyone has a double cut and a no cut is not practical.

Why not have a Musicman humbucker offering? Its a proven design that many people like. Besides, in my experience, PU positioning has more effect on tone than almost anything else. He placed the pickup in an odd position closer to the bridge than you'd normally see.

I dont doubt that this is a very unique and functional bass.

Peace
Nick

Alright, some local talent to check out.
Nice work, I really like the carved top. Nice original choice of woods.

I live in Sacramento, so I wouldn't mind checking that out.

But I agree, first bass needs to have the mark of the craftsman.
I mean, in 20 years or so that bass is going to be floating around and somebody is gonna post one of those "can you help me identify this bass" thread.
And it's gonna go something like this: "Whoa, that's the first bass made by Scott French".

I'm trying to find out more info on a tenor banjo that my grandfather traded a cow for. My problem is the instrument maker didn't leave any kind of name so I have no idea who could've made this banjo.

Don't let your work fall into obscurity. Put a logo on it. It's worth it. :D

Great looking bass, Scott.

Of course Nick Man. I agree on your sentiments. What's wierd is this design, as a concept, has been around for over a decade, as spawned by Anthony Jackson for his contrabass.

But we all know this.

I'm merely pointing out the quick "adoption" by many many makers all of a sudden. Just an observation that is on a design I don't particularly care for. No big whoop.

And as for the MM pup, I'm again speaking in re: to the shape, not the function of the pup. Everyone has a two tab on one side, one tab on the other MM humbucker clone now. Why is it the shape is the prominent identifier (and in my opinion moreso important to some makers), more than tone considerations? There are hundreds of plain jane rectangle humbuckers that can cop that tone. Carvin is a perfect example. They rip off the MM pup, then rip off Lakland by throwing on a J pup. And so on , and so on.

Again, I just see these trends, and I find it a bit boring, sorry. Just one man's opinion.

Nice work! I'll look forward to seeing more of your instruments. I'm in the Bay Area, if I ever get up to Sacramento, I'll let you know.

- Dave

Mon Rominee, I agree with you about singlecuts. I noticed the fad getting pretty big a few years ago and was annoyed by it as well. I have never really seen a singlecut I've liked until I had to design my own for a place I used to work. I took the bass half of my acoustic guitar design and the treble half of one of my electric guitar designs and put them together. I ended up really liking the shape so now I build them. It did all start because singlecuts are hugely trendy though.

As far as the MM pickup... the Warwick Dolphin is my favorite bass. They grabbed the MM and put a J, Lakland borrowed the idea, and now I have started using it on some basses as well. The reason I use the two tab on one side/one on the other design is......... because that's how bartolini and seymour duncan makes them. :)

Like I said before, this was originally for me, so I built it the way I wanted it. I like the Musicman/J setup because it's what I've had on my dolphins, I like this singlecut, I like these woods, I like plastic control covers, etc. So..... please don't take this as the be all end all of my work, just one instrument I happen to post because it's the first out of a shop it's taken me months to build and setup.

rusty & WillPlay4Food - There is a serial number stamped into the bridge pickup route, does that help?! My logo/site will be a few weeks/months away, I'm not rushing it at all.

Dave Grossman, sounds good. I might even make a bay area tour when I get a few basses done. Could save a lot of people some driving and they can test stuff out on thier own amps, etc.

That's cool man, I can totally understand...and I trust my observations weren't taken personally, as that was never the intent, and I apologize if I *shat* on your thread...I just made an observation, not an intent to single anyone out, or make generalizations.

I think your bass looks great. I think you have a real talent there, and it deserves to be commended. I applaud anyone who can make a bass. It's a great thing.

Hope I didn't offend anyone.

I didn't take it personally at all. Just wanted to clear up my own motives/reasoning as well as the Lakland MM/J pickup thing.

What do your doublecuts look like?

VERY impressive and I'm not easily impressed. I'd be interested in adding one to my bag of tricks when you are up and running.

Hey, Scott, do you have ANY basses available to check out for those of us in the Sac area?

Brendan, I am a little reluctant to post the designs of the basses I haven't built out yet. I am in the prototype stage now with some of my shapes for bass so the only versions I have are in guitar form. The guitar/bass models are not exactly the same although they are very similar. I do have a pic of one of them in guitar form but I dare not post it here without permission.

main_sale, Sounds good. I'll let you know when I have my site running. If you can't wait send me a PM sometime with what you are looking for.

BassWhore, After having a conversation with my friend, driving down to SF, and letting him test the bass at the sound check with the band he is tourig with, the verdict was his G&L fits the mood/style of the band a lot better than this. So I still have it here in Auburn. Kind of sucks since I had to drive all the way down there and this bass wont get the road test, but also a little relieved a high end bass he didn't pay for wont have chance of being hurt or stolen.

scott, post your double cut guitar design!!!!!!!!! it trully rocks!!!

Peace,
JP

Wow! I am normally not a fan of single-cuts, but that thing is just downright impressive looking! I really dig the contours and I'd lobve to try 'er out!

Very cool!:cool:

Scott, I am having band practice tonight, do you want to bring it out and I'll give it a test drive in a real band situation? That would be TIGHT!!!! Our space is downtown near Arden Mall. If you are interested let me know!

Here's a close up of the carved top.

Reminds me of a Les Paul & Warwick Thumb's child

Here's the SF3 in guitar form... the bass is obviously bigger and suited to balace a larger neck.

Thanks again for the feedback. :)

Here's the SF3 in guitar form... the bass is obviously bigger and suited to balace a larger neck.

Thanks again for the feedback. :)

Yeah, Thanks Scott!!!

this is the very best electric guitar shape I've ever seen!!!!!!!

I definitely wanna see a bass version bro'

go get your order ready guys, I predict Scott is gonna be very busy very soon.

Peace,
JP

WOW! That guitar is PHAT!!!!!!!

Love the look of the singlecut bass.

Looking forward to seeing a bass version of that guitar body shape - very cool-looking!

very nice work
i really like both of your designs

NICE!

Thanks for the singlecut/guitar comments, guys. The next bass I build will be a 5 string fretless in the SF3 shape (guitar above) with a one piece flame/burl claro walnut top and super fancy binding. I even took rick's advice an bought up some Paua abalone for the purfling.

That SF-3 guitar shape looks like it would be a great match with one of JP's Plume basses. :hyper:

That guitar shape.....OH!.......EH!......G.A.S.!!!!!!!!!!! BUILD A BASS Version! Pronto and post lots of pictures :D:D:D Hehehe! Dude, I predict you the next........ JP, Conklin, etc. That is some awesome work.
Thanks
Troy

I've started working on my next bass and I was wondering if I should do some wooden pickup covers for it. I have never been huge fan of them but I just thought I'd ask and see if anyone here had any opinon on the matter. The bass body is below with some of the hardware sitting on it.

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

I've personally never been a big fan of the wooden covers. That is a cool looking bass! When do you expect to have it finished?

Man, that is one neat looking guitar. Also the first I've seen with a Hipshot Babygrand bridge. I always thought that was a neat design, and it looks so "right" on that guitar.

Well done. I really love it.

What are those pups on that bass?

...I just thought I'd ask and see if anyone here had any opinon on the matter. The bass body is below with some of the hardware sitting on it.

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

LOVE `EM, Scott. They just say "1st Class" to me.

Mother Nature is the master artist, IMO.

Mon Rominee - Thanks, I really like the baby grand. I have 3 more guitars coming soon using that bridge. The bass pickups are Seymour Duncan/Bassline with split magnets kind of like a reverse P pickup

BassWhore, I just started it yesterday so it will be a while. Not sure how long exactly since I am working to two guitars at the same time and also making some changes to the singlecut bass so I can sell it.

I've started working on my next bass and I was wondering if I should do some wooden pickup covers for it. I have never been huge fan of them but I just thought I'd ask and see if anyone here had any opinon on the matter. The bass body is below with some of the hardware sitting on it.

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

I LOVE it Scott. This is a killer body shape!!

wanna send me a template :D

JP

I LOVE it Scott. This is a killer body shape!!

wanna send me a template :D

JP

Thanks, JP. I think I'll hold on to it. You already have plenty of nice shapes. ;) But I still have 2 more no one has seen yet!

here's a vote for leaving the pickups as plastic on the new bass.
love the look of your stuff, scott... i cann't wait to see your site up and running.

I'm hooked and I can't stop staring.

I LOVE it Scott. This is a killer body shape!!

wanna send me a template :D

JP


Scott, you and JP are inspiring me to start a new body style.
The new shapes make jealous. :hmm:

Good Luck, Cliff! Making a new shape is always pretty fun. The design stage in general is one of my favorite parts of instrument making.

So.... that's 2 against wood covers and 1 for? Any more votes? I am leaning towards leaving them plain black plastic since it would match the all satin black hardware, but I do have a lot of matching burl/flame walnut that would work well too.

looking good scott. I'm not big into singlecuts in general - but I really like your doublecut design.

here's a vote for matching wood covers.

plastic covers.

JP

La plastic

It looks good the way it is, dont cover them.

Plastic works for me too.

I'd Go Plastic! (as Squarepusher would say)

:smug:

SQUAREPUSHER! That guy is one SICK dude!

I've started working on my next bass and I was wondering if I should do some wooden pickup covers for it. I have never been huge fan of them but I just thought I'd ask and see if anyone here had any opinon on the matter. The bass body is below with some of the hardware sitting on it.

Thanks in advance for any feedback.
Amazing!! I opened this thread hoping to see something original and you nailed it! The singlecut is unlike anything I've ever seen and this doublecut is just amazing! Keep up the fine work!

Oh, and plastic covers. The black looks nice, although it would be cool to offer both to customers or whatever.

Looks like plastic is the winner. I'll have to do wood ones on the next bass I guess

Squarepusher is the man. I don't follow the bass hero scene very closely but for my money he's the next Jaco... plus he's one of my favorite drummers/programmers ever!

jenderfazz, thanks for the props. You have no idea how relieved I am to find out some people are into my designs.

Can't wait until my prototypes are built and my real site is up.

those are some beautiful instruments, man

Thanks a lot! I just started working on a buch of instruments today I think a lot of people will be into.

It's always great to see someone coming from a fresh angle. Looks like great work. Feel free to pm me with prices and availability;)

Sent you a PM, Brad.

Scott, dude, when can I check out your workshop? I promise I won't bring a camera ;)

I should be in the shop around 8am-6pm all week from here on out. I know for a fact I'll be down there all day tomorrow if you want to check things out. Send me a PM for directions when you have time to swing by (okay, 45 minutes is a big swing out a Sac but you know what I mean).

That is a nice bass, I love that shape!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the heads up/sticky John. I just deleted my last post. (and edited a few others in this thread just in case)

This bass finally found itself in the hands of the person who it was originally meant for. I got to see it being played for the first time last night. He had already played it at a few shows in New York and San Francisco but I got to see it at an awesome venue known as the UC Davis Coffee House. I took the bass back to the shop to make a few changes, swap the hardware back to chrome, and finally install the logo. Quite a few people wanted to see my logo when I got it finished so here it is. Sorry the live pics aren't that great. The area around the stage was super packed so I couldn't get any good angles.

http://www.scottfrench.com/images/CarsonAdvantage.jpg

http://www.scottfrench.com/images/000Logo.jpg

Hi!

your basses are really special, the shape is really original!
What I think is very hard to get for a luthier.....
Would be curious to hear and play that bass.....

Vince

Thanks a lot Vince! That would be a tough one if you're in France. The only guy I am building for that tours europe is a guitar player. :/

First of you know Spencer Seim??? DAMN THAT IS COOL!!! I can't beleve he is going to play of of your guitars!!! He has had that junk tele for YEARS!!!

Second - I NEED A SF1!!!

that is all...

Alex

OK!!! Now I am freaking out!!! CARSON PLAYS ONE OF YOUR BASSES??????????? Are you involved with 5rc or something???????? DAMN!!! I really need one of your basses now!!!

Alex


http://www.scottfrench.com/images/CarsonAdvantage.jpg

http://www.scottfrench.com/images/000Logo.jpg

Scott,

I don't normally like these single cut away basses. However, your basses have a really nice look. Nice work. Hope they sound as nice as they look.

Could you PM me pricing info?

Im not looking to buy anytime soon, but Im curious.

Hey Alex, I just lucked out. I went to school with Carson's cousin so I've know him and all those guys since I was about 16. When I first met Spencer he was playing one of Michael Dolan's custom guitars. The first time I saw the series-10 tele was when Legs on Earth broke up and they started Hella.

Nick, I've got all the price and option info on my temp website. :)

Thanks a lot Vince! That would be a tough one if you're in France. The only guy I am building for that tours europe is a guitar player. :/
Hi!

For the moment it's hard!
But the day when you'll be a famous luthier, I'll be able....;)

Vince

Smart. Great combo of features. Elegant, not too ostentatious.
Nice personality!!! I really love the lines, and the offset position markers.
I might play one of these... CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Great looking bass!! I had a custom made bass with a SD MM5 humbucker in about the same spot as that bass and it worked fine.

Hey Alex, I just lucked out. I went to school with Carson's cousin so I've know him and all those guys since I was about 16. When I first met Spencer he was playing one of Michael Dolan's custom guitars. The first time I saw the series-10 tele was when Legs on Earth broke up and they started Hella.

Nick, I've got all the price and option info on my temp website. :)
Thanks, ApeIsHigh81 pointed that out to me.

Thats some great work.

I am very sorry to bring up such an old thread.

For fun the other day I was checking out Warwicks on Ebay and noticed that a cat named Scott French was selling a Dolphin because he now builds his own instruments. So I checked out the website and I must say, I love the body shapes on these instruments. They're radical without being too weird for traditional tastes. The SF3 reminds me of something vintage in that "1950s view of the future" way.

I particularly liked the SF1 bass. It looks like a Dolphin, but better with more rounded contours. I love the logo too. It's cool, modern, and very subtle.

So I did a search here to see what others had to say about this new builder and well, found this thread.

Screw GASsing for a Warwick Dolphin. The SFB1 has a nicer shape.

Yo Scott, I remember the first time I saw that bass design and I remember that your site used to be up and running. Man, I gotta have one of those!!!! The design is something I've been tryin' to do for years and YOU nailed it on the head, congratulations!!! Dont be discouraged by all the "I dont really like singlecut" replies, keep on building. I know your gonna be a "booteek" type builder luthier type guy :D but please have a basic model for the underpriviledged mid-range dudes like me :D before you go all "Ritter-esque" with your pricing, I know you gotta earn your keep. My question is: Will you be doing a six for us sixers? Man keep that S/C design, what will be your build times? While I'm here in "sunny :rolleyes: " Wisconsin, my brother lives in the Sacremento area and I think I'm gonna fly out to visit the shop. Truly a beautiful bass. ok enough sucking up now :hiding:

Thats an amazing you got there. Can't wait to see what else you come up with.

Nice looking bass. Any plans in the future to build some 5s?

According to the site http://www.scottfrench.com, an SF1 6-string is being built for a client.

http://www.scottfrench.com/inprogress.html

Thanks for the props, dudes. When I first got the shop running I started building all kinds of crap. Most of it didn't have any home to go to so I eventually got bored, ran out of steam, lost interest, scrapped 'em, etc. Now I have customers to build stuff for so I don't worry about the old things that are collecting dust, have to deal with the instruments people are waiting on and can hopefully keep me and my dog fed.

As far as what's coming up, danhorne... pretty much everyone is ordering guitars. That's no problem for me since I like guitars and am happy people are ordering instruments from me period. It doesn't help out bass players who want to see more of my work though. The only bass stuff I really have coming up are two basses I will be building for myself. I'm selling my dolphin to finance those instruments.

Lo end PUNCH & mike sancho, I don't have any plans personally to build any 5s or 6s. I'll be building a fretted SF3 and fretless SF4 (both 4s and both different from my old stuff in a lot of ways) for myself. Other than that there is no bass stuff coming up. I'm willing to build anything, the weirder and more different the better, but I'm probably not going to be building any more "spec" instruments unless there is a complete stop in orders.

I hope none of that crossed the line on the new commercial user policy this and that.

Scott, I think this would be OK in the luthier's section as a "in progress" type thread. I'll pass it over there.

Beardburst?

Im guessing you are the first to offer such a thing.

The beardburst is certainly not something I plan on offering or ever doing again if I can help it. Spencer is a local player and a friend. By the time we got to that point I had said no to so many other things I just did it and didn't argue (but I did complain like a baby quite a bit).