OK, after several requests for this kind of thing, here are some photos showing the relative sizes (as best as can be done via digital photos & the internet!). The center instrument (SKB) is slightly behind the side ones, but not enough to make a real difference in perspective.

All three, side by side, LG - SKB - Century (Standard in the photos, but the Signature is identical in size and outline):

LG - SKB (SKB is slightly behind):

SKB - Century (SKB slightly behind):

How about a set of lefties...

:D

And finally, LG - Century (Century slightly behind)

How about a set of lefties...

:D

For our lefty friends:

...and finally:

For our lefty friends:

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!


:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!


:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

..now, lemme alone, you lefty freak!!!!

:eek:

:spit:

;)

(there's no pic of mine)

For our lefty friends:

EXACTLY what I needed!!! :hyper:

(there's no pic of mine)

That thing's gonna' end up in Gard's fireplace if you're not careful!!! :ninja:

:p

That thing's gonna' end up in Gard's fireplace if you're not careful!!! :ninja:

:p


...it does get a wee bit cool in the evenings here in NC sometimes, even in summer...

:ninja:

Thanks Gard - that is a real help...nice work:cool:

...it does get a wee bit cool in the evenings here in NC sometimes, even in summer...

:ninja:

DONT BELIEVE HIM!! Thats a lie if I ever heard one. :D

DONT BELIEVE HIM!! Thats a lie if I ever heard one. :D

Hey, Wilma-ing-ton is over on the coast, y'all are warmer & more humid than we are mid-state! :spit:

(Which is why I'm here! After 40 years in Louisiana & Florida, I'm ready to be a bit more :cool: )

Haha, its still hot as crap up there. I know, I go up to Raleigh all the time. :spit:

OK, a good friend of ours that is a LOT more savvy with these things just forwarded this to me, maybe it will help a bit in addition to the photos. Here are comparative outlines of each body type:

OK, a good friend of ours that is a LOT more savvy with these things just forwarded this to me, maybe it will help a bit in addition to the photos. Here are comparative outlines of each body type:

Cool. That is very helpful in determining just how they compare.:)

the top on that skb is great!

the top on that skb is great!

Figured primavera, neat stuff. :)

Figured primavera, neat stuff. :)
Goes real good with linguini and a nice white wine.:p

Is it possible to make an SKB with a longer lower horn?

No, sorry, we don't do modifications on the shapes.

OK, a good friend of ours that is a LOT more savvy with these things just forwarded this to me, maybe it will help a bit in addition to the photos. Here are comparative outlines of each body type:

If you send me an EPS or PDF file of the 3 bodies (to scale) I'll send you back a superimposed picture of the 3 bodies that shows them overlaid...

No, sorry, we don't do modifications on the shapes.

Well my two SKB's have slightly different lower horns, which I assume has to do with the top wood size??

Unless it is a mistake:eek: :ninja:

Well my two SKB's have slightly different lower horns, which I assume has to do with the top wood size??

Unless it is a mistake:eek: :ninja:

"Mistake" is not the correct term, "hand shaped" is. ;) There is always a slight variation due to any number of factors when something is genuinely hand-made. However, making a drastic change (i.e. make the horn noticeably longer) is not an option, due to the way we cut the bodies from the blanks.

If you send me an EPS or PDF file of the 3 bodies (to scale) I'll send you back a superimposed picture of the 3 bodies that shows them overlaid...

Jaz, the only pdf files I have of the bodies is the one on page 1 that is all three in one, they are to scale in that though.

I gotta zip out to the shop and find some tiger myrtle, it has a date with my camera....


:D

Haha - Thanks Gard. Let me know if you want some help getting a PDF of the 3 bodies.

Can you get a 4 string SKB or is that only in LG and Century?

Can you get a 4 string SKB or is that only in LG and Century?

Absolutely, the SKB 3000 (4 string) is not on the price list, but it's the same price as an LG 3000.

We don't do many, as with the larger body, they look a bit "odd" to us, and apparantly many others - notice the lack of them out in the world - but they have been done. As a matter of fact, there are some photos floating around TB here of one with a Quilt Maple top and Aqua finish...

Hi Gard,

I was just wondering what the main differences as regards tone is concerned between the 3 models, in particular, the fretless versions?

Also, and this may be for another thread, but how does the diamond wood wear on a fretless, and how does it sound? And what does myrtle burl sound like? I've seen the fretless (model no.5538 that you're making) but haven't ever heard of myrtle being used as a body core...

Any info would be grateful.

Thanks
Jamie

p.s. i would go and try them out to determine the differences myself, however, i like in the UK and don't have a local dealer. Thanks, Jamie

Well...I have a minute (with nothing better to do :smug: ), so I'll chime in. We'll see how close Gard and I get to the same answer.

First, there really isn't any appreciable difference between the three models themselves. For all practical purposes, the woods, construction methods, and options are the same. What will be slightly different is the options you decide to choose for a specific bass. The only significant difference between the three would be that the Century Sig comes standard with a wedge neck, but you could upgrade to that on an LG or SKB.

Myrtle is very similar to maple tonally. You often get some of the same type of figuring (flame, burl, etc.) that you see with maple, and it also reacts like maple. Maple has been traditionally matched with mahagony on Les Pauls to add cut and a high-end presence....to clean up the warmth of mahagony, if you will. Myrtle adds a similar type of attack and presence to notes. Plus...it's a beautiful hardwood.

As for diamondwood....it's called diamondwood for a reason. It is very resistant to wear, which is also why it is used as a fingerboard on fretless basses. Based on the other specs of a bass, it can give you that familiar warm, woodiness of a fretless, but it really excells at cutting through, projecting notes, delivering clarity and detail, and providing maximum "MWAH".

Hope that helps. ;) Now let's see what everyone else thinks...

Thanks for that...not sure myrtle, as a tone wood i for me then...my Warwick has a maple body, and i'm not keen on it...gargh...the quest continues...

Jam

Another question for you guys if i may...

The Century model...what's the difference between the Century, and the Century Signature. If it's just that the signature is a carved body...can i please see some pics of the two side by side in order to see the difference...i'm not sure i quite get it you see!!!

Thanks
Jamie

Hi Gard, I think that this picture will show good, the relation between the 3 body shapes that Roscoe use, in this case 3 five strings: Century Standard V, LG and SKB.

Regards,

Tommy
Note : theses basses own the best B string sound in the world!!!
http://a376.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/01404/57/36/1404876375_l.jpg

Hi Gard, I think that this picture will show good, the relation between the 3 body shapes that Roscoe use, in this case 3 five strings: Century Standard V, LG and SKB.

Regards,

Tommy
Note : theses basses own the best B string sound in the world!!!
http://a376.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/01404/57/36/1404876375_l.jpg

So you're the one who owns that fretless century - (it is fretless, correct?) Any chance you want to sell it? :D

It's pretty unique - Quilted spalted maple top (beautiful!!!!!!), Aqua burst back, and slanted pickups on a Century like an LG. You've certainly given me some ideas :p

Yes I’m the only man with this design (I think!!!) this bass is so beauty and sound terrific!!! The most versatile fretless that I’ve played in my live, you can go Jaco, Willis or any others infinite possibility. This bass has a Quilted/spalted maple top, aqua burst ash back, diamond lined fretless fingerboard, ebony knobs, Aguilar preamp and the most important feature to me; hand signed for Keith!!! You can see this bass in Fretlessbass.com 2007 calendar in June page. I’m very thankful with my bass and it is a gift of the heaven, for all this reasons I’m not interested in sale my bass. The slanted pickups are a interest feature and many people said that this position not affect the sound but in my very personal opinion this add more beef to my tone, my sound engineer can note a big difference when I play my LG over the SKB of my church band.
I have a little video clip of this Century fretless in www.myspaces.com/bajosexclusivos and others videos of my church band where I’m playing on my LG.

Enjoy the pictures!!! You are welcom to share ideas!!

http://a362.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/7/l_f5cb56f558d6fd191738470ba2bda681.jpg http://a803.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/10/l_7b257fb692f98fa22641e3eaeb89658a.jpg
http://a808.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/31/l_10ef9cf5752b14a9a8da3f0465d72cdf.jpg
http://a226.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/58/l_12de86e0b7bae70581ca349a21f90dd9.jpg

Yes I’m the only man with this design (I think!!!) this bass is so beauty and sound terrific!!! The most versatile fretless that I’ve played in my live, you can go Jaco, Willis or any others infinite possibility. This bass has a Quilted/spalted maple top, aqua burst ash back, diamond lined fretless fingerboard, ebony knobs, Aguilar preamp and the most important feature to me; hand signed for Keith!!! You can see this bass in Fretlessbass.com 2007 calendar in June page. I’m very thankful with my bass and it is a gift of the heaven, for all this reasons I’m not interested in sale my bass. The slanted pickups are a interest feature and many people said that this position not affect the sound but in my very personal opinion this add more beef to my tone, my sound engineer can note a big difference when I play my LG over the SKB of my church band.
I have a little video clip of this Century fretless in www.myspaces.com/bajosexclusivos and others videos of my church band where I’m playing on my LG.

Enjoy the pictures!!! You are welcom to share ideas!!

The added pics are much appreciated!

I was only kidding about selling it - I don't know why anyone would sell that bass :)

If you don't mind, can you share your thoughts on the choice of the Aguilar preamp instead of Bartolini? I think this is the first fretless I've heard of with that preamp, whereas it's very popular in fretted basses (I've had it in basses I owned).

The added pics are much appreciated!

I was only kidding about selling it - I don't know why anyone would sell that bass :)

If you don't mind, can you share your thoughts on the choice of the Aguilar preamp instead of Bartolini? I think this is the first fretless I've heard of with that preamp, whereas it's very popular in fretted basses (I've had it in basses I owned).

Thanks for your compliments Jeff, yes I know that this option in preamp is more popular in fretted but I wanted a fretless that adjust to many styles of music and the preamp Aguilar give me many variations in my tone, at first was a little difficult find the characteristic singing fretless sound with both pickups open, but the sound of the two pickups open is very powerful in low frequencies, very useful to play Latin, reggae or simulate a upright bass sounds, if you play close to the neck this gives you a sub bass sound. To dialing for fretless sounds i use only my back pickup and this combination give me that wonderful fretless characteristics sounds, the harmonic are powerful, every inflection of my fingers blown up and don’t loss support over band playing situations, many times the people don’t know that I’m playing a fretless bass, only when I switch to the bridge pickup in solo parts the people said this is a fretless bass?? I’m very happy with the end on my experiment of use this combination of electronics and woods for my fretless project, right now I’ve a new bass project to start with Gard and when we star I will happy with share the pictures. Sorry I please for the mistake in the link, the correct is www.myspace.com/bajosexclusivos here I’ve a little video of this fretless Century V sounding, this was recording with my digital camera, not very nice mix but you can own a idea of how this can sound.

Blessings,

Tommy

Thanks for your comments Tommy. I did check out your video and I really liked the tone, but to me it sounds like you might have both pickups on in this clip, based on what you said about how you get different sounds with this bass? It's a nice tone, but pretty full and bassy. It's hard to make any real judgment because of the quality of the clip, and the fact that myspace compresses it even more...

In any case I am thinking about the possibility of the Ag pre in a fretless. My decision will probably depend on the other specs that I choose for that bass.

Cheers!

Jeff,

Definite i change the preamp on my fretless, I put the aguilar on my LG and the Bartolini that was originally on LG , on Century fretless and this now shines and sing worderful, definelly the Aguilar preamps fits better the fretted basses....

Tommy
www.myspace.com/bajosexclusivos

---------------------------------------
Thanks for your comments Tommy. I did check out your video and I really liked the tone, but to me it sounds like you might have both pickups on in this clip, based on what you said about how you get different sounds with this bass? It's a nice tone, but pretty full and bassy. It's hard to make any real judgment because of the quality of the clip, and the fact that myspace compresses it even more...

In any case I am thinking about the possibility of the Ag pre in a fretless. My decision will probably depend on the other specs that I choose for that bass.

Cheers!

Jeff,

Definite i change the preamp on my fretless, I put the aguilar on my LG and the Bartolini that was originally on LG , on Century fretless and this now shines and sing worderful, definelly the Aguilar preamps fits better the fretted basses....

Tommy
www.myspace.com/bajosexclusivos

---------------------------------------

Thanks for the update. I ended up getting a fretless LG and have the Bartolini 3-band which I think is a great match. It's a naturally snappy bass (all maple!) so I feel the Bart setup works very well. The Ag has been nice in fretted basses I've tried it with, so I imagine your setup is perfect now :)