NAMM basses (a couple months late)

[Keith Guitars]

Hi Y'all,

Late I know,...but a couple snaps of some NAMM basses!

First off - the 4-string fretless:

Specs:
-Walnut body w/flame Walnut top
-3 pc. Maple neck
-2-color Katalox FB
-33" scale
-Pickups are, at the moment, my little secret

Special details for NAMM:
- the "Deco" side dot markers,
- the 2-color contrasting fretlines

Enjoy!

Cheers,
Martin

[Keith Guitars]

Just one more - full face shot of the body...
slightly better representation of the flame walnut.

Cheers!
Martin

[pilotjones]

Very nice. Diggin' those side dots/stripe especially.

Nice "K" logo, BTW.

[Musiclogic]

Looks nice Martin, very pretty top....well done

[richnota]

very nice. the neck is great!

rich

[Ray Holt]

I really enjoy the two-tone fret lines How'd you get those side dots so clean? Awesome work!

[Keith Guitars]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the kind words.

The two-tone fretlines were really fun - easy to do,
but big visual payoff.

The side dots were a bit more time-consuming - I built up
dots out of white plastic rod stuffed into small black
tubing.

The pinstripe is simply a veneer under the fingerboard.
Drill in the dots right on center, and you're good.

I've done a similar detail without the pinstripe, and with smaller dots. My next one will probably be done with maple
centers, so the dots are really just black rings on a field of
maple.

I've also worked up a more complicated version of this
for face dots...I may be building one soon - I'll post it if/when
I do!

Bryan Galloup does something similar with very small diameter
aluminum tube, filled with ebony dust on a field of black.
It makes very pretty little shiny circle inlays.

Peace,
Martin

[BellBottomBlues]

I think its pretty pretty cept for the fingerboard but it makes it a really unique bass.

[MSinSF]

Hello Martin,

I just clicked on your website -- is the bass on the left made with a doug fir body, or some other conifer? If so, are you happy with the result?

[Bakken]

I really dug playing that bass at the show. The fret lines are great!

[spindizzy]

Martin,

Great to see you here. I seldom peek at the Luthiers corner as I am deeply afraid of increased GAS! I am glad to see you are preparing to offer your own line. Still love the seven you and Joe built for me but soon I will have to think about my next axe. Can't wait for your site to get up and see what twist you have for us.

Mark Bowen AKA spindizzy

[budman]

Very nice. Sorry we didn't get a chance to meet at NAMM.

[Keith Guitars]

Thanks for the kind words, guys...

The 4-string on the site has an ash body...it's just
a bit odd-looking - it's the combo of the pore filler
and the finish, with some photo glare on top.

I have built some guitars with Western Red Cedar bodies,
(even one WRC neck) and I thought they sounded great.
I've done some spruce necks, too...used properly, woods
like that can be really cool sounding...and carving/shaping
them is incredibly easy.

I would definitely do another western Red Cedar body. I'm
not so sure about Doug. Fir...it's a bit heavy, and I haven't
come across a piece yet that seemed to want to be in a
guitar.

Chris - how's it going? Nice to "see" you here.

Mark - wow - long time! Hope the 7 is still workin' for you.
I'm hoping to have the full-on site rolling within a month or
two. All I can say is to keep your eye on it...

Bud - Sorry I missed you too - your basses were just
gorgeous, particularly the 5-string TRX. Killer, killer...

Cheers!
Martin

[EduardoK]

Hi Martin,
Good to see you'll soon have your web page.
I love the bass pictured at the right.
What's the scale length, nut width and string spacing at bridge???
Hope you remember me. I've wanted one of your basses since NAMM 06 !!!