Sage Guitars Needs Your Help

rwelcome · #1 07-22-2006, 11:46 AM

We're working on a new bass called the "Wedge". It's a semi-hollow 5 with a thick wedged body shape. We were milling over some different options last night and having some differing opinions, so my brilliant partner had the idea of having the people of Talk Bass help out. What we intend to do is create polls with questions to determine options on the bass, and then post pics of your opinions becoming reality. Topics on the table as of now range from "high C or low B", "inlay options", and "pickup choices". You can see the bass in its current state at www.sageguitars.blogspot.com

Hope the idea appeals to everyone,

Ryan T. Welcome
Sage Guitars

IotaNet · #2 07-22-2006, 11:50 AM

Ryan -

Check your Private Messages -- I just sent you one.

**Mark Wilson** · #3 07-22-2006, 12:16 PM

Hey Ryan,

I like it so far. I'm not a fan of hollow-body basses though.

I think it should be string with a High C, and also have the option of fretless/fretted.

Is it going to have a sound hole or anything like that?

-Mark

rwelcome · #4 07-22-2006, 01:04 PM

I already slotted one fingerboard, but I have another piece from the same board that I left unslotted just in case the fretless with no lines thing became an issue. The fingerboard will be made of figured Macassar Ebony, a truly fantastic piece! I haven’t thought of doing a soundhole, no drawings of ideas. I think they either look great or really tacky, so for this one I'll probably stay away from the soundhole.

**cheezewiz** · #5 07-22-2006, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwelcome

I already slotted one fingerboard, but I have another piece from the same board that I left unslotted just in case the fretless with no lines thing became an issue. The fingerboard will be made of figured Macassar Ebony, a truly fantastic piece! I haven’t thought of doing a soundhole, no drawings of ideas. I think they either look great or really tacky, so for this one I'll probably stay away from the soundhole.

I like it so far, although I find piezo pickups absolutely useless on a fretted bass. They can be used to ad some nice "air" to a fretless to get more of an upright sound though....(again...JMHO)

Anyway, it's an interesting idea! I vote "Low B".

vindy500 · #6 07-22-2006, 01:16 PM

if no sound hole then f holes?

**Mark Wilson** · #7 07-22-2006, 01:24 PM

I was just gonna suggest F-Holes.

Those look classy on any bass. Or maybe go for a Ken Lawrence kinda thing?

-Mark

spudmaster34 · #8 07-22-2006, 01:39 PM

I vote f holes

**BurningSkies** · #9 07-22-2006, 01:42 PM

I'm not sure I get the 'Wedge' reference. The body appears to be the same thickness across the width...where does the 'wedging' come in?

rwelcome · #10 07-22-2006, 02:02 PM

I think as far as the Piezos go the strings chosen are going to be a big part of the sound. I'm going to try several types; one of the ones I was thinking of was the black tape wound. As far as the F hole idea goes I'll draw a couple of ideas and see how they look. I've held Jean's "Joust" bass, Ken Lawrence does amazing work, I remember it being heavy, but what can you expect with an 11 string with a Wenge neck. The sound holes on the Chamber Brace basses are definitely in the category of "doing sound holes the right way". I won't wedge the body until further on in the process, it will be around 4" thick at the bottom and in the ballpark of 2" on the upper side.

bongomania · #11 07-22-2006, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwelcome

I won't wedge the body until further on in the process, it will be around 4" thick at the bottom and in the ballpark of 2" on the upper side.

Ah, I was wondering the same thing. I was also thinking ow! -not ergonomic. But if it's only ~2" at the top, that could work neatly.

Sound holes and F holes can be be susceptable to feedback issues. I've seen a couple of other builders leave their semi-hollows without holes so as to avoid feedback. Perhaps there are subtle non-feeding-back ways of designing/placing the holes?

I like the front-view outline of the body shape.

rwelcome · #12 07-27-2006, 09:13 AM

Here are some new pics, you can now see the newly glued Redwood top, Macassar Ebony fingerboard, and Flamed Maple neck. Soon we'll be getting to some of the appointments and hopefully you guys can give us some feedback on some ideas we have kicking about.

rwelcome · #13 07-27-2006, 09:14 AM

More pics.

rwelcome · #14 07-27-2006, 09:35 AM

These are just some parts we had kicking around the shop. I always like to see the bass with "mock up" parts to give me an idea of how things are coming together.

mkettner · #15 07-27-2006, 09:39 AM

Way to do your market research and use the people of this community to get feedback. That way if they buy into the idea upfront they will be more likely to buy the real thing later.

Fuzzbass · #16 07-27-2006, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwelcome

We're working on a new bass called the "Wedge". It's a semi-hollow 5 with a thick wedged body shape. We were milling over some different options last night and having some differing opinions, so my brilliant partner had the idea of having the people of Talk Bass help out. What we intend to do is create polls with questions to determine options on the bass, and then post pics of your opinions becoming reality. Topics on the table as of now range from "high C or low B", "inlay options", and "pickup choices". You can see the bass in its current state at www.sageguitars.blogspot.com

Hope the idea appeals to everyone,

Ryan T. Welcome
Sage Guitars

Looks interesting!

1) I wouldn't consider EADGC... I'm a BEADG guy.

2) I realize that due to demand you'll likely have to offer a dual-pickup bass, but I urge you to consider a single-pickup option!

3) Inlays: I assume you mean more than just position markers. I usually don't care enough to pay extra for 'em (in fact I'm happy with a clean fretboard), but I might make an exception if they struck my fancy.

emjazz · #17 07-27-2006, 12:21 PM

Looks like this bass is really coming along. I hope to make it down to Conn. sometime to check these out.

rwelcome · #18 07-27-2006, 06:00 PM

I'm not opposed to one pickup. But I also thought about using a new configuration I have called the "powerplant", a jazz neck, Music Man middle, jazz bridge, under a ramp so all you see is the ramp. Still debating. As far as inlay goes we were thinking about using Abalone or Pearl along the edges framing in the fingerboard and then binding the edge with figured Koa or another type of wood, and perhaps matching Abalone or Pearl face dots. Any thoughts?

bongomania · #19 07-27-2006, 06:07 PM

Are you willing/able to make a 32" scale version?

And while the "Powerplant" pup arrangement sounds awesome for a slap-oriented solidbody, I don't know if it make the most sense for a hollowbody.

rwelcome · #20 07-27-2006, 06:37 PM

I agree the Powerplant is probably too much for this bass. The scales I can do are 35", 34", 33", and 30". I'd do a 32" but I don't have the tooling. I don't mind changing scales, but I usually upcharge $100 for the service because my tooling is setup for 35" standard.