Jerzy Drozd Excellency VI custom *build journal

[Schlyder]

Welcome to my Jerzy Drozd Excellency VI custom, project build journal.

Here is a photoshop of what the finished bass will look like.





BACKGROUND

I have been dreaming about my perfect bass for years... many years... before I had even heard of Jerzy Drozd Basses.
Then I saw this picture... and I was in love.


I have been in love and GASing for a Jerzy Drozd bass since I first saw one about 6 years ago.

I had a picture in my head of what it had to look like, and the features, but mainly the quality of craftsmanship.

My present bass (made by Peter Elias) is an Elias AP-1.

customized, 5-string fretless, solid padauk, with ebony fingerboard. It is oil finished and fairly dark. I have owned this bass for 27 years.
I love this bass. But I want to expand a bit and get a 6 string. I wanted something similiar in looks and the same kind of hand made craftsmanship. Once I saw Jerzy's work... I knew I found my luthier.
Then it was time to save, plan,and dream.

And after years of dreaming about it... it is close to getting underway. Over the year I will post updates as Jerzy sends me updates and wood pRon.

I started planning and communicating with Jerzy in mid Jan. and put my deposit down middle-ish of Feb.
Jerzy has been busy, and told me it will be about 12 months until completed. (I'm thinking that's pretty damn good cause I had heard a guy could be waiting 2 years on a wait list.)

I got my preliminary drawing for my Excellency VI custom from Jerzy a few days ago.
We have been working out details and getting the spec sheet ready, and we are just about ready to select the body woods and get some sawdust flying.

The features are:
- 35" scale - 6 string
- neck through construction (wenge/maple/wenge)
- fretless (36 fret bodystyle)
- flamed maple top , body - flamed walnut
- matching veneers on back, and front of headstock.
- Black ebony fingerboard
- piezo bridge saddles
- single JeDXS pickup w/flamed maple cover
- Aguilar OPB-3 preamp
- black hardware
- string spacing at bridge - 16mm
- width at nut - 52mm


Preliminary drawing


* the body shape is of the old 36 fret body style but slightly modified, with the upper wing coming off the body a little lower, at the 21st fret. as opposed to the 18th fret. And the horn is a little longer.



Sample photo of top wood. A very pale, white flamed maple. And maybe a bit more subtle figuring... not a 5A figuring, but about a medium AAA

[Low Sound Love]

Jerzy Drozd basses make me drool ... then cry, then drool again.

Insanely good looking stuff, and I'm not even into the 'boutique' look, but Jerzy's stuff is so tasteful.

Congrats man, it's awesome that you have a dream coming true!

keep us updated, and when it arrives I'll demand soundclips!

[blendermassacre]

I'm a P with flats sort of guy, but when I played a Basic V, I was BLOWN away. A Drozd is on my " when I'm done with college, I would like to buy...." list.

[Munjibunga]

You will not be disappointed, for sure. The craftsmanship is beyond reproach and the sound lives up to the looks. Congratulations.

[Schlyder]

Yeah I had my eyes open for a luthier with something special. And like I said, when I first saw a Jerzy Drozd bass, I knew I found the guy. This whole process is gonna be something I will cherish the memory of, but going through it is killing me.... the putting together the specs wasn't that hard, as I knew what those were going to be already, but the anticipation of getting started, and the selecting the woods has been really tough. there are so many beautiful woods to choose from, and then selections of blanks after that... I've already flip-flopped once on the woods... good thing I have a bit of time to make the final decision. I am leaning towards a book matched, pale white, flamed maple top. I was going to get black poplar burl, but Jerzy gave me too much time to waffle. hahahahaha... and I changed my mind.

[soldoutluck]

Congrats man! I have always loved Jerzy's work. I would go with poplar if I had the choice between the two, but thats just me. Keep us posted on the progress.

I have been talking with Jerzy as well putting togeather a build and I am getting the funds togeather to place on a signature V with exhibition grade amboyna burl top( or Buckeye), 13 piece; 28 fret neck. Im going all bells and whistles!

[Freddy-G.]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

You will not be disappointed, for sure. The craftsmanship is beyond reproach and the sound lives up to the looks. Congratulations.

+1! I LOVE my Excellency.

A 36 fret fretless? Whoa! You are a madman! I'm looking forward to seeing the updates on yours.

BTW, here's some pics of mine: http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y25...xcellency%20V/

[Schlyder]

very nice Freddy-G... Do you have the piezo saddles? I am wondering how it will be setting up the bridge with normal wound strings? I am not a big fan of taper wound strings.
I need to ask Jerzy about that.

[Freddy-G.]

Originally Posted by Schlyder

very nice Freddy-G... Do you have the piezo saddles? I am wondering how it will be setting up the bridge with normal wound strings? I am not a big fan of taper wound strings.
I need to ask Jerzy about that.

Thanks. No piezo saddles on mine. That would certainly be an interesting addition, though. I have thought about using some non-tapered strings, too (although the tapered F Bass strings I have on it now work great). Please let me know what Jerzy says about that.

[Mulebagger]

I had a Mastery 5 for a while. I drooled over them for their looks, but when it came down to it, I wasn't a fan of the ergonomics. It sounded really nice and the fingerstyle cut through very well in the upper register. Best of luck with your build. If the ergonomics suit you well, then you will be very very happy!

[FromTheBassMent]

I'm not mad for heavily figured boutique basses... they always seem a little fussy to me (I'm a EBMM guy). But I played a couple of Jerzy Excellency V's at New Jersey Guitar & Bass Center... well if I'd had the thousands on me, I would have bought one. Or both! Everything about those basses was flawless, and the balanced tone was jaw-dropping.

You're gonna be a happy camper!

[Greevus]

I just met Darren Michaels, artist from Atlanta, in my hometown of Charlotte, NC at "Bass Day" and got to play his 36 fret green Jerzy Drozd shown on the JD website. It was the first one I've ever seen and I must admit it was an incredibly cool and well-made guitar. I thought the # of frets was way over the top, but the quality was tops.
That is a lot of loot for a guitar, but if you dig it, then it is worth it.

[Mulebagger]

The crafstmanship on mine was amazing. Among the best I've ever seen. I didn't like the oil finish though. I also had that "nature inlay" and it was highly distracting. More of a blank or block board guy.

[Schlyder]

Yes my finger board will be pure black... no inlays, or fret markers.
I need to discuss finish with Jerzy as well. I thought I read somewhere he doesn't do oil finishes anymore.
I am going with the satin finish. But I am going to ask for an oil finish on the neck.
I like the look of some glossy basses, but I can't stand the feel of a neck with a glossy neck finish.

[Cliff Bordwell]

Sounds like a great bass.
That Poplar is definitely a good back up choice.

[mikezimmerman]

Originally Posted by Schlyder

Sample photo of top wood. The one on the right is the shade of flamed maple I am going for. A very pale, white flamed maple. And maybe a bit more subtle figuring... not a 5A figuring, but about a medium AA or AAA.

If you're looking for a very pale white flamed look, you might consider flamed sycamore, which looks very similar to flamed maple but tends to be paler in color. Here's a sample from the back of an ACG.

Mike

[Mulebagger]

JD's neck is a bit thick, but super easy to play. I saw a double neck 5 fretted/5 fretless on Bassnw a while back that I wished I pulled the trigger on. It was such a beautiful piece that even if it was not so practical, it would have been a wonderful piece to have

[Schlyder]

That flamed sycamore is nice, but I'm Canadian and I gotta stick with maple... besides, I may already have a name for her.... Maple Sugar
'Cause she'll sound so sweet, and she'll be smooth as syrop, (say that 10 times fast )

Aside from being wider at the nut, Jerzy's neck specs for this bass are exactly what I have now on my Elias. A little bit thinner lower on the neck, past about the 18th fret, but then it thickens out, so I am predicting pretty much the same feel.. that's what I have been shooting for. My string spacing is going to be 1mm wider for the 6 though
(16mm)...my Elias is 15mm string spacing.

[Schlyder]

Originally Posted by Mulebagger

... I saw a double neck 5 fretted/5 fretless on Bassnw a while back that I wished I pulled the trigger on. It was such a beautiful piece that even if it was not so practical, it would have been a wonderful piece to have

I saw photos of that bass... I agree, if not practical.. the nicest double neck you ever saw.

[Debased]

Originally Posted by Schlyder

I am going with the satin finish. But I am going to ask for an oil finish on the neck.
I like the look of some glossy basses, but I can't stand the feel of a neck with a glossy neck finish.

I have an oil finished F-Bass and a satin poly Jerzy, and the feel of both neck finishes is very similar. If anything, the JD satin finish has less drag, even when your hands are sweaty. It's as frictionless a finish as you're likely to find. Oil finishes can be handy in terms of being easily repairable if you get any dents or scratches, but Jerzy's satin finish feels harder and slicker without even a hint of the sticky drag you get from gloss poly.

...the body shape is of the old 36 fret body style but slightly modified, with the upper wing coming off the body a little lower, at the 21st fret. as opposed to the 18th fret.

The CAD drawing looks great, but there's something to be said for the 18th fret upper horn join, both in terms of greater neck-to-body contact area and aesthetics. Personally, I find the dramatic offset between the upper and lower horns to be very appealing and unusual looking.



BTW, I think going with 16mm spacing is an excellent idea. My Legend VI has the stock 18.5mm spacing, and I've always found that to be a bit of overkill for a six-string, but I prefer tighter spacing on all my basses, regardless of string count.

Enjoy the anticipation; it'll be well worth the wait. I've owned my Jerzy for over three years now, and I still think "wow!" every time I open the case or listen to the first note of the day.