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After close to a year.. my Master Built Jazz bass.

SamJ

Founder - Fender MIA Club
Apr 22, 2006
4,628
2,821
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Ok, as some of you know.. I'm a huge Fender fan..

Here is my Master Built Jazz bass just finished and delivered to my door 4 days ago. I flew home for the weekend from my training so I can get you guys these pics!

The builder Dennis Galuszka and I remained in constant contact throughout the entire process and every detail, measurement and aesthetic was discussed and customized to my desire. The limits were my budget... He was capable of doing anything I wanted.

It was a hard choice deciding which type of abalone to do, and I know some hate it, but I for one love it and am pleased with the results. The pictures really don't do it justice. In person the abalone is almost electrified. Most important is the tone.. this was engineered to be a "slap bass" and it's indeed perfect for this. Lots of punch and good high tones that cut thru well. There is almost a springiness to the tone which I absolutely love. I've not jammed it with my band yet and will not finish training until next month so that's likely the first real trial for the bass. Playing it at home has shown it to be a totally different tone from my other Jazz and more suitable for funk and modern jazz.

Basically the specs are off a "Custom Classic Jazz" but with the following changes:

-narrower/thinner neck profile
-slightly more cut out on the body
-master grade woods & ebony fretboard
-ash and maple are selected mainly for tone, but also aesthetics, 2 piece body
-9v vs 18v pre-amp for a more vintage tone
-custom wound pickups similar to Jaco's specs.
-Roscoe Beck type string tree
-Zero Fret
-hand applied and finished Nitrocellulose lacquer
-Bone nut
-Gloss to matte to Gloss neck finish
-initials inside #7 fret block inlay (very subtle)
-Custom black/red interior tweed case (not yet delivered)


Here are more pics: Link Removed

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Dennis sending me a picture of the neck before he cut it for my approval..

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Simply amazing Sam.
Looks incredibly classy. I really like your wood choices and all of them look terrific, particularly the grain in the body wood.
I believe it was worth the wait, right ? :)
 
The wait was well worth it! Yes... cost with deep discount was just over $4200... the pick guard is indeed (surprize! :D ) Abalone.. but I do have a back up pickguard made that is plain black... I'll slap it on sometime later when I change strings for contrast.

Thanks all for the nice words..
 
yes the pics do not do justice to this wonderful looking bass. Needs more lighting to see all the details.
The bass looks wonderfully understated or stealth but the more you look at it, you see all the little
things that make it special, the grain is pretty everywhere,the stained look suits the ebony board,
the dark abalone matches the dark stain, and so on!!!!!
anyway, congratulations on the bass, I can now unsubscribe from the other thread.