Second completion of 2007 - Dark Star

I just wrapped this one up about an hour ago, and I've been thumping away on it since then.



I pressed the frets into the neck earlier this morning, and have been working on it on/off throughout the day.




The Dark Star pickup really goes well with the Alder body

This will sit in the stand for the next week while the neck acclimates to having string tension on it. Over the week I'll give the trussrod a periodic tweak if needed. This is my first neck to build without the addition of two graphite stiffening rods, and I can hear a subtle difference between it and my others - the upper mids are just a tad warmer on this than what I hear on my other necks.

This is heading out to a potential client this coming weekend for them to test drive a DS loaded solid body in a live gig scenario. If all goes well I'll have a new order in the next couple of weeks. I now finally have a bass to keep in-house for visitors to test drive a Dark Star


all the best,

R

vindy500 said:

that looks very good, is this the bass you pmed me about?

Click to expand...

it's the one I noted as loosely based on a '62P, but not the one I noted of in the barter agreement or the new body style I'll be revealing next month

all the best,

R

Musiclogic said:

it's a fine lookin toy Rodent....well done

Click to expand...

thx!

I've been real giddy over this one for some reason ... no fancy woods (except for the fretboard) ... no fancy electronics ... just a workhorse ... and yet I'm still really excited about it over several other I also have in production. no idea why - but it does live up to my expectations in playability and sound

all the best,

R

wilser said:

sweet!

2 questions:

1. can we hear it?
2. you don't put a finish on your maple boards?

Click to expand...

I have no means to record. If I can convince a freiend to do it, I'll definitely post a link

The neck is finished with TruOil - over 20 coats of TruOil that are then given a steel wool rub down for a silky smooth feel. I can also have them finished in nirto or poly, but I prefer the look and aging that the TruOil brings with it.

all the best,

R