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Martin Keith Guitars fretless bass build thread

smperry

smperry

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Nov 3, 2003
13,619
10,687
Bay Area, CA
#1
As some people know, I ordered and received a singlecut bass from Martin Keith Guitars last year. The thread is here and it looks like this:

Link Removed

You can click on the picture if it looks pixelated. After building this one, Martin named the model "Elfin" and made some more in the same body shape. I continue to be quite happy with it, and decided to order another one - but this time a fretless.

Here are the specs of the sibling:

-5-string Bass, enlarged Elfin shape
-African Mahogany body, chambered
-Koa Top, radiused
-Bolt-on Mahogany neck, modern “C” shape
-Maccassar Ebony fingerboard, 24 fret length, squared off at end
-Matching Koa headstock
-Maccassar Ebony bridge
-2-size side dots, unlined
-34.5” scale, 19mm bridge
-Two Nordstrand jazz pickups (split coils) placed in P2-sized shells in P/J positions
-Piezo in bridge
-D-TAR Eclipse preamp - volume, piezo tone, mag tone, mag blend, piezo/mag blend
-Ebony knobs
-(possible) Series/Parallel switch
-(possible) bass rolloff switch for piezo
-Gotoh GB350 tuners, black
-Gloss finish
-Black accent lines on body and headstock

The body will be bigger than my previous bass as well as deeper. Although I'm keeping this bass passive (save for the active buffering on the piezo), I'm confident that it's going to give me all the variability I need in a fretless bass.

That's about it for now...will share pictures as they come in.

Comments welcome.

Marshall
 
#2
Here's a somewhat blurry picture the koa top (not bookmatched yet) and the ebony fingerboard. The koa doesn't have crazy figuring, but there is some and I like the color variations. It will be sweet once finished...no naptha here. I got this from a guy who I met on Talkbass. :)

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M
 
#5
Bump with a question: How do you think the koa should be matched, and how should I position the body?

I think there is a bit more figure at the current bottom of the board, but I kind of like the V thing that would be going on if I matched it from the top...so that's my leaning.

Thanks,
M
 
#7
bassteban said:
If by V you mean looking at the bass on a typical stand the figuring forms a V, then I'm w/ya. Nice wood either way, & I really like the shape of the first one.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Yes, that's a clearer way of saying it. That would give it a similar look to my fretted, but I like that pattern a great deal.

M
 
#11
Very cool Marshall.:hyper:

I have been contemplating a fretless Elfin built by Martin. I have contacted him just to get some ideas. I have been collecting wood for about a year for that build. It probably won't happen until sometime next spring though.

I'm curious to see and hear how your current project finalizes.
 
#13
Jerry J said:
Very cool Marshall.:hyper:

I have been contemplating a fretless Elfin built by Martin. I have contacted him just to get some ideas. I have been collecting wood for about a year for that build. It probably won't happen until sometime next spring though.

I'm curious to see and hear how your current project finalizes.
Click to expand...

Thanks Jerry! I should have pictures of the finished bass tomorrow! :hyper: I continue to be thrilled with my fretted, and I know my fretless is going to be special. Martin went all out. So...pictures on the way followed by a report in a week or so. :bassist:

Marshall
 
#16
smperry said:
It's coming along. Dig the radiused mahogany body! :cool:

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M
Click to expand...

Yes the radiusing looks cool. I didn't realize that they were radiused. What is the routing on the upper bout for? Is that just a chamber?

Also is that macassar ebony for the fingerboard? I have several really nice pieces of macassar for fingerboards. I was thinking of using that. But I have some really nice Gabon ebony and piece of red&black striped cocobolo too. I don't recall what you are using for top wood.

Now I'm really excited to see how your bass turns out. :hyper:
 
#17
bassrique said:
How much for the bass you posted?
Click to expand...

I'd rather not say.

Jerry J said:
Yes the radiusing looks cool. I didn't realize that they were radiused. What is the routing on the upper bout for? Is that just a chamber?

Also is that macassar ebony for the fingerboard? I have several really nice pieces of macassar for fingerboards. I was thinking of using that. But I have some really nice Gabon ebony and piece of red&black striped cocobolo too. I don't recall what you are using for top wood.

Now I'm really excited to see how your bass turns out. :hyper:
Click to expand...

Sounds like you have something special bass planned for the not-so-distant future. I started thinking about this bass soon after my first was built, but it took me a little while to be ready for #2.

The radiusing was a special request for this one. My first one wasn't. The chamber was for weight and (somewhat) sound - in my mind at least, it can add depth to the piezo sound. I also think Martin may have added more chambers to the body since that picture...he wanted to see how the weight distribution went, which made sense to me.

That is macassar ebony - you'll see the full Monty tomorrow. I like all kinds of ebony, but I liked this piece for an unlined fretless.

The top is koa. Dry, it looks roughly like this:
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Can't wait to see it finished. :bassist:

M
 

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