After a whopping six week wait from placing the order, Clement #216 has arrived.
When I contacted Tom I had asked for:
-5 string single cut
-swamp ash body/bloodwood fingerboard
-stainless frets
-35" scale
-19mm spacing and extra wide, 55mm nut
-2 big singles
I was kind of taking a chance with the neck width, having never played anything nearly that large for a 5 string. Warwick and Music Man 5s are around 45mm for example and Fender's being around 47 I believe. I've always found the strings on those necks to be way too close together as you approach the nut, even on basses that still have 19mm spacing. For years I've been looking into a wide Warmoth gecko (that's where 55 mm came from) but decided I'm too lazy to take on such a project. So I contacted Tom.
Towards the end of waiting I was worried it would end up too chunky. It didn't. The neck is still slim and incredibly comfortable. The spacing feels great! And because of the basses design, I can actually play the higher frets. My hand isn't fighting it's way around the body to play the 24th fret, it feels as normal as playing an octave lower.
And have I mentioned that this baby only weighs 7.6 lbs? Still balances better than any bass I've ever owned as well. No neck dive at all. Shocking for a ridiculously wide neck. I'm stoked for the benefits it'll provide at band practice and gigs. I didn't ask for a light weight bass, and may have just gotten lucky here, but on any future custom project I would definitely ask for it now.
Of course it sounds great too. Very clear. The big singles are quieter than I'd like but maybe that's because I've been spoiled by my Sterling. I went passive on this, but may end up throwing a preamp in at some point. Again, spoiled by all my active basses.
The overall construction on this thing is awesome, it looks great and again, is incredibly comfortable. Very happy with this purchase. I really feel like I got something that you can't just buy in a store.
Tom also sent me some cookies along with it haha.
When I contacted Tom I had asked for:
-5 string single cut
-swamp ash body/bloodwood fingerboard
-stainless frets
-35" scale
-19mm spacing and extra wide, 55mm nut
-2 big singles
I was kind of taking a chance with the neck width, having never played anything nearly that large for a 5 string. Warwick and Music Man 5s are around 45mm for example and Fender's being around 47 I believe. I've always found the strings on those necks to be way too close together as you approach the nut, even on basses that still have 19mm spacing. For years I've been looking into a wide Warmoth gecko (that's where 55 mm came from) but decided I'm too lazy to take on such a project. So I contacted Tom.
Towards the end of waiting I was worried it would end up too chunky. It didn't. The neck is still slim and incredibly comfortable. The spacing feels great! And because of the basses design, I can actually play the higher frets. My hand isn't fighting it's way around the body to play the 24th fret, it feels as normal as playing an octave lower.
And have I mentioned that this baby only weighs 7.6 lbs? Still balances better than any bass I've ever owned as well. No neck dive at all. Shocking for a ridiculously wide neck. I'm stoked for the benefits it'll provide at band practice and gigs. I didn't ask for a light weight bass, and may have just gotten lucky here, but on any future custom project I would definitely ask for it now.
Of course it sounds great too. Very clear. The big singles are quieter than I'd like but maybe that's because I've been spoiled by my Sterling. I went passive on this, but may end up throwing a preamp in at some point. Again, spoiled by all my active basses.
The overall construction on this thing is awesome, it looks great and again, is incredibly comfortable. Very happy with this purchase. I really feel like I got something that you can't just buy in a store.
Tom also sent me some cookies along with it haha.
