2 String bass

[Eric Shepherd]

I've been a bit slack lately but this is my latest 2 string build and just my 2nd fretless .. The body is Tasmanian Blackwood, the neck is Sapele and Rimu and the fret board is Silky Oak with Koa binding.. The veneer inlay on the head is Black Walnut and Cedar with Guyker tuners.. It's only a 30.5 scale length but it does have some punch to it..
The design is a bit of a personal memory from when I was a young fella, the top is a wave and the bottom a surfboard fin, A lot of fun times heading out to the beach..
It's all finished in Tru-oil then wax and finally a whole bunch of layers of polishing oil.. The fret board is finished in superglue, I've become an ardent fan of the stuff for that..
Hope you enjoy..

 

[Geepers]

Tasmania, Australia: the center of the creative universe. Beautiful work. Would love to hear it

 

[Killing Floor]

Looks fantastic.

 

[Winslow]

That's cool as all get-out. Well done!

 

[scuzzy]

that is excellent! nice work.

 

[Brian Patterson]

Any chance we can get a sound sample from you?

PS: What strings do you put on it - E and A? Other? Any you want?

Love the woodworking on this instrument...

 

[S-Bigbottom]

An odd shape we are not use to, but FANTASTIC!!!

Nicely done.

 

[VicDiesel]

Sometimes after I finish playing a song I wonder "I really only used two strings and three frets; I shouldn't have to carry this much bass around". Clearly the 2 string bit can be accomodated, but the 3 frets not so much.

Great looking instrument!

 

[AK3000]

What’s the extra string for?

 

[monsterthompson]

Wild!

 

[AK3000]

This is like a piece of art you could hang up on your wall.

 

[Eric Shepherd]

Thanks for the kind comments, it's much appreciated.. I'm just a builder on my own in NZ, there are a gazillion builders around the globe and there is just no way I can compete making standard instruments so I have to make something uniquely mine and go with what pleases me rather than what I hope pleases the market but not only that I've long given up the idea there is money to be made out of making these things, I just now do it for the pleasure.. Just like you guys, you play what makes you feel good, I build the same way..
It's actually been built as a gift for a local guy, he's an amazing player and is in a band using another of my basses.. He's got a lot of basses but no fretless so I said this is your next challenge.. The strings are E A GHS bass boomers..
I can't give you a sound sample sorry, I actually can't play, all I know is how to build but it does have a nice deep and mid-range punch with bags of sustain.. Perhaps when he gets familiar and comfortable with it I can record..
I have a couple of other freebee guitars to get done for the other members of that band but I've already come up with the next design for a bass.. It'll be a bit tricky to build but I think a killer design..
BTW the design on the head is the leaf of the Silver Fern, it's our national flower and being a proud Kiwi I'm happy to have it on all my builds..
Thanks again..

 

[Geepers]

I'm just a builder on my own in NZ …

Dayem! And there I was SURE you’d be from Tassie. Bloody Kiwis kicking Aussie butts yet again

 

[Supadope]

Very cool!

 

[srayb]

I love that wave upper horn! It looks like that could be a difficult design to get exactly right, which you have done.

I’d like a 3-string tuned GCF...

 

[Gunga Din]

You're in good company....

 

[Eric Shepherd]

Dayem! And there I was SURE you’d be from Tassie. Bloody Kiwis kicking Aussie butts yet again

Sorry just a bit of a swim across the Tasman.. Close enough though to think of us all down here as neighbours having a beer over the fence..

 

[Eric Shepherd]

I love that wave upper horn! It looks like that could be a difficult design to get exactly right, which you have done.

I’d like a 3-string tuned GCF...

Cheers it was a bit.. I don't use patterns as such, I just draw it out on the wood with pencil, rough cut it out and then just lay it on the floor.. Bit by bit as time passes I'll just keep refining it with spoke shaves and rasps and then finally sand to finish.. I've found the best tool in the box is to be able to just walk away and ignore it for a bit and then throw a fresh set of eyes at it and carry on..