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5sg's Cliff Bordwell Spring 2022 Build

fivestringgecko

fivestringgecko

Mar 28, 2007
7,805
5,880
Colorado
#1
As other Bordwell build threads have been valuable to me for my first Cliff Bordwell Bass, I'm adding one for my Spring 2022 build in the hopes that any conversation here might help others as previous build threads helped me!

I've admired Cliff's work for quite a few years, dreaming of options and pondering "what would my Bordwell bass look like?" After a conversation with @scottm that helped inspire me and a tough year of no gigs due to Covid, I decided I needed something musical to look forward to, so I took the plunge and sent a deposit to Cliff on 11/25/20 to get a spot in his build queue.

Like Scott and others around TB have mentioned, Cliff has been absolutely fantastic to work with! He was very helpful in working through the build specs and was patient with all of my questions along the way. Cliff also added some of his own key input as well, which I am much appreciative of and will make this bass even cooler!

Fast forward to today: I've started getting photos from Cliff from the build! Specs are below, and I'll add more photos as I get them!

Needless to say, I'm VERY excited about this bass!

On with the specs!

5sg.

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Model
Big McNeely Deluxe
(I always liked the Bass bass, but the McNeely was the one. Thanks Scott! ha ha)

Dimensions
# of strings: 5
Scale length: 34"
String spacing: 19mm

Body
Top: Douglas Fir (full face)
Accent layer: black
Body: Spanish cedar
Output: 1/4" side mount

Neck
Shape: Modern oval (Maple/Wenge/Maple)
Fingerboard: Pau Ferro
Fingerboard radius: flat
Headstock shape: CB
Headstock plate: matching douglas fir
Frets: standard
Side dots: Luminlay

Hardware
Bridge: Hipshot A, string through
(After some research and comparing through-body to top load on a couple of my basses, I do feel like string-through is a bit "snake oil," but it's been standard on all my main players, so I don't want to jinx it! :D)
Tuners: Ultralites
Dunlop straplocks

Electronics
Pickups: Nordstrand Big Rigs, placement similar to Wal pickups (a question on my part to Cliff, confirmed by him)
Pickup covers: Pau Ferro oversized, similar to Wal sizing (Cliff's suggestion in return)
Preamp: Darkglass Tone Capsule - vol, blend, bass, mid 1, mid 2, passive tone
(passive tone was something I wondered about since the DG doesn't normally have, and Cliff figured out how to get it done!)
Switches: Active/Passive, series/parallel/single for each pickup
Knobs: Pau Ferro

Gig Bag
Mono Vertigo
 
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#2
Here are the photos I've gotten from Cliff so far, quite a unique top in my opinion! Looking forward to posting any more photos I get from Cliff!

5sg.


Here's the initial top photo that Cliff sent over... Douglas Fir!

28003.jpeg




A shot of the Pau Ferro fingerboard

33936.jpeg




The headstock is started! Matching Douglas Fir

33631.jpeg




Progress pic of the neck/fingerboard/headstock

34209.jpeg




And the top with the body shape!

34299.jpeg
 
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#4
Thanks, Scott!

Definitely looking forward to it! I've gotten a couple other custom order basses along the way and it's always a little nerve wracking thinking about "how is it going to turn out" and "what's it actually going to sound like," etc, but they've always turned out great and I don't think this build will be any different... Everything I've read/seen/heard about Cliff's basses has been really positive.

Will keep this thread updated as I get more photos, and when the bass finally gets here!

5sg.
 
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#6
fivestringgecko said:
Thanks, Scott!

Definitely looking forward to it! I've gotten a couple other custom order basses along the way and it's always a little nerve wracking thinking about "how is it going to turn out" and "what's it actually going to sound like," etc, but they've always turned out great and I don't think this build will be any different... Everything I've read/seen/heard about Cliff's basses has been really positive.

Will keep this thread updated as I get more photos, and when the bass finally gets here!

5sg.
Click to expand...

Ive owned a handful of bordwells over the years, but just got my first one built for me. I was similarly nervous, but in the end it exceeded my expectations. And my daily driver for over a decade was a different bordwell. Getting the specs tweaked a little to my preferences made a much bigger difference than I expected. Cliff is not just a joy to work with, he’s an artist. I have 3 more in the queue and I can’t wait.
 
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#7
TapyTap said:
That top is beautiful!
Click to expand...

Thanks, Tapy! I'm quite excited to see it on the finished instrument, thinking it will contrast nicely with the darker Pau Ferro bits. I've already got a name in mind for this bass, based on the top! :)

Still trying to find the right strap to pair with it though.

LowWay said:
Ive owned a handful of bordwells over the years, but just got my first one built for me. I was similarly nervous, but in the end it exceeded my expectations. And my daily driver for over a decade was a different bordwell. Getting the specs tweaked a little to my preferences made a much bigger difference than I expected. Cliff is not just a joy to work with, he’s an artist. I have 3 more in the queue and I can’t wait.
Click to expand...

Good to know! Your description of Cliff jives with everything I've read/heard about Bordwell basses, and he's been great to work with for me personally as well. He was patient with all my questions and humored my waffling on a couple different features, Cliff was super cool and helped me work things out.

This one will have a bit of a different pickup placement than my other basses, and I mentioned to Cliff that I was looking for a mashup of Claypool/Chancellor... the Darkglass/Big Rig/Wal placement is where we ended up. Anxiously awaiting final delivery to give this instrument a go!

5sg.
 
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#8
fivestringgecko said:
Thanks, Tapy! I'm quite excited to see it on the finished instrument, thinking it will contrast nicely with the darker Pau Ferro bits. I've already got a name in mind for this bass, based on the top! :)
Click to expand...

I'm really curious to know how that Spanish Cedar body will sound with the Douglas Fir top and Big Rigs!

Would the name happen to be "Doug"? :D
 
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#9
I'm quite curious as well, @TapyTap. I've got a bass with an Alaskan Cedar body, but have never heard Spanish Cedar. I'm also curious how the pickup placement will affect sound. In terms of setups, I've got the major players covered... P bass, J bass, Stingray, P/J... But these pickups might be placed a bit farther back than I've ever tried. Can't wait to try it of course... I'm sure I won't hate it? LOL

Nope, not Doug. lol

5sg.
 
#10
A little sidenote here:
I raised the question with Cliff of adding a tremolo bridge to this bass as I've always considered Les Claypool a bass influence/hero, but it would have added about a full pound to the weight! We nixed that idea pretty quick... adding that much weight (and cost... $429!) compared to how often I might actually use that bridge for what I do wasn't worth it.

5sg.
 
#12
Cliff sent me another update this weekend, and it seems like it's getting fairly close! And it's looking quite nice, I have to say. I love the way he cut out the top, I'm suspecting that top horn is going to look really cool when he gets the body sculpting finished.

Cliff has continued to be great with his communications... The photos are obviously great, but he also got in touch to let me know that the passive tone knob wouldn't work out. Very nice of him to reach out and mention it, rather than just sending me a bass and saying "by the way..." Much appreciated on my end, and I let him know that it's totally not an issue. I've found a passive tone knob to be quite handy with my Pope preamps, but it's not a requirement. If I don't have enough control with 5 knobs and 3 switches, I'm probably doing it wrong. lol

And besides, if I'm not in love with the Darkglass, I can try something else. ha! But I think the Darkglass will work great. I wasn't convinced at first and felt like I was taking a chance, but finally had a chance to check one out in person, @OnederTone's Spector that has the DG pre in it. Sounded GREAT and the frequency points are actually really nice.

5sg.

35096.jpg
 
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#13
fivestringgecko said:
Cliff sent me another update this weekend, and it seems like it's getting fairly close! And it's looking quite nice, I have to say. I love the way he cut out the top, I'm suspecting that top horn is going to look really cool when he gets the body sculpting finished.

Cliff has continued to be great with his communications... The photos are obviously great, but he also got in touch to let me know that the passive tone knob wouldn't work out. Very nice of him to reach out and mention it, rather than just sending me a bass and saying "by the way..." Much appreciated on my end, and I let him know that it's totally not an issue. I've found a passive tone knob to be quite handy with my Pope preamps, but it's not a requirement. If I don't have enough control with 5 knobs and 3 switches, I'm probably doing it wrong. lol

And besides, if I'm not in love with the Darkglass, I can try something else. ha! But I think the Darkglass will work great. I wasn't convinced at first and felt like I was taking a chance, but finally had a chance to check one out in person, @OnederTone's Spector that has the DG pre in it. Sounded GREAT and the frequency points are actually really nice.

5sg.

View attachment 4692378
Click to expand...

Wow, that top is wild. It looks great!

-ScottM
 
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#17
Rough shaping is done. Very much digging the look and contrast of the lighter top with the (slightly) darker body/fretboard. Looking forward to seeing how the pao ferro pickup covers and knobs match with the fretboard, too. Mmmmmmm

Quite interested to hear the sound, with the combination of the electronics and the pickup positions. The front pickup seems like it'll be pretty similarly placed to a traditional P bass placement, but the bridge pickup looks like it'll be a bit further back than on any of my other basses. (which is what I wanted) I'm hoping the combination of the two may even be a bit "Doug Johns' Pedula" sounding... good solid low end from the front pickup, but some pokey brightness from the bridge PU.

5sg.

35383.jpg
 
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#18
Wow, that sucker looks killer! That light colored top with that fretboard just looks amazing.
This build thread has been making me want to play my basses every time I see an update. I think you are going to be extremely happy with this bass.

-ScottM
 
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#19
Stunning! I have always loved the way the carving looks on Cliff's Ball and Big McNeely designs...

I think the pickup spacing is probably pretty close to my (Wal-inspired) Dola 5, and if so, the front pickup is actually a bit closer to the bridge than the traditional P placement.

fivestringgecko said:
Rough shaping is done. Very much digging the look and contrast of the lighter top with the (slightly) darker body/fretboard. Looking forward to seeing how the pao ferro pickup covers and knobs match with the fretboard, too. Mmmmmmm

Quite interested to hear the sound, with the combination of the electronics and the pickup positions. The front pickup seems like it'll be pretty similarly placed to a traditional P bass placement, but the bridge pickup looks like it'll be a bit further back than on any of my other basses. (which is what I wanted) I'm hoping the combination of the two may even be a bit "Doug Johns' Pedula" sounding... good solid low end from the front pickup, but some pokey brightness from the bridge PU.

5sg.

View attachment 4699952
Click to expand...
 
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