• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Build thread - Martin Keith Guitars Modified SC 5

smperry

smperry

Administrator
Staff member
Administrator
Gold Supporting Member
Nov 3, 2003
13,619
10,687
Bay Area, CA
#1
After playing bass for 15 years or so, I've ordered my first custom! It will be made by Martin Keith, who is a luthier for Veillette Guitars (http://www.veilletteguitars.com) and is starting a new line of his own instruments (http://www.martinkeithguitars.com).

Specs:
-5-string Bass, modified SC shape
(as seen here)
-Walnut body
-Myrtle top
-Matching headstock
-Bolt-on Maple neck, shallow “C” profile
-Katalox fingerboard, 12" radius
-34.5” scale
-24 frets
-Nordstrand FS pickups (exposed poles), jazz spacing
-custom Audere 3-band preamp
-HB/Singlecoil switch
-Zero fret
-19mm spacing at bridge
-1.86" at the nut
-Banjo frets
-Chrome hardware
-Rounded fingerboard at body (a la Fender)
-White Side dots

First custom, but I didn't mess around! I am thrilled to be working with Martin, as I've been impressed with his previous work. Given his experience and the components we've selected, I got an incredibly good price too!

gkbass13 - if I'm ever in your neck of the woods, I owe you a drink. That shape is exactly what I've been looking for!

I'll add pictures of wood when I get them. My wife will probably pick out the top, but if we can't decide, I'll do the good old TB vote thing. It will probably be some kind of figured Myrtle or Maple.

Comments welcome :cool:

Marshall
 
#2
All those views and no comments? I know, this thread needs pictures...

Here's a question - what do y'all think of the two-tone Katalox board thing? I was planning on having a solid piece, but then started looking at some Roscoes which were tres cool. Guess it partly depends on the top but...thoughts?

M
 
#3
I'd go with some sapwood in the Katalox. I really like sapwood in general, be it fingerboards or tops.

I think you'll really like the Audere pre, but I'd go with the 4 band personally (well actually, I am!). I've currently got the 3 band in a bass and I think that the additional mid shaping plus the fact that the bass/treble shelves are lower/higher respectively on the 4 band would be a big improvement.

Just curious, but what led you to decide on Walnut for the body? I really like it as a tonewood, but it can be heavy depending on the specie and particular board (as with any wood, of course).
 
#6
Jeff Moote said:
I'd go with some sapwood in the Katalox. I really like sapwood in general, be it fingerboards or tops.

I think you'll really like the Audere pre, but I'd go with the 4 band personally (well actually, I am!). I've currently got the 3 band in a bass and I think that the additional mid shaping plus the fact that the bass/treble shelves are lower/higher respectively on the 4 band would be a big improvement.

Just curious, but what led you to decide on Walnut for the body? I really like it as a tonewood, but it can be heavy depending on the specie and particular board (as with any wood, of course).
Click to expand...

Thanks Jeff. I actually almost went two band for simplicity sake but thought the tone centers on the three was good (on paper anyway). I expect to have enough flexibility with three, but guess I could upgrade later if need be (and you're free to say "I told you so!:))

Walnut is my favorite tonewood (that I've played). Every bass I've played with walnut (2 Foderas, 2 Fenders, 1 Carvin) had this big deep but still clear and balanced sound that I love. Plus I love the way it looks. I do know it could mean a heavy bass, but I don't mind. Even though this body is bigger than Martin's other SC shape, it still looks fairly compact to me so I don't think it will be a back breaker.

tripb19 said:
Katalox? What does it look like and it's tonal properties?
Click to expand...

Here is a Roscoe with a katalox board with sapwood.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=42229&d=1159031250
My understanding is that it's similar to Ebony in tone (that clean compressed snap quality), but a maybe a tad less bright.

rusty said:
Can't wait to see how it turns out! :)
Click to expand...

Thanks Cherns!

Marshall
 
#8
smperry said:
Thanks Jeff. I actually almost went two band for simplicity sake but thought the tone centers on the three was good (on paper anyway). I expect to have enough flexibility with three, but guess I could upgrade later if need be (and you're free to say "I told you so!:))
Click to expand...
Who knows - maybe it will be just perfect for you :) For me the B/T shelving freq. would be a bigger deal than the mid bands themselves, but since I think all the 3ZBs are shipping with the (Roscoe inspired) increased headroom on the B/T controls (15 dB vs 10 dB) the shelf point might be as big of an issue.

Then again, maybe I'm just picky! I like the Aguilar pres, especially where the Bass control is located, but I don't like the sweep on the knobs (too sensitive) or the Q on the mid band. Ok, it's settled, I am picky :p Right now I'm liking my Audere 3-band but I think I'll really love the 4-band in my new Roscoe. Hopefully you like yours too :)

Walnut is my favorite tonewood (that I've played). Every bass I've played with walnut (2 Foderas, 2 Fenders, 1 Carvin) had this big deep but still clear and balanced sound that I love. Plus I love the way it looks. I do know it could mean a heavy bass, but I don't mind. Even though this body is bigger than Martin's other SC shape, it still looks fairly compact to me so I don't think it will be a back breaker.
Click to expand...
That sounds good to me. I love the look too (hence the top on my 'Allen and thoughts of using it on another bass). What is the headstock shape going to be, by the way? There's only one (fairly vague) picture of a headstock on the website he has up right now. That body looks cool, and I'm sort of curious as to what the whole thing will look like together.
 
#9
Jeff Moote said:
What is the headstock shape going to be, by the way? There's only one (fairly vague) picture of a headstock on the website he has up right now. That body looks cool, and I'm sort of curious as to what the whole thing will look like together.
Click to expand...

You know, I haven't even asked him about headstock design! :o
The hs on his barely-a-site looks unobtrusive so I never even gave it much thought. I need to ask! Judging by an eyeball of the shape, looks like a 2x3 design might make sense, but I'll leave that to him. Here's a photo of a NAMM bass he built:

attachment.jpg


It also just occurred to me that we also never talked about how many frets to have! :o

M
 
#10
hey, martin is a really cool guy.

it was a little disheartening at first to see the design i helped doctor up being used by someone else before me, but whatever hope it works out for you.

the idea for the body shape came from my wanting to widen martin's bolt on design and shorten the length of the body on his neck thru models.

i guess now that i think about it, i dont mind so much as i want to make some modification from that body shape a bit for when i finally order a bass from martin. his work is most certainly top notch, as i played about 5 of his basses at the upstate NY g2g that i helped organize back in september.

cant wait to see progress pics, good luck with the build!
 
#11
Sorry man...I actually thought your bass was already in progress. I had the image bookmarked a while back, and hadn't noticed the end of your thread where you said it was on hold.

Sounds like our basses will be pretty different though.

M
 
#16
Neck is in progress...board on the neck but not shaped yet. Went with a solid katalox plank (sorry Jeff). The sapwood to me clashed with the top I picked out...an interesting piece of myrtle. Has some great cluster burls, some figuring, and a couple of dark streaks running through it. Think it will be perfect for me..interesting and natural looking but not exactly flashy.

24 frets, rounded at the end like a Fender. 2/3 Headstock configuration.

Martin ordered the pickups and preamp too. I went with the 3 band Audere, but it will have the 5 way impedance selector. It will have some additional gain built in as well, given that the output of Fatstacks is a bit lower than some other pickups. Martin will install the SC/HB switch as well.

Marshall
 
#17
Sounds good! I'm sure the solid Katalox works well with your top. It's all about matching up the woods when it comes to appearance, and I'm sure you and Martin have come up with a great combination.

Sounds like a cool config for the electronics. I wonder how different the 5-way impedance selection sounds. I've found with the 3-way, I haven't been able to tune in a High-Z setting I like much better than Mid-Z, but that could be the pickups too (Bartolini "deep tone"). I have a feeling it will work better with the Nordstrands.
 
#20
richnota said:
Worked with Martin on my two Veillette basses. I played some of his own basses at the Upstate GTG....very nice instruments. I cant wait to see how these turn
Click to expand...

MAJOR METAL said:
Congrats Marsh , all the best with it. :)
Click to expand...

Missed these. Thanks guys!

Body and top were glued and routed last week. This is my "finishing grad school" gift to myself; I hope I'm done before it is!

M
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back