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Club Bordwell Part 2.

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Justin Beck

Justin Beck

Jan 27, 2007
246
1
#1
Hey guys, this is a continuation of the original Club Bordwell thread.

First off, here is a current list of club members:
1 Cliff Bordwell
#2 BEADG
#3 Justin Beck
#4 nippes
#5 Scottm
#6 Zooberwerx
#7 Lomo
#8 Spade2you
#9 Tslicebass
#10 Antti
#11 Hman
#12 David Munter
#13 kho
#14 EduardoK
#15 wademeister63
#16 jaxlaw
#17 Metropolis_488
#18 miskha
#19 Davo-London
#20 portraitoftracy
#21 TreeFrog
#22 rythman6969
#23 craigb43
#24 Georynn
#25 Alienation
#26 nad (on order)
#27 lesclaypoolsob (on order)
#28 Colonel Claypoo (on order)
#29 manymonthsago (on order)
#30 bassman74 (on order)
#31 was3funk
#32 nickbass79

Now for the fun part, here are pics of my current Ball Bass 4:

DSCF0309.jpg

DSCF0305.jpg

DSCF0307.jpg

DSCF0302.jpg



Also, some pics of my former Rami 5
DSCF0312.jpg

DSCF0310.jpg

DSCF0297.jpg

DSCF0296.jpg
.

So, post pics, stimulating commentary, questions and general goodness about your CB Basses here.

Please pm me for a club number and be sure to post pictures or specs of your basses or current orders.


Justin
 
#2
The next batch, which includes mine, will start sometime in November! I am super excited about my bass. It's not something that I've seen Cliff do very often, so I think it will be pretty one-of-a-kind and completely amazing!
 
#9
Gotta post to see the wee black dot swimming along the side. To recap from the last thread, here are the specs for my upcoming bass:

Ball-Bass 4-string
34" scale
1.5" nut
19mm string spacing (20mm works fine, but man does 19mm make such a wonderful difference)
Modern neck
wenge fingerboard
walnut body
black hardware
passive V/V/T
Nordstrand NJ4SE pickups

I've gone back to my roots with passive basses, really dig the response I'm getting with such things and they also play better with the ridiculous amount of pedals I'm using these days. Can't wait! :)
 
#10
Here are the nearly finalized specifications of my upcoming bass:

Ball-Bass 4-string

Dimensions
Scale length: 32
Neck shape: Jazz
Thickness at 1st: .850
Width at nut: 1.5
String spacing at Bridge: 19mm
Body thickness: 1.525
Construction
Neck: “Modern” (Maple / Wenge)
Fingerboard: Pau Ferro
Fingerboard Radius: 16”
Nut: Stabilized Ebony
Full faced top: Yes
Body woods
Top: Mac Ebony wings with Cocobolo center block and Flamed Maple racing stripes
Accent: Maple
Core: Peruvian Walnut with Mahogany center block
Accent: Maple
Back: Cocobolo wings with Mac Ebony center block and Flamed Maple racing stripes
Headstock Plate: Mac Ebony
Cavity cover:
Hardware
Color:
Bridge: Hipshot style “A”
Tuners: Ultralites
Truss rod: two-way adjustable
Fretted: 24
Strap locks
Output: 1/4" Face mount
Electronics
Pickups: NJ4SE’s in wood covers
Preamp: Audere 3-band with Z-mode

Also a ramp! I can't WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
#11
I have always wanted a Cocobolo CB bass. Almost went that direction with a Zircote back on this next bass, but ended up with a more Warwick wood combo.

Should be fun seeing that one get built!

-ScottM
 
#13
bassman74 said:
Hello Guys,

I always been a fan of Cliff's work.

I just can't decide if i will place an order specially with the 10% rebate Cliff is offering this month...

I can't actually afford exactly what i like in term of wood specification,

I found some spec that will work but it's not exactly what i have in mind..
(Ash core, zebrano top, quartersawn maple neck and fretboard, nordstrand 70's winding jazz singlecoil in passive....)

Just in case, is there anyone here who has a CB 4 or 5 string (fretted)for sale???

I may go with a used one and get better looking tonewood...
Click to expand...

Given Cliff's very reasonable pricing and year wait, I'd probably suggest pulling the trigger on ordering a CB bass, but this group is obviously biased.

I wouldn't say that looking for a used CB is pointless, but the simple fact is that there aren't a whole lot around yet, so finding a used one will be a bit of a challenge. Most Bordwellians have serious intentions on keeping their CB for the long haul. I believe Mr. Beck simply had trouble with the scale length of the one he sold and there are certain risks assumed when ordering something that's totally custom and there is nothing like it until it's built. For the most part, my general observation with the other few that were for sale was more due to the fact that the previous owners cycle through a lot of gear, which doesn't reflect on the basses IMHO.

Long winded story short, waiting for a used CB is like hoping for a Wal for $2k. ;)
 
#14
I've just begun noticing these instruments and they look absolutely stunning. My question for Cliff, or perhaps any other owner here, is how to maximize a fretless build I'm looking into.

I would like it to be 6 string with a 35' scale. I would like to maximize the mwah and fretless sound to it, so it almost sounds like an upright, but with a slightly more aggresive sound.

I'm just wondering what combinations of woods would make this possible. I was thinking ebony fingerboard for the upright qualities, but there might be better options. Weight really isn't an issue, just around 10 pounds is ok, or lighter. As for pickups, active for sure, but which of what Cliff offers would suit my needs?

Also, chambering, as least the way Cliff does it, sounds pretty damned good to me.
 
#15
I think it may be the best way to order exactly what i want instead of going with a used one....

Àt first i was cuting the corner to save a few hundreds but i think i will go with what i really want:

there are 2 things i'm not sure:

Main body wood (walnut or ash)???

D bass shape or singleCut???

the top will be Zebrawood
Modern Neck, Wenge fretboard
 
#16
DJones said:
I've just begun noticing these instruments and they look absolutely stunning. My question for Cliff, or perhaps any other owner here, is how to maximize a fretless build I'm looking into.

I would like it to be 6 string with a 35' scale. I would like to maximize the mwah and fretless sound to it, so it almost sounds like an upright, but with a slightly more aggresive sound.

I'm just wondering what combinations of woods would make this possible. I was thinking ebony fingerboard for the upright qualities, but there might be better options. Weight really isn't an issue, just around 10 pounds is ok, or lighter. As for pickups, active for sure, but which of what Cliff offers would suit my needs?

Also, chambering, as least the way Cliff does it, sounds pretty damned good to me.
Click to expand...

Depends on what you mean by upright but more aggressive. I find that aggressive and mwah go against an upright tone.

I think a Fishman acoustic bridge pickup with LaBella DTB strings is about as close as you can get without getting an upright. In terms of magnetic pickups, Bartolini's P pickup is probably the closest you can get, although I don't think they make a stock 6 string P pickup, but can probably make something custom.

The impact of tonewoods will depend on which type(s) of pickups are used. Gaboon ebony offers tighter lows, which may or may not be part of your agenda.
 
#18
DJones said:
I've just begun noticing these instruments and they look absolutely stunning. My question for Cliff, or perhaps any other owner here, is how to maximize a fretless build I'm looking into.

I would like it to be 6 string with a 35' scale. I would like to maximize the mwah and fretless sound to it, so it almost sounds like an upright, but with a slightly more aggresive sound.

I'm just wondering what combinations of woods would make this possible. I was thinking ebony fingerboard for the upright qualities, but there might be better options. Weight really isn't an issue, just around 10 pounds is ok, or lighter. As for pickups, active for sure, but which of what Cliff offers would suit my needs?

Also, chambering, as least the way Cliff does it, sounds pretty damned good to me.
Click to expand...

I would suggest going chambered. Definitely go with an ebony board. I don't think the body wood matters as much. Probably try to get a bridge with piezo pickups... match that with a nice dual coil near the p position. If you want upright thud then tapewounds or flats are the way to go. But if you want mwah and sustain then standard rounds will do the trick. Everybody has been telling me I have been getting a real good upright sound out of my fretless... but honestly i think it really all comes down to your technique and hands. The electric is never really going to sound all that much like an upright (the Rob Allen Mouse is the closest thing I have heard)... 2 totally different animals. Best thing to do is try to develop a distinctive voice that is somewhere in between the usual fretless tone (jaco-mwah , etc.) and an upright sound.
 
#20
I'm finalizing my cb bass order but can't decidebetween all the options...

For those of you who has a 5 string cb bass with 34'' scale how's your b-string?

can't decide between 34'' and 35''

I can't also decide between ash, mahogany and walnut for body wood.

I play mostly rock, funk and blues... this bass will be mostly used for fingerplaying...

thanks for your help
 
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