Bass is in Australia, somewhere in its vast, bureaucratic postal system. It took 3 days by post to get in this country and will take another week to go the 20 KM to my house!
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Club Bordwell Part 2.
- Thread starter Justin Beck
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It might. I think Cliff can order a specially machined bridge. It will cost a little extra, but I'm pretty sure I'd rather not go with individual saddles.
i'm really not a photographer...
the figured top top piece is the same color as the bottom one, it's just that top figured top is really light sensitive, you can see the figuring depth changing when moving the top under the light... Cliff called it irridiscent Koa...
I'll try to take some pics in the sunlight...
the figured top top piece is the same color as the bottom one, it's just that top figured top is really light sensitive, you can see the figuring depth changing when moving the top under the light... Cliff called it irridiscent Koa...
I'll try to take some pics in the sunlight...
Cameras aside, I think a generally good way to photograph figured woods is to allow a lot of sunlight into the room, but in a way that it's not directly glaring off the top if it has a gloss finish. With a satin finish, you can allow it to be more direct, but sometimes figure is more striking at certain angles.
Bass is in my hands tomorrow, avoiding the internet (I've not seen finished pictures). Want a big surprise and a big smile!
EDIT: please don't post pictures of it, please anyone!
EDIT: please don't post pictures of it, please anyone!
Quick first impressions I sent to Cliff, pictures later today.
I am enjoying the bass a lot: being my first 6 string I'm still getting my head around the notes available on the C string. Thing it e playability is great and the sound is very good, I especially like the back pickup (a rarity for me!). It's neck-heavy on my lap, which isn't really a big deal for me, and I need to change the pickup height to get a strong sounding B string (needs a little more volume). Other than that I'm just playing it in a few different situations, I'll probably make some recordings in the next week or two, and I think it will work swimmingly in my latin band. I find the trickiest thing with any new bass is to find out the ideal amount of mids, so because I'm pciky that will take me a few months, not too much and not too little.
All in all I'm very happy, I just need to spend more time with the bass (and that's fine with me
)
I am enjoying the bass a lot: being my first 6 string I'm still getting my head around the notes available on the C string. Thing it e playability is great and the sound is very good, I especially like the back pickup (a rarity for me!). It's neck-heavy on my lap, which isn't really a big deal for me, and I need to change the pickup height to get a strong sounding B string (needs a little more volume). Other than that I'm just playing it in a few different situations, I'll probably make some recordings in the next week or two, and I think it will work swimmingly in my latin band. I find the trickiest thing with any new bass is to find out the ideal amount of mids, so because I'm pciky that will take me a few months, not too much and not too little.
All in all I'm very happy, I just need to spend more time with the bass (and that's fine with me
)G'day guys,
A few days ago I received a bass I've been waiting on for just over a year, or so: a Cliff Bordwell 6 string Ball Bass. Cliff has been a pleasure to deal with, he's got a strong internet presence, so I've had clear, consistent communication and he didn't bandy around any point at all, telling me exactly his experiences and thoughts throughout the process. He was upfront about build time (and was off by 2 weeks from the time he quoted me October last year, which is pleasant!). Genuine and lovely gentleman.
It's my second luthier built instrument, and so far so good, although they aren't for everyone. To give you some perspective, for the same amount I spent on this I could, in Australia, get a new Bongo (and have some money left over, not much) so, in my situation, these are really bang-for-buck instruments, as well as being incredibly well made.
Specifications:
6 String
Ash Body
Maple Neck
Morado (or Pau Ferro) fingerboard
Okume top
Nordstrand pickups
Aguilar preamp (**** this thing is really strong!)
Here are some first impressions: I am enjoying the bass a lot. Being my first 6 string I'm still getting my head around the notes available on the C string. Thing it e playability is great and the sound is very good, I especially like the back pickup (a rarity for me!). It's neck-heavy on my lap, which isn't really a big deal for me, and I need to change the pickup height to get a strong sounding B string (needs a little more volume). Other than that I'm just playing it in a few different situations, I'll probably make some recordings in the next week or two, and I think it will work swimmingly in my latin band. I find the trickiest thing with any new bass is to find out the ideal amount of mids, so because I'm pciky that will take me a few months, not too much and not too little.
As for what's next? Maybe a passive 4 string!
The bass would also benefit from Skip's strings, all in due time, all in due time.
Pictures below, bass-bros, not up to Mow's fine standards!
A few days ago I received a bass I've been waiting on for just over a year, or so: a Cliff Bordwell 6 string Ball Bass. Cliff has been a pleasure to deal with, he's got a strong internet presence, so I've had clear, consistent communication and he didn't bandy around any point at all, telling me exactly his experiences and thoughts throughout the process. He was upfront about build time (and was off by 2 weeks from the time he quoted me October last year, which is pleasant!). Genuine and lovely gentleman.
It's my second luthier built instrument, and so far so good, although they aren't for everyone. To give you some perspective, for the same amount I spent on this I could, in Australia, get a new Bongo (and have some money left over, not much) so, in my situation, these are really bang-for-buck instruments, as well as being incredibly well made.
Specifications:
6 String
Ash Body
Maple Neck
Morado (or Pau Ferro) fingerboard
Okume top
Nordstrand pickups
Aguilar preamp (**** this thing is really strong!)
Here are some first impressions: I am enjoying the bass a lot. Being my first 6 string I'm still getting my head around the notes available on the C string. Thing it e playability is great and the sound is very good, I especially like the back pickup (a rarity for me!). It's neck-heavy on my lap, which isn't really a big deal for me, and I need to change the pickup height to get a strong sounding B string (needs a little more volume). Other than that I'm just playing it in a few different situations, I'll probably make some recordings in the next week or two, and I think it will work swimmingly in my latin band. I find the trickiest thing with any new bass is to find out the ideal amount of mids, so because I'm pciky that will take me a few months, not too much and not too little.
As for what's next? Maybe a passive 4 string!
The bass would also benefit from Skip's strings, all in due time, all in due time.
Pictures below, bass-bros, not up to Mow's fine standards!
well, that´s one extremely good looking bass. Congrads. Yes, ash-bodies can be too light for perfect balance - made the same experience in the past. It´s not too bad on my ash-bodied Rami fretless; and this even has a Wenge neck, which adds to become neckheave - but not here.
Great you like it.
Great you like it.
Congrats on the new CB bass, they both look very nice.
I've always liked the "woodlyness" of Cliff's basses.
I've always liked the "woodlyness" of Cliff's basses.
I guess now that you mention it, I notice a little neck dive from the seated position on my 6 string Rami. There is none on my 4 string Ball. Both are perfectly balanced on the strap, however. Fortunately, this sort of neck dive tends to be remedied with a touch of pressure from the right arm. Perhaps a slight shift of the lower bout might help.
BTW, what kind of Nodstrand pickups in the Ball 6?
I'm enjoying my Dual Coils and the coil switches. I mostly enjoy the bridge in parallel, Low Z, with bass and low mid boosted, but everything else still sounds great.
BTW, what kind of Nodstrand pickups in the Ball 6?
I'm enjoying my Dual Coils and the coil switches. I mostly enjoy the bridge in parallel, Low Z, with bass and low mid boosted, but everything else still sounds great.
- Jul 30, 2006
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- Endorsing artist:Regenerate Guitar Works Carvin, Micheal Kelly Guitars
The more I play my 5 string CB the more in love with it I am. It is without a doubt the best trade I've ever made. It's the most user friendly instrument I own including those I basically designed myself. Not that the others don't have their strong points, but the CB just has no drawbacks. The next custom bass I order will probably be a CB & if it takes a year or whatever, so be it. Meanwhile I'm scanning the classifieds.........
Really? Individual saddles strike me as ideal on a multi-scale. You have me curious.
They are, but individual saddles kinda sorta change the tone a bit. I'm not saying it's good or bad, but there's a certain degree of tone/sustain in the hunk o' metal. On the flip side, I've heard individual saddles will clean up the tone and there's less chatter carried through the strings. To be honest, I like how conventional bridges sound and would prefer to stick to that.
This is my understanding as well.
Agreed.
This answer works for me. Thanks for the explanation!
The neck dive barely bothers me, to be honest
. It's still lighter than the fretless.Cheers mate!
Thanks!
Some single coil in the front, big single or something else, I can't remember, and a DC in the bridge. I too like it in parallel blended with the neck!
Bordwellian club member No 19 calling in to say hi.
My CB Ball bass and my drumming are coming along just fine.
Davo
My CB Ball bass and my drumming are coming along just fine.
Davo
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