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Club Bordwell Part 4

#2,081
scottm said:
I remember that bass. What was the top wood?
Very nice.


-ScottM
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I want to say it was amboyna burl but it could have been mesquite burl?

Nolan Tremblay said:
Wow - gorgeous details on this bass! I'm looking forward to seeing your new basses!
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Yeah after owning this one it definitely made it seem like Cliff is a cyborg. Pretty sure the only way to achieve the level of precision, fit, and finish that it had would be use of a machine. But since they're all hand made by Cliff, he must be at least partly machine. Seeing Scott's pics of the two incoming I can very clearly see the same level of craftsmanship which is really hard to truly capture in photos.
 
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#2,082
gruvit said:
I want to say it was amboyna burl but it could have been mesquite burl?



Yeah after owning this one it definitely made it seem like Cliff is a cyborg. Pretty sure the only way to achieve the level of precision, fit, and finish that it had would be use of a machine. But since they're all hand made by Cliff, he must be at least partly machine. Seeing Scott's pics of the two incoming I can very clearly see the same level of craftsmanship which is really hard to truly capture in photos.
Click to expand...
You are correct.
After knowing Cliff over all of these years, I can confirm he is a cyborg with a good personality.

-ScottM
 
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#2,083
I once brought my #1 for 14 years in for some TLC from Jim Mouradian, who built the custom bass for Chris Squire most famously, and he loved it so much he didn't want to give it back to me.

He said the more time he spent with it the more impressed he was.

IMG_0751.jpeg
 
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#2,087
They're here!! Many, many, MANY thanks to @scottm These things are absolute DYNAMITE. Going to take a bit to get used to 35" scale since I've been 32" scale exclusive for quite some time now and my muscle memory is stopping a bit short. As usual Cliff's work is flawless and even though the scale is 35", the way the bass rests while sitting and standing the reach feels the same as my 32" scale CT. It's merely a matter of moving my hand slightly more to hit target positions, which is actually more comfortable for my playing and keeps me more engaged. I think I might need to get a hold of Cliff about doing an even longer scale at some point down the road. WAY down the road. Regardless, these two are coming to the grave with me! I'll get better pics when it isn't so dreary outside.

Initial meet and greet:
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Full stable pics:
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#2,089
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#2,091
Thanks guys... I didn't even really know much about the Bordwell stuff until I saw Here Come The Mummies some years ago at a local venue. Tut was playing his early Ball 4 (natural finish, he plays a custom gold one now) that just killed on stage... so I figured out how to contact him learn about the bass. I think I started my custom order within a month or so. lol
 
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#2,096
I do love the wenge necks on these! If I ever get around to ordering another Bordwell, it will probably be a wenge/ash Ball 5, with the same (extra wide) neck specs as my other two...

gruvit said:
They're here!! Many, many, MANY thanks to @scottm These things are absolute DYNAMITE. Going to take a bit to get used to 35" scale since I've been 32" scale exclusive for quite some time now and my muscle memory is stopping a bit short. As usual Cliff's work is flawless and even though the scale is 35", the way the bass rests while sitting and standing the reach feels the same as my 32" scale CT. It's merely a matter of moving my hand slightly more to hit target positions, which is actually more comfortable for my playing and keeps me more engaged. I think I might need to get a hold of Cliff about doing an even longer scale at some point down the road. WAY down the road. Regardless, these two are coming to the grave with me! I'll get better pics when it isn't so dreary outside.

Initial meet and greet:
View attachment 5346736 View attachment 5346737 View attachment 5346738 View attachment 5346739 View attachment 5346740

Full stable pics:
View attachment 5346741 View attachment 5346742
Click to expand...
 
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#2,100
mikezimmerman said:
2-3/16" wide at the nut, 20mm string spacing at the bridge. They're more or less patterned on my old Curbow 5s.
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Cool, thank you - I've never played a Curbow (and might have only encountered a Bordwell briefly, once), but I know that some broadneck Warwicks were made with 20mn spacing. (There have been others.) Don't know the nut width on those, but 2-3/16 sounds wide on a 5-string.

Who knows, though, maybe I'd dig it if I played one!
 
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