Club Bordwell Part 4

[scottm]

I shared this on Instagram…
Probably my favorite bass I ever bought, but this one Cliff was nice enough to build for my son.

If I get lucky enough for another build, I'd like one of these but with a Holly top.

-ScottM

 

[eude]

View attachment 7346222

I shared this on Instagram…
Probably my favorite bass I ever bought, but this one Cliff was nice enough to build for my son.

If I get lucky enough for another build, I'd like one of these but with a Holly top.

-ScottM

Really is a stunning bass!

 

[scottm]

Thanks @eude
Its simplicity with its passive, yet aggressive Bartolini electronics make it so much fun to play.

No preamp but just really good thick tone still.

-ScottM

 

[nonohmic]

So good.

Ebony and a birdseye maple board would be a sweet combo.

 

[Hotblack]

My new little CB 6 string mini beast with ship out on October 27th!

I cannot wait!

-ScottM

Just in time for Halloween.

 

[Hotblack]

It has shipped.
…now we wait.

 

[scottm]

Finished bass pic from Cliff!
Cardboard is one of the most common woods, but still has great tone.

-ScottM

 

[Hotblack]

View attachment 7354459

Finished bass pic from Cliff!
Cardboard is one of the most common woods, but still has great tone.

-ScottM

Personally, I've always found that cardboard sounds best once I strip away the outer layer.

 

[scottm]

My 2025 Cliff Bordwell BIG McNeely bass with a Pistachio wood top. 2nd pic with ramp.

It's very dreary because of rain here in Williamsburg, Virginia, but I did my best to take some quick pics.
Overall, the bass is perfect exactly what I dreamed of!

-ScottM

 

[eude]

View attachment 7356063View attachment 7356064View attachment 7356065

My 2025 Cliff Bordwell BIG McNeely bass with a Pistachio wood top. 2nd pic with ramp.

It's very dreary because of rain here in Williamsburg, Virginia, but I did my best to take some quick pics.
Overall, the bass is perfect exactly what I dreamed of!

-ScottM

Holy moly that's hot!
What's the full spec? Scale length etcs?
And congratulations!

 

[nonohmic]

NUTS! Congrats.

That's a very unique instrument. I bet it sounds killer.

 

[nonohmic]

How's the B?

 

[scottm]

Thanks, this bass is crazy to say the least.
Pistachio top
Wenge accent layer
Mahogany back
padauk and Wenge neck

32" scale strung with Dr Victor Wooten signature gauge strings, but I got La Bella 760FL-CB Deep Talkin' Bass Stainless Steel Flat Wound Light Bass Guitar String at the post office waiting for me.

Nordstrand 3 band, with active passive and passive tone control. Mute switch.

Nordstrand P bass pickups. I can't remember the names of the pickups, but it's the modern one and vintage set.

The B is tight, like the last 32" scale I got from Cliff.


-ScottM

 

[nonohmic]

Thanks, this bass is crazy to say the least.
Pistachio top
Wenge accent layer
Mahogany back
padauk and Wenge neck

32" scale strung with Dr Victor Wooten signature gauge strings, but I got La Bella 760FL-CB Deep Talkin' Bass Stainless Steel Flat Wound Light Bass Guitar String at the post office waiting for me.

Nordstrand 3 band, with active passive and passive tone control. Mute switch.

Nordstrand P bass pickups. I can't remember the names of the pickups, but it's the modern one and vintage set.

The B is tight, like the last 32" scale I got from Cliff.


-ScottM

It almost looks 30", probably cause it's a 6 banger. But nice on 32" that's the sweet spot.

 

[eude]

Thanks, this bass is crazy to say the least.
Pistachio top
Wenge accent layer
Mahogany back
padauk and Wenge neck

32" scale strung with Dr Victor Wooten signature gauge strings, but I got La Bella 760FL-CB Deep Talkin' Bass Stainless Steel Flat Wound Light Bass Guitar String at the post office waiting for me.

Nordstrand 3 band, with active passive and passive tone control. Mute switch.

Nordstrand P bass pickups. I can't remember the names of the pickups, but it's the modern one and vintage set.

The B is tight, like the last 32" scale I got from Cliff.


-ScottM

Very nice dude!
I'm slimming down my stable to just 3 basses, all 31.5" scale, one 4, two 6ers, different builder.
I was thinking about Padauk and Wenge for the neck on the fretless 6, and I think you've just sold the idea to me.

Loving seeing shorter scale 6ers too. Basses don't have to be massive when they're built right.

 

[eude]

Another question @scottm - do you think that the through body stringing adds anything to the shorter 6er?

 

[nonohmic]

View attachment 7356063View attachment 7356064View attachment 7356065

My 2025 Cliff Bordwell BIG McNeely bass with a Pistachio wood top. 2nd pic with ramp.

It's very dreary because of rain here in Williamsburg, Virginia, but I did my best to take some quick pics.
Overall, the bass is perfect exactly what I dreamed of!

-ScottM

I really should have asked for string thru on my 32. Wish Cliff had mentioned it. I love the Vic Wooten sigs but can't use them. It's TI rounds only really, which are crazy expensive, if I want a light gauge.

 

[eude]

I really should have asked for string thru on my 32. Wish Cliff had mentioned it. I love the Vic Wooten sigs but can't use them. It's TI rounds only really, which are crazy expensive, if I want a light gauge.

What scale length have you got?

 

[nonohmic]

What scale length have you got?

32. The only medium scale I can find are .100 on the E. And even then there's not a lot of options. EXLS and dunlop super brights, basically. The bass loves TI rounds, and they did last like 9 months. But still spendy.

Do you know of others <.100?

 

[eude]

32.

LaBella will do medium scale versions of most of what they make if you ask nicely, direct, and through some dealers.

I'm in the UK and I use Newtone strings, they custom wind anything you want. I go for a 125 100 80 60 40 25, with slightly heavier hex cores to claw back a little of the lost tension on the 31.5" scale.
In the UK they're cheaper than DR Sun Beams, which were my favourite for a long time, and I actually prefer them, their nickels sound kinda halfway between the Sun Beams and the nickel Lo Riders.
Not sure what they'd cost to get over to the US, but I expect they'll still be cheaper than TIs.

They'll wind to the exact length you need too, I send them the distance from where the ball ends hits the bridge to the nut, and they're always a perfect fit.

5 stars, would recommend