Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
Thank you, TapyTap. Well, torqueflite, you must have a pretty sweet bass. I have used this on many sessions and many shows. It has been great and the lightweight has been the greatest thing ever.
Well, it arrived about 10 days before I was expecting, and just in time for my Birthday!!!
It came out fantastic!!! Playability and tone are all I hoped it would be. I was shooting for something versatile and definitely something that could growl. And it does both. Cliff made some key suggestions which I had not had spec'ed when I envisioned this in the very first place, but ideas like hard wiring these pickups in single coil mode and using a body wood that I never heard of (Amapola, or African Tuliptree), turned out to be critical in nailing the sonic signature we were after. So kudos to Cliff.
Dimensions
Scale length: 34
Neck shape: C-shape with flatten center
Thickness at 1st: .850(standard)
Nut width: 1.5
String spacing at Bridge: .656 custom
Body thickness: 1.525
Construction
Neck: Modern w/ flame Maple / Wenge
Fingerboard: Bloodwood
Fingerboard Radius: 16"
Full faced top: Yes
Nut: Dymondwood
Bloodwood accent under headstock cap
Zero fret
Luminlay side dots
Body woods
Top: Holly .150 thick to reveal more in shaping –extra forearm and tummy shaping
Accent: Bloodwood
Pickguard: Bloodwood
Body: Amapola (Darker one marked in stack)
Headstock shape: "CB" Abalone
Headstock plate: Same wood as top
Cavity cover: Amapola
Hardware
Color: Satin - Hipshot knobs
Bridge: Hipshot style "A"
Tuners: Ultralites
Truss rod: two-way adjustable
Fretted: 24 stainless
Strap locks – Flush mount
Output: 1/4" Side mount
Electronics
Pickups: FatStacks wired in single coil 70's positioning extra growl.
Pickup covers – Bloodwood top(no exposed poles)
Preamp: Dark Glass preamp
Controls: Vol/blend/passive tone/ hi-mid/low-mid/bass
Switches: (2) active/passive Series/Parallel combined pickups
Gig Bag
Mono Vertigo
It came out fantastic!!! Playability and tone are all I hoped it would be. I was shooting for something versatile and definitely something that could growl. And it does both. Cliff made some key suggestions which I had not had spec'ed when I envisioned this in the very first place, but ideas like hard wiring these pickups in single coil mode and using a body wood that I never heard of (Amapola, or African Tuliptree), turned out to be critical in nailing the sonic signature we were after. So kudos to Cliff.
Dimensions
Scale length: 34
Neck shape: C-shape with flatten center
Thickness at 1st: .850(standard)
Nut width: 1.5
String spacing at Bridge: .656 custom
Body thickness: 1.525
Construction
Neck: Modern w/ flame Maple / Wenge
Fingerboard: Bloodwood
Fingerboard Radius: 16"
Full faced top: Yes
Nut: Dymondwood
Bloodwood accent under headstock cap
Zero fret
Luminlay side dots
Body woods
Top: Holly .150 thick to reveal more in shaping –extra forearm and tummy shaping
Accent: Bloodwood
Pickguard: Bloodwood
Body: Amapola (Darker one marked in stack)
Headstock shape: "CB" Abalone
Headstock plate: Same wood as top
Cavity cover: Amapola
Hardware
Color: Satin - Hipshot knobs
Bridge: Hipshot style "A"
Tuners: Ultralites
Truss rod: two-way adjustable
Fretted: 24 stainless
Strap locks – Flush mount
Output: 1/4" Side mount
Electronics
Pickups: FatStacks wired in single coil 70's positioning extra growl.
Pickup covers – Bloodwood top(no exposed poles)
Preamp: Dark Glass preamp
Controls: Vol/blend/passive tone/ hi-mid/low-mid/bass
Switches: (2) active/passive Series/Parallel combined pickups
Gig Bag
Mono Vertigo
Gorgeous, and great pics! The Amapola is a lot darker than it looked in the in-progress pics. What led you to choose that as a core wood?
Mine is in the next batch, so I have another reason to be excited to see your and spade's basses!
I chose it simply based on Cliff's recommendation as it related to my goals for the bass. My original thought was to use ovangkol/shedua. It would have given a nice midrangey-growl, but certainly would have been heavier. As it stands now, the body is perfectly balanced with the neck - perfectly! So the amapola worked out nicely. Kinda feels like mahogany to touch. And, it comes either light or dark (I was given choices of both). The tung oil may have darkened it a lot. I'd have to dig up the raw wood pics to compare.
Yes, it's an oil finish.
I love the .656" spacing, personally. I'm a guitarist, really, so it's just easier for me with the narrower spacing. Plus some I've got some hand arthritis setting in and I'm not really into slapping, so added all up, narrower is better for me generally speaking.
I love the .656" spacing, personally. I'm a guitarist, really, so it's just easier for me with the narrower spacing. Plus some I've got some hand arthritis setting in and I'm not really into slapping, so added all up, narrower is better for me generally speaking.
I was studying classical guitar before turning to the electric bass guitar, so, I think I can relate to what you are saying about the narrower string spacing. My fingerstyle technique on the bass guitar definitely comes from learning classical guitar techniques.
I've got a cheap 5-string with 16.5mm bridge spacing (EADGC tuning) and really appreciate the narrow spacing on that instrument. Considering the narrow 1.5" nut width and .656" spacing on your bass , the neck looks very proportionate to the body. Seeing the photos of your new Bordwell really encourages me to go with a .656" bridge on a 4-string.
Funny, I'm just the opposite--I don't slap much, but the first time I played an old Warmoth Big 5 (2-3/16" at the nut), I found myself thinking "This is what a bass should feel like!", and it was really confirmed when I got my first Curbow 5 (20mm spacing at the bridge). So, those are the specs for my upcoming Dola 5...
It's funny, I also have a 4-string with 20mm spacing at the bridge. When I first purchased it, I thought the string spacing was way too wide at the bridge. After playing it for some time, I totally adjusted to the spacing. Right now, I have a .135" round wound for the low C-string and tune it one octave below a cello (CGDA). I actually prefer a wider bridge spacing for that tuning; a 19mm spacing would be even better for that one.
Man, I don't think I've even played anything with a 20mm spacing. Probably would be tough for me, especially > 4 strings. Though I guess you can get used to anything given enough exposure.
But yeah, the .656" is great. Really fast neck specs overall. Basically, I wanted this bass to be a big nod to a Ric tonally, but with specs that were totally comfortable to me. Neck and bridge specs, specifically. I had been playing mostly 5-strings lately, and in fact, up until a recent trade, I didn't even have a 4-stringer for quite a long time. With my Bordwell, I wanted a 4-string that I could really impose my will on, and with these specs, it's just stupid easy to play.
But yeah, the .656" is great. Really fast neck specs overall. Basically, I wanted this bass to be a big nod to a Ric tonally, but with specs that were totally comfortable to me. Neck and bridge specs, specifically. I had been playing mostly 5-strings lately, and in fact, up until a recent trade, I didn't even have a 4-stringer for quite a long time. With my Bordwell, I wanted a 4-string that I could really impose my will on, and with these specs, it's just stupid easy to play.
We'll have to meet up. I have been couped up for way too long.
Maybe it's just a that some basses just feel right with particular spacings and neck contours/tapers, and for particular styles of playing.
