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Considering I just got one a few weeks ago that I waited over a year for, it's exciting that I'll be getting 3 more in the same time period.
I'm selling off all my 34" basses and moving to 30" full time. My new stable will be anchored by these 4 30" bordwells.
Awesome.
I had a similarly big shift to 31.5" scale too, sold all my other basses off and now have, a few, all that scale, all from the same luthier. Finding what really works for you is an incredible thing. Frustratingly though, we were talking about trying a 31.5" 6 string bass nearly 17 years ago, yet it took another decade for me to actually do it!
I would've saved a lot of money if I'd taken the leap back then!
Are these all 4 string 30" scale basses then?
I had a similarly big shift to 31.5" scale too, sold all my other basses off and now have, a few, all that scale, all from the same luthier. Finding what really works for you is an incredible thing. Frustratingly though, we were talking about trying a 31.5" 6 string bass nearly 17 years ago, yet it took another decade for me to actually do it!
I would've saved a lot of money if I'd taken the leap back then!
Are these all 4 string 30" scale basses then?
Yup. All 30" 4 strings. 2 solid bodies, 2 semi-hollow.
the solid bodies will have a pair of Nordstrand DC pups (this one is built) with the series/parallel/single coil switches. The other a set of bartolini P/Js. One with nickel rounds, one with flats.
One of the semi-hollow basses will have dagstar pickups and most likely flats.
The last semi hollow will be fretless with a piezo and tape wounds.
That should leave me most of my preferences covered for my project studio hobby.
All of the will be 1.5" nuts, 19mm bridge spacing, 9.5" fingerboard radius.
I learned what my aging hands like over the first year of quarantine.
the solid bodies will have a pair of Nordstrand DC pups (this one is built) with the series/parallel/single coil switches. The other a set of bartolini P/Js. One with nickel rounds, one with flats.
One of the semi-hollow basses will have dagstar pickups and most likely flats.
The last semi hollow will be fretless with a piezo and tape wounds.
That should leave me most of my preferences covered for my project studio hobby.
All of the will be 1.5" nuts, 19mm bridge spacing, 9.5" fingerboard radius.
I learned what my aging hands like over the first year of quarantine.
I have those in my other CB, wired the same way. In hindsight, I wouldn't have bothered with the parallel. It just sounds weaker and I never use it. However, with the new fretless with the Big Blademan, I am curious if it will be something I'd use.
I am actually considering replacing them with the Blademan (Blademen?), once I see how they sound. As much as I love this bass, the pickups just aren't as ballsy as I'd like.
I find the series/parallel switching pretty useful in my BigMan-equipped Dola, because the series setting is a bit dark, while the parallel setting has more open top end and a little bit of a scoop. I tend to switch over to series if I've got the passive tone rolled off to get a bigger, rounder tone. Not sure if the Big Blademan will be the same, but I think those wide-aperture MM type pickups give rather different frequency responses in series vs parallel, just because of how far apart the two coils are.
That's what I'm hoping. The JC 3p has the parallel/series switches built into the knobs. Unfortunately, Cliff checked with Nordstrand and ya can't do a coil tap with this setup. Apparently, you can if you're just using the pickups in a passive-only setup. You notice a marked difference in volume between the two? Seems like they just lose their oooomf! when in parallel.
Well, the pot-mounted switches only have two positions 
. As far as I can tell, the JC 3p is basically the standard 3-band EQ with a different wiring harnesss (500k volume, ungrounded blend, series/parallel switches with trim pots to equalize the series/parallel volume). You might be able to get the 3-band without the pot-mounted switches and just use the 3-way switches that Cliff used for the Bigman. The only downside pf that is that the trimpot to equalize the volumes would be missing, but that might be something Cliff could wire in, or you may not find it all that important.
There is definitely a difference in the output between series and parallel, but parallel and single-coil are pretty close, at least on the Bigman.
* FWIW, my understanding is that the standard DCs are specifically wound to be wired in either parallel or series, so if yours are wound for series, they probably sound a bit anemic in parallel. OTOH, the Bigman was originally intended to be wired in parallel. Big Blademan seems like it was intended to be switched between series and parallel, but the wiring harness is designed to keep the series setting from being too dark...
. As far as I can tell, the JC 3p is basically the standard 3-band EQ with a different wiring harnesss (500k volume, ungrounded blend, series/parallel switches with trim pots to equalize the series/parallel volume). You might be able to get the 3-band without the pot-mounted switches and just use the 3-way switches that Cliff used for the Bigman. The only downside pf that is that the trimpot to equalize the volumes would be missing, but that might be something Cliff could wire in, or you may not find it all that important.There is definitely a difference in the output between series and parallel, but parallel and single-coil are pretty close, at least on the Bigman.
* FWIW, my understanding is that the standard DCs are specifically wound to be wired in either parallel or series, so if yours are wound for series, they probably sound a bit anemic in parallel. OTOH, the Bigman was originally intended to be wired in parallel. Big Blademan seems like it was intended to be switched between series and parallel, but the wiring harness is designed to keep the series setting from being too dark...
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Watt is my bass hero, and mine is autographed by Watt himself, but it's his signature bass, not mine. The nut is too wide, and the neck too chunky for me. But I love that I have a 6.5 pound version autographed by Watt!
- May 20, 2002
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- 1,229
- Disclosures
- Provided content for Genzler Amplification
Posted a build thread for my CB Spring 2022 Build, if anyone's interested in following. I've found the other Bordwell build threads valuable in my decision to get a bass from Cliff, so I figured I'd add my own in case it helps inform others as well.
Cliff has been fantastic to work with, and I'm really excited to finally get a Bordwell bass after many years of admiring his work!
5sg.
Cliff has been fantastic to work with, and I'm really excited to finally get a Bordwell bass after many years of admiring his work!
5sg.
I'd love to hear the specs if you are willing to share them.
I'm heading over to your build thread right now.
Cliff is awesome to work with on a custom build, and his instruments are definitely worth the wait!
I've had a Bordwell on my GAS list for a long time and today I closed a trade for one! I'm excited to join Club Bordwell and finally get to play it in person. It looks like the one I got has bounced around to a few TBers over the years. Hopefully it's found a more permanent home with me.
- May 20, 2002
- 1,385
- 1,229
- Disclosures
- Provided content for Genzler Amplification
Still working them all out. However, right now:
5-string
Fretless
SCB body
Mahogany body
Wenge neck
Audere 4-band pre
Nordstrand BigRigs
Cliff just posted a little video on Instagram of a 32" scale 4-string that he is working on now with the new singlecut body shape! It works really nice as a 4-string version! Has anyone else seen it?
