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That buckeye topped 4 string SCB on the news page is SICK!
Like the wood, but not a fan of gold hardware.
Yup. Digging Curt Mangan strings. The B and E strings have a shorter winding. They're nice and not too expensive.
I believe Cliff used Fodera for the early 32" scale 6 strings he built. Apparently they weren't too keen on smaller orders and in my case, they didn't have a wound string suitable for high E/F, just unwound plain steel strings.
I believe Cliff used Fodera for the early 32" scale 6 strings he built. Apparently they weren't too keen on smaller orders and in my case, they didn't have a wound string suitable for high E/F, just unwound plain steel strings.
Coolest thread next to this one !
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/build-thread-cliff-bordwell-cb-ball-bass-1007682/
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/build-thread-cliff-bordwell-cb-ball-bass-1007682/
This thread needs more pics.
Smiles. Mine are number four and five. I really do love number eight too.
I may be of service here.
Prior to 2003, I played standard 34" scale four stringed basses. When I decided to go to 5 or 6 strings, I began that quest for a good sounding and good playability on a B string. I found a lot of 34" scale basses that had floppy B strings and/or muddy sounding B strings. When I say floppy, I mean the playability of the string, meaning the tension on the string was too low for my liking. When I say muddy, I mean that the B string sounded muffled or poorly defined. Having Bass Central two hours away, and a number of other standard music stores near me, I had the opportunity to try a lot of production basses and a lot of boutique basses.
I first purchased a 35" scaled 6 string for a couple of years, then settled down to 35" scaled 5 stringed basses. I'm a five player. So for about nine years, I thought you had to have a 35" scale to have a good B string.
Having been a fan of Cliff's work for about eight or nine years, I first ordered a 35" scaled 5 string in October 2011. I'm glad the wait was 14 months on that build. I was interested in getting a shorter scaled bass, but was concerned about the B string on such an instrument. I also read about how wonderful Cliff's 32" scaled 5 and 6 stringed basses were here at Talkbass, but I had to try it myself before I would believe it. Before he started work on my bass, Cliff had two 32" scaled basses finished in April 2012-- I think one was a 5 and the other a 6. Cliff was nice enough to allow me to come to his shop and play these two basses before he shipped them out to their owners. Other than the speeding ticket I got on the Florida Turnpike, it was a wonderful experience. I found the B string articulate and quite playable. The tension was not as tight as my 35" scaled basses, but it was much better and much more playable than almost all 34" scaled basses I had tried. That night, I changed my order from a 35" to a 32" scale 5 string before I left to drive back home.
I got my first CB 32" scaled 5 string in December 2012 and my second (fretless) in April 2013. I've been playing those two basses exclusively since I got them, and I love them.
Disclaimer: I play mostly pop, rock, disco, Motown, R&B and a little country. I don't sit on the B string all night. I may not use the B string on every song, but when I need it, it is a good sounding, good playing B string. I don't know how Cliff does it, but it works. I wanted to order a third 32" 5, but I couldn't swing the payment-- perhaps next year.
I'm sure others can chime in about Cliff's medium, standard and extra long scale B string. I didn't mention the C string at all.
Sorry this was so long.
My 34" fretless 5-ER had TIs from day one. They are not known as high tension by most people. I loved the feel and tone of the B. However, I very rarely found myself going to the B. I had the bass set up for E-C tuning a couple of months ago and installed a Hipshot double stop Xtender. With a .105 E (DR Sunbeams), the tension is great when dropping to D and C both. The high C, a .030 zips nicely and has great feel.
My Ball bass (current build) is going to be spec'd the same.
My Ball bass (current build) is going to be spec'd the same.
I'm cool with 34" or 35" scale on a 5-6 string bass. 32" scale is still good. I mostly did that on my 7 for the additional neck width.
I really like the shapes and the wood combos, it almost reminds me of a time when people where just starting out in the '70s trying to do something unique and artful. I may just have to try one some day. Anyone wanna lend me theirs for a bit? 
LOL, I'm finally starting to get caught up in life...
Any opinions on Bartolini vs. a Nordstrand pre? I generally like the smoothed out sound of Bartolini's preamp on a fretless bass. At the same time, I already have the Bart pre in 3 fretli.
Any opinions on Bartolini vs. a Nordstrand pre? I generally like the smoothed out sound of Bartolini's preamp on a fretless bass. At the same time, I already have the Bart pre in 3 fretli.
