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I was playing my ball bass into the wee hours last night and I have to say it just enables me to flow and be creative unlike any other bass I've played. They are such amazing instruments and so easy to play. I feel very lucky to own one.
Couple of bassists tried my ball bass the other day and said ... "wow is this short scale?" Actually no it's a 34" - but they both considered it so easy to play that it must be short scale!
Davo
Couple of bassists tried my ball bass the other day and said ... "wow is this short scale?" Actually no it's a 34" - but they both considered it so easy to play that it must be short scale!
Davo
Davo's bass is such a great bass it's so smooth so light compared to my Spector and the scale feels short. Although I didn't felt weird to switch from a 35 to Davo's 34.
Tslicebass
Commercial User
Cheers Davo
But I must say you are not making my wait any easier with posts like that :scowl:
The waiting is an important part of the process. The value of something that you have to wait for is enhanced over something you can buy off the shelf.
Being super-wealthy doesn't get you into the CB club. Waiting does!
There I'm sure you feel better now!
Davo
Being super-wealthy doesn't get you into the CB club. Waiting does!
There I'm sure you feel better now!
Davo
Not always! I'm not wealthy and didn't have to wait for my CB; got it in 3 days. I bought it "off the shelf". All Cliff had to do was stick some stamps on the box and she was on her way. I'm into the instant gratification thing.
Options? I got to select the hardware finish...that's about it.
Riis
Tslicebass
Commercial User
Re-post of the pics...just to rub it in!
Riis
This is pretty much the exact bass I would want in a stainless steel mando fanned fret version. Beautiful bass.
Thank you. Fanned fret, eh? The fingerboard is perfectly flat on this particular bass. Would that help or hinder?
FTR, this model is no longer offered.
Riis
I think you would want some radius. My DW's have a compound radius.
Why would you put on hold a design that beautiful? I'd like to see Cliff do a straight string path and his version of a traditional fender style headstock though.
The relatively severe headstock angle negates the need for straight string pull and/or string retainers. Fender-style headstock? The "hydrocephalic Gumby" profile is Cliff's trademark!
Riis
Nah, that's one of the reasons I was attracted to CB in the first place. His designs were original. We don't want any Fender clones ...
Davo
Davo
I don't really understand. Vintage to me is Fender!
On a different tack. Something that might of interest to non-CB owners or potential CB owners is. How did we choose our tone woods?
I'll start. Well I didn't want ash (got that) and I wanted a something to contrast my other main bass which is an alder-bodied fretless Jazz. I wanted to be able to play chords above the 12th fret and I wanted clear articulation, detailed mids a tight bass and lush highs. I wanted a rosewood fingerboard (my fav) and suggested that the modern neck woods (maple/wenge) would fit with my tonal quest. Cliff suggest walnut for the body wood and I trusted his choice and I'm glad I did. Finally I chose a top wood for aesthetic reasons, which is flame maple.
Davo
On a different tack. Something that might of interest to non-CB owners or potential CB owners is. How did we choose our tone woods?
I'll start. Well I didn't want ash (got that) and I wanted a something to contrast my other main bass which is an alder-bodied fretless Jazz. I wanted to be able to play chords above the 12th fret and I wanted clear articulation, detailed mids a tight bass and lush highs. I wanted a rosewood fingerboard (my fav) and suggested that the modern neck woods (maple/wenge) would fit with my tonal quest. Cliff suggest walnut for the body wood and I trusted his choice and I'm glad I did. Finally I chose a top wood for aesthetic reasons, which is flame maple.
Davo
Tslicebass
Commercial User
Great Idea Davo. I will play 
I am not the hugest believer in the "tonewood" effect. I tend to lean more in the direction of the player/electronics having the most impact. However, my CB's are going to be all about playability.
For my current bass I chose butternut as the body wood. It was something new for me and Cliff said it was probably the lightest core wood he had, which means it won't kill my back on 4 hour gigs and the lighweight body should allow for plenty of resonance. Modern Neck for that extra punch, Mac Ebony fingerboard for clarity, and zebrawood top and walnut back for the cosmetic thing.
For my fretless (est. arrival march 09) I chose Spanish Cedar for the core (for similar reasons as above), modern neck, black ebony fingerboard (gotta have it on a fretless) figured purpleheart and ebony top and purpleheart back.
Both of these basses are going to have crazy electronics packages with Nordstrand Dual Coils (series/parallel/single coil) and Audere Z Mode Pre's.
I have 2 more CB's in planning stages right now
I will probably try to get a pseudo performance style bolt bass with the traditional swamp ash body/walnut top/maple fingerboard/classic neck/passive for people who want me to do the "jazz bass thing". I would also love a parallel chamber fretless with walnut and spanish cedar core/cocobolo fingerboard/piezo pickups. Of course those will have to wait until I take care of the most important instrument of all..... the automobile 
I am not the hugest believer in the "tonewood" effect. I tend to lean more in the direction of the player/electronics having the most impact. However, my CB's are going to be all about playability.
For my current bass I chose butternut as the body wood. It was something new for me and Cliff said it was probably the lightest core wood he had, which means it won't kill my back on 4 hour gigs and the lighweight body should allow for plenty of resonance. Modern Neck for that extra punch, Mac Ebony fingerboard for clarity, and zebrawood top and walnut back for the cosmetic thing.
For my fretless (est. arrival march 09) I chose Spanish Cedar for the core (for similar reasons as above), modern neck, black ebony fingerboard (gotta have it on a fretless) figured purpleheart and ebony top and purpleheart back.
Both of these basses are going to have crazy electronics packages with Nordstrand Dual Coils (series/parallel/single coil) and Audere Z Mode Pre's.
I have 2 more CB's in planning stages right now
I will probably try to get a pseudo performance style bolt bass with the traditional swamp ash body/walnut top/maple fingerboard/classic neck/passive for people who want me to do the "jazz bass thing". I would also love a parallel chamber fretless with walnut and spanish cedar core/cocobolo fingerboard/piezo pickups. Of course those will have to wait until I take care of the most important instrument of all..... the automobile - Status
