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Club Bordwell

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#102
nippes said:
Very nice top.

Isn´t that already your second CB? Can you please tell us some more about the specs?
Click to expand...

Yep, number 2.

The bass will be a 4 string fretted ball bass.
34" scale
Classic neck
Maple board
Flame Maple top, light Swamp Ash body with black accent line
Aero Jazz Pickups
Black hardware
Passive - Vol, Blend, Tone

I told Cliff I want a light weight and VERY responsive bass so I am getting his thinest body profile and his thickest neck profile.

My first CB had the Modern neck - very cool, but this time around I basically wanted a Jazz on 'roids bass.

Also, I decided to forgo the Darkstars in favor of regular J-pickups - mostly because I change my mind on what I want tone-wise with the weather.

Darkstars are KILLER (I have a P-bass loaded with a DS), but if you want a change, well, your stuck. With the j-Bass format, the options are endless. I have had a set of Aero j's and, IMO, they are the best pickup for making your amplified tone sound like your acoustic (unplugged) tone. But if I decide one day I want a beefer sound...DiMarzio Model J's; want brighter, go with Nordstrands SC, etc.etc.

On another note, I'd like to say something for the benefit of anyone considering a CB or having any custom made - I have owned many basses (just like alot of you here), played many high end basses (Ritter, Sad, Fodera, CT, Lull, etc.) and the fit and finish of Cliff's basses is as good as it gets. The fretwork is a thing of beauty and the necks are the most stable I have ever owned.

I owned a Ken Smith, and while the tone ultimately wasn't for me, the construction and fret work were beyond anything I had previously played (including the Alembic I used to own). My CB was the first (and last) since my KS where everything was as good - I will not say Better because I don't think there could be a better way to execute a fretted instrument than what Ken and Cliff do.

I think the key is that both Ken and Cliff age their necks for years before building a bass around them.

The short point is this: Cliff makes an outstanding product. The fact that he sells them for about half of what his contemporaries do somewhat befuddles me, but I ain't complaining! :p And, Yes, even if his basses were twice the price, I would still buy his over the others.
 
#103
Man I love my CB!!

So a drummer friend called me on Saturday while I was at work to talk about joining the new project he's in. We've played together twice before and he's good. REALLY good! I got off work a couple hour laters and returned his call. About two hours after that :eek: I was at the house with my jazz and darkstar CB for an audition. He had told me not to worry about bringing a rig so I was plugged directly into the PA.

First up was the CB (Maybe a bad idea since I've never played this bass with anyone else before, but oh well). Sounds very good. I like some sizzle but couldn't really get any since I had limited EQ to work with so I just played. Later on I switched over to my jazz which can definitely sizzle but still not much coming through this rig. Oh well so I was just sort of ok with my tone for the evening. I guess it was good enough 'cause the guys invited me to join :hyper:

Now last night was the first practice and I had some time to prepare and I also took a small rig (Hartke HA3000 & Avatar SB112 ). I also took only one bass which is unusual for me, hehe. Yes Cliff made a winner! I was easily able to dial in a tone that put a big grin on my face and the feel of my CB is just crazy good. It hangs a bit to the right compared to all other basses I've played which makes it feel tiny. It's also nice and light which just adds to the comfort level. Tone is king for me, but the darkstars certainly deliver and everything else is just a bonus. A really nice big bonus!

The band is awesome too by the way. I've never played with guys that know their stuff like this bunch, but things started to gel right away and we made some tight solid music last night. I don't think I'll be taking my jazz or any other basses to play with that group, the CB feels like it's part of the magic :smug:
 
#106
Wademeister63 said:
DSCN1339.jpg

DSCN1336.jpg
Click to expand...

Wade, I won't lie...seeing someone else own this bass is like seeing a REALLY HOT ex-girlfriend parade around with another guy....:smug:

More important - what type of case are you using for the bass in these pics? I really want a hardshell for my next CB, but have had a hard time trying to figure out what will work with the odd body shape...
 
#107
Metropolis_488 said:
More important - what type of case are you using for the bass in these pics? I really want a hardshell for my next CB, but have had a hard time trying to figure out what will work with the odd body shape...
Click to expand...

Good question. Of the 8 hardcases I own, only one provides the depth and neck support to accommodate the rather severe tiltback headstock design.

Riis
 
#108
Metropolis_488 said:
Wade, I won't lie...seeing someone else own this bass is like seeing a REALLY HOT ex-girlfriend parade around with another guy....:smug:

More important - what type of case are you using for the bass in these pics? I really want a hardshell for my next CB, but have had a hard time trying to figure out what will work with the odd body shape...
Click to expand...

Hate to tell you but she's become better with experience ;) Seriously Metro, I think you and Cliff came up with the formula for my perfect bass. I'll be taking good care of her, don't worry!


I'm surprised about the interest in the case. Cliff asked about it too, lol. I don't know who put that case with this bass but it is pretty much a perfect fit. The case seems to be built pretty cheap with sort of crappy latches, a real thin outer shell and the stop straps that pulled right out with no trouble at all. It is nice and light though and has plenty of foam on all sides so does a great job of protecting the bass.


It just has one oval shaped tag on it that says:

professional instrument cases
Johnson
made in China
 
#113
Zooberwerx said:
Attention fellow Bordwellians...

Who's using Delano pups and/or Audere preamps? Let me 'splain. I'm thinking of upgrading my passive CB with a custom config'd Audere and have 4 available knob positions. Here's a couple of possibilities:

Volume / Blend / Treble / Bass

Volume / Blend / Stacked Treble-Bass / Stacked Hi-Lo Mids

Audere offers a gazillion options but I don't want to drop any bucks on features that are of limited value. The bass sounds great as it is, I just want to goose it a bit.

Thanks

Riis
Click to expand...

I've got an audere in a kind of super Jazz type warmoth, and it is amazing. To be honest, I don't know how much of it is the pre, how much is the rest of the axe, but the whole package is great. I got one of the Jazz plates, wired up with volume, blend, mid, treble, bass, and a 5 way z switch. It is pretty awesome, although I run it pretty close to flat, except I fiddle with the Z from time to time. I'm not sure that I'd really want 4 bands of EQ on a bass, to me that is just overkill, but your needs may be different than mine. I'm not sure if he'll do the 5 way z switch on the custom wires or not, but if he will, that is worth getting, as my favorite settings are the ones that run the pickups in different z modes (the bassier one for the neck, the brighter for the bridge). Killer slap tone.
 
#114
Metropolis_488 said:
Do you know what model number?
Click to expand...

Yikes, I'm not sure. I checked their site and never would have guessed they had so many!!!! The total inner measurement is 47.5" with the lower bout for the body (I have a Ball bass) of 21.50" and the upper bout is 14.50". The upper bout could be 3" shorter but the important thing is that the lower bout is 21.5" to fit a ball bass, the space in between the bouts is a neck support and compartment. Mine is also the "end-Bound" design case.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
 
#115
Antti said:
I have ordered (and paid ;) )mine and it will be ready in june 2008. Here are the spec's....

D-Bass 6-string

Dimensions
Scale length: 35
Neck shape: oval
Thickness at 1st: .850
Width at nut: 2.15
String spacing at Bridge: 18mm
Body thickness: 1.525(required for battery)

Construction

Neck: Modern
Fingerboard: Mac Ebony
Fingerboard Radius: 0(Flat)
Nut: Stabilized Ebony
Full faced top: Yes

Body woods

Top: Myrtle Invalid Link Removed
Body: Walnut
Headstock Plate: Same as top

Hardware

Color: Black
Bridge: Hipshot style “A”
Tuners: Ultralites
Truss rod: two-way adjustable
Fretless Lines(Bloodwood) With side dots
Strap locks
Output: 1/4" Face mount(N/C)

Electronics
Pickups: 1 Nordstrand dual coil
Preamp: Possible CB preamp, most likely the Aguilar 3-band OBP-3 ?

Comments about radius? At the moment I wan't flat.

I believe this bass will be the first CB here in Finland, maybe in the whole Skandinavia. I don't know how many CB's we have in Europe, under ten? Correct, if I'm wrong.

It has been very easy to do business with Mr Bordwell and the bass will be here in Finland next summer. I hope I can order one four string in the future but we'll see.

I am happy at the moment With my custom made "Jorma Huttu" Jazz Bass (JH Guitars). He is a local builder and he made one very good instrument. I was looking for a Stingray or some Fender but this one was so much better, at least in my hands ;).
Membership maybe????
Click to expand...

I made a little change. This bass is going to have a 36" scale. I hope I didn't go wrong but I just wanted to try???
After the next set Cliff will start building my bass too. I should be ready in June. I can wait........:bassist:
 
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