Firefox Bass from Ark Instruments

[fyrwyr]

That looks fantastic!

Very unique without being weird.

If I were to be overly critical I would say that the transition between the square centre area of the body could flow better with the neck. I do have a suspicion that there is a technical reason for that particular design, though.

The rectangle area under the strings is a hollow ramp that allows any pickup configuration. If you decide later on you want a P-bass or a Jazz or a MM sound you can make that happen without modifying the bass..

 

[MojoPenguin]

Dude, you need a web site,

I mean your bass is called Firefox and you don't have a website ? C'mon wix, squarespace, etc. to the rescue for cheap.
Headless is great BTW and kudos on the sleek look and feel.

 

[fyrwyr]

I mean your bass is called Firefox and you don't have a website ? C'mon wix, squarespace, etc. to the rescue for cheap.
Headless is great BTW and kudos on the sleek look and feel.

As I mentioned a few times already, my wix site is unfinished and not ready to publish just yet. I did not start this thread nor did I ask for it to be made so I am just trying to put out "fires" that keep coming up now the cat is out of the bag.. I design for other companies and am slowly building my own brand (Ark Instruments) one step at a time

 

[matthewbrown]

I do love a tiny headstock...

 

[rogerbmiller]

This looks like the short lived Davis Relayer. Was that made by the same company?

Both appear to be heavily inspired by Kubicki but different.

 

[Robert B]

As I mentioned a few times already, my wix site is unfinished and not ready to publish just yet. I did not start this thread nor did I ask for it to be made so I am just trying to put out "fires" that keep coming up now the cat is out of the bag.. I design for other companies and am slowly building my own brand (Ark Instruments) one step at a time

Sorry, didn't mean to throw you into the deep end (no pun intended!)

 

[non]

I thought it was ernie ball and American Standard.

i like the look of the bongo but i agree! i really like the headstock most of all.

 

[fyrwyr]

This looks like the short lived Davis Relayer. Was that made by the same company?

Both appear to be heavily inspired by Kubicki but different.

Davis was the first shop to build these in the prototype stages and not many were built.
I am using Mossy Rock Guitars as well as Sweetwood Guitars for the bulk of my builds these days..

 

[phillipkregg]

Funny that we

Maybe just a touch 80s-feeling because it screams 'futuristic'.

I think it's funny that we associate "futuristic looking" with the 1980s, but this is 2018 and the trendy guitars to play look like they are from the 1950s or 1960s.

 

[rogerbmiller]

Davis was the first shop to build these in the prototype stages and not many were built.
I am using Mossy Rock Guitars as well as Sweetwood Guitars for the bulk of my builds these days..

So the relayer was your bass? Are you still making it?

 

[DDXdesign]

Funny that we


I think it's funny that we associate "futuristic looking" with the 1980s, but this is 2018 and the trendy guitars to play look like they are from the 1950s or 1960s.

yeah man, the 50s and 60s gave us the atomic-age look of 'futurism', and then in the 80s we got another dose that was a little more aggressive. Maybe now, IN the actual future, we're like 'nah son' - but sleek rounded things like iAppliances do touch on a lot of what the midcentury futurism hinted at.

 

[superdick2112]

Am I the only one getting a Kubicki vibe from this?

I'm getting a Fleishman vibe as well.

 

[fyrwyr]

So the relayer was your bass? Are you still making it?

Yes the Relayer is my design and it is still available. I now have my own 5 string fretless which is simply amazing

 

[Gunga Din]

Looks slightly like the Atlansia basses from the early '90s.

 

[India_Sierra]

I think this bass is super cool and it's great to see a builder looking forward with his design, through the fog of vintage-obsessed nonsense which has rather stymied cool new designs in recent years.

As a former Kubicki Ex Factor player, I think I would like this and I love the fact Phil had some input on this project before be died. He was always a visionary himself and wanted to drive instrument design forward. I still consider the Ex Factor be one of the best looking, best sounding and easiest to play basses around.

 

[fretlessguy]

I tend to be a traditionalist when it comes to bass designs. The Pbass is my instrument of choice. But I have to admit, I find this design very attractive, although definitely different and futuristic. Am I the only one that's been checking out this bass? Dare I say, "This is the bass BMW should have designed?
View attachment 3215896

Ahh......If Spock were a bassist!

 

[fyrwyr]

I think this bass is super cool and it's great to see a builder looking forward with his design, through the fog of vintage-obsessed nonsense which has rather stymied cool new designs in recent years.

As a former Kubicki Ex Factor player, I think I would like this and I love the fact Phil had some input on this project before be died. He was always a visionary himself and wanted to drive instrument design forward. I still consider the Ex Factor be one of the best looking, best sounding and easiest to play basses around.

Agreed!!! As a guitar tech in the mid '90's I was inspired by the forward thinking and rebellion against 1950's designs Kubicki had and I really enjoyed playing my fretted and fretless Ex Factors. After a while there were things I personally wanted to be different like a full 34 inch scale, simpler bridge that weighed less, a simpler more invisible capo design, different body wing options and different electronics.. The result of my search was the First Relayer basses which number 2 can be seen being demo'ed on youtube by Jaymi Millard. At the time Jaymi did not know how to activate the capo efficiently but he got the job done none the less.. Those basses also featured the first custom versions of the GHub passive tone system that manipulates harmonics in a unique and powerful way.

 

[fyrwyr]

View attachment 3216995
I actually prefer the one with the headstock

In some ways I do as well!!!
The body has much much aggression for sure

 

[mtdkingstonheir]

I thought it was ernie ball and American Standard.

 

[mtdkingstonheir]

I tend to be a traditionalist when it comes to bass designs. The Pbass is my instrument of choice. But I have to admit, I find this design very attractive, although definitely different and futuristic. Am I the only one that's been checking out this bass? Dare I say, "This is the bass BMW should have designed?
View attachment 3215896

Cool looking basses. I'm looking forward to checking out your dedicated website, when it's up and running. Love your "out-of the -box" thinking regarding bass designs.