If there's a new rule about posting tops I don't agree with it dammit !
Seriously I love it when people post their tops. Its cool to share the building process from the beginning to the finished pics.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Seriously I love it when people post their tops. Its cool to share the building process from the beginning to the finished pics.
Seems more likely there isn't and I misunderstood something - seems like someone would have confirmed. The comment was probably just related to a specific situation that went over my head. False alarm!
Well in that case.. this has come together pretty quick. Mostly due to decisions to be optimistic about my health-related abilities a couple years down the road and to sell the house and move somewhere lower cost of living later this year. 5-String Elite / 30.75''/ 16.5mm / Garrison Spacing / Small Frets / Ramp and Covers (the same wood as the fretboard chosen) and black hardware. Weight/ergonomics are extremely important and informs the specs all around.
As early as Tuesday the plan was Ash Body / Korina Block / Brazilian Rosewood fretboard. But, then I remembered a little thing called CITES and that's not going to be a smart move for me. So, I'm reexamining the tone wood selections. I also learned how much lighter EMGs are and think I am switching to those. I enjoyed them on my YYS and if the EMGs mean I can save some weight and perhaps get away with woods I'm a bit more familiar with using then I'm all for it.
So, if the weight quote allows, I'll be deciding what to pair with a (likely) ebony board and EMGs. Maybe an Ash body/Mahagony block? Or Alder body/Walnut block? Alder with Ash or Limba? I'm particularly thinking of ways to counteract some of the tradeoffs that come with the shorter scale length and get a bit more articulation/harmonic content into the build. I think the EMGs will also help in that department, but as always I welcome the braintrust's thoughts - part of what makes it fun!
I come from the Ebony/Walnut world and love that tone with Dual Coils. But I'm sure I need that level of wood density with EMGs and intend to pick something lighter. Also, know Fodera makes monsters at 30.75'' and I enjoy shorter scales - so I'm not trying to start up that debate. Rather, I'm just enthusiastically evaluating the best specs for my tonal goals in light of the scale length that it will have. : )
Can you guess any other unique features?
As early as Tuesday the plan was Ash Body / Korina Block / Brazilian Rosewood fretboard. But, then I remembered a little thing called CITES and that's not going to be a smart move for me. So, I'm reexamining the tone wood selections. I also learned how much lighter EMGs are and think I am switching to those. I enjoyed them on my YYS and if the EMGs mean I can save some weight and perhaps get away with woods I'm a bit more familiar with using then I'm all for it.
So, if the weight quote allows, I'll be deciding what to pair with a (likely) ebony board and EMGs. Maybe an Ash body/Mahagony block? Or Alder body/Walnut block? Alder with Ash or Limba? I'm particularly thinking of ways to counteract some of the tradeoffs that come with the shorter scale length and get a bit more articulation/harmonic content into the build. I think the EMGs will also help in that department, but as always I welcome the braintrust's thoughts - part of what makes it fun!
I come from the Ebony/Walnut world and love that tone with Dual Coils. But I'm sure I need that level of wood density with EMGs and intend to pick something lighter. Also, know Fodera makes monsters at 30.75'' and I enjoy shorter scales - so I'm not trying to start up that debate. Rather, I'm just enthusiastically evaluating the best specs for my tonal goals in light of the scale length that it will have. : )
Can you guess any other unique features?
Last edited:
Ha! Thanks for playing and I didn't think about that possibly as a guess.
This one will have the crescent cut like the travel bass (which is not a Monarch) and a Monarch currently at Eddies Guitars (which is not also a headless bass). I'll have to ask Bendy but who knows.. maybe this is a first?
This one will have the crescent cut like the travel bass (which is not a Monarch) and a Monarch currently at Eddies Guitars (which is not also a headless bass). I'll have to ask Bendy but who knows.. maybe this is a first?
I *kinda* figured from the shape but wasn't sure about the control cavity outline which would seemingly run outside of that... but I'm sure it would work out fine.
That top looks crazy nice, it would be rude *not* to post it!
That top looks crazy nice, it would be rude *not* to post it!
Candidly I don't quite understand how they're still promising to fit a preamp and controls in there but I just chalk it up to casual manipulation of the laws of physics. Which seems about par for the course their wizardry.
I'm pretty stoked on that option. I told Bendy I wanted a bass that lent well to the "Captain Morgan stance." Where I can prop a leg up to let the bass rest and take some weight off while still standing. Yarghh!
I'm pretty stoked on that option. I told Bendy I wanted a bass that lent well to the "Captain Morgan stance." Where I can prop a leg up to let the bass rest and take some weight off while still standing. Yarghh!
Last edited:
I'm definitely a fan of the idea of going with walnut body, alder tone block, and an indian rosewood fretboard. Or maybe ash body, alder tone block, and indian rosewood fretboard.
I'm going with walnut body wings, alder tone block, and ebony fretboard on my upcoming Mini MG6.
I dig the crescent cut on your mockup! That combined with the short scale will make a very comfortable and playable bass.
Love the theoretical sounds of those wood combos! Hopefully moving to the EMGs/headless/crescent puts some walnut into consideration. My only reference for EMGs in-hand is with the ebony board in the YYS. I have been curious about the EMG Indian rosewood pairing, but I've only heard clips from a few of those basses that aren't Victor Wooten Classics (been listening to sound clips nonstop anywhere I can find them and reflecting back on the three Fodera's I've owned). There's definitely a bit of known-quantity factor I may need to get comfortable moving beyond. Rosewood would be best for weight..
I owned a Fodera with a lighter weight walnut body and an Indian rosewood board. I tried various pickups (Aguilar DCBS, Duncans, Bartolinis - the ones I didn't try were EMGs as they didn't fit) which I swapped out to try to give more grit to the sound. In the end though I gave up and sold it. I now have a very heavyweight walnut bodied bass with a Madagascar kingwood board which has grit and treble for days.
If you're trying to keep the weight down and use rosewood, I think alder would be a good choice for the body, perhaps with a limba tone block. A maple fretboard would also go well with an alder body and should be lighter than Indian rosewood.
Yeah I'm not sure if I want to go as warm as alder rosewood. I had an ash Monarch Standard Special (first edition, back in 2014 or so) which I liked - nice immediacy on the attack, but was about as warm as I'd generally like to go. I'm hoping that by switching to EMGs I can go with at least some of the denser woods. A bit of research on densities makes me hopeful it may only be a 6-7 oz change on these specs from rosewood to ebony. If the Duncan to EMG difference is close to a full pound I could probably squeeze in an ebony board. Will let everyone know what I learn from the shop. But, any general thoughts on what would make for more articulate short scale while still using at least two lighter woods (out of body, block and board) are welcome. It's all trade offs, but I'm hoping to find something that fits that bill while having a fairly balanced tone.
I've never had a maple board bass stick around long, but those weren't customs with the ability to choose what to pair with them..
I've never had a maple board bass stick around long, but those weren't customs with the ability to choose what to pair with them..
Last edited:
Think I've decided to go Alder Body and Ebony board. Switching to EMGs offsets the weight of ebony (at least with the narrow spacing and smaller scale), and alder is a bit lighter than ash (which I initially planned when I thought I was going rosewood). So, I may have a few ounces to play with and still come in where I need to be.
Just need to decide on a tone block. Limba or Mahogany would probably be best for weight. Maybe I can squeak by with using Maple or Walnut (though, may be more weight than I want to add). Anyone have thoughts on the final seasoning?
Alder/Ebony/EMGs is tried and true, so I don't think I can go too wrong. I play mostly world/fusion/jam style and use my bass as my main writing instrument and solo-arrangement muse. I also make music for assisted therapies and meditation/mindfulness type settings, so the bass is often featured among a fair amount of sonic space surrounding it. Richness and "aliveness" in the tone is always welcome in those settings. Thanks all!
Just need to decide on a tone block. Limba or Mahogany would probably be best for weight. Maybe I can squeak by with using Maple or Walnut (though, may be more weight than I want to add). Anyone have thoughts on the final seasoning?
Alder/Ebony/EMGs is tried and true, so I don't think I can go too wrong. I play mostly world/fusion/jam style and use my bass as my main writing instrument and solo-arrangement muse. I also make music for assisted therapies and meditation/mindfulness type settings, so the bass is often featured among a fair amount of sonic space surrounding it. Richness and "aliveness" in the tone is always welcome in those settings. Thanks all!
I love Alder/Ebony as well. Personally, I'd opt for a Mahogany tone block... but I haven't heard Limba! I think Walnut would be a good choice too.
Does ebony really make that much of a difference in weight compared to other fingerboards?
It's not huge. But the bass I'm spec'ing is equal parts medical device as instrument at this point. A framing that is not only true but has the added benefit of helping me justify the cost.
It's an odd situation. Back and nerve problems that also require I play pretty much exclusively standing. All ounces matter and the less of them helps me stay playing.
This is such a cheap answer.. but really as light as possible. I don't think there are a lot of reference points for a build like this, so it's even less of an exact science than normal (which we all know isn't an exact science at all). For instance, how much does the crescent cut save on a 30.75''/smaller bodied headless made from alder and one of the lightest top woods available? I don't think anyone knows. Usually people who choose 30.75'' and headless select tone woods specifically to add mass, whereas I'm the opposite. It's all pretty unconventional and I haven't really been asking the shop to project much. It's just "heavier vs. lighter" option spec'ing and working backwards on what I think I'll like best from there (whether I think the addition of something with mass will ultimately be worth it, separate and apart from the numbers). There's no other company I'd want to do this build so whatever they kick out I'll be thankful for.
Latest posts
-
-
Band becoming LLC, paying members as contractors... Run, or okay?- Latest: buldog5151bass
-
-
-
