From This to This

[Steve Burke]

The Phoenix - This beautiful Acoustic Bass was commissioned by and custom built for Jonathan Kessler. We worked together to develop the blueprint and look of the instrument.

It is a 5 string fretless bass with a 34" Scale. It has a total length of 49", width of almost 12" and a depth at the tail of a little over 5" giving it's voice volume and sustain. It has a walnut arm bevel to allow for comfort while playing.

It has a custom shape, flame shaped offset sound holes, and a side sound port to enhance the sound for the player.

It is build from quality woods consisting of a top of Fine Grain Engleman Spruce, a back of Claro Walnut and Sides of Bastogne Walnut. It has a high gloss epoxied Ebony fretboard with custom fret marker and side markers.

It's hardware consists of Gotoh Compact Bass Tuners, dual action truss rod, ebony bridge with Bone Nut and Saddle.

It is equipped with a K&K Pure Mini Bass Guitar Pickup.

Finally it has an inlaid Phoenix on the bottom of the neck heel.

Jonathan has tried several string combinations finally settling on Roto Sound Tape Wounds to get the sound he prefers.

You can see it being played at

For more pictures and specifications, go to www.burkeguitar.com

 

[bholder]

I was just trying to remember which user here got that bass, then I hear the parrots!

 

[bholder]

Oh and as a certifiable ABG addict myself - that's one sweet sounding bass and some very nice playing!

 

[Beej]

Last thing I want to do is discourage, but as per the commercial user policy rules, you have to post up build process pics in this sub forum. And please do as I'd like to see them and don't want to see this thread deleted as spam.

 

[Steve Burke]

Here are some. This instrument is sold already

 

[James Collins]

What type of bracing is it? I'm not familiar enough with acoustic bass guitar bracing.

And the neck joint is glued or bolted? I used to think so lowly of bolt ons in this type of build until I tried one.

 

[bholder]

Just to complete the loop, owner's NBD thread here: NBD - The Phoenix ABG

So sweet. I want one.

 

[Steve Burke]

What type of bracing is it? I'm not familiar enough with acoustic bass guitar bracing.

And the neck joint is glued or bolted? I used to think so lowly of bolt ons in this type of build until I tried one.

The top has a custom radial type bracing with sound focus to the bridge area and lower bout. It is a dovetail joint at neck, glued.

 

[Beej]

Here are some. This instrument is sold alreadyView attachment 4434473 View attachment 4434476 View attachment 4434480 View attachment 4434482 View attachment 4434484 View attachment 4434485 View attachment 4434486 View attachment 4434487 View attachment 4434488 View attachment 4434489 View attachment 4434490 View attachment 4434491 View attachment 4434492 View attachment 4434493 View attachment 4434494 View attachment 4434495 View attachment 4434496 View attachment 4434497 View attachment 4434498 View attachment 4434499 View attachment 4434500 View attachment 4434501 View attachment 4434502 View attachment 4434503 View attachment 4434504 View attachment 4434505 View attachment 4434506 View attachment 4434507 View attachment 4434508

And they do not disappoint. Nice work!

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Schweet!!! I loves me some walnut and that is some nice looking walnut.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Wow!! Just wow Steve!! What a piece!

 

[Kaa]

That upper bout forearm bevel is pretty slick.