Help Identifying Mystery Bass

[Steve pierce]

Good afternoon (in my neck of the woods). I need help figuring out anything about this elusive bass I’ve acquired. I bought this guy online sight-unseen from a store in Menifee, California. In my gamble I paid off, because it’s a truly fantastic instrument. Aguilar pickups, Seymour Duncan preamp, it is a true feast if you like this genre of instrument. But the only drawback is that there is no identification of who built it or what the origin story is. The store had no information whatsoever on it, and I’d like to try to gather some information if anyone on here has perhaps seen something similar or could point me in a direction. Thanks for the consideration, I’ve attached pictures for reference, cheers!!

 

[mellowgerman]

My guess is this was a Rick-inspired build that got quite heavy, so in an attempt at some weight-relief came the butt-cut and maybe chambering underneath the wenge cap?

Either way, cool bass!

 

[SC Bassboy]

Good afternoon (in my neck of the woods). I need help figuring out anything about this elusive bass I’ve acquired. I bought this guy online sight-unseen from a store in Menifee, California. In my gamble I paid off, because it’s a truly fantastic instrument. Aguilar pickups, Seymour Duncan preamp, it is a true feast if you like this genre of instrument. But the only drawback is that there is no identification of who built it or what the origin story is. The store had no information whatsoever on it, and I’d like to try to gather some information if anyone on here has perhaps seen something similar or could point me in a direction. Thanks for the consideration, I’ve attached pictures for reference, cheers!!View attachment 7534827View attachment 7534828View attachment 7534829View attachment 7534831View attachment 7534832

Seems like these two basses had a baby

 

[basted]

That is one cool looking one of a kind. Enjoy!

 

[Number179]

I don't see any truss rod access, which is odd.

Yea...where's the truss access??

 

[Fender_Bender]

One off. It’s funny he didn’t use pore filler on the wenge, which has lead to the white buffing compound ending up in the pores.

 

[H Nighttrain]

Yeah, like chocolate/yellow cake swirl... unique and very cool.

 

[tsarter]

Intriguing and unique for sure. No idea who might’ve made it though. is it heavy?

 

[BigJohnAZ]

Rickalembicbacker

You totally beat me to it!

 

[Wyvern]

EVERYBODY: take note of the headstock tuner arrangement 2+3. This is THE PROPER headstock tuner arrangement that should be on ALL five-string basses. The B tuner is far enough up the headstock that the string does not bind over the nut, even with this bar string retainer. The G-string doesn't matter, and all the other strings take the leader properly.

Strange that this feature is rare and only on a few instruments.

When I had this built, I made sure it was 2/3 and reverse P

 

[iiipopes]

Strange that this feature is rare and only on a few instruments.

When I had this built, I made sure it was 2/3 and reverse PView attachment 7535701

Yes, because originally the B string was not seen as an integral part of a completely different instrument. It was treated as merely a tack-on. When I got a new neck for my five-string, I specifically spec's the 2+3 tuner arrangement also:

 

[Steve pierce]

Good afternoon (in my neck of the woods). I need help figuring out anything about this elusive bass I’ve acquired. I bought this guy online sight-unseen from a store in Menifee, California. In my gamble I paid off, because it’s a truly fantastic instrument. Aguilar pickups, Seymour Duncan preamp, it is a true feast if you like this genre of instrument. But the only drawback is that there is no identification of who built it or what the origin story is. The store had no information whatsoever on it, and I’d like to try to gather some information if anyone on here has perhaps seen something similar or could point me in a direction. Thanks for the consideration, I’ve attached pictures for reference, cheers!!View attachment 7534827View attachment 7534828View attachment 7534829View attachment 7534831View attachment 7534832

UPDATE: I tracked the builder down to a small luthier from Pennsylvania. Thank you all for the interest, this thing is a work of art, and I am fortunate it ended up in my hands. Cheers!!

 

[11-11]

UPDATE: I tracked the builder down to a small luthier from Pennsylvania. Thank you all for the interest, this thing is a work of art, and I am fortunate it ended up in my hands. Cheers!!

who built it? looks really well done

 

[Benbart]

I'd bet money that that started as a Ric copy that someone milled off the top and back and glued on the Wenge? and Cocobolo? on the back and front and cut out the tail. I don't see any truss rod access, which is odd. Definitely started out as a Ric clone and morphed from there.

I am the builder of this bass, it was my first attempt at building. I was always a fan of anything Rickenbacker but I also wanted a five string and that is how that evolved. Good eye regarding the truss Rod access, however I decided I did not want a truss Rod cover or the exposed truss rod so there is a channel through the headstock and I sold it with a long T-handle ball end wrench. Probably not the the best idea but it worked well.
Cheers
Ben Bartlett

 

[Metal Sombreros]

Looks like a quality build thats been played