I said "Bring the Big Bass"...

[moonshinegtrs]

I have no information on this monstrosity. I purchased it off of the Brooklyn C.L. almost a year ago. I fell in love with it the minute I saw it. The owner packed it up for shipping by putting it in a Bicycle box, framing it with wood then after putting the bass itself in a plastic bag he filled the box with expanding foam.

When he went to ship it he found out that it would cost more than the price I paid for it to ship it. I then told him that I had a bass that had been ordered by a really cool guy in New Jersey and I decided to kill two birds with one stone... I would deliver the bass to New Jersey (driving up from Nashville) and the pick up the acoustic bass from my new friend (What a cool Dude, very involved in the N.Y. jazz scene for many years).

All I know about it is that is was most likely made in the early 60's (late 50's?). It is well made and definitely not a Hispanic/classical style instrument. The interior is ladder braced and there is almost no neck angle. The tailpiece is hand made from brass tubing and rod and I believe that the tuners may even be hand made. The fretboard is painted black (most likely maple).

The bass is loud but the lower frequencies have less volume. I believe that resetting the neck (adding more of an angle) along with possible reworking the top bracing would provide more volume (and more bass frequencies).

I am currently backlogged and not accepting new orders so there is no time for "personal projects"... That sucks but at least I have it in my shop.

I am going to have to build a special stand just to display the damn thing.

Moonshine

 

[jd56hawk]

Pics?

 

[moonshinegtrs]

Pics?

Patience...

 

[FRoss6788]

Um.....
Am I the only one reeeally diggin that J?

 

[joel406]

I don't know..

Should I laugh or cry?

 

[2cooltoolz]

Um.....
Am I the only one reeeally diggin that J?

Uh, no. You're not.

 

[GretschWretch]

Paddle tuners say it's old, like many decades old. Nine frets to the body suggest the neck/body proportions are based on those of a double bass. Headstock to me suggests Mexican. Body depth, seven to eight inches? Mensure . . . ?

Possibly and alternative to the guitarron?

 

[mikeoso]

I may be able to offer a possibility. The bass has some similarities to MY big bass (left).

Slothead, short scale, ladder braced, huge body...25x19x6...stringthrough rather than trapeze...is your saddle movable? Mine is. Also, there's a brace ring inside the soundhole. The heel of yours looks much like mine, and the carve at the back where neck joins headstock is identical.

So, here's the thing... mine was made by a Portuguese guy from the Azores. He lives in Rhode island, and is prominent in Portuguese fado music. The bass was made to be used in that genre. When I got it, the saddle was very low, almost no string relief, lightest bronze strings available.

The headstock on yours looks kind of like some Portuguese ones I've seen...so, maybe a fado bass from an earlier generation? That's all I got.

 

[GretschWretch]

I may be able to offer a possibility. The bass has some similarities to MY big bass (left).
View attachment 3547032
Slothead, short scale, ladder braced, huge body...25x19x6...stringthrough rather than trapeze...is your saddle movable? Mine is. Also, there's a brace ring inside the soundhole. The heel of yours looks much like mine, and the carve at the back where neck joins headstock is identical.

So, here's the thing... mine was made by a Portuguese guy from the Azores. He lives in Rhode island, and is prominent in Portuguese fado music. The bass was made to be used in that genre. When I got it, the saddle was very low, almost no string relief, lightest bronze strings available.

The headstock on yours looks kind of like some Portuguese ones I've seen...so, maybe a fado bass from an earlier generation? That's all I got.

I think this is a pretty good "got."

 

[moonshinegtrs]

I may be able to offer a possibility. The bass has some similarities to MY big bass (left).
View attachment 3547032
Slothead, short scale, ladder braced, huge body...25x19x6...stringthrough rather than trapeze...is your saddle movable? Mine is. Also, there's a brace ring inside the soundhole. The heel of yours looks much like mine, and the carve at the back where neck joins headstock is identical.

So, here's the thing... mine was made by a Portuguese guy from the Azores. He lives in Rhode island, and is prominent in Portuguese fado music. The bass was made to be used in that genre. When I got it, the saddle was very low, almost no string relief, lightest bronze strings available.

The headstock on yours looks kind of like some Portuguese ones I've seen...so, maybe a fado bass from an earlier generation? That's all I got.

I think we have a winner!

Everything you mentioned fits in with my bass though I think mine has a longer scale ( I need to measure it).

Thanks!

Moonshine

 

[mikeoso]

I think we have a winner!

Everything you mentioned fits in with my bass though I think mine has a longer scale ( I need to measure it).

Thanks!

Moonshine

I maybe shouldnt have said "short scale"...mine is 32"

 

[yodedude2]

wikipedia says: "Viola baixo: a four-string Portuguese version of acoustic bass guitar developed during the 1960s. More recently a double bass may be used instead. Fado (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈfaðu]; "destiny, fate") is a music genre that can be traced to the 1820s in Lisbon, Portugal, but probably has much earlier origins."

 

[magnaton]

Can we talk about that J?

 

[Volker Kirstein]

Um.....
Am I the only one reeeally diggin that J?

Uh, no. You're not.

Can we talk about that J?

The Fado bass is beautiful. I wish you much joy in the restorations/alterations, and bliss in playing it.

But...

I concur with the peanut gallery. Please, tell us more about that gorgeous J relic!

 

[Lammchop93]

I want to hear more about that seafoam Fender....

 

[juggahnaught]

The bass is loud but the lower frequencies have less volume. I believe that resetting the neck (adding more of an angle) along with possible reworking the top bracing would provide more volume (and more bass frequencies).

If your bass sounds like the on in the video above -

- don't change it!

It has a really articulate sound - I doubt it's supposed to sound like a modern bass or double bass. It seems that it's supposed to sound like a large, low guitar. It's also possible that it's voiced to be stronger in the middle range of its playable notes, unlike the "hammer the open E" electric bass mentality.

Just my thoughts!

 

[mikeoso]

I'd add that I put a much taller saddle on mine, shimmed the nut by a hair, and changed it to LaBella tapewounds. The E isnt quite as loud as the other strings, to be expected, but it pumps enough to get heard in an Old Time jam circle. I'm curious about the dimensions on yours.

 

[moonshinegtrs]

Can we talk about that J?

I'm not allowed to...

Unless someone else posts a thread and asked specific questions about it... I would love to but I'm trying very hard to keep within the rules set here at TB regarding commercial users.

My Facebook page is: Moonshine Custom Guitars

Mods: I hope this is okay. Not trying to cause and/or get into trouble.


Moonshine

 

[moonshinegtrs]

The Fado bass is beautiful. I wish you much joy in the restorations/alterations, and bliss in playing it.

But...

I concur with the peanut gallery. Please, tell us more about that gorgeous J relic!

It is the first bass I built in what has turned into my Rat Rod Series of relic'd instruments. It is my personal instrument and is the only one with that headstock shape/decal; all others have my MCG headstocks and decals.

More pics are available on my Facebook page: Moonshine Custom Guitars

I have a new website: moonshineguitars.com I am still adding content on it.

Please message me for more details.

I do not want to cross any lines in regards to my commercial builder status... I do like being here.


Moonshine

 

[moonshinegtrs]

If your bass sounds like the on in the video above -



- don't change it!

It has a really articulate sound - I doubt it's supposed to sound like a modern bass or double bass. It seems that it's supposed to sound like a large, low guitar. It's also possible that it's voiced to be stronger in the middle range of its playable notes, unlike the "hammer the open E" electric bass mentality.

Just my thoughts!

I have to agree with you... You are correct that the middle range is it's strong point. The bass in the video sounded beautiful.

I was planning on modding it but now that I know more about it I think it would be best to leave it as is and restore/set up the bass.


Moonshine