Jake Kot CH-3 prototype

[Wonder]

Well, I've put this off for MANY MOONS (I got this beauty last July) so I guess it's about time I give it a review. This bass satisfies EVERY facet I look for in a bass!!! Playability, Tonally, Aesthetically, craftsmanship, balance...what can I say, I'm in Love! It has a Swamp Ash Body (chambered), with a Crotch Walnut top (ebony spacer). The neck is a 5 piece: Wenge, Maple, Bocate, Maple, Wenge, with a Maccasar Ebony Fretboard, Medium jumbo frets, 34" scale.
All black hardware is Hipshot, with ultra light tuners. The headstock is Walnut and Maple with M.O.P. for logo. The controls are neck pup volume (pull up for passive), middle pup vol./bridge pup vol. (stacked) Treble boost/cut, Mid boost/cut, Bass boost/cut All with detents. Tone enhancer (which works in passive mode also) Micro switches are Bass boost, 3 position mid switch, Treble boost. The pickups where custom wrapped for Jake by Bill Bartolini and the 18v preamp is also a one of a kind installed by Bill. Whew

This bass plays like a dream! Very Low action with no fret buzz. String spacing works for me and it's 1.675" @ the nut. The TONES I can get with this bass are balanced yet have Plenty of PUNCH. It is a Slap Monster and WHEN I learn to do that deftly I'll post a clip. This thing can sound like anything from a Vintage P-Bass to an Alembic. Jake has some AMAZING basses and this one can do it ALL! It weighs about 10.0#s, but that's fine with me.

Here are a couple of pictures:

 

[Wonder]

Pardon my photography

 

[Wonder]

Here's a couple more.

 

[Lokire]

I love it! Nice to see more chambered/hollow basses being made

 

[Wonder]

...here are 2 more.

 

[PilbaraBass]

very interesting bass...very beautiful in it's own way..

body shape is completely unique...I guess that fat upper horn adds a bit to the acoustic sound...

the pickup arrangement is very unique, too...i've seen trip single-coil basses before, but not with two on the tilt.

the electronics controls with a bass boost, 3-position mid, and a treble boost is also unique.

thanks for sharing...

 

[FL Knifemaker]

Beautiful bass!! Does the maker have a website???

 

[Wonder]

Beautiful bass!! Does the maker have a website???

Thanks!

Here's Jakes website: http://www.jakekot.com/

 

[DWBass]

Just wondering what angled pickups add to any bass tonally?

 

[Wonder]

Just wondering what angled pickups add to any bass tonally?

Not sure, technically, how the angle affects the sound, but speaking from a layman's perspective it adds a little more bottom to those pickups. Keith Roscoe could probably give you a technical analysis of how the positioning adds to the tone.

 

[Wonder]

I love it! Nice to see more chambered/hollow basses being made

Thanks! Being chambered adds dimension to the Lows and Low mids, a depth that can not only be heard but felt!

 

[lowrez]

I haven't heard of these. I dig the peghead design though for some reason. Nice looking bass!

 

[arbitrary]

I played one of his ( very possible it was that one) when he first started making them and when I was still taking lessons from him. They are very nice basses (as is yours), but I remember Jake being unsure of the price point. I'll have to go check the site I guess.

Does yours have the bridge with the "faux-fretless" option?

I'm also curious if you know the luthier who made it.

 

[Wonder]

I played one of his ( very possible it was that one) when he first started making them and when I was still taking lessons from him. They are very nice basses (as is yours), but I remember Jake being unsure of the price point. I'll have to go check the site I guess.

To tell you the truth I'm not sure what they're selling for at this point either. Jake told me his webmaster is going to have his new website up in a week or so. Thanks for the kudos! I think I have a Gem!

...BTW Love your Ritter!!! Perhaps someday...