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Les Claypool's New Bass!

#122
Steve9842008 said:
Yeah, Carl is still making basses.

I don't really agree too much with the rest of your post. Stuff like the Flea bass and the Geddy Lee Jazz are made to be affordable. Hardly any of us can eve afford a regular, non-frills Carl Thompson. You can't expect Carl to pump out a ton of Les Claypool signature basses (which wouldn't be possible, it already takes him about a year or two to make basses due to how many orders he already has) that would most likely run $4,000+.

Seems like Les is thinking about making a short production run of an affordable bass (I mean affordable as in not $4,000 or more dollars a full CT would run you, depending on what you want). I don't get why you people see the need to harp on him for that.

About his records not selling well...the last record came out in 2009, which was a solo effort. The last Primus album came out in 1999. His solo stuff definitely draws a different, but smaller audience compared to Primus. That hasn't stopped Les from touring every year since Primus broke up, along with directing/acting in his movie, writing his novel, and all the various solo albums he's put out. Primus is releasing an album in a few months and will tour to support that (they've already toured twice since July). It's definitely not about the money.
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I dig your positivity!

S.
 
#123
Les designed the bass with the help of one of his luthier friends ... he apparently wanted something that used nice tonewoods, but was a little more straight forward than his CT's .... i was there on NYE and personally i think it sounded much better than his new CT copy of his main 4 string.... i was real supprised to see the p-bass p-up & the fender style headstock...

What he said is they might make some more to either give away or sell some... its just a thought ... nothing is set in stone...

If they do actually make some ill be first in line :D :D hahah im just hoping they dont skimp on the quality or materials on the other ones ...

I think the bass is beautiful & really matches Les' style and personality.... I think the dude is up to about 6 main 4-strings now .. almost everytime i see him hes got some new toy///

ALSO THE DEAD KENNY G's shredded everyones face off that night... Brad Houser is really an amazing player and has a wonderful style ... I got a good look at his hollowbody Lakland and that thing,,, WOW>. talk about a great instrument ...
 
#131
This from Prawn song fan newsletter...


Since the New Year's Shows there has been a lot of speculation about my new four string bass that I was sporting. What I played at those shows was a semi-finished prototype bass that I designed and had built by my old pal Dan Maloney. I've known Dan since high school and in fact it was he that drove all of us to my first concert: Rush, Hemispheres Tour, Cow Palace. I slammed three beers and threw up in the parking lot. Those were the days. Dan is also known in our camp as the guy that built my banjo bass or "The Banji".

The design is something I've been working on for quite some time. Having had the opportunity to play many exceptional instruments over the years I've been able to incorporate elements of some of my favorites. Besides my own design fanciness, it is part Fender Jazz Bass, Precision, Rickenbacker 4001, Carl Thompson, Jaguar E-Type (yes, the car) and a bit of Dr. Suess. I've been playing it everyday in the studio and I must say it is the smoothest bass to play and it has a very punchy sound. I've never had such an easy time getting bass tones in the studio before. At this point I am refining the shape and, much to Dan's chagrin, I've been carving away at it with my fancy new Japanese files and rasps to get it to conform to the body in the most comfortable way. I am a picky bastard and for me to put my Carl Thompson aside, this has got to be an exceptional instrument. Some may wonder why I didn't have Carl make the instrument and the answer is that Carl is a unique artist and his designs stand on their own. Carl's instruments are beautiful because they are all unique unto themselves. He is the Picasso of bass design and in my opinion, the best bass luthier on the planet.

Ideally some of these instruments I'm developing will be available at some point but I want to work with and refine the bass for a while before we start selling them. These will be quality instruments and quality takes time, care and fancy materials (mine has diamonds in the neck). If interested, keep your eyes peeled for further developments.


I figure thats why it looks so rough...
 
#133
Uhmm.. So judging by the statement this isn't something most people will be able to afford. Single luthier and "maybe some for sale" = $$$$. Price wise, that is. I doubt Les is making anything from this.

So these basses will most likely end up to wealthy collectors and hardcore Les Claypool fans who are willing to sell their kidneys for one. Since I'm neither of those things, I'll just have to say too bad since I've always wanted a short scale slap happy bass with a long fretboard and close string spacing.
 
#134
Kipaste said:
Uhmm.. So judging by the statement this isn't something most people will be able to afford. Single luthier and "maybe some for sale" = $$$$. Price wise, that is. I doubt Les is making anything from this.

So these basses will most likely end up to wealthy collectors and hardcore Les Claypool fans who are willing to sell their kidneys for one. Since I'm neither of those things, I'll just have to say too bad since I've always wanted a short scale slap happy bass with a long fretboard and close string spacing.
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I think they won't be too bad of a price. That was Claypool talking, I mean seriously he said there are diamonds in it. If he wanted to make ones that cost a ton he would have commissioned Carl Thompson.
 
#136
Spinal Tapper said:
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Looks like an un-contoured CT bass...kinda cool...if it's inexpensive.
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sorta OT, but these pics were taken by one of my best friends, Richard Haick. you can see his photo byline if you click the link on the 4th post.

that just tickles me.
 
#137
Rick4003 said:
This from Prawn song fan newsletter...


Since the New Year's Shows there has been a lot of speculation about my new four string bass that I was sporting. What I played at those shows was a semi-finished prototype bass that I designed and had built by my old pal Dan Maloney. I've known Dan since high school and in fact it was he that drove all of us to my first concert: Rush, Hemispheres Tour, Cow Palace. I slammed three beers and threw up in the parking lot. Those were the days. Dan is also known in our camp as the guy that built my banjo bass or "The Banji".

The design is something I've been working on for quite some time. Having had the opportunity to play many exceptional instruments over the years I've been able to incorporate elements of some of my favorites. Besides my own design fanciness, it is part Fender Jazz Bass, Precision, Rickenbacker 4001, Carl Thompson, Jaguar E-Type (yes, the car) and a bit of Dr. Suess. I've been playing it everyday in the studio and I must say it is the smoothest bass to play and it has a very punchy sound. I've never had such an easy time getting bass tones in the studio before. At this point I am refining the shape and, much to Dan's chagrin, I've been carving away at it with my fancy new Japanese files and rasps to get it to conform to the body in the most comfortable way. I am a picky bastard and for me to put my Carl Thompson aside, this has got to be an exceptional instrument. Some may wonder why I didn't have Carl make the instrument and the answer is that Carl is a unique artist and his designs stand on their own. Carl's instruments are beautiful because they are all unique unto themselves. He is the Picasso of bass design and in my opinion, the best bass luthier on the planet.

Ideally some of these instruments I'm developing will be available at some point but I want to work with and refine the bass for a while before we start selling them. These will be quality instruments and quality takes time, care and fancy materials (mine has diamonds in the neck). If interested, keep your eyes peeled for further developments.


I figure thats why it looks so rough...
Click to expand...

Thanks! From the horse's mouth. I was about to do just the same posting.

Why is it everyone immediately jumps on the "this guy must need money" criticism bandwagon just because an artist wants to put out a production bass?

Les has repeatedly said that he isn't in need of money.

If you don't like the design, then don't buy one. It's as simple as that. :p
 
#138
Spinal Tapper said:
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Looks like an un-contoured CT bass...kinda cool...if it's inexpensive.
Click to expand...

Hey! Thaks for using my photos of Les Claypool from the NYE shows at the Fox. Yes, me! I took those. Aren't they spiffy? Let me see if I can find out who makes that bass. I thought it was a Carl Thompson, but could be very wrong.
 

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