LowWay's 5th 30" Bordwell Build Thread

[LowWay]

Greetings fellow bass gear lovers. I thought I'd post a build thread for my next build with Cliff Bordwell. This will be my 5th 30" 4 string with him.

I am building with a body of lightweight spanish cedar, a neck and fretboard of roasted flame maple, black Gotoh resolite tuners and Hipshot Type A bridge. Dola body shape.

Targeting a 6.5 pound finished weight.

The pickups will be 3 dagstars. These are bisonics based on the traditions of Hagstrom. I will be using a Freeway 6 position switch, and will have a phase reversal switch for the middle pickup. Three volumes and one tone. The top is Stabilized and dyed redwood burl.

We're about 13-14 weeks out from a NBD.

Some initial pics:

 

[LowWay]

neck blank:

 

[GHOST AT]

Oh my God that top is is one in a million! I think I remember on a previous build, you bought these tops from a guy in England?

 

[LowWay]

I did buy a previous top from a guy in england. This guy was in the US. And Cliff is building with 2 of these in this batch I think. Me and another TBer both got similar tops from the same guy and are in the same build batch. So 2 in a million?

SecretStashHardwood on instagram to see his amazing tops.

 

[eude]

Awesome

 

[scottm]

That dyed redwood burl is gorgeous


-ScottM

 

[mikezimmerman]

Always a fan of Cliff's work, and I'm sure it will be spectacular!

 

[manchego_eggo]

another brilliant build, how is the phase switch meant to help with the three way switching?

 

[LowWay]

It came recommended by Roger Daguet. It allows out of phase between the middle and either outside pickup. We’ll see what that brings for tones.

 

[BassicJazzy]

Wow, what an incredible piece of wood that top is! I cannot wait to see the finished product.

 

[burgerdj]

Bonkers wood! Can’t wait to see the finished product!

 

[mikezimmerman]

With a 3-pickup build, it might be worth looking at this McGrath rotary switch: McGrath Guitars 12-Way Rotary Selector Switch

 

[jaydubby]

I did buy a previous top from a guy in england. This guy was in the US. And Cliff is building with 2 of these in this batch I think. Me and another TBer both got similar tops from the same guy and are in the same build batch. So 2 in a million?

SecretStashHardwood on instagram to see his amazing tops.

That'd be me! Stoked we ended up in the same build. Funny how those things happen

 

[LowWay]

With a 3-pickup build, it might be worth looking at this McGrath rotary switch: McGrath Guitars 12-Way Rotary Selector Switch

Too late. But the freeway gets me everything I would need or want. I’ll be posting a schematic soon.

 

[LowWay]

That'd be me! Stoked we ended up in the same build. Funny how those things happen

Get a build thread going!

 

[Ricky Rioli]

With a 3-pickup build, it might be worth looking at this McGrath rotary switch: McGrath Guitars 12-Way Rotary Selector Switch

I was watching the demo of that switch yesterday. Seemed an alluring way of driving yourself crazy.

 

[LowWay]

Just a couple shots from the shop.

 

[jaydubby]

Just a couple shots from the shop.

View attachment 7538620View attachment 7538621

Loving this!

 

[LowWay]

Spanish cedar body blank today:

 

[Matt Power]

Spanish cedar has replaced alder as my favorite go-to body wood for lightness, punch, and warmth. I have had 3 or 4 Bordwell basses built with them, none over 8.5 pounds.