Hello Everybody, I just joined the forum and love it. I've been a bassist for about 15 years mainly in the rock/jazz genre. My main bass for years was a Spector NS2, then I had to part with it. Spent many years bassless then bought a Warwick Streamer LX 5 string ...which I love. But I have been intrigued by fretless bass for years, but couldn't justify buying one. Well, what I did was I started to build my own, took me about 9 months (worked on it only a couple of hours a week). Well, here are a couple of pics, please comment.
Total respect for putting that together! Must have been really tricky project. Most importantly how does it sound? Have you any sound clips anywhere? Well done!! Steve
First of all, welcome to TalkBass! Congratulations, the bass looks great. Can you say a little more about it? What electronics, woods, hardware, etc... It would be really cool if you could get some soundclips.
well, I'm not sure if I can post mp3s in here, any ideas, maybe I can email it to someone so they can post. Anyway, the bass was built from 100% brazilian wood (minus the cocobolo board). Here's the specs: * cocobolo fingerboard with pau ferro binding. * 5 piece ipe/jatoba neck * mahogany body with jatoba center runner and flamed imbuya top (and matching head plate) * EMG-HZ 45 pickup (100% passive, the switch is a coil splitter and the pot is volume) * Gotoh Tuners * All parts heavy bridge * it's got Smith Rock Master strings And if I may say so myself, it sounds amazing, I really can't believe the bass came out with such an amazing sound, even more considering I have had no previous woodworking experience. I did have a lot of help from the guys at mimf.com and Melvin Hiscock's book. mp3 anyone?
Here is Wilser's MP3... I'm at work so I haven't heard it yet. He asked I link it with that text. I'll check it out later!
MUAH here as well. I like the look of it; not bad for a first time. What basses inspired you to build it like that?
Firstly, very good solid groove playing. I like how you resisted overplaying but I could tell you wanted to add some more flavor in there! Question, is that bridge inset into the wood (kinda like how a pickup is)? If so, can't says I've ever seen that before! The bass looks and sounds great! Good job! Now can you build me a fretted 5?
hey by the way how much did it cost to make that, i was thinking of making one a while back never had the money it does sound great good job
wow, thanks for the kind words guys. The bridge is inset about 3/16" I like the feel of the strings close to the body, so I went for that, low action feel. As for the cost, I did have to buy all the tools, since I didn't have any, but for materials and hardware I'd say about 400 US$ As for inspiration, I was really fond of Carl Thompson, Fodera and Carey Nordstrand at the time. BTW, I called it the slim because I built it with a very slim profile, it's a 1" thick mahogany slab with a 1/4" figured imbuya top.