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NBD - 38" Scale 6 string (Carl Thompson Content)
- Thread starter Zentner
- Start date
I bought 30 sets of CT stings with the bass- in fact I had to for Carl to make the bass for me- he doesn't keep 6 string sets in stock at that scale length.
I'm not sure I understand the question about the D and G strings- they are intonated properly.
38 scale, that must be tough to play... whats your style, you primarily going to use the bass for solo tapping style stuff or do you plan to cover a lot of ground?
Sweet! But how is the string tension? I imagine... quite high. Does this make the tone overly bright or anything of the sort? I know it would take some getting used to as far as playing goes (for me..)
Dunno why someone would want such a long scale. But looks like a nice bass. What major string brands make strings that can be used on this bass?
In the floor photos the D and G saddles are set further back. They also have black ball ends. Just wondering what the difference was.Zentner said:
Just saw this post. Beautiful in an understatement. That low B
must be incredible. Congratulations!
must be incredible. Congratulations!
2 years, 7 months, 8 days after placing my order- I received my dream bass- An instrument built specifically for me in every way imaginable. Every detail of this bass is meticulously crafted to meet Carl's standards, as well as incorporate the ideas and components I requested to make something truly perfect for me. This is not a bass for everyone, but I assure you all it's exactly what I was wanting out of this whole process. This was my first custom build, and I can confidently say I'll be looking for a fretless of the same caliber. Being that I've sold instruments professionally for 6 years, and now help manage a music store- I've seen my fair share of nice gear. I own over 10 basses currently, and this instrument is in a league of it's own. In terms of build quality, the only bass that's close was my Wal (which was sold to fund this build). The weight and playability of this Carl Thompson FAR surpasses that of the Wal, as well as any bass I've ever had the pleasure of playing. It was truly built for my hands.
I flew down to NY to visit Carl this past weekend, watch him play, check out the shop, and pick up my bass. Carl's a real deal musician, and his band was phenomenal. His musicianship shows in everything- from the way he sits in the mix, to his practise routines, to the way he builds his instruments- it's ALL about the music. His shop is clean, organized, and tiny. Joe was in the shop when I visited to help Carl finish the bass and do the final setup.
Specs:
Carl Thompson Custom Bass
38" Scale
17mm spacing at the bridge
Standard 6 Strings tuned C to B
Carl Thompson 30, 45, 65, 85, 105, 130 custom extra super long scale set
Linspeed Oil finish
Two Seymour Duncan 99.9% Silver wound pickups under one cover
Custom passive circuit with Duelund, AudioNote, Alessandro Capacitors, Alessandro Pots
Woods knobs, Strap buttons, Switch tips by THG knobs
Top: Bocote, Gaboon Ebony
Back: Gaboon Ebony, Bolivian Rosewood, Green-dyed Poplar
Cats eyes: Gaboon Ebony, Cocobolo, Pink Ivory
Body: Mahogany
Nameplate: Mahogany, Green-dyed Poplar, Gaboon Ebony
Neck: Port Orford Cedar, Gaboon Ebony, Bolivian Rosewood, MOP side dots
Fretboard: Bloodwood
Bridge: Bloodwood, Pink Ivory, Snakewood, Ebony, Mahogany, Brass, MOP inlay
Nut: Gaboon Ebony, Bocote, Pink Ivory
Headstock:Bocote, Flame Maple, Mahogany, Bolivian rosewood
Heel Block: Bolivian Rosewood
Strap Button Stripe: Gaboon Ebony, Pink Ivory
Truss Rod Cover: Gaboon Ebony, Bolivian rosewood, Bocote, Pink Ivory
Pickup Cover: Bocote, Rosewood, Mahogany
Knobs: Gaboon Ebony, Pink Ivory, Cocobolo
Switch tips: Gaboon Ebony, Cocobolo
Strap buttons: Gaboon Ebony, Pink Ivory
Football: Bocote
Control Cover: Bolivian Rosewood, Pink Ivory
And finally, for your viewing pleasure...
I'll take some real pictures of the back when I get it home from work.I need to weigh it as well, but I can't see it being more than 9 pounds. It's extremely lightweight and comfortable to play, despite the huge scale and large body.
Cheers!
And you got what YOU wanted rather than what Carl felt like building for you?
One hears stories like that
.Where are all the sound clips and videos????
Rickett Customs
Commercial User
I can see where folks would question 38" scale being very long, however, take a minute a look where the bridge is located. I order to make that scale length comfortable, the bridge must move further back, so that It really will not seem to be as long as it really is. it is not for specific techniques either.
Thanks again for the kind words guys!
To answer a few questions...
The string tension is high- definitely. It's specifically noticable on the low B, but this bass is so different from anything else I own- it's just a different experience playing it. The action is super low, and it's not like you're playing harder as a result of it being a higher tension string- it's extremely comfortable.
I don't really do any tapping. I play mostly fingerstyle, but I wanted this bass to cover a range of different sounds while staying passive. I understand this isn't really a slapper's bass at 17mm spacing, and it certainly doesn't do that typical jazz bass slap sound- but I'm not really after that. It's deep, somewhat woody, and the treble is focused higher than most basses- so it has a pretty different response from most of my other basses I own (Rics, Fenders, etc. that tend to have their treble focussed more in the high-mids register). I was really wanting to use this bass for chording- I wanted a balanced sound that wasn't over-the-top agressive, but still retained tons of low end. This was my issue with most basses- the low B and E are super loud, but the other strings aren't balanced. This bass has supplied me with all the low end I want without EQing, and I can still hear my G and C strings ring out- and they're not twangy or thin sounding!
That said- The reason for a 38" in the first place was the low B, and the low B is outstanding. I specifically like it in series mode with some tone rolled off- it's really fat and thick. I had a sound in my head that I wanted to acheive with this bass- and it does this sound EXACTLY. One of my favorite composers, and I was almost convinced that this bass sound was a computer program until I got this bass.
03 - Power of Denial - YouTube
I actually sent that link to Kevin Beller (Chief of Engineering at Seymour Duncan) and asked him to make me a pickup that will do THAT bass sound. That's the sound I heard in my head as a 38" scale, and that's the sound I get out of it.
As for the D and G strings- they aren't any different. I know they have black balls- I think they're just a different run of string (Carl just keeps his strings in tubes, I think I saw brass and chrome colored balls too, but they should all be the same strings).
I'm going to take some pictures of it sitting on my lap looking down so you can all see the reach to the first fret. I'll also take pictures of some of my other basses so you can all compare how they sit- I've gotten alot of questions about this.
I accurately weighted it too- 8.9lbs. So very comfortable for a 6er.
To answer a few questions...
The string tension is high- definitely. It's specifically noticable on the low B, but this bass is so different from anything else I own- it's just a different experience playing it. The action is super low, and it's not like you're playing harder as a result of it being a higher tension string- it's extremely comfortable.
I don't really do any tapping. I play mostly fingerstyle, but I wanted this bass to cover a range of different sounds while staying passive. I understand this isn't really a slapper's bass at 17mm spacing, and it certainly doesn't do that typical jazz bass slap sound- but I'm not really after that. It's deep, somewhat woody, and the treble is focused higher than most basses- so it has a pretty different response from most of my other basses I own (Rics, Fenders, etc. that tend to have their treble focussed more in the high-mids register). I was really wanting to use this bass for chording- I wanted a balanced sound that wasn't over-the-top agressive, but still retained tons of low end. This was my issue with most basses- the low B and E are super loud, but the other strings aren't balanced. This bass has supplied me with all the low end I want without EQing, and I can still hear my G and C strings ring out- and they're not twangy or thin sounding!
That said- The reason for a 38" in the first place was the low B, and the low B is outstanding. I specifically like it in series mode with some tone rolled off- it's really fat and thick. I had a sound in my head that I wanted to acheive with this bass- and it does this sound EXACTLY. One of my favorite composers, and I was almost convinced that this bass sound was a computer program until I got this bass.
03 - Power of Denial - YouTube
I actually sent that link to Kevin Beller (Chief of Engineering at Seymour Duncan) and asked him to make me a pickup that will do THAT bass sound. That's the sound I heard in my head as a 38" scale, and that's the sound I get out of it.
As for the D and G strings- they aren't any different. I know they have black balls- I think they're just a different run of string (Carl just keeps his strings in tubes, I think I saw brass and chrome colored balls too, but they should all be the same strings).
I'm going to take some pictures of it sitting on my lap looking down so you can all see the reach to the first fret. I'll also take pictures of some of my other basses so you can all compare how they sit- I've gotten alot of questions about this.
I accurately weighted it too- 8.9lbs. So very comfortable for a 6er.
That bass deserves to be in some kind of centerfold. 
Nice!
Could you take a pic of this bass alongside a regular ol' 34" scale bass with the nuts lined up se we can compare how far of a reach the 1st frets are from the bodies? I bet they're pretty similar because of that very intelligent placement of the bridge. (Beat me to it, RC!) It'd be a great illustration of how longer scale instruments can be designed to be easier to play than you might think.
But anyways, just... wow. I can understand people not loving the CT style, but I'll never understand people trying to bag on the quality of CT basses. (And CT is pretty much from my hometown!
)
Nice!Could you take a pic of this bass alongside a regular ol' 34" scale bass with the nuts lined up se we can compare how far of a reach the 1st frets are from the bodies? I bet they're pretty similar because of that very intelligent placement of the bridge. (Beat me to it, RC!) It'd be a great illustration of how longer scale instruments can be designed to be easier to play than you might think.
But anyways, just... wow. I can understand people not loving the CT style, but I'll never understand people trying to bag on the quality of CT basses. (And CT is pretty much from my hometown!
)
