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(NBD) How do you say "A custom perfect for me" ????

Avezzano

Avezzano

Feb 8, 2000
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Avezzano AQ (Italy)
#1
So, I have no special "super-picky" requirements in my head as for basses; I still think that the sound is in your fingers. Any good bass is good enough for me. And six strings are decidedly not for me. Gone there, done that long ago. Go figure a six fretless... naaaa, blaaaaah!!! Then I went to visit the shop of this young wizard that is placed at... 400 meters from home. He makes these incredible instruments; I started noodlin' with his stuff and trying basses and I just fell in love with a fretless sixer (unlined, with active electronics). As you can imagine, having only something like 16 basses at home I couldn't just pass ordering one more!

Then after a couple of months here it is below: 34" scale, high quality ash body, bridge and pickup cover; macassar high density ebony for the (wooden lined) board and maple for the neck. Tusk for the nut. The bridge is just placed in the routing, kept in place from the strings pressure. No screws are compromising the vibration transfer from the strings to the body. The oval Meridian brand at the end of the 24 frets board is kept by magnets, it's removable to adjust the truss rod. I did not want any electronics, not even a tone control. The pickup is a Alnico humbucker made by Mama's pickups here in Italy and the result is spectacular: analitic, defined, powerful and rich of harmonics. It's an instrument that does not forgive you anything. For the moment it's still a bit "dry", due to the brilliance of the ash and the fresh strings; it will sure mellow out with time. Happy. :)

WWW.MERIDIANGUITARS.COM

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#5
Yes, no glue or anything: surface onto surface. How is a wooden bridge kept in place on any hi quality archtop? Strings pressure!!! :)

The cavity is so big because the body is the standard one, made by his woodworking machine. That is not bad anyhow, because in the future you might change your mind, you know...
 
#13
Thanks, guys!!! Pricing is according to the options, since every instrument is made according to your request. I would say afaik that a standard 4 strings jazz (way better than a standard usa jazz) costs around 1400. My own bass is 2400 euro. Worth every cent. If you add the preamp in any case does not cost much more, very possibly it will cost just the same price as well. A lot of the price, given first quality materials, is the huge amount of work and care that Davide puts in every instrument he makes: one man shop plus a trusty collegue for the electronics.

These below are for sale (new, very limited production) in a regular shop in central Italy

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#14
Avezzano said:
Thanks, guys!!! Pricing is according to the options, since every instrument is made according to your request. I would say afaik that a standard 4 strings jazz (way better than a standard usa jazz) costs around 1400. My own bass is 2400 euro. Worth every cent. If you add the preamp in any case does not cost much more, very possibly it will cost just the same price as well. A lot of the price, given first quality materials, is the huge amount of work and care that Davide puts in every instrument he makes: one man shop plus a trusty collegue for the electronics.

These below are for sale (new, very limited production) in a regular shop in central Italy

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Click to expand...

Thanks for the info!
 
#15
FWIW, I don't subscribe to the "No screws are compromising the vibration transfer from the strings to the body" theory, but I wouldn't want screws to detract from the beauty of that bridge. Your bass has a elegant simplicity that really speaks to me. It is an incredible piece of artwork. Probably not half bad as a musical instrument, either.

Edit: I just took a look at the website. I think you made excellent choices. The lines of that bass flow perfectly, and IMO, the fancy tops detract from the overall appearance.
 
#16
;) you're right! I just wanted the lines because that is just how I feel comfortable; and yes: no fancy figured tops or woods combination. Only one solid single piece of beautiful ash.

For the bridge, you should simply try the bass to fully understand how just right this choice is. For more traditional instruments Davide uses Babicz and other trendy bridges; this self made wooden bridge is just one of the new ideas he developes and uses only after having proven fully functional. If you take off the strings, the bridge remains in any case well "pressed" into the routed cavity.

Think now about any traditional instrument: figure to take off the screws from the bridge as it is. Would it play worse? The screws are only used to keep it in place, function that on this instrument is done by the cavity. Well, maybe if you add a couple of screws actually it would play great as it plays now anyway! But as you say it would detract from the stylish figure! Note that there aren't even the screws for the octave regulation: you simply move the saddle for the intonation then screw it in place with the mini hex into the rail and it stays there
 
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#20
So, sorry I have no idea how to make a sound sample but how would one be really representative of the real thing I don't know. Sound is tight and naturally aggressive. Saddles are firmly in place every one in its own rail. Then there's a small oblique hex screw to keep the saddle firm on its own position. When you change strings you can re-adjust as you like both height and intonation
 
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