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NBD: silver sparkle pearloid bound reverse tele Big Blade five string!!!

#44
JGR said:
I think sparkle basses deserve their own threads! :)

I've been wanting to build a bass with these aesthetics for quite some time. I got the last bits yesterday to finish it up and am quite pleased with the results thus far. Finished weight is 8.75 lbs.

Here are the specs:

Neck:
- 34" scale, roasted maple, medium/slim asymmetric profile, graphite reinforcement, finished with gun stock wax, 1.875" nut
Fingerboard:
- Wenge, small SS frets
Body
- light swamp ash with forearm, tummy, and neck heel contours, deep cutaway for upper fret access
Electronics
- Nordstrand Big Blades (clean and clear), passive V-V-Tonestyler
Hardware
- Hipshot Kickass bridge set to 18.5mm spacing, Gotoh Resolite tuners, Dunlop strap locks, tele input jack, Dingwall string trees (they look so cool, and are nice and compact for the tele headstock).

Initial Impressions:
I really like the Big Blades - they appear to have a bit more output than some of the other Nordy models, and are a little dirtier/grindier sounding (in a very good way). I've always liked ceramic magnet pickups - the top end often has a nice high mid/lower treble bite, kind of like a maple board, versus alnico which has more top end air, more akin to say an ebony board. The Big Blades give a nice meaty pick sound, and the top end is not at all harsh or clanky. Very even output across all the strings. Running the pair full up is very balanced tonally, without the big mid scoop you get with some dual pickup arrangements. The Tonestyler in the first position (bypassed) isn't overly bright with these pickups - it works very well, as does the second position (I never use a tone knob, but I like to be able to alternate between the different loadings). I shielded the pickup and control cavities with copper foil, and connected the pickup cavities to the control cavity. Used a star ground system. Everything is very quiet, even with one pickup solo'd.

I'm also a big fan of the Gotoh Resolite tuners - great looking, very light. I installed them on a slight angle which I think looks cool.

It is strung with a balanced set of EB Cobalt rounds, 40-135, tuned down a half step.

Rock-N-Roll!



View attachment 3010134 View attachment 3010135 View attachment 3010136 View attachment 3010137 View attachment 3010138 View attachment 3010139 View attachment 3010140
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Congrats, Enjoy!
Here's Just my opinion and taste,
Black hardware wouldn't hurt .
 
#47
Mosfed said:
I dig the color and finish. And the fingerboard looks amazing. Can someone explain to me the reverse headstock thang? Is it all a tribute to Hendrix?
Click to expand...

Dusty Hill! For me, it’s just aesthetics. I like it on guitars and basses.
 
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#49
bench said:
very nice. do you think the reverse headstock has a positive effect on the b string?
Click to expand...

The longer length makes it a bit easier to bend the string, but nothing else. I like the overall feel it brings; I use balanced tension sets, and the B is typically .135-136 while the G ends up it the low .040s, so having the thinner upper strings a bit harder to bend works out as well. Some of the effect is diminished by the string trees.
 
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