Official Carl Thompson basses club thread

[cosmicevan]

Cool. Was that a special order for the full frills neck? What's the difference?

All necks are fully hand carved. The primary difference between frills, no frills and semi frills is the use of a CNC machine on cutting the body for semi-frills and no frills. Body is still hand sanded after CNC...most builders do this and call it fully handmade as I understand it. Difference between no frills and semi-frills is that on semi-frills they make some hippie sandwiches and cooler wood orchestration on the bodies that are getting cut by CNC whereas the no frills tends to be more of a solid block without much wood orchestration.

 

[Erithon]

Cool. Was that a special order for the full frills neck? What's the difference?

Thanks! I'm not the original owner so I don't know if it was just something Carl/the shop decided to do or if it was specified when the order was made. The description on ctbasses says "custom mahogany neck and side runners and ebony fingerboard." It's really just an aesthetics thing: a highly figured piece of Mahogany (lots of color variegation/striping) for the neck, fretboard binding (what Carl calls "side runners"), and extra wood laminates on the nut.

 

[JPMcGuire]

Cool. Thanks for explaining. Looks like I lucked out and got a carved scroll and nice neck! All Honduran mahogany which I love

 

[cosmicevan]

....also another big difference between frills vs non is that non frills are all bolt ons.

 

[rick0link]

All necks are fully hand carved. The primary difference between frills, no frills and semi frills is the use of a CNC machine on cutting the body for semi-frills and no frills. Body is still hand sanded after CNC...most builders do this and call it fully handmade as I understand it. Difference between no frills and semi-frills is that on semi-frills they make some hippie sandwiches and cooler wood orchestration on the bodies that are getting cut by CNC whereas the no frills tends to be more of a solid block without much wood orchestration.

There is absolutely zero CNC anything in Carl’s shop.

 

[The_BrianKelly]

Cool. Thanks for explaining. Looks like I lucked out and got a carved scroll and nice neck! All Honduran mahogany which I love

All necks are fully hand carved. The primary difference between frills, no frills and semi frills is the use of a CNC machine on cutting the body for semi-frills and no frills. Body is still hand sanded after CNC...most builders do this and call it fully handmade as I understand it. Difference between no frills and semi-frills is that on semi-frills they make some hippie sandwiches and cooler wood orchestration on the bodies that are getting cut by CNC whereas the no frills tends to be more of a solid block without much wood orchestration.

umm, where did you get this information? Because what I heard is that he actually has high-tech, classified machines that turn the wood into a liquid pulp. The emulsified product is then poured into molds and baked in a conveyor oven twice, after that, the robot belt sanding team takes over, sends it to the sorting division, which then sends it out for paint.

 

[Erithon]

Cool. Thanks for explaining. Looks like I lucked out and got a carved scroll and nice neck! All Honduran mahogany which I love

Mine's all Mahogany as well, but I do wish it had the fully carved scroll like yours. Maybe I can ask Carl/the shop to do that for my bass at some point.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

I don't know why I even torture myself by looking at this thread.
Darn you all. Darn you all to heck!

I'm Jealous.

 

[AudioTaper]

I don't know why I even torture myself by looking at this thread.
Darn you all. Darn you all to heck!

I'm Jealous.

Same here. I dont have one, but I sure like looking at them.

 

[rick0link]

I don't know why I even torture myself by looking at this thread.
Darn you all. Darn you all to heck!

I'm Jealous.

Best thread on TB!!!

 

[Natron5050]

umm, where did you get this information? Because what I heard is that he actually has high-tech, classified machines that turn the wood into a liquid pulp. The emulsified product is then poured into molds and baked in a conveyor oven twice, after that, the robot belt sanding team takes over, sends it to the sorting division, which then sends it out for paint.

Brian, I'm sorry to tell you but you are soooooo wrong. The baking in the oven is actually a 9 step process developed by Tibetan Sherpas back in the early 70's. They were looking for a way to take their bass guitars to the summit and had issues with temperature ( sissies) so they came up with a way to make the wood more stable with the baking process. The 9 step process was a closely guarded secret until Carl cracked it in 1989. Aaron would be able to back me up on this.....

 

[Natron5050]

Thanks! I'm not the original owner so I don't know if it was just something Carl/the shop decided to do or if it was specified when the order was made. The description on ctbasses says "custom mahogany neck and side runners and ebony fingerboard." It's really just an aesthetics thing: a highly figured piece of Mahogany (lots of color variegation/striping) for the neck, fretboard binding (what Carl calls "side runners"), and extra wood laminates on the nut.
View attachment 3992538View attachment 3992593

guys check out the wood grain on this bass...wicked cool.

 

[LowEndGroover]

I could be way wrong. But the 5/6 times that I have visited Carl, there were zero CNC machines in his shop. However, I do have to admit that I did go back to Kelvin’s area. Considering the narrow staircase there’s no way a CNC machine can go downstairs. IMO

 

[LowEndGroover]

On a side note. Carl is absolutely one the best humans I’ve ever met. Genuine, humble and salt of the earth human that I love being around.

 

[rick0link]

On a side note. Carl is absolutely one the best humans I’ve ever met. Genuine, humble and salt of the earth human that I love being around.

He’s such a great guy.

 

[The_BrianKelly]

Brian, I'm sorry to tell you but you are soooooo wrong. The baking in the oven is actually a 9 step process developed by Tibetan Sherpas back in the early 70's. They were looking for a way to take their bass guitars to the summit and had issues with temperature ( sissies) so they came up with a way to make the wood more stable with the baking process. The 9 step process was a closely guarded secret until Carl cracked it in 1989. Aaron would be able to back me up on this.....

Ah yes, I forgot about darker times in the early nineties

 

[Erithon]

guys check out the wood grain on this bass...wicked cool.
View attachment 3993132

I'm glad you noticed! (Though I am surprised you managed to look away from the beauty of your Olivewood CT.) The figure in this bass was definitely factor in my buying it. So much Mahogany just looks pedestrian, but its easy to see that these body pieces were not only selected with care but also assembled and cut in a way to show off the wood's natural beauty. The Walnut is the perfect shade of chocolate to accent the Mahogany. And there's nothing too busy going on so the figure compliments the lines of Carl's design (gotta love that scroll) rather than competes with it for attention.

Here are some more images to oogle:

 

[S.O.T.G. Rich]

Love semi and no frills basses! They are just fun and super light

Wayminit why would anyone even bring up a CNC and Carl or any CT family in the same thread? That’s insanity.

Back on topic I’ll be posting the pics up of the bat bass later today!

 

[Natron5050]

I'm glad you noticed! (Though I am surprised you managed to look away from the beauty of your Olivewood CT.) The figure in this bass was definitely factor in my buying it. So much Mahogany just looks pedestrian, but its easy to see that these body pieces were not only selected with care but also assembled and cut in a way to show off the wood's natural beauty. The Walnut is the perfect shade of chocolate to accent the Mahogany. And there's nothing too busy going on so the figure compliments the lines of Carl's design (gotta love that scroll) rather than competes with it for attention.

Here are some more images to oogle:
View attachment 3993350 View attachment 3993352

Thanks Erithon - You got a solid winner in your bass, I'd be proud to own that.....I'm also loving those knobs.

Any idea what that darker wood is between the neck and the body where the neck bolts on?

 

[Erithon]

Thanks Erithon - You got a solid winner in your bass, I'd be proud to own that.....I'm also loving those knobs.

Any idea what that darker wood is between the neck and the body where the neck bolts on?

Thank you! I like the knobs too. Very steampunk. Well, if you ever want to let your 5-string go--assuming it's a 36" or 38" scale--I could be persuaded to do a trade with some cash going your way

The heel cap is more Walnut, but of more figured/lighter-colored variety. Just a little small accent for the player to see.