Scott Whitley SWB-1

[chowny]

I think they're working on it. Chowny chimed in earlier in the thread. Mr. @chowny? Any comments?

It is both a source of amusement and frustration when after a year of slaving to get a new bass out - the first comment is "Is there a 5 String?"

5 strings presents us with two problems. First... it makes a niche set of basses Niche'ier. This creates a problem for us with the factory as there are already a complicated set of negotiations that take place to allow us to do fairly low volume runs. We make trade offs and they make trade offs.

The second issue is pickups. For example on the CHB-1 basses... nobody makes a 5 string pickup in that style. So we'd have to develop one ourselves - but that'd only be worth doing in volume. See where I'm coming from?

With that in mind - we have no new models planned for a while. So we will be looking at tackling 5 string basses in the following models :

SWB
Volante
The new EVOS (including the Davie504 signature)

Hope this makes sense.

 

[Fat Freddy]

LOUD NOISES!

Now you're just making an Ass of yourself.....

 

[Les Fret]

It is both a source of amusement and frustration when after a year of slaving to get a new bass out - the first comment is "Is there a 5 String?"

That walnut one looks really great! very good job. Only thing that I don't like (think I have said it before) is the white Chowny name tag. Doesn't fit the design and woods I think (also not on the other SWB-1 basses). Makes it less classy than the rest of the design. But maybe it is just me...

 

[40Hz]

I just picked up a passive Chowny SWB-1 off the classifieds here and I have to say I'm impressed. Remarkable tone. And not at all the short-scale sound you'd expect if you're familar with the shorty vibe like I am. I'm still getting mine sorted out. But I have to say that what the folks at Chowny are doing is some very fine work.

 

[bgrant570]

That walnut one looks really great! very good job. Only thing that I don't like (think I have said it before) is the white Chowny name tag. Doesn't fit the design and woods I think (also not on the other SWB-1 basses). Makes it less classy than the rest of the design. But maybe it is just me...

I agree. Especially on the higher priced pro models it would look great to have a nice wood cover that matches the top wood on the bass.

 

[blue4]

That walnut one looks really great! very good job. Only thing that I don't like (think I have said it before) is the white Chowny name tag. Doesn't fit the design and woods I think (also not on the other SWB-1 basses). Makes it less classy than the rest of the design. But maybe it is just me...

I don't know, it kind of gives off a Rick vibe. I like it.

 

[Les Fret]

I agree. Especially on the higher priced pro models it would look great to have a nice wood cover that matches the top wood on the bass.

Yes wood or black would be much nicer. The first Chowny SWB-1 basses actually had a wooden name tag. I agree about the Rick vibe. But for me that doesn't suit a more modern looking bass like the SWB.

 

[Chicago Al]

I just made a huge improvement to the sound of my SWB-1!

I got a different amp. ;- )

As I don't gig I don't need all that much power, but my Acoustic B20 from about ten years ago was just not cutting it even for playing with friends, esp with the SWB-1's relatively low output. I was able to score a Rumble 100 for under $200 on eBay, local pickup. Seller was new to eBay so that probably held the price down, to my benefit.

Amp sounds great, bass sounds great through it, and I keep returning to my office/mancave to play more this weekend. Just like it should be!

 

[bgrant570]

I just made a huge improvement to the sound of my SWB-1.

I got a different amp....I was able to score a Rumble 100 for under $200 on eBay, local pickup.

That's great to hear as I found one used at Guitar Center for $200 as well! Had to have shipped to my store so it will turn out to be a little more but should be here this week. Nice to have confirmation that I made the right choice.

 

[Chicago Al]

Ola, amigos, been a while since I rapped at ya. (for fans of The Onion)

I am fully committed to my SWB-1 now, having sold off my SX J-style (though it was set up very well and had a great green color) and my Squier Jaguar SS. With those sales and a bunch of other stuff recently, I'm thinking to spend a bit to upgrade the SWB-1.

Of course I am happy with my bass...but if the neck didn't rest level but up a bit, that'd be even better, right? I took one of the stock tuners off to weigh and it consistently came up at 65 grams. Replacing that with a Gotoh GB350 or Hipshot Ultralight should save 20-25 grams each. Saving that much on four tuners would add up to...well, okay, only 3-3.5 ounces which would get my bass' weight down to about 9 lbs and...oh, heck, it might make a difference, I guess.

What really makes a difference though is playing, a lot. Which my bass makes me want to do.

 

[Chicago Al]

I put a set of Gotoh Res-o-lites on my bass today and they went on smoothly, with a bit of sanding out of the holes in the headstock. The Res-o-lites each weighed just 40 grams, as advertised, so that's a pretty good savings in weight. Though there is a difference in neck angle with the bass simply hanging off the strap, it's not dramatic. Might have gone from 3 o'clock to 2 so the neck and particularly the headstock must contribute a good bit to the bass' weight.

[Edit] I'd posted earlier that I saw no difference in the bass's weight, but I just checked my photo of the scale, and that was wrong. Actually it comes up 2 to 2.5 oz less, which is not as much as it 'should be,' but I'll say that is about as accurate as I can expect to be, weighing a large irregular object on a small scale.

 

[Antisyzygy]

It is both a source of amusement and frustration when after a year of slaving to get a new bass out - the first comment is "Is there a 5 String?"

5 strings presents us with two problems. First... it makes a niche set of basses Niche'ier. This creates a problem for us with the factory as there are already a complicated set of negotiations that take place to allow us to do fairly low volume runs. We make trade offs and they make trade offs.

The second issue is pickups. For example on the CHB-1 basses... nobody makes a 5 string pickup in that style. So we'd have to develop one ourselves - but that'd only be worth doing in volume. See where I'm coming from?

With that in mind - we have no new models planned for a while. So we will be looking at tackling 5 string basses in the following models :

SWB
Volante
The new EVOS (including the Davie504 signature)

Hope this makes sense.

The new EVOS (including the Davie504 signature)

Do you have specs for the fretboard radius and fret size on those? I checked the site and can't find them.

That looks like a pretty killer new model there. I dig it. Definitely got some interest in that and the CHB-1.

Any plans for a shortscale EVO?

 

[chowny]

Do you have specs for the fretboard radius and fret size on those? I checked the site and can't find them.

Hi. The frets are 2.9mm Jumbo frets. And the fretboard radius is 9.5".

No current plans for a short scale version. It is quite small and light though for a 34".

 

[bgrant570]

Added some flavor to my SWB-1 yesterday.

 

[CapnSev]

Thanks to bgrant for pointing me to this thread! I was literally about to pull the trigger on one of these until I saw the pro version. Now my plan is to save up the extra cash for that one instead. I do wish it just had the EMGs and a passive circuit, but hey, I may like the active.

I didn’t realize the nut width was so narrow. I have some long fingers, and a long wingspan, so that might be a lengthy adjustment period.

 

[CapnSev]

Quick question @chowny: Are both pickups the same size, or a normal J configuration (i.e. bridge pickup is longer than the neck)?

 

[chowny]

Quick question @chowny: Are both pickups the same size, or a normal J configuration (i.e. bridge pickup is longer than the neck)?

No. They’re different sizes. Any pickups designed as replacements for a fender jazz bass will fit.

 

[CapnSev]

No. They’re different sizes. Any pickups designed as replacements for a fender jazz bass will fit.

Perfect! Thank you.

 

[pkraiker]

Review of my Chowny SWB-1

Hi all! I received my SWB-1 a little over a week ago and thought I'd offer up my first impressions. I purchased the mahogany model from Andertons in the UK. I have been using an Epiphone EB-0 and Fender Mustang PJ (both short scale) and an '80s Fender P-bass previously. And a Kala U-Bass but that doesn't count

• It's beautiful. Clean lines and elegant.
  
  
• It came well packaged (from Andertons) and was clearly quality checked by them before it was shipped. In conversation with Stephen Chowny I'm aware that they also did QA on it before it went to Andertons.
  
  
• The quality of the materials and construction/assembly are well above what I expected in this price range. The mahogany is a beautiful grain and colour and the clear finish is flawless. I think this speaks highly of Chowny's relationship with the Indian company that build them.
  
  
  
  
• The maple neck with ebony fretboard is very comfortable. Again the wood grain is beautiful. I find it interesting that the fretboard extends past the bottom of the neck (has a slight overhang). I will keep an eye on that as I can imagine humidity changes might affect that. The edges of the frets are smooth, again nice workmanship.
  
  
• Mine weighs about 8 1/2 lbs and is nicely balanced. With a simple leather strap it hangs completely horizontally. It does have a little neck dive with a slippery Gruv Gear Neo strap. Not as much as the EB-0, and of course quite a different feel to the Mustang.
  
• Strings are D'addario EXL170 (again, this info came from Stephen Chowny. I'd seen mention of D'addario but wasn't sure). They have a nice sound and again are a good sign of the thought behind quality within a budget. I expect I'll try some flat or tape wound strings after I've gotten accustomed to these. The EB-0 had flat wound while the Mustang had round wound. I like the sound of flat and am curious about tape.
  
• The active electronics are a pure pleasure to use. The range of tones I can get and adjust to suit the song I'm playing confirms my thinking that this is a professional instrument. I'm sure the Pro takes that up a level but even the "standard" is far superior to the other short scale guitars I've played.
• The stacked tone control is perhaps my only "complaint"... the knurled treble knob on top was rubbing on the lower bass control so when I adjusted one both would move. I took it off, filed the bottom of it a little and no more rubbing.
  
  
  
  
• The 24 fret neck invites playing all over much more than the Mustang ever did! I find myself playing above the 12th fret a lot more than I ever did before. I think the active electronics help with this as well, I can shape the tone I want "up there" and make the most of it. The short neck on the Mustang was very limiting and I found I really only played from around the 9th fret or lower.
  
• The body shape positions it differently when sitting compared to standing. It has a fairly neutral position when standing but is either further back or further forward when sitting (depending on which leg you have it). Still quite comfortable, just a different position so it takes a little adjusting.
  
  
• I've taken my SWB-1 to two jam sessions and have gotten lots of positive feedback on the sound and the look. It has a surprisingly full sound and as mentioned before the active controls really let me shape the tone. I like the quality of the sound in all 3 pickup positions. Speaking of which... I expect I'll rotate the pickup selector a little so it flips slightly forward-backward rather than the vertical position it came with. I liked the feel of that on the Mustang and it's a nice little visual clue to which pickup I'm using.
• And finally, Stephen Chowny's customer service is exemplary. When I ordered the bass from Andertons they thought it couldn't be shipped to Canada because of the rosewood restriction. He talked to them directly and confirmed it was actually an ebony fretboard. We also talked about their process for getting these built (for instance he mentioned that they are all assembled and shipped as passive. The active electronics get installed in the Chowny shop.

So... I'm quite happy with my decision to buy it! And I hope this review adds some useful info about the instrument.

 

[UNICORN BASS]

Nice review! The pictures of the 2 basses side by side is great. Wouldn't mind one of these myself.