Yep, an XT33, with 33 frets. I had a fretless, but not a fretted one...
I also have a custom hollowbody single-cut Curbow 6....which has a much bigger body for more resonance, but exactly the same lower cutaway as the standard Curbow Petite designs.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Single Cut basses, Just a fad?
- Thread starter FunkHead
- Start date
Yep, an XT33, with 33 frets. I had a fretless, but not a fretted one...
I also have a custom hollowbody single-cut Curbow 6....which has a much bigger body for more resonance, but exactly the same lower cutaway as the standard Curbow Petite designs.
- Aug 25, 2004
- 939
- 1,337
- Disclosures
- Builder: Martin Keith Guitars
In this case, the improved upper fret access on the SC is most likely because it is a neck-through-body instrument.
The Roscoe is a bolt-on, which requires more "meat" of body wood around the neck joint to support the neck heel.
Even with that - the shape/depth of the treble cutaway is not dictated by the presence or absence of an upper cutaway.
It is simply a function of the design and layout of the instrument.
A good counterexample is the Les Paul (single cutaway) vs. SG (double cutaway) - the SG has WAY better upper fret access,
because the guitar is designed for it.
Take this thought experiment: if your Roscoe were an unlined fretless, you could move the bridge a few inches towards the neck.
You would then have a full two-octave range. Ditto in reverse for the Fodera - what is important is the *relationship* between the string scale
and the treble side cutaway.
The modern SC shape originated by Fodera was intended to stiffen the neck by shortening the cantilevered portion.
The goal was to improve sustain, stability, and frequency response. The greater stiffness is much more relevant than the
oft-cited increase in "neck-to-body contact", which is a dubious variable anyway with an instrument like a Fodera where it's all glued together.
Neck stiffness is a HUGE determinant in tone/response/stability etc.
Fodera should get due credit for going out on a limb with this design way back when - they have moved the field forward, and a lot of guys
are building SCs now, including myself (though mine are bolt-ons...different conversation).
Thread-drift: A Curbow XT-33 6-string is one of my Holy Grail basses!
While that may have been true a decade or more ago it's far from it now. You can find a new singlecut for under $400.
Last edited:
I had my first modern singlecut built in 2002, purely for esthetic reasons. Probably have around a dozen now and have bought and sold several more. Other than looks, there is no music that I can't play on a single of doublecut, no inherent playability differences... they're basses. I don't get hung up on looks, I'm just as happy playing either style, they don't make me want to vomit or have any of the other over-dramatic reactions they do with others. No high fret access issues, no twisting. I like them and couldn't care less who doesn't.
These are some of my Brubakers. I also have more Brubakers, an R Bass, a Bone Avatar and have had several Elricks, an Adler, Nordstrand, etc. They're basses and I play them. Wherever, whenever.
These are some of my Brubakers. I also have more Brubakers, an R Bass, a Bone Avatar and have had several Elricks, an Adler, Nordstrand, etc. They're basses and I play them. Wherever, whenever.
If this picture hasn't been posted yet... It should have been!
I happen to really like the SC design, and THIS
example of Mr. keith's work (...and there are plenty more!) exemplifies how striking these builds can be,
along with the fact that this and the vast majority of other SC's are top-rate instruments in every other respect.
Now, if you STILL don't like the SC concept- That's cool, it's a free Country.
But IMO- You're missing out!
Here's my Eshenbaugh. It's a great bass with a really unique look. Weirdly enough it's the only bass I've owned that non-bassists regularly compliment.
- Aug 25, 2004
- 939
- 1,337
- Disclosures
- Builder: Martin Keith Guitars
No, Mark Eshenbaugh stopped building several years ago. I had one long term, recently let it go. Nice stuff.
Wow, beautiful!I had my first modern singlecut built in 2002, purely for esthetic reasons. Probably have around a dozen now and have bought and sold several more. Other than looks, there is no music that I can't play on a single of doublecut, no inherent playability differences... they're basses. I don't get hung up on looks, I'm just as happy playing either style, they don't make me want to vomit or have any of the other over-dramatic reactions they do with others. No high fret access issues, no twisting. I like them and couldn't care less who doesn't.
These are some of my Brubakers. I also have more Brubakers, an R Bass, a Bone Avatar and have had several Elricks, an Adler, Nordstrand, etc. They're basses and I play them. Wherever, whenever.
View attachment 3191262
