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The Über-M - fretless
- Thread starter miziomix
- Start date
Thank you guys!
Yeah, that's the one. Semangkok. Over here they call it KSK. I can't guarantee that the traslation is 100% accurate because I don't speak the language. But the meaning should be correct, more or less. Apparently the name comes from the fact that seeds will leaterally bloat if submerged.
I had my share of challenges dealing with this wood the first time around. It's not as easy to shape as I expected. Nevertheless, it's a very pretty wood and not heavy. I have bought more and will certainly use it again.
Alan, thank you so much. Coming from you, it's a great compliment. I love your work.
Quick update.
Aphrodite and I are in Milan right now. She had to put up with a 14 hours flight and with changing weather in Milan. She's coping very well. The neck shows just a slight sign of bending, which will be taken care of. But it's much less that what I expected given the massive tempreature/humidity change.
For the records, I managed to record - ops, pun...not intended - at a friend's studio before leaving KL. As a curtesy to the owner, I've emailed the clip to him first. I'll wait for his reply before posting it here.
I am of course very, very, extremely biased
But I love the sound I can get from this bass.
Sound clips soon.
Again, thank you so much for following this build and for your support and kind words.
Maurizio
Oh, okay. I thought you was talking about the other name that the species goes by. Semankok.
Yeah, that's the one. Semangkok. Over here they call it KSK. I can't guarantee that the traslation is 100% accurate because I don't speak the language. But the meaning should be correct, more or less. Apparently the name comes from the fact that seeds will leaterally bloat if submerged.
I had my share of challenges dealing with this wood the first time around. It's not as easy to shape as I expected. Nevertheless, it's a very pretty wood and not heavy. I have bought more and will certainly use it again.
Alan, thank you so much. Coming from you, it's a great compliment. I love your work.
Quick update.
Aphrodite and I are in Milan right now. She had to put up with a 14 hours flight and with changing weather in Milan. She's coping very well. The neck shows just a slight sign of bending, which will be taken care of. But it's much less that what I expected given the massive tempreature/humidity change.
For the records, I managed to record - ops, pun...not intended - at a friend's studio before leaving KL. As a curtesy to the owner, I've emailed the clip to him first. I'll wait for his reply before posting it here.
I am of course very, very, extremely biased
But I love the sound I can get from this bass. Sound clips soon.
Again, thank you so much for following this build and for your support and kind words.
Maurizio
Thank you Fankafied!
Finally... [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Just to recap, the specs are -
34", 2 octaves, 19mm strings spacing. Semankok body. Mediterranean Olivewood top; Macassar body back laminate. Wenge/Asian Ebony/Wenge neck with matching headstock. Zericote unlined fingerboard. Single Delano HB housed in an Ebony casing. Bartolini 2 bands OBP. Satin/semi-gloss finish.
This was recorded together with the 5er Spalted Maple so it's DI recorded as well. The studio belongs to a good friend - Anton, you're the man! - and it's as cool a place as it is busy, so time was tight. They did a great job nevertheless.
The owner sent a set of Sadowsky flats which he might prefer. I'm a RW guy through and through. But I'm eager to hear what the bass sounds like with those.
Hope you guys like what you hear. This build has pushed my respect for Wenge and Ebony to new heights.
Thank you for following this build and for making TB such a nice place.
Maurizio
ps: I never knew how charming Mediterranean Olivewood was. The thought that I have two more sets from this billet makes me smile.
Man, that bass sounds wonderful. Love the slap sound, as much as silky slides. I just bought my first fretless bass. I can't wait to get it and see what sounds like.
Thank you. Have fun with your new fretless
Update....
Aphrodite is not with me any longer. She's now in the capable hands of her owner. I was a bit sad to let her go... separation ... ah! I'll never get used to it. Perhaps I should stop giving basses a name
It was very nice meeting with the guy I had shared so many email with over the last year. We replaced the strings (roundw 40/100) with flatwound 45/105. It must have been maybe a few centuries since I last played flats and it felt surprisingly nice.
He had also bought a new set of very nice black plated aluminum knobs so we replaced the dome ones.
It all ended up the way it should, with a nice beer.
One thought for the future - piezo. The cavity is large enough
So, well. Time to move on to two basses to finish and two new ones to start.
This is probably my last post on this thread, unless I receive any feedback from the owner that is.
Thank you for following this build. Your contribution has been priceless as always and I am truly grateful.
Maurizio
Thank you. Have fun with your new fretless
Update....
Aphrodite is not with me any longer. She's now in the capable hands of her owner. I was a bit sad to let her go... separation ... ah! I'll never get used to it. Perhaps I should stop giving basses a name
It was very nice meeting with the guy I had shared so many email with over the last year. We replaced the strings (roundw 40/100) with flatwound 45/105. It must have been maybe a few centuries since I last played flats and it felt surprisingly nice.
He had also bought a new set of very nice black plated aluminum knobs so we replaced the dome ones.
It all ended up the way it should, with a nice beer.
One thought for the future - piezo. The cavity is large enough
So, well. Time to move on to two basses to finish and two new ones to start.
This is probably my last post on this thread, unless I receive any feedback from the owner that is.
Thank you for following this build. Your contribution has been priceless as always and I am truly grateful.
Maurizio
Aphrodite, what a suitable name for such a wonderful instrument!!!
Thanks for sharing this!
Thank you all! That's a nice surprise - thanks for posting it. The owner recently told me he had sent pictures and notes to BBG. That was a very nice touch. I guess he's happy with the bass
He also said he would send a review of the bass as soon as he's got the time. When that happens, I'll post it here.
Cheers!
Maurizio
