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The Über-M - fretless

#221
miziomix said:
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.
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For the satin/semi-gloss finish....did you just wet sand when you applied the semi-gloss before the satin, or was there any kind of polishing before the satin was applied? I really like that finish (and the instrument of course....it sounds amazing) and am now thinking of putting it on my current project when it is done :)
 
#222
kaoskater08 said:
For the satin/semi-gloss finish....did you just wet sand when you applied the semi-gloss before the satin, or was there any kind of polishing before the satin was applied? I really like that finish (and the instrument of course....it sounds amazing) and am now thinking of putting it on my current project when it is done :)
Click to expand...

Thank you. I'm glad you like it.

Oh well... my satin-into-gloss finish™®∞ is a trade secret and I would be really foolish to reveal it.

So I am not going to tell you that, I spray the body as I normally would for satin finish, then I hand buff the areas I want to pop. The extent and intensity of it depends on wood combo and contour. In this case, the satin finish wasn't working as nicely on the black paint and the Macassar back as it was on the Olivewood top.

I do this by hand or with buffing pads attached to a hand drill. It depends on the effect I'm after. But I ain't going to tell you that either. Sorry buddy.

;)
 
#223
I received this from the owner of the bass and I wish to share it with you. You all have been such an important part of this build, with enough patience to follow it to the end.

I am humbled by how he feels about Aphrodite. It's an amazing feeling and I am so grateful to Haris for it and to you all for your support.

IMG_3673.jpg



"The Über-M Aphrodite is a fretless dream! Maurizio is obviously a talented luthier but beyond that, he is also an experienced bass player: he helped me visualize the ergonomics and sound in order to make the best possible choices. He helped me pick a top-notch OBP and pickup as well as a stunning combination of woods and hardware, all contributing to a tone to kill for and looks to die for.

Materials, of course, mean nothing without a certain Dr. Frankenstein performing the operation!

Seeing this bass come to life made me fall in love with it before I even laid my hands on it, it was a very rewarding experience with step-by step updates. My contribution was never coerced but encouraged in a way that made me feel I could be as involved as I wanted to be. Maurizio did everything in his power to ensure I was getting what I paid for and in the end, I got a lot more than that.

The ergonomics are simply flawless. A neck joint so solid and comfortable it makes you wonder if it’s a bolt-on or a neck-through. The instrument balances perfectly on my shoulders and is much lighter than all my medium-weighing basses. Tuning: I get an awesome feeling when I see the tuner needle staying in place (without wobbling) for ages. Once I reach the desired pitch, the ETS system and its ingenious placement will keep it there for a long, long time. Aphrodite is also very diverse, tone-wise. With a change in plucking position and a few minor tweaks here and there it can go from a deep, rich voice to a singing soloing sound.

I’ve been a huge fan of Maurizio’s work since he first started posting it on TalkBass.com... He has yet to disappoint me ever since. He promptly replied to every e-mail, discussing my every concern and idea. Even after I received the bass, he was still eager to answer questions, explain things and give solutions.

Aphrodite is a magnificent, one-of-a-kind instrument. An immensely creative design brought to life by able hands. There is no mechanical ‘perfection’ here, just excellence – organic, human craftsmanship".

IMG_3631.jpg


Thank you so much :)

Maurizio
 
#224
That's high praise -- and that's a hot bass. I've followed some of your other build threads, but this one has me thinking.

Congratulations, and good work.
 
#229
Maurizio, I just finished this build thread, and I have to say, that if I ever had enough $$$ to get a custom done, I would have you do it. Just looking at the build pics, and the final product, I (and this is going to sound dumb, but what the heck) can see you actually put a little bit of your soul into this.

THAT is the hall mark of an artist. You just use wood as your medium.
 
#230
Kawai-chang said:
Maurizio, I just finished this build thread, and I have to say, that if I ever had enough $$$ to get a custom done, I would have you do it. Just looking at the build pics, and the final product, I (and this is going to sound dumb, but what the heck) can see you actually put a little bit of your soul into this.

THAT is the hall mark of an artist. You just use wood as your medium.
Click to expand...

I am so touched that you could see that. I don't know what to say other than (and this will sound dumb), thank you.
 
#232
TapyTap said:
This fretless has to be one of the best I have ever heard.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much! I wish there were more orders for fretless basses. I'd really like to build another one. It would be nice to build a 5er with a 3 octaves fingerboard.

... Actually, I only have a 4 fretless. I might add one to the next batch of builds and if it goes unsold I'll just keep it ;)
 

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