O.K.,
I know that this bass will probably create a storm of controversy, but I promised a year ago to post it up when it arrived. I hope we can keep the tone of the discussion under control. Alex of Zachary Guitars built it for me - he's a one-man "shop" whose website definitely evokes a reaction. His instruments, strings, etc., however, just make sense to those who've played them, and he's definitely got his own style!
I ordered this bass 2.5 years ago. At that time, Alex had about 25 orders ahead of mine, and he has always kept me in the loop on how his work was progressing.
On to the bass - if you'd like to see all the specs and tons of very detailed pictures, here's the instrument's website:
Invalid Link Removed
The bass is actually lighter than stated on the website - it weighs just about 8 lbs. 10 oz. - very comfortable. It is a 34" scale instrument, and the construction/bridge placement makes it feel as if it were closer to 33" in scale - again, very comfortable to hold and play.
The wood is simply phenomenal - the one-piece ash body is extremely resonant. Alex uses a minimal oil/wax finish with the purpose of not coating the wood. The finish is very similar (imo) to the finish on my Rob Allen Mouse - the only difference is that the Zachary's neck finish is faster and less "sticky" than the Rob Allen. The walnut neck is amazing to look at and play - very fast and just gorgeous. The combination of the walnut and the pau ferro board is a visual delight, and the sound of the instrument reflects this combination.
The pickups are Alex's own creation in conjunction with Kent Armstrong. Most noticeably, he radiused the pickup response poles/bar to match the 16" radius of the fretboard. This results in a very nice volume balance for the strings. I've posted a couple of times about the ZOG strings - they represent, in my opinion, the best way to compile a string set by optimizing and graduating tension evenly from string to string vice the simply goofy standard string tensions for most string sets. After playing with ZOG strings, the standard sets just feel wrong - especially with regard to the D string (tension is way too high) and the low E string (tension is ridiculously low). Fingerstyle and slap both sound amazing on the bass - its responsiveness is incredible.
I stated in another thread that the tone of the bass combines an incredible piano-like clarity with a very organic vibe. Really can't describe that any more fully other than to say that the only other instrument I have that accomplishes this somewhat is Matt's Skjold exotic custom 5 that I recently was fortunate enough to acquire. The Zachary is, obviously, a passive instrument, but the output from the pickups is huge - reminiscent of G&L's MFD pickup output actually...only better and more balanced. My favorite setting so far is to put both pickups into single coil mode and have the tone pot up about 75%. Just an incredible tone, and the one inside my head. I get this tone as well from the Skjold, by the way, if I put the Skjold pickups in parallel and boost the mids at 800-1000 hz just a touch. I can't wait to see how the Skjold sounds with the ZOG strings (Alex has just started selling 5-string sets).
In short, this instrument just feels right - incredibly tight with absolutely perfect fit for every joint and connection. It has taken me a while (and many instruments) to learn that boutique instruments have a certain tightness and "togetherness" at a certain quality point - they just "work" and they respond to "touch" in a refined way that is, simply, inspiring. This bass is easily at the top of the list for instruments I've played. The Skjold is perhaps the only one that gives it a run for its money.
There are plenty of pictures at the link above; however, to satisfy the rule that it will only exist with pictures - here are a few:
I know that this bass will probably create a storm of controversy, but I promised a year ago to post it up when it arrived. I hope we can keep the tone of the discussion under control. Alex of Zachary Guitars built it for me - he's a one-man "shop" whose website definitely evokes a reaction. His instruments, strings, etc., however, just make sense to those who've played them, and he's definitely got his own style!
I ordered this bass 2.5 years ago. At that time, Alex had about 25 orders ahead of mine, and he has always kept me in the loop on how his work was progressing.
On to the bass - if you'd like to see all the specs and tons of very detailed pictures, here's the instrument's website:
Invalid Link Removed
The bass is actually lighter than stated on the website - it weighs just about 8 lbs. 10 oz. - very comfortable. It is a 34" scale instrument, and the construction/bridge placement makes it feel as if it were closer to 33" in scale - again, very comfortable to hold and play.
The wood is simply phenomenal - the one-piece ash body is extremely resonant. Alex uses a minimal oil/wax finish with the purpose of not coating the wood. The finish is very similar (imo) to the finish on my Rob Allen Mouse - the only difference is that the Zachary's neck finish is faster and less "sticky" than the Rob Allen. The walnut neck is amazing to look at and play - very fast and just gorgeous. The combination of the walnut and the pau ferro board is a visual delight, and the sound of the instrument reflects this combination.
The pickups are Alex's own creation in conjunction with Kent Armstrong. Most noticeably, he radiused the pickup response poles/bar to match the 16" radius of the fretboard. This results in a very nice volume balance for the strings. I've posted a couple of times about the ZOG strings - they represent, in my opinion, the best way to compile a string set by optimizing and graduating tension evenly from string to string vice the simply goofy standard string tensions for most string sets. After playing with ZOG strings, the standard sets just feel wrong - especially with regard to the D string (tension is way too high) and the low E string (tension is ridiculously low). Fingerstyle and slap both sound amazing on the bass - its responsiveness is incredible.
I stated in another thread that the tone of the bass combines an incredible piano-like clarity with a very organic vibe. Really can't describe that any more fully other than to say that the only other instrument I have that accomplishes this somewhat is Matt's Skjold exotic custom 5 that I recently was fortunate enough to acquire. The Zachary is, obviously, a passive instrument, but the output from the pickups is huge - reminiscent of G&L's MFD pickup output actually...only better and more balanced. My favorite setting so far is to put both pickups into single coil mode and have the tone pot up about 75%. Just an incredible tone, and the one inside my head. I get this tone as well from the Skjold, by the way, if I put the Skjold pickups in parallel and boost the mids at 800-1000 hz just a touch. I can't wait to see how the Skjold sounds with the ZOG strings (Alex has just started selling 5-string sets).
In short, this instrument just feels right - incredibly tight with absolutely perfect fit for every joint and connection. It has taken me a while (and many instruments) to learn that boutique instruments have a certain tightness and "togetherness" at a certain quality point - they just "work" and they respond to "touch" in a refined way that is, simply, inspiring. This bass is easily at the top of the list for instruments I've played. The Skjold is perhaps the only one that gives it a run for its money.
There are plenty of pictures at the link above; however, to satisfy the rule that it will only exist with pictures - here are a few:
I HATE SOCKS
Mine would probably read the same way if I didn't have someone else handling it!! 
It comes from being in a shop 18 hours a day and not getting enough sunlight 
