Very cool looking bass

[JIO]

One of the nicest custom-built basses I've seen.
I just put an Audere JZ3 in my FSR Jazz bass...along with a set of Fender Super 55s...and couldn't believe how incredible this preamp sounds.
Your bass must sound as good as it looks.
Great name, too.

Thanks! It's the 2nd Audere JZ3 I installed (first in a J w/Lindy Fralin split-poles) - and matched with the twin Delano's it's a huge tone hammer! I also have the Fender Super 55's in my '66 trib J and they sound great!

I agree, and kitsch can be cool too in certain applications, but I can see that's not what you are going for. I think (to my eyes, at least), there is a gentle nod or "touch" of retro, but you did very effectively manage to skirt the kitsch 100%.

Ummm...if you are ever looking for an endorsing artist, I rock out in total obscurity in the den of my home in Nowheresville, Oklahoma. Just putting that out there!

Just checked out John Backlund - pretty amazing! Turns out I have seen his more conservative designs but some of the others are very out-there/space-age. His quality looks very high. For myself, I appreciate his design sense but always step back and want to imagine someone playing one in a bar band, or on a stage. Adam Clayton can get away with as out-there designed bass as he feels a 'theme' need for w/U2, but most players shy away from something too crazy. (even if a cool design) I keep that fact in my mind when I design my basses.

Having said that, I did play my Supernova in a local bar for 1/2 the improv set. Someone afterwards came up and said "what's that Prince bass?"

 

[JIO]

My guess is: "Because."

Actually I thought it was going to be great - a clean and integrated design, but alas it didn't 'function' well. I saw the Ritter version after the fact, and figure if he does it it's possible to design it so it is out of the way (not brushing ones leg) There's always a future stab at such.

 

[000_Unknown]

Would love to play it just to see if it feels good. Looks nicely built. A black one would probably work for metal.

TORTURE TEST! TORTURE TEST!

 

[000_Unknown]

how about a metal (finished) bass?

Get u a tesla coil and its a helluva show..

 

[Jon Clegg]

The Supernova is a very cool looking bass. As others have said, it looks like the kind of things that a lot of the kooky looking basses/guitars of the 60's were trying to pull-off but didn't quite get there. The Supernova however, gets there.

 

[bholder]

Actually I thought it was going to be great - a clean and integrated design, but alas it didn't 'function' well. I saw the Ritter version after the fact, and figure if he does it it's possible to design it so it is out of the way (not brushing ones leg) There's always a future stab at such.

Yeah, seems like a great idea, but finding the best spot and angle and such could be tricky.

 

[JIO]

The Supernova is a very cool looking bass. As others have said, it looks like the kind of things that a lot of the kooky looking basses/guitars of the 60's were trying to pull-off but didn't quite get there. The Supernova however, gets there.

Thanks so much! The thing I love about those kooky designs is thinking about what they must have be considering/thinking then. Rock & Roll was new and fresh and brash and modern and throw in the whole 50's space-age vibe and you have a volcanic mix of design possibilities! I mean, even a Ric is a fairly radical 'traditional guitar' design, along with a T-bird (both Guild and Gibson), Explorer and Flying V, and all the Italian VOX stuff later in the 60's. The spirit they approached their design challenge with supersedes the 'clunky-ness' of the final product. But just the same, it's that 'club-footed' realization that makes them endearing and 'real'.

 

[JIO]

Yeah, seems like a great idea, but finding the best spot and angle and such could be tricky.

It can be done, just need to focus more specifically on how it works with the whole design both aesthetic and functional. I have to admit I just 'thought' it would work instead of putting it through it's paces. (lesson learned)

 

[bholder]

It can be done, just need to focus more specifically on how it works with the whole design both aesthetic and functional. I have to admit I just 'thought' it would work instead of putting it through it's paces. (lesson learned)

I've often thought about trying it, and usually use the same "it just oughtta work" approach, so I'll have to put more thought into it, thanks.