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What do you think about this bass?
- Thread starter Diego
- Start date
Who makes it? it looks like a peavey, but i've never seen those bridges on them
I like the wood color and a nice fretboard wood color too...how does it sound?
I like the wood color and a nice fretboard wood color too...how does it sound?
Its a custom made instrument (my design, I built it with a lot of help from a luthier friend), sounds very thumpy/upright with some mwahh (its a fretless). It is also very light. The body is solid canary-wood. The neck is purpleheart and the FB also. Anymore thoughts?
I'm curious what the bridge saddle(s) are made of. I see it's canted for intonation, but how is it adjusted if the bass doesn't like the strings one chooses?
Nice looking.
Nice looking.
It is an instrument with a very unique voice and henceforth is not versatile. That said, well you have to use the same gauge of strings always (major drawback!). Bridge is purpleheart with a carved bone unisaddle that compensates for height and intonation. The tailpiece is solid brass.
xring said:
it looks cool, but i think the upper horn is a bit long for my taste...i still think you should post sound clips 
I'll try to get some clips.! Upper horn is super long because the lower horn is displaced inwards (there are 28+ positions on the board)
superbassman2000 said:it looks cool, but i think the upper horn is a bit long for my taste...i still think you should post sound clips
Diego,
I love it. Does the long upper horn balance the Bass well? How much does it weigh?
It's great if you came up with a design that has a unique voice. You haven't really said if you are digging the sound. Give us more details about the sound, electronics etc. Post a clip.
The fact that you were curious and brave enough to do this is very cool. Maybe bass design and bass building is your calling....the next Vinny Fodera?
The fact that you were curious and brave enough to do this is very cool. Maybe bass design and bass building is your calling....the next Vinny Fodera?
Mmmm, purpleheart fretboard....lovely 
It does look alot like the Carl Thompson basses that Les Claypool uses, minus the scrolled upper horn, which does look like it's compensating for something
But a nice looking specimen, nonetheless.
Quote me a price on a custom 6 string fretless hehe
It does look alot like the Carl Thompson basses that Les Claypool uses, minus the scrolled upper horn, which does look like it's compensating for something
But a nice looking specimen, nonetheless.Quote me a price on a custom 6 string fretless
heheThank you SO MUCH for your kind compliment and words of encouragement.
I do like the sound of this bass, however, I feel deep inside the need to continue this endeavor and refine my designs, keep on going and doing it better the next time (obsessive-compulsive disorder driven person here).
The sound is unique and some construction methods we used in this bass are also a bit different IMHO.
It is so very encouraging to hear these kind words from fellow TBers!
I am very happy now.
Diego
I do like the sound of this bass, however, I feel deep inside the need to continue this endeavor and refine my designs, keep on going and doing it better the next time (obsessive-compulsive disorder driven person here).
The sound is unique and some construction methods we used in this bass are also a bit different IMHO.
It is so very encouraging to hear these kind words from fellow TBers!
I am very happy now.
Diego
OK more details:
Electronics: passive, Bart humbucker and 3-way mini toggle switch (series, parallel and south coil). The PUP position I adopted form Fbass Alain Caron model (the distance from the bridge to the center of the bridge coil). The back (body-neck attachment) is also inspired on FBass.
Sound: Very warm, decent amonnt of mwah, even with flats.
Action: almost no relief (I would like to replace the truss-rod for a double action one someday), but I have to say that purpleheaert is stable as graphite (I have adjusted the rod twice, the last time 4 years ago!!!). The neck is very stiff and does not move seasonally. The neck is one big chunk of purpleheart, craved assymetrically a-la Mike Tobias. NO graphite or steel reinforcement, just a stiff-dry-nice piece of purpleheart. Nut and saddle are made out of unbleached bone that yes, I cut myself from a cow's bone.
In answer to one of the questions above...the longer upper horn was designed to compensate for neck dive. The body is very small and canary wood is lightweight, whereas purpleheart is VERY heavy. The result...I need a slightly bigger body! Yes it has a bit of neck dive while sitting, but if you strap it on you no longer feel it.
Some more add ons: I bulit this back when I was living in South America, so I had to be VERY resourceful. You'd never believe what the inlaid fretlines are...cut-outs from an old credit card!
The bridge I designed myself and got the tailpiece machined at a local shop after my design. It is NOT fixed to the body so you can move it ad libitium to adjust intonation.
What else...the finish is tung oil and....guess..kiwi shoepolish rubbed on top (it works REALLY well, I believe Sheldon Dingwall has also done this).
Once again THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR KIND WORDS OF ENCOURAEGEMENT AND COMPLMENTS!, you've certaily made my day, my brethren!
PS. I'm sorry I can't post clips soon, I'm currently working on this!
Diego
Electronics: passive, Bart humbucker and 3-way mini toggle switch (series, parallel and south coil). The PUP position I adopted form Fbass Alain Caron model (the distance from the bridge to the center of the bridge coil). The back (body-neck attachment) is also inspired on FBass.
Sound: Very warm, decent amonnt of mwah, even with flats.
Action: almost no relief (I would like to replace the truss-rod for a double action one someday), but I have to say that purpleheaert is stable as graphite (I have adjusted the rod twice, the last time 4 years ago!!!). The neck is very stiff and does not move seasonally. The neck is one big chunk of purpleheart, craved assymetrically a-la Mike Tobias. NO graphite or steel reinforcement, just a stiff-dry-nice piece of purpleheart. Nut and saddle are made out of unbleached bone that yes, I cut myself from a cow's bone.
In answer to one of the questions above...the longer upper horn was designed to compensate for neck dive. The body is very small and canary wood is lightweight, whereas purpleheart is VERY heavy. The result...I need a slightly bigger body! Yes it has a bit of neck dive while sitting, but if you strap it on you no longer feel it.
Some more add ons: I bulit this back when I was living in South America, so I had to be VERY resourceful. You'd never believe what the inlaid fretlines are...cut-outs from an old credit card!
The bridge I designed myself and got the tailpiece machined at a local shop after my design. It is NOT fixed to the body so you can move it ad libitium to adjust intonation.
What else...the finish is tung oil and....guess..kiwi shoepolish rubbed on top (it works REALLY well, I believe Sheldon Dingwall has also done this).
Once again THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR KIND WORDS OF ENCOURAEGEMENT AND COMPLMENTS!, you've certaily made my day, my brethren!
PS. I'm sorry I can't post clips soon, I'm currently working on this!
Diego
I'm really digging that upper horn. Kind of reminds me of some of Vadim Rubstov's work, except without all the frilly woods he puts on his basses. After your description of your methods, I have to say that I am very impressed. Good luck in the future with your bass building endeavors. 
You know, I think a wooden pickup cover would really spice up the bass a bit. That black thing next to all that beautiful wood....
