This is my first submission for the Winter-2020 Build off:
"The Growling Locust"
For details, please read my build thread
With the guide line of "AIR SPACE," I figured most people would be into a semi-hollow or hollow. But I've always wanted to do more of a "Skeletal" style build. So this was a chance for that.
Aside from taking on that as a new challenge, I also decided to try a couple of other techniques I've never attempted in my shop:
A fully contoured body (curved shape profile), power carving the holes, and facet carving a neck.
It started with some leftover parts and wood I had in the shop and basically was something I intended to improvise as the process went along.
When looking for inspiration, I came across an artist named KOJI TANAKA that really inspired me to kind of make this almost like a sculpture, to some degree. That way, no matter what happened at the end, at least I could hang it up as art.
So that was another mindset for me in the process: make an artsy-fartsy looking bass that some jazzbo geek would love to play.
In the end, what came out of it was this thing. It's light, it feels amazing when you play it, it growls so nicely and is so expressive. Best of all, you can see right through it. Wait... the sound is way better than the holes. The ability to use the holes like handles is basically just icing on the cake.
And if it was above a mantle somewhere or hanging in a gallery... it would be right at home there, too.
Specifications
Body: Black locust (destined for firewood), body radiused at 69" convex top and concave back, power carved through holes, grain accented
Neck : 3-piece birdseye/walnut/birdseye with dual action truss rod, big enough head area to hang on a wall hook, aluminum nut
Finger Board: Katalox
Fingerboard radius: 69"
Scale Length: 33.5"
Tuners: Hipshot Headless Bridge setup, hand-made aluminum head piece string clamping unit
Bridge: Hipshot Headless
Pickup: EMG 45TWX
Electronics: Volume, Tone, Pull for coil split, Kilo-style knobs, walnut control cover with magnetic attachment, nickel shielding paint
Finish: Sedona red stain, Varathane clear protective coat
Strings: D'Addario Stainless
Sound demo below (multiple tracks of same bass).
Video: TBD
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It sounds great, it's a joy to play, and it can be hung up in an art gallery. Gotta love it!
