Woo-Hoo!! Birth of burl top F Bass BN5

Well maybe conception!

I have had GAS since I saw Adrian's buckeye burl BN5, and have started the relief process!! Put my deposit in on a maple burl top custom BN5.

Here's the specs:

Body: Swamp Ash
Top: Bookmatched Burl maple with black veneer outline (George cut it for me while I was at the shop)
Headstock: Matching burl with black outline
Knobs : Matching Burl (thanks to Adrian for the idea)
Pickup covers: Matching burl with black outline
Neck: Maple
Board: Figured Macassar ebony
Preamp - Standard F Bass 3-band
Pickups - Standard F Bass
Hardware: Black Bridge and tuners

I am stoked!! We could have used either side of the bookmatched top, but I picked the one with a little flame and spalt showing in the burl. It should be a nice dark colour with a clear coat finish - I can't wait!



I'll post pics on progress over the next 3-4 months. George is really busy right now - that's a good thing for his business, but a pain for custom orders!!

 

Thanks, guys. This will look a little more subdued than Adrian's Buckeye burl, and the ebony board will give it a slightly softer sound than the stock Maple.

Only 98 days to go....(well approximately!)

 

****Rocky Balboa voice on*****

yo, Adrian!

****Rocky Balboa voice off****

That's the one! There is so much happening in that piece of wood, it is crazy! After cutting and sanding to get the initial bookmatch, George rubbed a little solution on the raw pieces so I could get a feel for the depth of colour - awesome!

And that Birdseye top looks even better in person than in the photo - it was the first time I had seen (or noticed) a blackline veneer edge on one of George's custom tops. I liked the effect so much - I'm going for it!

How am I going to wait?

 

Geez, it sure looks like the piece I chose - of course the top he cut for me only took less than an inch off of the 8-inch thick block, and there is still lots of nice stuff left in it!

I wish I had a business like yours, Adrian - then I'd get to handle all kinds of wonderful instruments and keep the ones I wanted (or could afford!).

I think it's sort of like being a bass pimp - no?

 

Update: George says he should be gluing the top to the body this week! I plan to stop by the shop next week to see it and take a few pics.

 

I ordered it June 24, tentative completion on the order says October 28. This isn't that long compared to some custom orders, but it is an eternity for me!!

 

Here is the body so far! I think you can recognize the top from the piece of burl earlier in the thread - see the little spalted bits in the upper horn.

I may have to make a visit to the shop this week to see it in person!