5 String Bass Build

[Gordon Bellerose]

I'm just letting whomever may be following this thread, where I am in the build.
I spent yesterday doing a fret level and dressing on the bass, and another 6 string I'm building at the same time.
Today was wet sand and buff day. Two bodies, two necks.
Been a busy weekend.

More pictures to follow.

[Gordon Bellerose]

Alright. I'm done.
Here is a picture of the completed bass. It is simply sitting on a kitchen chair.
Before I welcome your comments, let me tell you a bit about the guitar.
One thing I will say about the bass, despite being a long scale, is very well balanced due to the longer upper horn.

35 inch scale. (I did that for better tone on the bottom B string.)
Top = Flamed Maple
Body = Wenge. Cherry, Hard Maple
Neck = Cherry, wenge, hard maple.
1 3/4 at nut. 3 inch at base. String spacing is a bit closer together at the nut than a Fender. Very nice.
Fret board = Macassar Ebony
Inlay = Abalone
Nordstrand Big Split singles. (like a jazz bass on steroids)
Full Contact Hardware bridge.
250k pots. Vol. Tone. Blend.
Hipshot Ultralight Tuners.

[Peter Wilcox]

That's a beautiful instrument. My only concern would be the security of the upper strap button.

[Beate Ritzert]

That's a really beautiful bass.

[Gordon Bellerose]

That's a beautiful instrument. My only concern would be the security of the upper strap button.

Peter. I used a long screw in that button. It goes in at least 1 1/4 inches. I hung the whole weight of the bass on it to test it.

That's a really beautiful bass.

Thanks Beate! I will take some more pics of the back of the guitar tomorrow and post them. It is beautiful from the rear also.

[Bob Francis]

Really nice Gord!

[Peter Wilcox]

That's a beautiful instrument. My only concern would be the security of the upper strap button.

Peter. I used a long screw in that button. It goes in at least 1 1/4 inches. I hung the whole weight of the bass on it to test it.

Glad to hear that, Gordon - I'll sleep better tonight.

[Gordon Bellerose]

That's a beautiful instrument. My only concern would be the security of the upper strap button.

Peter. I used a long screw in that button. It goes in at least 1 1/4 inches. I hung the whole weight of the bass on it to test it.

Glad to hear that, Gordon - I'll sleep better tonight.

One other thing you can't see is that the end of the upper horn is filed flat just wide enough for the strap button base. It stabilizes it quite a bit.

[Gordon Bellerose]

Here are the promised pics of the rear of the bass.

[Peter Wilcox]

I really, really like your neck/body join. That curve just naturally flows around the perimeter; the matching of the body and neck stripes is perfect. If it weren't for the screws, I'd think it was a neck thru build. You've done a fantastic job, and a really nice design!

[Gordon Bellerose]

Thanks very much Peter. I didn't know how this was going to turn out when I started.
Well, I kinda did, but you never know when its the first one you build.

[Frederiek de Vette]

Oh wow!! Congratulations! It's stunning

How does it play? How does it SOUND??

[Gordon Bellerose]

I have now had the instrument for a few months, and a number of guys look at it.
They love the tone, and the feel of the neck.
They say the balance is great too, but they are musicians, and musicians are infamously broke.
Someone will buy it. Just gotta find the right person!

[Gerry Beckles]

Just stumbled on your build.... such clean work! Hope you found a buyer.

[Dan Smith]

Great work Gordon!

[Bob Francis]

My comments are like Peter's.
I had to look twice at the neck join it is really nice looking Gordon.

[Gordon Bellerose]

Thanks for the nice comments.
It has been a while since I finished the bass, and it has been to only one show.
There are three shows coming up in September, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will find a good home.