See the business listing for this bass builder here
This week’s feature bass is a fretless with a Lebanese Cedar body. Cool!
Builder Josiah Goldsmith writes:
I was inspired to build this bass for a number of reasons:
1) I’m about to start my second year of A-levels, so I needed a project to make.
2) I’m a double bassist and a bass guitarist, but I needed a decent set-up for bass guitar.
3) I love building stuff! I figured I should get a head start on building this for next year’s A-level course, but I ended up finishing during summer break, before the college year officially started! (Oops, looks like I need to find myself another project. Matching guitar?).
The bass is made of a Lebanese Cedar body (salvaged from work; it came down during the 1987 Great Storm here in East Sussex) with an Indian Rosewood top, three-piece Rock-Maple neck and Macassar Ebony fingerboard. It features a single soapbar in the bridge position, a single volume knob and a matching rosewood pick-guard.
I designed the bass as a double bassist, looking for a bass guitar that I’d feel instantly comfortable with. There are no fingerboard inlays below the twelfth fret, no fiddly electronics and the right hand sits directly over the fingerboard, which feels instantly familiar to anyone who’s played an upright before. That’s actually where the name came from: Pizzicato. This isn’t a bass for slap; it isn’t a bass for clanky, grungey sounds; it’s a bass tailor-fit to me and my playing style. Actually, I guess that’s another reason for building this bass in the first place: it’s an instrument that can’t be bought anywhere else. I think that’s as good a reason as any for building it.
Well done, Josiah!
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The best bass I’ve seen featured.
I love everything about it.
Well done.
I love how you handled the string through facilities. I love the whole thing! Is the bridge fixed? Great work, Thanks for sharing. Note: LaBella “Deep Talkin” wrapped flatwound strings may be of some interest to you.
Beautiful, I love the line of the neck straight over/into the top of the body. But one question, doesn’t the cord rub against your body with the rear-input jack?
fantastic design. great job!
Beautiful! As an upright player myself, I appreciate your concept.
Gorgeous. That whole fingerboard into top is beautiful.
Looks cool but what does it sound like. You told what it doesn’t do but Id like to hear what it does.
Everything’s perfect. Well.. the headstock need to be redisigned though.
woooooooo beautiful. excelent bass
What are those strings? And the make/model of the pickup? I’d also love to hear the instrument.
This is the most beautiful and origional bass design i have seen in a long time. congratulations, it must be fun playing it.
I LIKE THE PICTURE WITH YOUR STAND-UP IN THE BACK…MAYBE A GRANDFATHER SHOWING OFF HIS GRANDSON….NICE JOB
GREAT LOOKING BUILD….HOW LONG DID IT TAKE…DID YOU EVER TRY IT THROUGH AN SVT…NICE JOB
Great job ! Where can I buy one just like this ?
can’t say i like the black top. second, the jack plate on the back is very poor idea. i like the neck and the fret dots and the over all body design is attractive. nice work.
Re: the jack on the back.
The jack pictured here is temporary, it has since been replaced by a strat jack plate on the back like Ritter’s. This keeps the jack well out the way. If it’s good enough for Ritter it’s good enough for me!
I had to look up what A levels are but since I did it brought up another question. How old are you (The builder)? Just curious. If you are not an older person returning to school, and your in your early 20 ‘ s then WOW! Either way this bass is inspired and 1 of a kind. And the headstock is just fine. I dont know what that other person that commented likes, but that’s all personal preference. Good luck in your studies!
WE ALL KNOW WHAT TODAYS DATE MEANS….EVEN IF ITS JUST A SCALE…LETS ALL TAKE OUR INSTRUMENTS AND PLAY SOMETHING IN REMEMBERANCE…SO YOUNG BUILDERS LIKE THIS KID WE ARE LOOKING AT CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD….GOD BLESS FDNY
A most beautiful bass. I would love something like this for my jazz gigs.
I after agree with everyone, it is such a beautiful piece of art as well as an extraordinary instrument. Amazing!