See the business listing for this bass builder here
This week’s feature because is a nice “update” take on the classic Jazz Bass design.
Builder Brian A.C. from www.MavourneenStrings.com writes:
The Heppcat bass is the distillation of everything we’ve learned in many years of repair and building work. It is our take on Leo Fender’s classic ‘J-Bass’ design, although we use that model as a starting point to work from rather than an end target. It’s a classic, familiar profile that we apply some updated ideas and parts to. We think it’s beautiful to look at but nearly every engineering and design decision was made putting tone and ergonomics first — it’s a form that follows function.
BODY: Bookmatched ash top and back with an alder core and a contrasting layer of walnut to make a strip around the edge. A deep-set six bolt neck joint increase contact between body and neck to better convey vibration.
NECK: Three piece quartersawn maple with rosewood fingerboard, unbleached bone nut, and double action truss rod. Asymetric contour on back of neck leaves the treble side slightly thinner than the bass side. Shorter headstock design and ultralight tuning machines to promote an instrument that balances well on the player (no “neck dive”).
ELECTRONICS: Pickups ~ Seymour Duncan 1/4# Jazz (I started out with something more ’boutique’ in this instrument but it was a little too clean — the pickups always bring the Grrrr!!) Knob #1 ~ volume for front pickup & pull up to run pickups in series. This makes the two pickups work as one big humbucker and moves tone into “Precision” territory, with higher output and more presence in the mid and low frequencies. Knob #2 ~ volume for rear pickup & pull up to bypass preamp and run pickups in passive mode. Use for classic vintage tones or as ‘plan B’ when the battery dies. Knob #3 ~ Concentric Blackouts two band preamp with selectable treble frequency.
HARDWARE: Hipshot ‘B’ model brass bridge, utralite tuning machines with cylindrical posts.
AESTHETICS & ETHIC: We favor the classic “three knobs and a jack” configuration around here. Too many knobs and switches just clutter up beautiful wood cut with classic lines. For this reason, push/pull switching pots and the concentric tone controls were employed rather than four knobs and two toggle switches. This configuration makes for an instrument that is very flexible in the tone department, but all in very useful ways: Parallel (Jazz) or Series (Precision-ish) wiring that can be run either passive (vintage) or with an active preamp (modern).
Well done, Brian!
Want YOUR bass to be featured for Bass of the Week?
Submit yours now using our easy web form
Awesome I am so impressed well done
many thanks!
Brian A.C.
Mavourneen Solidbody Strings
Wow, a real beauty. Curious: what is the final weight, and did you chamber the body? thanks!
Thanks – weight is approx 8.25 pounds. Body is not chambered but is fairly thin which cuts down some weight.
Brian A.C.
Mavourneen Solidbody Strings
I’m a Fender guy and don’t usually care for boutique basses but this one is beautiful. I also am curious to know how much it weighs as I have back problems.
Hey thanks! I like to think of this as a working class instrument with a little extra style. It weighs right about 8.25 pounds.
Brian A.C.
Mavourneen Solidbody Strings
I’m a Fender guy who doesn’t usually like boutique basses but this bass is beautiful. I also would like to know the weight.
Nicely done with well considered details like barrel posts on the tuners and a thin body.
Thank you!
Brian A.C.
Mavourneen Solidbody Strings
Sweetest!!!
That’s the reaction we’re going for – thanks!
Brian A.C.
Mavourneen Soildibody Strings
SEEMS LIKE A FEW FENDER BENDERS LATELY…ANOTHER ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH….BEAUTIFUL…WOULD LIKE TO HEAR IT….
thank you — most kind!
Brian A.C.
Mavourneen Solidbody Strings
Very nice! I bet it sounds great! Wish I had one!
and thank you!!
Brian A.C.
Mavourneen Solidbody Strings
very clean natural look jazz bass,not crazy about the headstock.it’s would have to grow on me,,,.but the body is sexy
Thank you for the feedback, we appreciate it. I considered the headstock at length and wound up with a design that followed function — keeping it short with the 3/1 tuner configuration and employing ultralite tuners helps the instrument balance well (no neck dive). Since ergonomics was the goal here, that’s what I ended up with!
thanks again,
Brian A.C.
Mavourneen Soildbody Strings
Very cool I ditto the above I’m a fender boy too but this kicks goals !
I just had my second back surgery I need to go lighter what does this weigh ??
Thank you! This bass weighs in right around 8.25 pounds. It’s on the lighter side although perhaps not a featherweight.
Brian A.C.
Mavourneen Solidbody Strings
Very nice, would have liked to see a veneer on the headstock face, looks a little unfinished there…but very cool bass
Hello and thanks for the feedback.
I spent a lot of time on the headstock design and nearly went with a tilt-back style with a matching veneer. Everything looks better with a matching body and headstock, right?
Ultimately, I opted to make it the way I did partly because it keeps it a little closer to the instrument it’s based on, but primarily because “pragmatic function” was near the top of the list of design goals. I’ve repaired dozens of broken tilt-back headstock over the years but only one or two slab/Fender style. Figuring that I’m making gear for working musicians, I wanted something that would hold up when the singer knocked it off the back of the stage.
Anyway, thanks again for the feedback — I really do appreciate the information.
Brian A.C.
Mavourneen Solidbody Strings
that is one smooth axe would love to here it jam
many thanks!
Brian A.C.
Mavourneen Solidbody Strings
I was lucky enough to find a previously owned 5 string Hepcat bass at Brians store. After a few of my own small adjustments this instrument has become the best playing and sounding bass I have ever seen or heard. I also currently own what I believed to be 2 awesome basses- Musicman, and a Rickenbacker, Brians Hepcat makes those feel like toys. They make me sick, I can’t even look at those basses now. The asymetrical neck contour combined with the lesser neck width makes playing almost effortless. It’s hard to put this bass down, it feels so good in my hands. Soundwise- the low end is hard for me to describe, I guess I would say it’s apocalyptical thick and fat
I apologize, I spelled Heppcat incorrectly in my first comment
Looks great,Are there any sound clips to hear it,and how much and how long would it take to build one.I’m in Australia. Cheers