See the business listing for this bass builder here
This feature bass instrument this week all started from buying a single how-to book on building guitars.
Builder Tom Duritsch writes:
Back in the day when I had my sights on a nice high end bass I found that I just couldn’t afford what I wanted. I came to the conclusion that if they could hand build, I could also. I bought a build book written by Melvyn Hiscock and I was on my way. I had to tool up some but before long I was into my first build. This Duritsch B-5 is my tenth build. 35″ scale. I built this for my best friend in life as I wanted to make it special. The body is a combo of flame maple for the back, Padauk in the middle, and slight flame walnut for the top. The neck is a combo of walnut, maple, wenge, maple thin veneer. The fingerboard material I chose is bubinga. The electronics and pups I decided to install is EMG active. I used a single truss rod I made. The finish I made with a mix of gunstock oil and a bit of tung oil. I heated this mix and added a small bit of black rotted walnut jacket just for a short time for a darker color. I built this bass in 1999. I’m a retired millwright and work as a luthier for Amatis Fine Instruments in Cinci.
Well done!
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Very pretty bass. Good job.
Thank you. It was a fun build
Just beautiful. The woodwork and the wood selections are superb.
You are very kind, Thanks
I’d love to hear what this Bass sounds like! Great choice of woods and their placement. Brilliant! I’d love to have one. Wanna make another for me, but with Barts?? kawika007@msn.com
I may start building again, I don’t know. I’ll keep you in mind tho. Thanks for your comments David
Price?
These can be very pricy. It depends on what the customer wants on his build.
That is Bass Porn right there.
Agree, 100%. Thanks
I think that is my favourite so far. Excellent work-looks fantastic and probably sounds so too.
Thanks, it sounded better than it looks. I wish it was mine. I get to play it on occasion when I’m at my buddies band house.
Nice take on a Smith – Kudos.
Not intentional as others are implying but thanks for the Kudos. The specs on the B-5 are nowhere near a Smithy.
That is a beautiful peice of work. I love all aspects of this. Lucky friend you have.
Thanks John. I’m thinking about building bases again, Stay tuned……
I especially appreciate your smooth contouring on the neck-to-body transition on the back. super smooth, beautiful!
what did the final weight come in at?
Really nice build. I especially like the paduk middle layer. I think it is underrated as both a structural component and a tone wood. The shape should balance real well. Well done!
good stuff!!
good stuff!!! Beautiful guitar….from what I see your selection from wood to electronics is top shelf….keep rockin!!!!
Yikes!!!! My goodness that thing is a beauty!!!!!!! Great job!!!!!!
Nice axe. It looks more like a KEN SMITH. What is it? A KEN-PUSHIC-SMITH-N-BACKER?
(KENPUSHICSMITHENBACKER) 5 string. It is a nice bass though. I’d buy it.
Of all the basses posted recently on BBG, this is the first one that I would want to own and play. A totally professional job. Excellent work. Thanks for sharing…
Thanks Roger. I wish you could play this bass. It’s a sweet Bass for sure. Best wishes. Tom Duritsch.
Awesome build Tom!
Looking for Tom Duritsch. Recently obtained a bass. Looking to get more information. Thanks
You found me. What’s up. Tom