The feature bass this week is a nice take on a ’51 Fender Precision Bass copy. ’51 P bass that I’ve been building over the last few weeks. One piece swamp ash body. Fender neck, Schaller nickel tuners, Schaller nickel strap buttons, Solid Brass high mass bridge modified for string through body, Seymour Duncan Hot … Read more
Anyone even slightly familiar with Chris Squire’s bass playing style knows he uses a heavy-handed pick, which is part of how he got his signature sound. But it’s also obvious that the Rickenbacker bass he used also played a huge part in that trebly, clacky tone he was able to get. It’s a common belief … Read more
The feature bass this week has a really cool pickup configuration! Owner Michael Logiovino writes: I purchased this Bass as it was originally built by Jon Letts. I became aware of Letts through my nephew who has had several Basses custom built by this Luthier. I was looking for a 5 string fretless Bass at … Read more
For aspiring bass builders out there, you may be faced with the decision of whether to build a show bass or a performance bass. An example of this is looking at two Warwick signature models, the Bootsy Collins Artist Series vs. the Bootsy Collins Space Bass. We’ll start with the Artist Series model which is … Read more
(Yes, we are aware of the missing 5 string, that is how the builder submitted his bass to us.) The feature bass this week is a builder’s take on a modernized Tele style bass. Builder Christopher Cordova writes: Body is my take on a modern Tele style bass. Body is made of Swamp Ash, open … Read more
When you look up any list of “greatest bass players of all time”, James Jamerson will show up, and he’s usually in the top 5. Why is James so highly regarded? It’s not because of being flashy nor the most technically adept. It’s because he knew how to contribute the best possible bass that made … Read more
The feature bass this week is from a builder who decided to stop waiting, worked up the courage to build his own bass, and the end result was amazing. Builder Rudy Candia writes: I have been a woodworker for several years and have dreamt of building bass guitars for a long time but I was … Read more
The feature bass this week is cat-approved! Builder Tom Broeske writes: While waiting for a fretted neck repair I ran across this Warmoth Dinky J body from the in stock inventory. It’s a chambered Mahogany body with a figured Maple top. It came finished as shown in Blackburst / Black back in gloss Poly. I … Read more
Some bassists are all about grace and pluck each note in a very delicate way to bring about the cleanest possible bass tone… …but that’s not Lemmy and it never was. Lemmy’s sound is a Rickenbacker bass using only the rear treble pickup with everything turned to 10 and played with a pick in a … Read more
The builder of the feature bass this week openly admits that the distressed look is a love-it-or-hate-it thing. But even so, this is still a great build. Seeing a reverse headstock on a distressed J Bass style build really adds to the cool factor. (Note: YES, there is a demo of this bass. See video … Read more
