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[Bass of the Week] Alan Gruskoff Custom Fretless

See the business listing for this bass builder here

The feature bass this week shows how much you can save when you do it yourself!

Builder Alan Gruskoff writes:

I bought an unfinished bass guitar body made of solid mahogany with a spalted & flamed top. After much sanding, I applied two coats of Behlen vinyl sealer for stringed instruments. Next, after some light sanding / steel wool, I applied 6 coats of Behlen stringed instrument lacquer, a little steel wool polishing – it’s done.

The wood is quite spectacular as vinyl sealer really brought out the grains. After lacquer, it’s a very smooth, natural matte finish that feels like the fine wood it is. It’s just what I was hoping for. I am thrilled at being able to do this myself. Local shops wanted $400-500 for what I did on this job for about $50 in supplies.

I had been playing a 2002 MIM Jazz Bass for a while. I basically replaced the body with this fine woods body, after I did the finishing.  It has an AllParts (Japan) neck with solid ebony fingerboard, Hipshot tuners & KickAss bridge, Nordstrand pickups and Richter JB Control Plate. I really like the sound of LaBella 750N (Black Nylon) strings. The black on black look is so appropriate for a fretless, to me.

Well done!

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14 thoughts on “[Bass of the Week] Alan Gruskoff Custom Fretless”

  1. That’s a smokin’ looking bass… OMG! How do you like the Nordstrands? I’ve been eyeing those up for a while…

    Reply
  2. Great Job!!! You may have inspired me to follow in your footsteps. I have been seriously considering starting a fretless J-bass. It seems your efforts turned out A+. I would love to hear how it sounds!

    Reply

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