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This week’s bass of the week answers the age old question of, what to do with a nice piece of quartersawn wenge?
Builder David Stelter writes:
I wanted to try building a one-piece neck and I had some nice quartersawn wenge and a chunk of prima vera, so I made them into a bolt-on five string. The fingerboard and headplate are also wenge, and the whole neck is stained black. The head is a 15-degree tiltback with a hidden scarf joint, so the bulk of the head is three pieces of wood with a thin cap on top. There are two carbon fiber bars in the neck, and a one-way truss rod adjusted at the body. The body is two pieces joined down the middle, and the battery and electronics covers are also prima vera. Tuners and bridge are by Hipshot, pickups are EMG P/J set in the 40-size style running at 18v. Basic electronics, vol-vol-tone, and a Switchcraft locking jack. Frets are medium stainless with a zero fret, nut is a Graphtech trem nut. Dunlop strap locks. The body also got black stain, then sanded back so the stain just remained in the pores, giving it a reclaimed lumber/weathered look. The neck and body are both finished in Osmo Polyx, a floor finish which has a wonderful satiny hard-wax feel. I really wanted a classic bolt-on P/J sound from this bass and I got it!
Well done, David!
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Yes! A great bass, with the proper 5-string design elements, including 2+3 tuners so the B string doesn’t bind, pickups in the sweet spots, and the horn long enough to balance with lightweight tuners. Great job.
Thanks! I meant to do 3+2 on the headstock but I accidentally reversed the template when I routed the head profile 🙂
And the balance is indeed great.
I’m not sure what do you mean by the B string would bind. In my opinion, 3+2 should be better, because thinner strings has higher tensions
Wow , Great looking bass ! The sound must be also great .
Awesome bass love what you did with the heel of the neck lot’s of room 🙂
Indeed, the high fret access is comfortable all the way to the 24th.
Sound bytes?? Looks great and comfy!!
Great looking bass!
I would love to have a 4 string version of this bass. I will try to contact you. I love the wood on the body! I also love the black neck and the Hipshot tuners and EMG pickups you used. ( Hipshot bridge?) please build me one of these basses!
Me too ! 4 banger is where it’s at !
Wow, thanks! But I’m not a pro builder – this was made in my basement over the course of months.
Would also like this beauty as a 4 string. Definitely interested if possible.
Looks like a cross between a Warwick Fortress and a Warrior bass design.
I didn’t know EMG made P/J sets in the 40 style. Nice ! When I first saw the wood I thought, ‘Too bad it’s not a P/J.” but you did it. I love the look and “simplicity” (Quotes because nothing is simple about that bass !). I also love tho photo how it sits on a weathered chair that compliments the bass perfectly. Too bad it’s not a 4 banger ! 🙂
+1 on sound clips. I’d really like to hear the bite on that B string 🙂
That’s gorgeous. Well done. 🙂
Wow, beautiful bass! The scale and proportions are spot on.
Looks awesome Cobba. Nicely appointed. I’ve read a lot of good things about EMG p/ups looks like I’ll have to try some. Cheers Mate