See the business listing for this bass builder here
Builder Michael Marino got a request from long-time friend Tim to build a “classical-looking violin bass with a scroll top”, so that’s exactly what he did.
Michael writes:
Neck through 5 string fretless. The neck is maple and purple heart. The body wings are basswood with maple top and back. The fretboard is ebony. 32″ scale. The keys are Hipshot Ultralights, and the pickups are Seymour Duncan Basslines which were both purchased at BBG. Controls are passive, stacked volume on top, tone on bottom. The bridge and tailpiece are handmade one-offs I made from ebony.
I built this for my friend Tim who I have known since 5th grade. Tim wanted a classical looking violin bass with a scroll top. He is also an amateur astronomer. The inlay on the tailpiece is the big dipper, and is correctly aligned with the star at the octave, which is the north star Polaris, hence the name of the bass. I also inlaid my initial on the back of the head. The “ns” on the tailpiece stands for North Star. All of the inlays are white mother of pearl.
A classy-looking 5-string. Well done, Michael!
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Gorgeous, classy, CLASSIC!
Nice job man–I love the look!
That s some kind of a great looking bass !
Excellent job. I would be proud to own it.
Awesome job! Great attention to detail and design. Yer a “star” dude!
What a beautiful looking, well made bass I bet it sounds as sweet as she looks
That’s bass is a beauty.. I’d love to hear how it sounds…
Deep Woody I Love IT
Beautiful Work !
Fantasic…McCarthy eat your heart out!
Does anyone know what string set is on this bass? Rotosound Nylon? Nexus? Or what? Thanks, Gerdson from Brazil
The strings are GHS tapewounds.
Great Job on the bass! Who made the case??
The case is a Roadrunner ABG case that I modified.
So woody so deep I love it.
The entire build thread is on Facebook at Mikes Custom Guitar Works.
I’ve heard it and it sounds great!
Some times I have to just put it down and Take a breath.
Wait til you see mine 😀
Absolutely wonderful. To post these pics without a sound file is unfair.
I posted a link to a sound file on BBG Facebook page.-Mike
Very, very cool!
Mike, you said there’s an “sound file on BBG”. I searched Facebook, but haven’t found it among many BBG something. May you tell the exact link? Thanks …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iU6sZGsGla0
It’s in the thread about this bass. Check all the reply’s. I can’t paste the link here.
Well apparently the link finally posted. Took so long I thought it didn’t work.
NIIIIICE…..
Wow!!!