See the business listing for this bass builder here
The feature bass for this week is an example of where “less is more” really works.
Builder Aaron Ross from www.rayrossbass.com writes:
I started making basses from scratch about five years ago. Motivated by a desire for a fretless and no money to buy one. Through trial and error, I turned a creative corner with number 12. Everything finally fell into place from a design standpoint and I have been furiously cranking out basses since. I prefer a “less is more” philosophy and my basses have a very simple electronics package. Two independent volume and a treble “bleed” tone control. That’s it. Through more trial and error I finally (with the help of Best Bass Gear) found the pickups for my guitars and they are unquestionably Nordstrand passive “Big Singles” (Thanks Max). This little number is a 4 string fretless, 32 1/2″ scale, 7.2 lbs. Hard maple back, Bubinga core, Spalted maple top, which adds a really nice “crispiness” to the sound. The fret board is Bolivian rosewood and Padauk with maple fret markers. Curly maple neck to finish it off. My basses are “small” compared to most and try as I may, I just cannot make a huge bass. Honestly, with the tone I get out of these little monsters I don’t know why I would. The bridge is my own design which is proprietary and patent pending. I have successfully managed to remove the “saddle” portion of the typical bridge system and the results are pretty hard to describe, but I am very, very pleased with the sound. Crystal clear, ringing sustain, full blown piano sound that cuts through ANY mix was what I was after, and by golly I found it. I am definitely a fan of brass because of its “living metal” status, it really lets vibration pass right through. If you choose to make a nut from this wondrous material you won’t be disappointed. If there is anything I can say to a prospective instrument builder, don’t give up! Never underestimate your own creativity and keep going. I had to build 12 before things really started happening. Perseverance will pay off and the joy experienced from playing your own instrument is indescribable. at this point, I can hardly remember a life before I started building, and if I could, I would never go back. I would also encourage my bass building friends to start from scratch! It is harder this way but I felt like all the basses out there really looked like everybody else’s and that was enough for me to do the hard work and come up with my own design. I hope it shows.
Well done!
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Nice. Interested in more info on bridge 🙂
http://rayrossbass.com/bridge/
Great concept. After three wrist surgeries I’m always looking for small basses that sound big.
you found one
Very impressive!
But brass nut will only affect 4 notes; the open strings. Not too big of a boost if you ask me. Brass bridge though…
yes but those are a big four notes, the bridge takes care of the rest
Which strings do you find work well with the scale length, in terms of tension?
these days I use regular light gauge 100-45, I am not a fan of huge strings I find them to be too thuddy. any shorter than 32.5 they become necessary though. That is how I ended up with this scale. Ultra lights on the other hand, I find too tinny, especially on my basses
sweet
Nice work. Seems really light, good for people with back problems like me.
I like what you did with the jack
7.2 lbs!
Lovely looking instrument. Nice one!
Rays bridges are absolutely wonderful! He’s not barking at the wind when he says he gets a piano-like tone and sustain from the strings. I’ve built two 5-string basses from scratch with Ray Ross bridges and am very happy with the result.
You can get them here, at Bestbassgear.com (not an advertisement. Just an admirer of Ray’s work.)
Nice bass, by the way, Ray!