The feature fretless bass for this week was just something built to “fill in the time,” according to the builder.
Builder Pete Ryan writes:
I am a contract worker. My latest contract was unexpectedly terminated in October, so to fill in the time while looking for my next contract I decided to build this beauty
Strings: 5
Body construction: Solid one piece Body
Wood: Flamed Koa
Finish: Hand Rubbed Oil
Binding: Tort Scale
Length: 33″
Nut width: 1.74
Nut Material: Buffalo Horn
Neck: Flamed Koa Neck
Profile: Asymmetrical
Fingerboard: Ebony
Strings: IT Jazz Flats
Bridge: Hipshot A style
String Spacing .708
Tuners: Hipshot Ultra Lites
Pups: Bill Lawrence P46 and J45
Weight: 10.0 lbs
Well done!
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Great job, what a beautiful instrument – simple design, uncluttered look, understated elegance = awesome! I love the look of the flamed koa, but the 7 screw neck joint: now that’s something you just don’t see around, but I’m glad I’m not the only one who believes in making things rock solid. I would love to make it sing!
Beautiful. I love it.
Very cool axe ! Body and peghead shapes being something of an homage to a Telecaster Bass, but different. And Bill Lawrence pickups !!! I have a pair of those in a P-J Squier bass I hot-rodded. I used a pull switch pot to do series parallel switching of the coils of the P46 pickup. Gives a fat tone in series and a tightened, more hi-fi tone in parallel. And other folks should note the trick Bill used to make these pickups compatible with 4 and 5 string basses. Evenly spaced magnets with an extra one on each pickup. 5 poles on each P46 and 9 on the J45. Very nice sounding units.
Lenny,
Thanks for the comps!
Yes this instrument is based on the old 51 P bass. There have been some changes to the original design. First, the body was made narrower by about 3/4 on an inch. The headstock had to be modified a bit to accommodate the 5th tuner. And of course, the neck has been modified to handle 5 strings. Actually there are many changes to the design of the neck. It’s much thicker than your average Fender style neck. It’s also set into the body about an extra inch and a half. The profile is asymmetrical. And the volume has been moved towards the heal. I did all of these changes because I think the original fender design is somewhat flimsy.
Beautiful work, beautiful bass.
Beautiful instrument, great craftsmanship
Greetings all.
It is truly an honor to be recognized as Bass of the week here. Every week I see a new build that really knocks my socks off, and wonder if someday I could make a bass like that.
Cheers
Beautyfull wood. Great job.
Great job. What a killer plank of Koa. Some audio clips would be nice, I’m sure it sounds as good as it looks. The only thing I might have done differently, is inset the string ferrules flush to the body. Such a classy, simple execution, and I’m digging the tort binding. Genius. Certainly a worthy choice for Bass of the Week.
AWESOME AXE & CRAFTSMANSHIP!!!!!!!
beautiful!!!!
Wow, that is beautiful! My first build was a Tele style bass in 1980 and I still have it and gig with it. Yours makes me want to build another tele bass!
Here is the fretless I built that was Bass of the Week in 2014…it too has tortoise binding, and a few other surprises!
https://www.bestbassgear.com/ebass/bass-of-the-week/bass-of-the-week-sparks-trs.html
Very nice! And a Koa neck!!
Very nice work! Also a huge fan of the beauty of flame Koa. Incredible piece of wood.
Stunning bass wood, craftsmanship and all. I built my bass using similar piece of solid koa plank from a stash I’ve had for 30 years and after I priced out today’s replacement cost of that quality koa I decided to use the remainder only for top wood about 1/4″ thickness max. Although I appreciate everything you did for whatever reasons, no one sees the back of the body, least 4 basses can be built from the same length of lumber. Kudos to you for an instrument of exceptional beauty. I’m certain it plays and sounds great.