See the business listing for this bass builder here
The feature bass for this week is a chambered body exotic.
Builder Stephen McDonald from Steven McDonald Basses writes:
Hey guys, I’m a small builder out of West Virginia, been a player 30+ years and a high end carpenter for about 15 years. Back in ’09 I was laid off, so I decided to put the two together and try this building thing out. I’ve had a few clients ask me about submitting to you guys, so here we go.
This is the DC 05 Cambered “WADA” bass. Its a chambered ash body with a maple, wenge neck through. Figured, almost a burl, maple top with a sitka spruce walnut, maple veneer sound layer. Sound holes above pickup area and at scroll in top horn. 35″ scale wenge fretboard with maple stringers, a double bass clef at the 12th and a zero fret. fabricated wenge bridge with gold lock down saddles and string through the body detail. Two EMG DC45 pickups under a figure maple pickup ramp powered with an EMG BQC 3 band active preamp 9-volt and a NUTRIC locking output jack. Hope you like.
Well done!
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Steven McDonald, Real nice looking instrument you’ve built there!! If I was in West Virginia I would have already tried that bad boy out!!
WoW! I mean Wow. That is a beautiful bass! Any chance you could post a Soundcloud or Youtube video running in it just direct or flat on an amp? Would love to hear it.
I’m Very Fortunate To Own A Steven McDonald Bass Along With Many Other High End Basses In My Collection And Like I Said Before,,,,,,If There Was A Hall Of Fame For Luthiers,,,,,,,Steve Would Be In It,!!!!
Obviously a well planned and built instrument, but im just not into this style of custom bass. I like a far simpler design- the woods are great, just a simpler design. But thats just me!
Absolutely stunning! I want to hear it!
That’s probably the most gorgeous bass I’ve seen on here with many beautiful touches that are not only well thought out but artistic! I love the way the top horn is sculpted down to the maple core for that little connection piece. The headstock shape, fretboard wood and inlays are gorgeous. The jack and metal end plate for the strings are nice ideas. I bet you need really long strings to fit.
I own two of Steves basses and they are right there with my other hi end basses. This is a fine example of Steves craftsmanship and I can assure you they sound and play every bit as good as they look! Great job Steve.
Thanks for the input guys. I have sound sample on my FB page, of this and a few others, thanks again