This week’s selection is from Paul Tausch from Episteme Instruments. Here’s the story of the build in his own words:
I’m a long-time wood-worker that fell in love with the bass when I first heard Geddy Lee play on 2112 back when I was in Junior High, so building instruments is a perfect fusion for these two passions. The Objectivist came about as a desire to build a neck-through 5-string with a foundation of Maple and then adding in Wenge and Padauk – once I saw this slab of Zebrawood, I knew that would be the veneer layer. I wanted the sound and range of a 34″, but had been used to playing a short-scale and was concerned about the reach on a longer scale, so I added the cut-away at the end of the upper wing where the arm contour would usually be so I could add a guitar strap button there as well and pull the lower register of the fingerboard a little closer; it also eliminated any symmetry across the bottom of the bass and gave the instrument a unique profile. I’m sure all the luthiers out there relate to that feeling of “just having to get that design out of your head” and bring it to life by giving it form,
function, and a voice! Too many designs and not enough time.
About the Build:
This is a 5-string, 34″ scale, neck-through design with the neck composed of 10 laminates – Maple (3), Wenge (4), and Padauk (3). The neck has a dual action truss rod adjustable at the headstock.The fingerboard is made of Black Walnut stained with a Cabernet stain and has 27 frets at the G-string and a single Omega symbol to mark the 12th fret. The wings are a base of Maple, a layer of Wenge, and a thick veneer of Zebrawood, so the bass is all heavy tonewoods giving it great sustain. The top wing has an extended horn and a relief cut away instead of an arm contour. The instrument is finished in Danish Oil to highlight the Zebrawood and waxed. I used a passive jazz-style pick-up configuration with a single volume control (tone is adjustable through an opening in the electronics cavity cover), a brass nut, and individual string saddles.
So, what do you think for Paul’s build? BTW – If you’re going to comment, whether it be positive or negative, please keep it constructive! We don’t approve of haters. [Comment below]
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Why have 2 pickups when you can’t control them? A balance knob or even selector switch would make it a far more usable instrument.
I love the back!
It is beautiful want to be one when that big check comes.
I would be a little concerned with the very thin areas on both upper and lower horns. I would have left a little more wood there to make sure that they would not break off if dropped or any other mishaps occur. Other than that nice build.
going on the pics I think it’s a great looking build,and would love to have a play date
Nice!
I have the same concern as Rudy regarding the thin sections in the horns, especially the top horn. Other than that, congratulations on what looks to be a beautifully made bass that exactly fits your needs. (In the end, that’s the most important reason for building our own instruments isn’t it?)