This week’s selection is from Bob at Pyramid Point Custom Guitars. A build for his client, who had some interesting requests. Here’s what he says:
My client wanted a 4-string bass to match his 70’s Telecaster guitar – same shape, white pickguard, and traditional maple neck. He had seen and played a previous bass I made that was a one-piece slab of Michigan White Ash, and that’s what he wanted. He also asked to highlight the deadly leavings of the Ash Borer, which basically killed every Ash tree in Michigan about 8 years ago, including this tree from my farm.
I used a maple neck from StewMac, pickups from GFS, and the bass was wired by Sean down at Traverse City Guitar. I modified a standard Tele pick guard to work with the Jazz bass pickups, and modified the headstock to mimic the Tele style. The bass plays great, and looks really cool next to the real Tele 6-string in this gentleman’s collection.
Unlike the swamp ash that Leo used for so many great guitars, this Michigan White Ash is harder, grainier, and heavier, so even without the typical long horn to balance the bass on a strap, this one is really comfortable sitting or using a strap. I also enjoy the fact that the wood was sustainably harvested right here on Pyramid Point in rural Leelanau County, Michigan.
Well done!
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That looks great. I even love the scarring left behind by the beetle.
Very cool!
Very nice, and inspiring. What kind of bridge is that.
A very nice bass. It’s so unfortunate about the Ash Borer infestation. I grew up in Nebraska and as a child, watched all of our magnificent American Elms have to be cut down after Dutch Elm disease killed them.
Cool looking bass. Is it a short scale? I’ve seen some tele basses done with a short scale maple next like one on a Bronco Bass. I’m planing something like this for my next build.
WHEN I SEE THINGS LIKE THIS IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD…THANKS….KEEP ROCKIN.
It’s a 34” scale like a PBass.
Nice job and gets me real antsy to get goining on a similar build. I don’t recognise the bridge?