Monday, November 11th, 2019 by notreble.com

Bergfels Guitars John-Eric Signature Custom Bass

Specs:
Scale:   30″-31.25″
Body:   Mahogany
Top:   Maple Burl
Neck:   Hard Maple
Fingerboard:   Ziricote
Headstock Cap:   Ziricote
Pickups:   Custom Noiseless P/J
Electronics:   Passive
Tuners:   Schaller M4, Hipshot D-Tuner
Bridge:   Omega

by bestbassgear.com

Jim Huckle Guitars Short Six Fretless

The biggest conundrum was how to do the bridge – I knew it would have to
have the full 19mm string spacing, as I’ve never managed to get on with
the narrower bridges found on a lot of sixers, but I also wanted to
experiment with a piezo pickup, purely for the sake of trying it. If
money had been no object, I’d have bought a set of dedicated piezo
saddles, but that not being the case I decided on the next best thing –
taking the saddles from an existing bridge, and building a wooden base
with a piezo strip inside it. (More on this later…)


I’ve always liked the combo of walnut and padauk, so that with some
maple veneer pinstripes was the obvious choice for the neck, and the
body wings also being walnut dictated that there had to be a similarly
contrasting layer between them and the body. Finally, a bubinga
fretboard seemed an ideal choice in being a very hard wearing wood that
also visually contrasted the walnut well – and for the sake of
continuity, an offcut from the fretboard was used to make the bridge.
In the past I’ve gone for longer scale lengths, but having recently
played a couple of very nice short-scale basses, I decided to take
inspiration there and as a result this has an 800mm scale length, or
just shy of 31.5″. Inlays are made from 6mm aluminium rod for the front,
and white/blue Luminlay for the sides.


The rest of the hardware includes a set of Gotoh tuners, a Kent
Armstrong soapbar pickup in the scale equivalent of the “Stingray”
position, wired up to a series/parallel switch and an Artec 3-band
preamp (they’re cheap, but I find them surprisingly good and reliable),
Schaller strap locks and D’Addario NYXL strings. I’ve also carved a
thumb rest from an offcut from the neck.


The build took me just over a year, as although guitar building has
dominated my spare time for over 15 years, reality unfortunately
requires me to have a full-time job as well… The end result?
Definitely worth the wait! The shorter scale length definitely has me
converted; it’s so easy to play but the bass doesn’t lose anything from
it. The balance is ideal, it’s not too heavy and the soapbar pickup
works beautifully across the whole range of the bass. The piezo…works.
It’s not currently a particularly useful sound, but it’s proved what I
wanted to prove, and with a proper piezo buffer I should be able to make
it sound better!

November 18th, 2019 by notreble.com

Jillard Guitars Armada Bass

Specs:
Strings:   5
Scale:   36.75″-34″
Body:   Chambered Ash
Top:   Spalted/Quilted Maple
Neck:   Wenge/Ash
Fingerboard:   Wenge
Fretboard Radius:   20″
Frets:   Stainless Steel
Pickups:   Stacked Singles
Tuners:   Hipshot Ultralight
Hardware:   Black











https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DrLDpOvMWs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1z29KXLwPvQ

by bestbassgear.com

Justin Goodman’s Eve Build

    Story of build:


    I’d like to introduce EVE, my second build (after ADAM, of course). She started out as being my dream bass and somehow has transformed into something altogether different. Being that I have no background in woodworking, this process was a very daunting one. This is really the
    result of a process taking about 5 years in total. I had dreamed of doing this for years, and finally for my birthday, August 2014, my wife and I decided to take a drive from New York down to south New Jersey to a wood supplier I found online. That day we laid out nearly $500 on what I felt were choice woods. I pictured it all in my head, I dreamed, I daydreamed… It became painful. I looked at those pieces on my shelf for 2 1/2 years before I got the nerve to do anything to it.

    After getting some ‘gentle’ pressure from my wife, I finally decided to start working on the body. I created an MDF template from my original drawing, and set out to cut the profile. Doing this was so nerve wrecking that I backed away from it again.

    It took me a year to get my nerve up again, but this time, i decided to experiment on some cheaper supply. ADAM (a 6 string, which I hope will appear in another submission) was born from wood bought from Home Depot. That wood combination totaled about $80, so I really didn’t mind too much if I made mistakes. But making ADAM happen, gave me the courage to go back to EVE and really try to push myself to make something special.

Details of the Build:


6 string
Neck- five piece sandwich of maple and purple heart
Maple fretboard
Headstock front cap- Fishtail Oak, Back cap- Maple
Body- Bookmatch Fishtail Oak top on 2 piece Ash
Finish- Odies Oil
All magnetic cavity covers and Truss rod access
34″ scale
24 fret
zero fret
Luminlay Side Dot Markers
Black Tusq nut
Hipshot Ultralite Tuners
Hipshot B-style Bridge
Bartolini Classic Candybar Pickups
Aguilar OBP-3 18 volt Preamp with active/passive switch, volume/passive tone stack, blend, treble/bass stack, mid push/pull for 400Hz/800Hz frequencies

EVE is pretty much everything ADAM is, just with some nicer features and more pronounced curves. (Get it?) Anyway, she’s got some amazing range, deep, warm, woody low end, a nice barky midrange, and a singing top range.






https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSNrUwWoJ6Y

Monday, November 25th, 2019 by notreble.com

 iVee Guitars “TTT Bass” Misery 3030

Specs:
Scale Length:   34″
Body:   1.6mm Aluminum Plate w/ image/text etching
Body side:   Brass 1mm
Colors:   90% Black w/ relic-alumina top & back
Neck:   Mahogany
Fingerboard:   1.6mm Aluminum w/ image/text etching
Nut:   Graphtech TusQ,
Width at Nut:   38mm, string spacing: 30mm
Pickup:   Handwound Ganèé Pickups “TTT Hybrid Bass” w/ matching rings
Controls:   Bourns 250K 2xVolume & Tone Slide Pot w/.05 Orange Drop
Machine Heads:   Hipshot
Bridge:   Aldridge Empire
Other:   Special “flower” brass inlays pickguard & plates
Weight:   10.14 lbs











https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Fpg2TFge78

by bestbassgear.com

Segura Bass Guitar

I was inspired by the profound desire to build a traditional bass with a emphasis on modern line language that would bring the essence of the wood forward. the body and neck share the same wood, hard maple, wenge and padauk . The fretboard is cocoblo with padauk inlays. I used single coil vintage Nordstrand pickups. the electronic is an obsidian jazz bass passive setup. hardware is Hipshot complemented with Labella flat wound strings. double action truss rod. I spend the last half of my summer working on that project after long month of planing. I actually build a wood shop to make this piece. It is my first build in thirty years, not to say it was long overdue. Last time I build a bass I focused only on the shape and I thought it was time to redirect that focus on a deeper level, wood selection, general language of the object, tone, and everything else. I looked at it as an introspection to find closure in the craft.

Monday, December 2nd, 2019 by notreble.com

Sugi Guitars NB5 Dream Catcher 33 Bass

Specs:
Scale:   33 inches
Body top:   Dream Catcher
Body back:   Mahogany
Neck:   Maple x Aqua Timber Maple x Maple 5-ply angled head-stock ?14 degree)
Finger board:   Ebony
Pickups:   Sugi Original Single-coil Pick-up
Controls:   Volume X 1, Balance X 1, Master Tone X 1
Tuning Machines:   GOTOH GB350
Bridge:   GOTOH S510B (19mm Pitch)
Parts Colors:   XG (Gold)
Finish:   Lacquer











https://youtube.com/watch?v=Zq_w4vbuPuQ

Monday, December 9th, 2019 by notreble.com

Carbonetti Guitars Constantine

Specs:
Scale:   30″ scale (strings go through the body so regular length strings can be used)
Body:   Roasted alder
Heel Block:   Roasted ash
Bracing/Soundposts:   Cedar
Back:   Mahogany
Top:   Quilted maple top
Neck:   Roasted maple
Fingerboard/Pickguard:   Roasted Birdseye maple
Fingerboard Radius:   7.25″
Inlays:   Turquoise
Nut:   Bone nut
Bridge:   Bone
String Spacing:   18mm
Pickups:   3 Carbonetti mini humbuckers (10k, 11.5k, 12k)
Controls:   5-way switch pickup selector, Vol, tone,
Electronics:   ‘59 Bumblebee capacitor
Weight:   7.3 lbs
Strings:   La Bella FL .49-.109 deep talkin’ flats









https://www.instagram.com/carbonettiguitars/?utm_source=ig_embed

Monday, December 16th, 2019 by notreble.com

Stellart Guitars Athena

Specs:
Scale length:   34″
Body wood:   Laminated Maple/Padaouk/Maple/Purple heart/Maple and book matched Ziricote back
Top Wood:   Book matched Cocobolo
Neck through wood:   9 piece laminate, Purple Heart/Maple/Black Gabon Ebony/Maple/Padaouk
Fretboard Wood:   Highly figured Ziricote with a white mother of pearl 12th fret fleur de lys and side dots inlays
Frets:   24
Headstock veneer:   Cocobolo with Maple/Padaouk/Maple pinstripes and white mother of pearl unicorn inlay
Truss rod cover:   inlaid continuous Cocobolo
Neck reinforcement:   Low profile dual action truss rod with 2 carbon fibre rods
Fretboard radius:   14″
Neck to body break angle:   0º
Headstock break angle:   12º
Nut:   Scalloped brass
Bridge:   Babicz (full contact hardware) 5-string bass black finish
Machine heads:   Sperzel bass locking black finish
Neck pickup:   EMG P5
Bridge pickup:   EMG J5
Electronics:   EMG BQS active EQ system 5 knob system features a balance control (blend) and master volume with separate bass and treble pots along with the concentric mid-control (stacked) and 18 V power supply for extra headroom
Control knobs:   Ebony with white mother of pearl dots
Finish:   Eco-friendly oil
String gauge:   0.045″ - 0.130″

Monday, December 23rd, 2019 by notreble.com

Sawtooth Rudy Sarzo Signature Acoustic-Electric Bass

Features:
Scale:   34″
Body:   Flame Maple
Top:   Flame Maple
Binding:   Flame Maple
Neck:   Maple
Neck Profile:   C-Shape
Fingerboard:   Ebony
Frets:   24 (or Fretless)
Electronics:   Fishman Presys II Preamp with Built-in Tuner
Bridge:   Ebony
Case:   ChromaCast Pro Series Padded Gig Bag








https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShaVwJxApeI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfBi_fdxvsc

Monday, December 30th, 2019 by notreble.com

Best of 2019: Top 10 Reader Favorite Bass of the Week Features

https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2019/12/30/best-of-2019-top-10-reader-favorite-bass-of-the-week-features/

by bestbassgear.com

Jim Huckle Mutant Jazz Bass

The body is unchanged from new; it’s a mahogany core with walnut facings and a contrasting maple veneer between them. I cut the control cover from the same piece as the rear facing to give a continuous effect, and the body is chambered to reduce weight. Pickups are a Kent Armstrong P-Bass in the “mudbucker” position and an Epiphone soapbar in the neck, with a 4-way rotary switch and push-pull pot for a wide variety of switching options. The thumb rest is also made from the same walnut stock.








https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d2d3sEyn6k

Monday, January 6th, 2020 by notreble.com

Polaris Basses Shorty “Mango”

Specs:
Scale:   30″
Strings:   4
Body:   Sapele
Top:   Mango
Neck:   Maple/Purple Heart/Koa
Fingerboard:   Wenge
Frets:   24
Pickup:   Delano Xtender with 3-way switch for parallel/single coil/series modes
Electronics:   Noll 3-Band Preamp

Monday, January 13th, 2020 by notreble.com

Dunable Guitars Joe Lester’s Cyclops 6-String Bass

Specs:
Scale:   34″
Body:   Khaya Mahogany
Top:   Quilt Maple
Neck:   Maple
Nut:   Tusq
Fingerboard:   Flame Maple
Inlays:   Luminlay Side Dots
Pickups:   Aguilar Super Double Humbuckers
Electronics:   Aguilar OBP-1
Controls:   Master volume, blend knob, bass knob, mid knob, treble knob; passive/active switch
Tuners:   Hipshot Ultralight
Bridge:   Hipshot A Style .646″ Spacing
Finish:   Charcoal Burst Stain With Matte Polyurethane Top Coat
Headcap:   Flame Maple
Pickguard:   Flame Maple
Other:   Schaller Strap Locks

Monday, January 27th, 2020 by notreble.com

Burretone Guitars PS 51 Tribute

Specs:
Body Material:   2-Piece Maple
Neck Material:   Maple
Neck Shape:   C
Scale Length:   34″
Fingerboard Radius:   7.25″
Number of Frets:   20
Fret Size:   Medium
String Nut:   Bone
Nut Width:   43 mm
Fingerboard:   Maple
Pickup:   Seymour Duncan SCPB-1
Bridge:   Wilkinson Bass Bridge WBBC
Tuners:   Schaller BM

Monday, February 3rd, 2020 by notreble.com

Malinoski Guitars Nero Bass #395

Specs:
Scale:   32″
Body:   Spanish Cedar Back, Fir Frame
Top:   Spalted Maple
Neck:   Maple with Carbon Fiber Reinforcement
Fingerboard:   Wenge
Fingerboard Radius:   12″
Frets:   26
Nut:   Delrin
Nut Width:   1.5″
Pickups:   Malinoski Type14 HB, Passive Piezo
Pots:   Bournes Volume Pot, CTS Volume Pot With Push/Pull Piezo Activation, Switchcraft 3-Way Toggle
Tuners:   Gotoh Compact
Bridge:   Hipshot A-Style Aluminum

Monday, February 10th, 2020 by notreble.com

Geist Custom Instruments Phantom BF5

Specs:
Scale:   Multiscale 34″-35″
Body:   Espave
Top:   Mango
Headstock:   Mango with Aluminum logo inlay
Neck:   Three piece Black Walnut and Rock Maple with KTS Titanium Reinforcement rods
Truss Rod:   Low-Profile Double action
Fingerboard:   Ebony
Frets:   Stainless Steel
Inlays:   Paua Abalone position markers and inlays
Pickups:   Fishman Fluence
Electronics:   Fishman
Bridge:   HipShot Solo Bridges both top loading and thru-body
Tuners:   HipShot Ultra-lite Locking Tuners
Other:   Magnetic Control and Battery covers, Pure Tone Full-contact Output Jack

Monday, February 17th, 2020 by notreble.com

Mike Lull Custom Guitars M4V/M5V

Specs:
Scale:   34″, optional 35″ for M5V
Body:   Alder, Swamp Ash, or Mahogany
Neck:   Graphite Reinforced Maple with Contoured Neck Heel
Fingerboard:   Maple or Rosewood
Frets:   21
Fingerboard Radius:   12″
Nut:   Bone
Pickups:   M4V - Custom Wound Lindy Fralin Single Coil Pickups (Also available in Hum Canceling); M5V - Custom Wound Seymour Duncan Basslines Single Coil Pickups (Also available in Hum Canceling)
Hardware:   Chrome, Black, or Gold
Tuners:   Hipshot Ultralite
Bridge:   Hipshot Aluminum
Other:   Full Electrostatic Shielding

Monday, February 24th, 2020 by notreble.com

Alembic Signature Deluxe “Balance B”

Specs:
Top:   Resin-Infused Buckeye Burl
Top Accent:   Purpleheart Laminate and Maple Pinstripe (Veneer)
Body:   Mahogany
Back Accent:   Purpleheart Laminate and Maple Pinstripe (Veneer)
Back:   Flame Maple
Neck:   Maple, Purpleheart, Ebony
Scale:   34″ Long
Fingerboard:   Ebony
Inlays:   Abalone Ovals
Side Leds:   Red With Blue @12/24Th Frets
Finish:   Clear Gloss With Satin Neck Feel
Body Shape:   Balance B (the First of Its Kind)
Hardware:   Solid Brass, All Made at Alembic
Pickups:   Alembic AXY4
Controls:   “Signature” Volume, Blend, Filter X2, Q-Switch X2, Mono Output

Monday, March 2nd, 2020 by notreble.com

Schecter Doug Pinnick Baron-H Bass

Specs:
Construction:   Bolt-on
Scale:   35″
Body:   Mahogany
Binding:   Creme 1-Ply
Neck:   Maple
Neck Shape:   Thin “C”
Fretboard:   Rosewood
Inlays:   Creme Dots with “dUg” at 12th fret
Fretboard Radius:   16″
Pickup:   Seymour Duncan Pro Active APB-1
Battery Compartment:   9-volt Clip-in Battery Compartment
Controls:   Volume
Tuners:   Grover Vintage Bass 142 Series
Bridge:   WSC THD4 Bass Bridge
Color:   Gloss Black
Hardware:   Chrome
Dexterity:   Left Handed, Right Handed








https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7NEoECwbeI

Monday, March 9th, 2020 by notreble.com

Brooks Grabbird

Specs:
Construction:   Neck Through
Scale:   34″
Body:   Figured Mahogany Body Wings
Neck:   Nine-piece Mahogany/Maple
Nut:   Handcut Bone
Fretboard:   Rosewood
Frets:   20 Jumbo
Pickguard:   Three ply white-black-white
Pickup:   Sliding Thunderbird Pickup
Volume pot:   Bourns 500 kOhms logarithmic SRT
Tone pot:   Bourns 500 kOhms logarithmic SRT
Tuners:   Hipshot Ultralite
Bridge:   Wide travel Thunderbird bridge plus tailstop
Finish:   Cherry Gloss Transparent Acrylic
Other:   Ebony faceplate on headstock, Kemet capacitor 47 nF paper insulation, Spokewheel trussrod