|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2015 13:16:24 GMT
Just got back from a trip down to Devon to my favourite place on Earth, the Brook guitar workshop. It was great to catch up with these wonderful fellas again, and to see the beautiful guitars that are in various stages of completion. They had just had a visit from Acoustic magazine, so expect to see an article about them in the near future. I have to say they had some very beautiful guitars on the stands, but more about this in another thread. In this thread I want to introduce you to a new build that I commissioned whilst down there. First of all though a little bit of background. Some might know that I have just released my first album of solo instrumentals, and am now in the process of thinking about what I want to record next and how I want to do it. One thing I desperately want to do is get away from purely solo guitar stuff, and build my arrangements a little more. I have met many fine musicians up here in Bradford-On-Avon, and have recently set up a very successful mandolin orchestra, so I feel things are heading in the right direction. What I have always felt the need of in my music is a decent bass sound. Four tracks on my 'Road to Easterbrook' album have bass tracks performed (very nicely) by Paul Downing, who as well as being a fine bass player, also rather fortuitously played them on a rather fine Brook Otter fretless bass. I would have loved to have 'orchestrated' a few more of my tracks, but only had the money to pay Paul for those 4. So, the next album is going to have a fuller sound- mandolins, percussion, piano, voices etc. And most definitely bass. Not only that, but our mandolin group is such fun, I desperately want to develop what we do with it, and again what is missing more often than not is the low end. I have never been a great fan of the sound of an electric bass in the context of acoustic music, and with a mandolin orchestra it would look downright silly with all these beautiful acoustic instruments and me with a Fender P bass! I have a very specific sound in my head of the bass sound I want, and it is definitely like this track from my album: robbiej1.bandcamp.com/track/mho-mhaili-bheag-ogMany moons ago I used to play bass in a band, and always thoroughly enjoyed it, so I feel able to justify myself owning a bass once more. Although a desire for a bass has been for most in my mind for a while now, I guess the question was always do they actually work. Now I know many bass players are adamant that they don't. The argument often goes something like "they are not loud enough acoustically to play with other instruments, and if you are going to amplify it anyway you might as well get an electric bass". Now, I do not subscribe to this. Like I said, I have a very specific sound I want to get on my bass tracks, so I am very confident it will record nicely. We will have to see whether an acoustic bass works in a live setting, but I am very excited about the idea of trying  So, if anyone can make an acoustic bass work, I know Brook can. I have of course heard how brilliant they sound recorded, and I have played the 5 string for sale at theshadygrove.co.uk The only thing that was wrong with that one was that it is a 5 string, and I can't be doing with that extra string, and it isn't fretless. I am adamant that the sound I want can only be got from a fretless. So with that in mind I went down to Brook on Monday and discussed my options, which I will set out in the next post |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2015 13:35:08 GMT
So, my initial thought was to go with a fairly standard Otter 4 string fretless, European spruce top, and possibly something like cherry or maple back and sides. I had, rather bizarrely, already made up my mind about the hardware: black nylon la bella strings, which certainly help create that double bass sound, and are also much more forgiving of fingers with nails; and Schaller Da Vinci tuners, prob satin pearl. I went with an open mind though, and in the end the spec of this bass has turned out to be nothing like this at all. First of all, Simon showed me what they had on the finishing room, and I was absolutely blown away by the shear beauty of a guitar destined for theshadygrove. It had the most amazing flamed douglas fir top. It was like the most awesome redwood top you have ever seen, with flames emanating from the centre to the edges, much in the same way as flamed maple. So that was it! Simon said it had a wonderful tap tone, and he is very excited about stringing this one up. We will know in a few weeks. But now the search is on for them to find another set similar. Unfortunately they only had two sets, and both are now spoken for. For back and sides, I was shown some very beautiful English Walnut, and for a while that was a distinct possibility. I was also very tempted by some lovely Bubinga with some nice central sap wood. However, Simon and I suddenly started to have this vision for how it all might come together with a similar choclately flamed piece of douglas fir, so he next got out some loved flamed myrtle, and that was that, vision complete. Flame on both the front and back of the guitar Next, Simon was very keep to show me how it could all come together with the binding- rosewood for the main binding, and then coach lined with this wonderful red and black strip arrangement. Having seen a guitar upstairs on a stand with similar binding that was just wonderful, it was a no brainer really. Everything else wood wise is fairly standard- mahogany neck and ebony for fingerboard and bridge. I am having the nut and bridge dyed black so that I will look less stark. Remember this guitar is going to have black strings and no frets! But.....the final exciting thing is the body shape. It is not going to be an Otter (which is basically the same as a Tavy). In a way I am relieved as I already have two Tavys. No, this is going to be a brand new shape. Simon told me that they were having a Gibson J200 mould made up, and having seen the plans for this shape, I know the curvyness of this bass is gong to be just wonderful. Yes, its prob going to be a bit of a beast, as its a bit wider than an Otter, but hey, this is a bass- they are supposed to be big! So there you have it. Time to start saving. I'm hoping to move the Tamar on eventually to help fund it, but I find this build to be one of the most exciting I have started, a true adventure. Don't know how long it will be, but will keep you posted here. Now, a few questions from me now- does anyone know whether k&k bass pickups work as nicely as the pure mini guitar and mandolin versions? Also, any recommendations for cases? Its 864mm (34") scale length. Cheers, Robbie |
|
leoroberts
C.O.G. 
Posts: 26,144 
My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
|
Post by leoroberts on Feb 18, 2015 15:49:22 GMT
Sounds bloody marvelous, @robbiej ... can't wait to see this developing! As for K&K pure bass pickups - davewhite put one in his bass ukulele and it sounded ace, just like a double bass. If you go here (and scroll down to "An Tairneanach Darach Beag") Dave has some sound samples of unplugged and plugged |
|
|
|
Post by earwighoney on Feb 18, 2015 16:12:52 GMT
Alright Rob, Good to hear you are back with Brook for a new commission, the world feels at peace again and order has been restored. So I take it you are going for a fretless 34" Spruce/Myrtle with a Jumbo body? Are you going for a laminate neck? Standard pinned bridge (or trapeze bridge?) I know absolutely nothing about ABG's. I remember reading an interesting thread on the AGF for one built by Mark Hatcher. When it comes to K+K pickups, I came across a video of one in action. When it comes to electric basses I've heard active preamps are favoured by a lot of bass players; is that something you'd consider? Do you already have a bass amp? Are you looking for something big and bulky or something small and portable? When it comes to the latter I've heard some good things about some of the Phil Jones range and I really like the sound of the Gallien Krueger MB105S-112 which weighs only 11kg! |
|
ocarolan
Global Moderator
CURMUDGEONLY OLD GIT (leader - to join, just ask!)
Posts: 35,723
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"c0cfe1"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: 182a3f
Mini-Profile Text Color: 733a1c
|
Post by ocarolan on Feb 18, 2015 17:40:34 GMT
This is very exciting Robbie - hope you'll keep us posted!
I'd wait till there'at least a drawing of the body/nck before looking for cases - then you'd have some dimensions.
Alternatively, find a bl**dy great big case and get them to make the bass to fit it!
Keith
|
|
Phil Taylor
C.O.G.
Posts: 4,516
Mini-Profile Name Color: 680908
Mini-Profile Text Color: 121311
|
Post by Phil Taylor on Feb 18, 2015 21:20:28 GMT
Sounds brilliant Robbie - I suspected you were going to the workshop for a fretless bass. I may ask Simon to show me the wood when I am at the workshop tomorrow if you don't mind. Look forward to the build progressing Cheers Phil |
|
leoroberts
C.O.G.
Posts: 26,144
My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
|
Post by leoroberts on Feb 18, 2015 21:59:21 GMT
I may ask Simon to show me the wood when I am at the workshop tomorrow. Hurrah! We have a spy! |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2015 22:48:47 GMT
Alright Rob, Good to hear you are back with Brook for a new commission, the world feels at peace again and order has been restored. So I take it you are going for a fretless 34" Spruce/Myrtle with a Jumbo body? Are you going for a laminate neck? Standard pinned bridge (or trapeze bridge?) I know absolutely nothing about ABG's. I remember reading an interesting thread on the AGF for one built by Mark Hatcher. When it comes to K+K pickups, I came across a video of one in action. When it comes to electric basses I've heard active preamps are favoured by a lot of bass players; is that something you'd consider? Do you already have a bass amp? Are you looking for something big and bulky or something small and portable? When it comes to the latter I've heard some good things about some of the Phil Jones range and I really like the sound of the Gallien Krueger MB105S-112 which weighs only 11kg! Thanks EWH. It certainly does feel good be be starting a new build project Thanks for the video link- interesting review. Still not quite the sound I am after with an ABG, but the k&k recording does at least give me confidence that this is the route to take. As far as amplification is concerned, I probably have all that sorted- preamp wise I have a headway EBD2 which I am sure will do a very good job on bass- there is a specific bass setting. And when I tried out the 5 string Otter, I plugged it into my 150w Acus One8, and it literally made the windows vibrate! I had a teacher come out of a classroom way down the corridor to tell me please could I shut up! So I ave no worries that it will do a pretty good job with a 4 string fretless. The Phil Jones bass amps are very cute though aren't they! The neck is not laminate- just mahogany, probably stained if they can't find a darker piece. I have a very keen aesthetic of how this bass should look, and want all the different colours to tie in together. And yes, standard 4 pin bridge. Robbie |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2015 22:51:18 GMT
Sounds brilliant Robbie - I suspected you were going to the workshop for a fretless bass. I may ask Simon to show me the wood when I am at the workshop tomorrow if you don't mind. Look forward to the build progressing Cheers Phil Good luck down there tomorrow Phil. Make sure you take a look at the shady grove guitar with the douglas fir top. I believe Si has found and ordered some possible sets for me, including a rather glorious redwood set that is very similar to the flaming of the shadygrover ! Please could you take a picture of it? Like a numpty I was too excited to take any pictures on Monday, including the flamed myrtle set  Robbie |
|
Phil Taylor
C.O.G.
Posts: 4,516
Mini-Profile Name Color: 680908
Mini-Profile Text Color: 121311
|
Post by Phil Taylor on Feb 18, 2015 23:19:59 GMT
Sounds brilliant Robbie - I suspected you were going to the workshop for a fretless bass. I may ask Simon to show me the wood when I am at the workshop tomorrow if you don't mind. Look forward to the build progressing Cheers Phil Good luck down there tomorrow Phil. Make sure you take a look at the shady grove guitar with the douglas fir top. I believe Si has found and ordered some possible sets for me, including a rather glorious redwood set that is very similar to the flaming of the shadygrover ! Please could you take a picture of it? Like a numpty I was too excited to take any pictures on Monday, including the flamed myrtle set Robbie Ok Robbie, no problem - I will take photos of the shadygrove douglas fir top guitar and the flamed myrtle set Phil |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2015 13:58:13 GMT
OK, Phil went down to Brook and took the following photos. First of all, the top of the amazing guitar destined for Shady Grove, with this lovely flamed douglas fir top:  And then, my choice of myrtle back and sides:  The search is on now for a flamed douglas fir top. Might have a redwood top in the pipeline with similar flame Robbie |
|
|
|
Post by marcus on Mar 1, 2015 8:17:41 GMT
This build is quickly deteriorating into a flame war... looking forward to seeing it come together. Cheers, marcus
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2015 9:44:27 GMT
Now that I have finally sold some gear I can now look forward to this build starting. Not sure when, as I had to postpone it last month.
Haven't changed the spec too much, except that it turns out that the flamed douglas fir top in the picture above is actually redwood. Simon has apparently sourced a piece of wiggly douglas fir like the Taw that has just gone to Intersound (see this months news).
Anyway, as soon as it starts i will start a new thread. I have had plenty of time to think about this (and change my mind) but know- this is the right instrument for me at the moment. There are so many projects I want to use this on, and musicians that I want to work with, that I am really really excited now. I know acoustic basses have their detractors, but there are just some things that an electric bass is not appropriate for- you'd look a bit silly with a precision bass in a mandolin ensemble for example!
Robbie
|
|
leoroberts
C.O.G.
Posts: 26,144
My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
|
Post by leoroberts on Aug 20, 2015 14:30:22 GMT
Excellent news! Looking forward to the pics when you can post 'em, Robbie |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2015 11:00:17 GMT
Ok, so these are the first pictures I have seen of how my bass is progressing   [/URL]  [/URL] Rob |
|
Jo whoever he is.
