5 String Bass Build

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Gordon Bellerose
Posts: 1186
Joined: Wed May 30, 2012 11:47 pm
Location: Edmonton AB. Canada

Re: 5 String Bass Build

Post by Gordon Bellerose »

I'm just letting whomever may be following this thread, where I am in the build.
I spent yesterday doing a fret level and dressing on the bass, and another 6 string I'm building at the same time.
Today was wet sand and buff day. Two bodies, two necks.
Been a busy weekend.

More pictures to follow.
I need your help. I can't possibly make all the mistakes myself!
Gordon Bellerose
Posts: 1186
Joined: Wed May 30, 2012 11:47 pm
Location: Edmonton AB. Canada

Re: 5 String Bass Build

Post by Gordon Bellerose »

Alright. I'm done.
Here is a picture of the completed bass. It is simply sitting on a kitchen chair.
Before I welcome your comments, let me tell you a bit about the guitar.
One thing I will say about the bass, despite being a long scale, is very well balanced due to the longer upper horn.

35 inch scale. (I did that for better tone on the bottom B string.)
Top = Flamed Maple
Body = Wenge. Cherry, Hard Maple
Neck = Cherry, wenge, hard maple.
1 3/4 at nut. 3 inch at base. String spacing is a bit closer together at the nut than a Fender. Very nice.
Fret board = Macassar Ebony
Inlay = Abalone
Nordstrand Big Split singles. (like a jazz bass on steroids)
Full Contact Hardware bridge.
250k pots. Vol. Tone. Blend.
Hipshot Ultralight Tuners.
5 String Bass 1.jpg
I need your help. I can't possibly make all the mistakes myself!
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Peter Wilcox
Posts: 1317
Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2012 1:31 am
Location: Northeastern California

Re: 5 String Bass Build

Post by Peter Wilcox »

That's a beautiful instrument. My only concern would be the security of the upper strap button.
Maybe I can't fix it, but I can fix it so no one can fix it
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Beate Ritzert
Posts: 599
Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2012 8:20 am
Location: Germany

Re: 5 String Bass Build

Post by Beate Ritzert »

That's a really beautiful bass.
Gordon Bellerose
Posts: 1186
Joined: Wed May 30, 2012 11:47 pm
Location: Edmonton AB. Canada

Re: 5 String Bass Build

Post by Gordon Bellerose »

Peter Wilcox wrote:That's a beautiful instrument. My only concern would be the security of the upper strap button.
Peter. I used a long screw in that button. It goes in at least 1 1/4 inches. I hung the whole weight of the bass on it to test it.
Beate Ritzert wrote:That's a really beautiful bass.
Thanks Beate! I will take some more pics of the back of the guitar tomorrow and post them. It is beautiful from the rear also.
I need your help. I can't possibly make all the mistakes myself!
Bob Francis
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Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2012 6:28 pm

Re: 5 String Bass Build

Post by Bob Francis »

Really nice Gord!
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Peter Wilcox
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Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2012 1:31 am
Location: Northeastern California

Re: 5 String Bass Build

Post by Peter Wilcox »

Gordon Bellerose wrote:
Peter Wilcox wrote:That's a beautiful instrument. My only concern would be the security of the upper strap button.
Peter. I used a long screw in that button. It goes in at least 1 1/4 inches. I hung the whole weight of the bass on it to test it.
Glad to hear that, Gordon - I'll sleep better tonight. :D
Maybe I can't fix it, but I can fix it so no one can fix it
Gordon Bellerose
Posts: 1186
Joined: Wed May 30, 2012 11:47 pm
Location: Edmonton AB. Canada

Re: 5 String Bass Build

Post by Gordon Bellerose »

Peter Wilcox wrote:
Gordon Bellerose wrote:
Peter Wilcox wrote:That's a beautiful instrument. My only concern would be the security of the upper strap button.
Peter. I used a long screw in that button. It goes in at least 1 1/4 inches. I hung the whole weight of the bass on it to test it.
Glad to hear that, Gordon - I'll sleep better tonight. :D
One other thing you can't see is that the end of the upper horn is filed flat just wide enough for the strap button base. It stabilizes it quite a bit.
I need your help. I can't possibly make all the mistakes myself!
Gordon Bellerose
Posts: 1186
Joined: Wed May 30, 2012 11:47 pm
Location: Edmonton AB. Canada

Re: 5 String Bass Build

Post by Gordon Bellerose »

Here are the promised pics of the rear of the bass.
Finished Rear 1.jpg
Finished Rear 2.jpg
Finished Rear 3.jpg
I need your help. I can't possibly make all the mistakes myself!
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Peter Wilcox
Posts: 1317
Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2012 1:31 am
Location: Northeastern California

Re: 5 String Bass Build

Post by Peter Wilcox »

I really, really like your neck/body join. That curve just naturally flows around the perimeter; the matching of the body and neck stripes is perfect. If it weren't for the screws, I'd think it was a neck thru build. You've done a fantastic job, and a really nice design!
Maybe I can't fix it, but I can fix it so no one can fix it
Gordon Bellerose
Posts: 1186
Joined: Wed May 30, 2012 11:47 pm
Location: Edmonton AB. Canada

Re: 5 String Bass Build

Post by Gordon Bellerose »

Thanks very much Peter. I didn't know how this was going to turn out when I started.
Well, I kinda did, but you never know when its the first one you build.
I need your help. I can't possibly make all the mistakes myself!
Frederiek de Vette
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed Sep 14, 2016 8:04 am

Re: 5 String Bass Build

Post by Frederiek de Vette »

Oh wow!! Congratulations! It's stunning :shock:

How does it play? How does it SOUND??
Gordon Bellerose
Posts: 1186
Joined: Wed May 30, 2012 11:47 pm
Location: Edmonton AB. Canada

Re: 5 String Bass Build

Post by Gordon Bellerose »

I have now had the instrument for a few months, and a number of guys look at it.
They love the tone, and the feel of the neck.
They say the balance is great too, but they are musicians, and musicians are infamously broke.
Someone will buy it. Just gotta find the right person!
I need your help. I can't possibly make all the mistakes myself!
Gerry Beckles
Posts: 17
Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2012 9:58 am

Re: 5 String Bass Build

Post by Gerry Beckles »

Just stumbled on your build.... such clean work! Hope you found a buyer.
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Dan Smith
Posts: 346
Joined: Mon May 18, 2015 9:33 pm
Location: Texas

Re: 5 String Bass Build

Post by Dan Smith »

Great work Gordon!
Ever-body was kung fu fight-in,
Them kids was fast as light-nin.
Bob Francis
Posts: 582
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2012 6:28 pm

Re: 5 String Bass Build

Post by Bob Francis »

My comments are like Peter's.
I had to look twice at the neck join it is really nice looking Gordon.
Gordon Bellerose
Posts: 1186
Joined: Wed May 30, 2012 11:47 pm
Location: Edmonton AB. Canada

Re: 5 String Bass Build

Post by Gordon Bellerose »

Thanks for the nice comments.
It has been a while since I finished the bass, and it has been to only one show.
There are three shows coming up in September, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will find a good home.
I need your help. I can't possibly make all the mistakes myself!
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