BillFitzmaurice.info

It seems there is quite a few bass players among the regulars here. Just thought I'd mention I have recently been to Scotland and visited a luthier there. I spec-ed a bass guitar to be built from woods that I picked myself from his storage room. I know we all like to cherry pick the best bits of birch ply from the lumber yard. This is somewhat similar yet also quite different. The stock of amazing woods, some with names I never heard of, makes the best piece of baltic birch look like crap.

I have only taken 1 picture. It is going to be a quilt maple top on an alder body core.


It is going to be a 5 string fretted. Birdseye maple on the fretboard, no picture of the block that the fretboard is going to be sawed from but it did look nice

This is exciting. Very different from buying a used bass as I have done sparsely in the past. No idea when it will be done. If there is any interest, I will keep you posted as and when I receive updates from Scotland.

AntonZ wrote: If there is any interest, ...

Does Dolly Parton sleep on her back?

What PUPs are you putting in? I'm very happy with my Nordstrand Dual Coils - costly bu worth every cent.

I could have known

The pups will be custom wound humbuckers. I have got that model humbuckers in a fretless by the same builder. It is so bloody nice I couldn't resist getting a fretted sister to go with it. The first one was entirely long distance (and my first ever brand new bass). Available funds forced me to go with a somewhat lower range model this time. But on the other hand I now got to hand pick the woods and discuss options with the builder sitting at the workbench in his shop. Got to see his tools, several instruments and parts in different stages of completion. E.g. necks in all stages from cut strips to raw neck laminates (some with up to 7 strips in contrasting colors, very nice) to rough sawn neck blanks to carved and so on. Same for bodies. It doesn't get any better than that.

AntonZ wrote: But on the other hand I now got to hand pick the woods and discuss options with the builder sitting at the workbench in his shop. Got to see his tools, several instruments and parts in different stages of completion. E.g. necks in all stages from cut strips to raw neck laminates (some with up to 7 strips in contrasting colors, very nice) to rough sawn neck blanks to carved and so on. Same for bodies. It doesn't get any better than that.

Interesting color on the head you got there. Would that affect the tone? I do feel inclined it has been well past completion for some time now. Spare us the details on the body color and various layers, please.

Getting me coat already.

AntonZ wrote:Interesting color on the head you got there. .

It was a a poor take on "green with envy"

If you are disappointed with the final result, I'll pay you half price for it
Is that the shape of your future bass drawn on the wood?

I'm not sure I should post any pictures of the finished results once it is done then, Harley

It is the shape indeed Rick. Kind of hard to tell really, it was mainly done to see if there was enough wood there for the intended body shape.

Harley wrote:It was a a poor take on "green with envy"

Don't worry, I got the joke.

Forgot to mention, the model is going to be an ACG Recurve, from the Graft range.

Harley, be sure to wear goggles, sunglasses, helmet, gloves, steel nose shoes and any other protective gear you may have available. Continue past this point at your own risk. This is your last chance to get out.



The builder is Alan Cringean, of Moffat in Scotland. Harley, do not check out the Gallery section, my fretless is #113. Stay away. Don't say I did not warn you.

Wow that's stunning ( 113 ). I can see why you went back to him.

I have to go to a skin specialist now and try and see if I can get anywhere near back to the pink I once was.

Quite a challenge indeed.






The fretless sounds great through the Omni 10.5's or the DR250.

Maybe this will help:
http://www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com/prod ... index.tmpl
A truly modern foundation that offers invisible, weightless coverage that looks like skin, not makeup. This long-wearing formula evens tone, minimizes the appearance of pores, conceals imperfections, and offers broad spectrum UV protection. Its hydrating technology leaves skin feeling cushioned, comfortable, and clean. Ideal for all skin types.

Damn we need a like button.

Harley wrote:

AntonZ wrote:Interesting color on the head you got there. .

It was a a poor take on "green with envy"

I thought it was funny