Custom in Progress

[fretless6]

Just wanna share some info bout my new baby! Commissioned GIM Guitars in Malaysia to build this one. This is my second custom by them. Here's some specs.

8 String Fanned Fret
7 piece laminated flame maple/ebony neck
"2 tone" Macassar ebony fingerboard
Figured Monkeypod top/back
Maple body core with ebony laminates
Set neck construction
Custom Seymour Duncan humbucking pickups
Rosewood Knobs
Gotoh Tuners
ABM Single String bridges
Aguilar OBP 3 band preamp
26 frets
Macassar ebony control/truss rod cavity covers
Abalone dot inlays
Black hardware

Some drawings I did for them to follow, the concept is similar to that of boutique basses, rather than conventional guitar shapes.

 

[fretless6]

Short trip over to KL over the weekend yielded these progress shots

Confirming control layout

The Body

Contours on the top

Monkeypod Burl for headstock veneer

 

[iansoh]

wow.. looking good. how much were u quoted for this?

 

[fretless6]

The hardware and electronics I got em myself, and since I'm dealing with guitar parts, the prices is lower. Assuming it's bought off the market, combined with the luthier's charges, I'm looking at around S$3000+

 

[PinkSpId3r]

post the pics of your first custom also leh..the 2nd one looks good...and yeah..how much did it cost you?

 

[fretless6]

First one was a 6 string bass.

That one was about S$2500+, pretty affordably priced considering the hardware/electronics in it. Bartolini pickups, aguilar preamp, hipshot bridge, etc...

 

[guitarnub]

wow!
monkey pod :lol:
it looks a lot like a KOA top

 

[empty71]

How does your 1st bass play and sound???

 

[Cavett]

Wohoo~ Thats some gd shit man.. Looks like something Charlie Hunter would play~!! Gd stuff~!!!

:twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

 

[sandking78]

Wow, that's great stuffs man.. If only I have the dough.. hahah.. :twisted:

 

[thor666]

looks amazing. how is the sound of ur 1st bass like? any significant reason as to custom one?

 

[fretless6]

The bass is pretty good. Basically can't get something like this on the market in this price range. Looks much better in person than in the pic. Wide array of sounds available due to the electronics, but has a mellower growly character to it.

Pretty good for slap, it's built with 19mm spacing at bridge and a nut width even wider than a TRB. Heavy as hell though

 

[fretless6]

Heh heh just some pics of the bass in case anyone is interested. These were taken after I did some work to it myself. Basically making a thumbrest outta an ebony chopstick (haha) and buffing down the brass bridge saddles.

 

[dhalif]

that's a mean looking thing man james... 8O

 

[Praetorian]

Looks good man.

 

[Perfect5th]

Wa they look reallly Conklin-inspired. Nice! :smt023 I think $3000+ is quite a good price for a custom.

 

[fretless6]

Just some progress shots

 

[ChanMin]

that guitar looks pure evil man ... AWESOME...

:twisted:

 

[stars]

i like the headstock wood + skunk stripe running through the neck sweet looking..

reminds me of a crocodile

 

[Rufus]

oh gosh.... i've never seen a 8 string bass before in my life... this is really an eye opener...