The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs => Topic started by: Basvarken on February 26, 2023, 02:05:08 PM

Title: Brooks multi-scale five-string bass
Post by: Basvarken on February 26, 2023, 02:05:08 PM

This weekend I finally completed the build of the Brooks EBN-MS-5.
It had been waiting on the electronics to be wired since december last year.
The five position rotary switch appeared to be made of unobtanium. But this week it finally showed up.

Here are the specifications:

- Mahogany Khaya body
- Quilted Maple top and headstock face
- Three piece Mahogany Khaya set neck. Glued in
- Blue burst gloss finish on top and headstock
- Matte finish on back and neck
- Ebony fretboard
?- Mother of pearl position markers
- Jumbo nickel silver frets
- 37-34" scale
- Buffalo horn nut ?
- Babicz Solo Rail bridge. Black
- Double action trussrod
- Two carbon reinforcement strips in the neck
?- Lace Alumitone Bass Bar pickup combination
- Pure Tone output. Black
- Volume and tone knob. Black
- Rotary pickup selector switch. Black
  • 1. humbucker in series
  • 2. neck side humbucker
  • 3. bridge side humbucker
  • 4. humbuckers in parallel
  • 5. humbuckers out of phase. With cap to keep low end

- Gotoh GB 350 lightweight bass tuners. Black
?- Gotoh Extra large strapnuts. Black
- Dingwall strings
- Weight: 3.88 kg

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-ebn-ms-5-full-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-ebn-ms-5-body-unsharp-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-ebn-ms-5-headstock-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-ebn-ms-5-body-2-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-ebn-ms-5-body-back-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-ebn-ms-5-headstock-back-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-ebn-ms-5-full-back-1500_orig.jpg)

This bass was not built on commission. But I just wanted to build it as a sort of prototype. To try out a few new things.
There are a few mistakes/flaws that annoy me

- I think the bridge is a bit too close to the edge. This because I set into the body a little deeper than I had originally planned. I was afraid there wouldn't be enough grip for the neck.
- There's a glued in piece of (the same) khaya on the side of the body. The router had slipped and I needed to repair that piece. But somehow I flipped the piece over and new it reflects differently under a certain angle. Making the glued-in piece pop out quite obviously.
- I am not that happy with the way the blue came out. Some kind of chemical reaction between the stain, the wood and the lacquer makes the color lose some of its intensity. Plus the are strange spots where it almost looks as if there are salt stains under the lacquer.
- The string-T was not something I had planned. But I guess a didn't make the top nut high enough to keep the string in the slots. So the String T was an after thought.

Still a pretty nice bass. But I keep seeing all the imperfections... I did learn a thing or two during the build though ;-)

Here are pics of the build process.
https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/brooks-ebn-ms-5.html

Title: Re: Brooks multi-scale five-string bass
Post by: BTL on February 26, 2023, 03:00:13 PM

It looks great and has some really interesting and unique features. Congratulations!

Title: Re: Brooks multi-scale five-string bass
Post by: slinkp on February 26, 2023, 05:13:15 PM

I think the blue is gorgeous.  Can't see the repair you are talking about either.
I am curious what it sounds like in the different settings!

Title: Re: Brooks multi-scale five-string bass
Post by: the mojo hobo on February 26, 2023, 05:59:22 PM

It is beautiful. Nice craftmanship there.

Title: Re: Brooks multi-scale five-string bass
Post by: lowend1 on February 26, 2023, 06:33:23 PM

Beautiful work as always, Rob.

Title: Re: Brooks multi-scale five-string bass
Post by: Dave W on February 27, 2023, 12:54:22 AM

Beautiful.  :toast:

Title: Re: Brooks multi-scale five-string bass
Post by: Grog on February 27, 2023, 07:30:00 AM

Looks awesome! Really unique!

Title: Re: Brooks multi-scale five-string bass
Post by: Basvarken on February 27, 2023, 10:04:52 AM

Thank you guys. Here are the flaws I'm talking about

(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-ebn-ms-5-weird-stain-headstock-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-ebn-ms-5-weird-stain-near-controls-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-ebn-ms-5-weird-stain-side-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-ebn-ms-5-weird-stains-upper-horn-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-ebn-ms-5-wood-patch-1500_orig.jpg)


I have baptized the bass The Blue Spotted Pig now ;-)

Title: Re: Brooks multi-scale five-string bass
Post by: uwe on May 21, 2023, 04:24:06 PM

I think it looks cool and multiple scale instruments fascinate me.

Title: Re: Brooks multi-scale five-string bass
Post by: Basvarken on May 22, 2023, 01:33:42 PM

I find it surprisingly easy to adept to.
I did not expect that at all.