The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs => Topic started by: Basvarken on December 03, 2022, 02:50:16 PM
-
Last summer I built a custom bass for a customer who immediately became so enthusiastic that he asked me to build another special bass; a remake of the legendary Hamer Quad Bass!
The original Quad Bass is a short scale twelve-string bass that was built by Jol Danzig of Hamer, especially for Tom Petersson. With a “quad bucker” (four single coil elements across) going to a built-in mixing console. And each with its own output. Quadrophonic!
(https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c226ff5b27e39c27119ad93/1594346792934-FLMHHB51HPYTIRX3YTY0/HamerQuad14.gif?format=750w)
I actually never build exact copies of basses. So I suggested doing it the Brooks way.
I would like to make it 34" scale anyway.
And instead of a built-in mixer I was going to put built-in effects in it: a SansAmp-like overdrive and a compressor. I was actually already brainstorming with BQ Music about the how and what of this.
Plus I would build the Quad Bucker with Nordstrand NM4 single coils because they have pole pieces that have exactly the right spacing for the bass string and the two accompanying octave strings.
The second pickup would be a Lace Alumitone.
The Quad Bucker and the Alumitone would each get their own output
Furthermore, I’d use an ETS bridge and tailpiece.
Plus Gotoh lightweight tuners (as on all 12-string Brooks basses).
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-qb-v4_orig.jpg)
Unfortunately, the customer announced today that his band (a Cheap trick tribute) is on hiatus for an indefinite period of time. So for now the custom Brooks QB has been held off.
But the design/idea is too nice not to share with you.
Who knows, maybe one day it will actually be built. I would love to do it.
-
That would be a cool build. Personally, I'd go 32'' scale. I've thought about the idea of a Tech 21 VT Bass built-in to a bass, so I like your SansAmp idea.
-
As always Rob your ideas are always impressive! I second the suggestion of a 32" scale.
-
Thank you guys.
I'm curious to learn why 32" would be better than a 34" scale?
-
With a 34" scale, 12ers can get really tight with string tension. I have a 34" 12, and it was Tom's evaluation model from Waterstone before his signature line came out. The change he requested: 32" scale.
-
I choose 34" because I want to be sure the bass strings deliver a profound tight tone.
Twelve strings is a lot. And hitting three strings in one stroke can get messy or muddy pretty easily.
I really want them to sound like a grand piano. 8)
-
Yes, string tension. 34'' is fine, but given a choice, I'd go 32''. I have a couple in the collection now, and the low E is fine.
-
My Yamaha SB-50 is 32" and the E is good. The G sounds a bit meatier than on 34" basses.
(https://images.reverb.com/image/upload/s--ETZoBwTg--/f_auto,t_large/v1558589334/ox5usri0ufxyjqbdetpm.jpg)
-
But that's a four string. My question is why 32" would be better for a twelve string bass.
Other than "Tom asked for it" and "tight string tension", still haven't heard a convincing answer...
-
Better balance on a strap with a 12 tuner headstock?
-
Better balance on a strap with a 12 tuner headstock?
Haha, that's a good one! :rimshot:
But the twelvers that I've built never suffer neck dive. Grace the Gotoh lightweight tuners.
-
Good news! The customer gave me the green light to go bulld the Quad Bass.
Looking forward to building this monster.
-
And I'll be looking forward to seeing your progress.
-
Holy Quadaroly Batman!
Do you have any contenders for the vt bass like circuit? I sold mine because I found the bass control frequency too high .I like around 40hz , like on an svt.
-
It will be fun to see this take shape.
-
About the scale length.
I found this online.
A bass player called Kevin Macza sums it up pretty well
Compared with my original 30½" scale B12S, the 34" Chaparral has a tighter, more throaty sound to it. Overall, the longer scale length adds greater definition to the notes and makes harmonics stand out more. The tone in general seems more aggressive and piano-like than the B12S.
Overall, the mahogany body is quite acoustically resonant and adds a woody warmth to the tone when compared to the hard rock maple used in the B12S which sounded very bright. Surprisingly, I found that the B12S had more low lows and high highs while the B12L has more throaty mids, probably due somewhat to the difference in body woods. The B12S sounded more like a harpsichord while the B12L sounds more like a piano if that analogy helps.
-
Nothing against the short scale, but there's no doubt that a 34" scale will have more note definition and higher harmonics. You can't escape the physics of scale length.
-
I find there’s nothing quite like a cheap short scale run through a good amp.
Overall string response seems more even across the neck.
-
Good news! The customer gave me the green light to go bulld the Quad Bass.
Looking forward to building this monster.
:popcorn:
-
I find there’s nothing quite like a cheap short scale run through a good amp.
Overall string response seems more even across the neck.
I hope you are right. All I can play for now are my short scales. On Dec 30 I had a scooter accident and fractured my LH wrist badly, had an operation and now a titanium plate and eight screws are holding my distal radius bone together, resulting in limited ability to bend the wrist inwards and stretch the fingers enough to play long scales.
-
I hope you are right. All I can play for now are my short scales. On Dec 30 I had a scooter accident and fractured my LH wrist badly, had an operation and now a titanium plate and eight screws are holding my distal radius bone together, resulting in limited ability to bend the wrist inwards and stretch the fingers enough to play long scales.
I'm sorry to hear that! I hope it improves over time.
I can say that I've been happy with my short scale basses. I think they offer a nice alternative.
-
Ouch! Hopefully it’ll heal well.
Speedy recovery!
-
I’m sorry to hear of this ilan , and hope your recovery will be complete.
My switch to short scales had nothing to do with any difficulties dealing with a 34 in scale.
I just found short scales more comfy to play.
I was once a diehard Pbass aficionado.
-
Very sorry to hear this Ilan. I hope you can get back to playing whatever scale you want to.
-
Thanks guys. I'm practicing cautious optimism.
-
The Brooks QB is finally ready!
The build was actually already done two months ago. But I had to wait for the effects to be built into the bass.
But now she's here.
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-qb-full-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-qb-body-angle-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-qb-head-front2-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-qb-bridge-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-qb-effects-panel-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-qb-outputs-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-qb-full-back-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-qb-head-back2-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-qb-leds-on-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-qb-quadbucker-and-lace-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-qb-volume-to-11-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-qb-effects-panel2-1500_orig.jpg)
- Mahogany body. Les Paul Junior Double Cut shape
- Flamed Maple top. Sun burst high gloss
- Body back, sides and neck: Mahogany gloss
- Pearloid Binding
- Glued neck, mahogany/maple five piece laminate.
- Two spoke wheel type double action truss rods. Plus one carbon stiffening rod.
- Ebony Fretboard. White side dot inlays
- Sintoms Jumbo frets. Nickel-silver
- 34” Scale
- Buffalo horn nut/ string guide
- Custom made 12 string bridge and tailpiece. Black
- 4 x Gotoh GB 350 bass tuners. Lightweight. Black
- 8 x Gotoh ST-31 Octave string tuners. Lightweight. Black
- D’Addario EXL 170-12 strings
- Gotoh large black strapnuts
- Pickup 1: Lace Alumitone. Black
- Pickup 2: 2x Nordstrand NM4
- 2 x Switchcraft output.
- 2 x Volume. On/off switch with led light for each effect
?- Weight: 4,5 kg
Electronics custom made by BQ Music:
?- Built-in effect 1: SansAmp type overdrive.
- Built-in effect 2: Aguilar TLC Compressor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LBfd2ztqb0
-
Congratulations! Nice work as usual. :toast:
-
Very cool Rob! And I mean this: I don't know many builders who would challenge this and you did! What a great job.
Coming back on the scale length: I find short scales easier to play. I don't like long scales with a wide neck, but if the shorty has a wide neck, it doesn't bother me that much. Recently I bought one of those vintage style (they have a non vintage style too) Hagstrom 8-strings. It's short scale, it sounds very good, but I still have to adjust to the extra strings. I think it being short scale makes it easier to adjust. It doesn't feel like an easy short scale but like hard work, haha! So 4 inches more would be an even bigger struggle.
-
If a customer asks me to build a short scale, I'll make it short scale.
Not my call.
-
Looks fascinating as hell ! Nice one , Rob.
-
Beautiful tribute to the Quad Rob. I love the idea of a built-in SansAmp. And I like what you did with those Nordstrand coils. Superb!
-
If a customer asks me to build a short scale, I'll make it short scale.
Not my call.
I'm not talking about your choices our your call, but just talking about the pros and cons of short and long/
-
That turned out great, congratulations!
-
Good job on another impressive and challenging build. That burst is killer too. Keep em coming man!
-
It is featured as Bass of the Week at NoTreble.com.
Quite an honor!
https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2023/07/10/bass-of-the-week-brooks-qb/