Drumroll...
... a new Brooks bass was born today!
The Brooks UV (aka Thundervee).
Built for our very own Uwe.
- Neck through with Korina body wings
- Nine ply Korina/mahogany neck
- Ebony faceplate on headstock
- Red Mahogany stain. Gloss transparent acrylic finish
- Rosewood fretboard
- 24 Jumbo frets
- 34" scale
- Handcut Buffalo horn nut
- Three ply black-white-black pickguard
- Wide travel Thunderbird bridge- String through body ferrules
- Hipshot Ultralite nickel plated tuners
- Hipshot Bass Extender for the E-string
- Spokewheel double action trussrod
- 2 x Sixties repro Thunderbird pickups nickel. 9.2 K Ohm
- Di Marzio EP111 toggle switch
- 2 x Volume pot CTS 500 kOhms lineair
- 1 x Tone pot CTS 500 kOhms logarithmic
- 47 nF capacitor
- Rotosound RB45. Nickel on steel roundwound 45-105
#brooksbassguitars #thundervee #flyingvbass #brooksuv
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-full-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-body2-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-headstock-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-bridge-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-body-back-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-headstock-back-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-pickup-ring-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-volume-knob-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-tailview-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-full-vertical-1500_orig.jpg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-head-to-toe-1500_orig.jpg)
That's gorgeous! :toast:
You hit that right out of the park , Rob. That's a beauty.
Congratulations Uwe!
Absolutely beautiful work.
Good grief, that is gorgeous!
Uwe is a very lucky guy! That's a beauty!
Love the grain and color! You've done justice to the concept of a V bass.
That's simply fantastic Rob!
Are you sending Uwe some Spandex trousers or perhaps some Assless Chaps as a complimentary gift with purchase? ;)
I'm quite sure he already has those... :popcorn:
It looks amazing.
I like what you've done with the ferrules and the Tbird influence (risen central block). Very nice.
That is insanely cool, congrats to both of you!
Beyond Awesome!!
Wowee!
breathtakingly beautiful
Love it!
Absolutely beautiful! That should take pride of place in his collection. We need sound clips!
Of course I made the traditional quick (grumpy faced) video demo. ;-)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBkSUpuCuVA
What a GREAT sounding bass (we already knew how great it looks)! You're a true artist, my friend.
Look what this extremely talented Netherluthier made for me ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBkSUpuCuVA
So far I've only played it "dry", i.e. unplugged, but:The fret job, the neck, the high register accessibility and the set-up are of a quality I have not encountered on any other bass yet - and I have a few. And it looks and feels gorgeous.
Hey Holländer, post some pics how it came about!
pssst Uwe, we've already been discussing your bass here:
https://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=12410.0
turn it up
Oh, I didn't know it was here ... :-X :mrgreen:
What is that song again you're playing? Led Zeppelin? Sounds familiar ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSngzjqMF38
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noTV6s8JzTM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyuiAvSCD4c
Per request of Uwe I'll post pics of the entire build process here.
It's copy/paste from a thread in Talkbass where I've already shared this.
Had my wood supplier make me a nice ply neck blank of White Limba (akaKorina) and mahogany veneer strips in between
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-neck-blank_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-neck-blank-close_orig.jpeg)
Plus two slabs White Limba for the body wings
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-wing-blanks_orig.jpeg)
A nice start for this project
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-blanks_orig.jpeg)
Routed the trussrod slot. And cut out the part for the spokewheel
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-routing-trussrod-slot.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-trussrod-slot_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-spokewheel_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-trussrod_orig.jpeg)
Sawed the headstock angle
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-headstock-angle_orig.jpeg)
Drilled holes for the position markers
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-drilling-for-inlays_orig.jpeg)
Glued the postion markers in and sanded them flush to the radius of the fretboard
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-inlays_orig.jpeg)
Hammered the frets in
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-installing-frets_orig.jpeg)
Cut out the opening for the trussrod access
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-trussrod-cover-slot_orig.jpeg)
Made the trussrod cover to fit the access slot
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-trussrod-cover-in-place_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-trussrod-cover_orig.jpeg)
Fretboard ready to be glued onto the neck
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-fretboard-ready_orig.jpeg)
Checked the neck/body angle before I glued the fretboard on
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-body-angle_orig.jpeg)
Sawed the rough shape of the neck
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-sawing-headstock-angle-back_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-headstock-paddle_orig.jpeg)
Glued the fretboard onto the neck
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-glueing-the-fretboard_orig.jpeg)
Fretboard in place
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-fretboard-onto-neck_orig.jpeg)
Filled the little gaps under the frets with a mix of rosewood sawdust and wood glue
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-filling-the-gaps-under-the-frets_orig.jpeg)
Glued the first body wing on
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-glueing-body-wing_orig.jpeg)
And then the other wing
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-glueing-other-body-wing2_orig.jpeg)
Sawed the outline roughly (sorry no pic)
Then routed along the MDF template for the first outline
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-routing-body-outline_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-body-outline_orig.jpeg)
Second step was to route the outline for the recessed "armpit" of the V
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-recessed-armpit_orig.jpeg)
Used the same template for the pickup cavities and the controls cavity
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-routing-cavities_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-routing-done_orig.jpeg)
Then shaped the neck and heel
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-shaping-the-heel_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-shaping-the-neckprofile_orig.jpeg)
Drilled the bridge stud holes
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-drilling-bridge-stud-holes_orig.jpeg)
And the holes for the string through body ferrules
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-drilling-ferrule-holes_orig.jpeg)
Shaped the headstock and the volute
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-headstock-shaped-front_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-headstock-shaped-side_orig.jpeg)
Starting to look like a bass
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-body-on-the-couch_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-on-the-couch_orig.jpeg)
Put the ground wire in and hammered in the inserts for the bridge studs
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-bridge-stud-inserts_orig.jpeg)
Forgot to do the side position markers before I glued the body wings on. Luckily the wings are not very wide at the end of the fretboard, so I could drill holes there without a problem...
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-drilling-side-marker-holes_orig.jpeg)
Made the side dots
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-glueing-side-markers_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-side-markers_orig.jpeg)
Scored a nice water buffalo horn for the top nut
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-buffalo-horn_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-buffalo-horn-2_orig.jpeg)
Cut the topnut
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-buffalo-horn-2_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-buffalo-horn-topnut_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-buffalo-horn-topnut-filing-slots_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-buffalo-horn-topnut-slotted-and-polished_orig.jpeg)
Made the control plate / pickguard
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-cutting-pickguard_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-pickguard-ready_orig.jpeg)
Made the faceplate for the headstock and glued it on
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-clamping-faceplate_orig.jpeg)
Drilled the tuner holes
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-drilling-tuners-holes_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-tuners-holes_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-headstock-ready_orig.jpeg)
After that the bass was ready for staining.
First did a layer of yellow (still think this would have been a great colour for the end result too)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-yellow-stain_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-yellow-stain2_orig.jpeg)
Then did the reddish mahogany stain
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-first-layer-red-mahogany_orig.jpeg)
And a darker layer
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-darker-layer-red-mahogany_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-darker-layer-red-mahogany-back_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-darker-layer-red-mahogany-back-full_orig.jpeg)
Stained the recessed bit in the "armpit" dark.
And sprayed a few coats of clear
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-body-back-few-layers-of-clear_orig.jpeg)
More layers of clear
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-body-few-layers-of-clear_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-full-back-few-layers-of-clear_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-head-few-layers-of-clear_orig.jpeg)
Put the decals in place
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-decals-back2_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-decals-front_orig.jpeg)
After lots of layers and lots of sanding in between she was ready for final sanding and polishing
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-polished-bass_orig.jpeg)
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-polished-body_orig.jpeg)
Made the black spacers that go under the nickel pickup rings
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-making-black-spacer-ring_orig.jpeg)
And then mounted all the hardware
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-almost-ready_orig.jpeg)
This bass is quite large. A standard case won't fit.
The Warwick Rockcase for BC Rich The Beast fits.
I made a special insert for the V body shape to keep it in place.
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-uv-in-case-1500_orig.jpg)
I'm citing Edith's - daughter of a locksmith - comment on your work, Holländer, "Der kann was!"
And she says hi too!
I love its length, short scale Flying Vs are really a crime. It looks extremely elegant and sleek, not so much just "large". And the winged body extends the center of gravity so far back, it balances perfectly! It's the way a proper Flying V should be done.
It's also much lighter than I expected, yet not too light to seem insubstantial.
"The armpit bass" :D
You mean I should play it like Dave Davies?
https://youtu.be/UUALoD2E70s
Or like "I need to take a leak real quick"-Michael Schenker and his legendary Flying Pee?
(https://i.pinimg.com/550x/a6/1e/9d/a61e9d281b30d9b529bbba1be55b4d5b.jpg) (https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSe6o7NdgFOZseruq-gQ6UrH33K2jb4vSfQ2oM1lSmZ1f-kK0w-3UZly0QtpWyqFDMHh_Y&usqp=CAU)
I hope you got free deodorant with that! :P
Now that you mention it, I did wonder about the talented netherluthier's case candy ...
https://www.songmile.com/de/product/sr-rob-14-roll-on-bottle/
Haha, I did put in a little bit of case candy. But not a deo-roller :mrgreen:
That is the nicest V i have ever seen! Great post!
It's the kind of low-key instrument, not clamoring for attention, that a 62-year-old should reasonably play. Nothing says "Hey, I'm immature!" like turning up with a Flying V at an audition. It's the Corvette of guitar shapes. :mrgreen:
"You don't have any other basses, do you?!"
Have you plugged it in yet, Uwe?