BluesHawk Bass

[Barklessdog]

Once you get used to it or have a need for one I wish ever bass I owned had one.

Yes it's not pretty, but this whole bass is kind of odd, like me!

It would look 1000 times better with a Dawson Bridge & T bird tail piece.

[Barklessdog]

Talked with the electronics guy and he said it works really well with a lot of usable tones. He said it really makes sense as a bass. Plays & sounds really nice.

He said the way they figured out the electronics was to put aside the wiring diagrams and just use the schematics, but apply it to the switch put in different wiring positions (on the switch). Then it worked. He said he got another strictly electronics guy to help him.


I will pick it up Saturday.

[Chris P.]

Cool! I think i don't have to ask to post some pics?

[Barklessdog]

And hopefully sounds.

[Barklessdog]

Just picked it up-

Some surprises for everyone and lessons learned

Overall it turned out yummy!


The bridge needed to be set slightly lower to get the action nice & low, so, I routed even more wood away!!!!

Of coarse this put even more ding scratches etc, in it. Lesson is put bass together completely before you finish it.

[Barklessdog]

Other surprises, since I could not pick it up for another week since hey got it working, I had them refret it.

[Dave W]

That sure turned out nice. What about the tone? How about the feel and balance? Maybe I missed something earlier, but why the refret?

[Barklessdog]

I just got playing it and first impression is it sounds a lot like a Fender Jazz bass, and unlike any of my other Gibson basses.

Each pickup separately sound pretty articulate warm, clean and clear, but both pickups together give you a nice hot snarling sound. It does not have that slightly fuzzy or blurry Mahogany sound of my other passive Gibsons. Again slightly Jazz sounding. Sustain & harmonics are very good. The balance is not to bad due to the Kahler I assume. Overall it seems light, like around 8 pounds?

The big D adds another element as expected from a compressed nasal tone sucking sound, a woofy almost mudbucker, to a hot raspy one and several in-between.

I will try to post some clips in the next week.

[Barklessdog]

It probably could of done with out the refret, but the frets were pretty worn (did have some life left) -  they could not level the frets, so I figure what the heck, refret it.

Surprisingly it sounds very clean (without the varitone on), absolutely no hum, but still has a nice passive warmth.

[drbassman]

Oh yeah, that turned out really nice!  inspiring for sure!

[Nocturnal]

Glad to see that you have it finished. I think it turned out very nice. Sounds like you are happy with it so I'd call it a success!!

[shadowcastaz]

Damn nice example of skilled craftsmanship.I remain humbled.M

[chromium]

Came out great!  Can't wait to hear it.

[ramone57]

looks great! 

[SKATE RAT]

that looks so good,your dog may start barking!