Acoustic Basses

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Introducing the “Acoustic Bass VI”, a one-of-a-kind instrument conceived and designed by Steve Burke. It is a 30" Scale 6 string bass tuned, like a guitar, but an octave lower to E1, A1, D2, G2, B2, E3 and strung with heavier gauge wound strings. 

This beautiful instrument is handcrafted with the highest quality materials available. It was created with a 50-year-old straight grain Canadian Sitka Spruce top, Indian Rosewood back and sides, a 3-layer, quarter-sawn Roasted Straight Maple neck, a Wenge fretboard, and Ebony bridge, and the Linden Spiral Resonator (see www.lindeninstruments.com) inside – All combined to enhance each aspect of the acoustics with focus on volume and sustain.

Appointments include “VI” MOP Fretboard Markers, Abalone Rosette and Purfling, a side sound port to enhance sound to the player, a 2-way adjustable truss rod, K&K under saddle electronic pickups Schaller tuners and a high-gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish.

The Acoustic Bass VI is a perfect middle ground between the guitar and bass and between electric and acoustic. Guitarists enjoy the familiarity that the Bass VI offers in a completely new range of notes, allowing them to step into a new section of the mix and apply new styles and techniques.

Pictures                                        Specifications

We obtained rights to use the Olavi Linden patented design for an Acoustic Bass Guitar built for a client. The design basically builds a resonator inside the guitar for maximum vibration and volume along with lowering the air resonance to a projected 50Hz vs. a normal 90 to100Hz for a standard ABG. This results in a significantly increased volume and bass response for the instrument. 

Mr. Linden was kind enough to provide input along the way including some drawings and other features of the design.

The inside “resonator” consists of a circular plate attached to the underside of the top, under the bridge that is about 1 inch high. The plate is then covered with a flat plate that contains sound holes. On top of this plate, a spiral of thin plywood in installed on the plate and is attached to the inside of the bottom of the guitar, creating a spiral chamber for sound and vibration to be generated by the moving plates of the instrument to the top. The volume is excellent and exceeds any acoustic bass I have seen of similar size.

This bass was built as a 5 string fretless. It has a 32” scale with 20 frets. It uses the top quality acoustic woods including a Full Figured Bear Claw Sitka Spruce top, Guatamalan Rosewood for back and sides, quarter sawn Mahogany neck and an Indian Rosewood Fretboard with a built in thumb rest and inlaid maple fret lines and marker. A sound port on the side enhances sound to the player. It contains a 2 way truss rod with carbon reinforcement in the neck.

It is finished in a satin nitrocellulose lacquer and set up with LaBella Tapewound strings.

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The Phoenix - This beautiful Acoustic Bass was commissioned by custom built for Jonathan Kessler. We worked together to develop the blueprint and look of the instrument. 

It is a 5 string fretless bass with a 34" Scale. It has a total length of 49", Lower bout of almost 17" and a depth at the tail of a little over 5" giving it's voice volume and sustain. It has a walnut arm bevel to allow for comfort while playing. 

It has flame shaped offset sound holes, and a side sound port to enhance the sound for the player.

It is build from quality woods consisting of a top of Fine Grain Engleman Spruce, a back of Claro Walnut and Sides of Bastogne Walnut. It has a high gloss epoxied Ebony fretboard with custom fret marker and side markers.

It's hardware consists of Gotoh Compact Bass Tuners, dual action truss rod, ebony bridge with Bone Nut and Saddle.

It is equipped with a K&K Pure Mini Bass Guitar Pickup.

Finally it has an inlaid Phoenix on the bottom of the neck heel.

Jonathan has tried several string combinations finally settling on Roto Sound Tape Wounds to get the sound he prefers.

You can see it being played at https://youtu.be/TcCTmZNRye4

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Here is a one-of-a kind 4 string, medium scale, fretless bass built in complete coordination with the client on shape, design, and function.

It has a Ziricote Body with a Flamed Maple Neck. The Ebony fretboard is inlaid with Purple Heart lines and Fret Markers, along with copper ring side circles.

It has a Ziricote Peghead Veneer and Back strap with Bordeux Maple Inlay. In fact, the entire instrument has Bordeaux Bindings and Highlights.

It has a Pinless custom bridge for easy re-string, an Arm Bevel for player comfort and a side sound port for the player's ear.

Built as a true acoustic with live back bracing and "focused to the bridge" top bracing, it produces a woody smooth sound with plenty of mway available for the player who wants this sound.

Finally, it has Schaller M4 90 Light tuners, K&K Pure Bass Electronics and GHS Strings.

Pictures                                       Specifications

We worked very close with the owner on this unique and beautiful acoustic bass guitar, nick-named the “Exploder”. 

Certainly one of the most unique Acoustic Bass Guitars in the world, the owner dreamed up the shape and overall concept and we worked to create concept and structural design that would achieve the look he envisioned while still creating great bass guitar sound.

It is a 32” scale, four string acoustic bass guitar. The shape is reminiscent of the famed Gibson Explorer with the depth added for an acoustic guitar.

The design uses mahogany posts in the corners, mahogany sides, mahogany and maple back and a spruce top. All properly braced to ensure strength and tone. It has a figured maple bridge, fretboard and truss rod cover with an inlaid logo. The fretboard is inlaid with abalone diamonds.

It is finished in brilliant blue sparkle with a high gloss finish highlighted with maple binding and WBW purfling. 

It has unique sound holes originally conceived by the owner and a side port to enhance the listening for the player.

It is set up with medium jumbo frets, GHS Acoustic Bass Guitar strings and Gotoh Tuners. The tuning pins are bone with abalone inlay. It also has K&K Acoustic Bass Guitar with sensors inside and under the bridge 

Many Thanks to Mr. Cullen Graham for his inspiration and participation in this build.