The Luthier Community

I'm a beginning luthier, although I have done woodworking and DIY forever, and just finished my first neck thru fretless bass. This is my second build. The first was my stratexplorer guitar, built from an old chunk of Ash for the body and a StewMac neck. It plays like a dream. The bass has a Walnut and Ipe 5 piece neck, and Walnut wings with a thin layer of Maple in the middle. I made an Ipe fingerboard, sanded to 400 grit with a 12" radius. That Ipe is hard as a rock but not as bad as I thought it would be to work with. That neck is not going to bend! I finished it with Tung Oil for a supersmooth natural finish. Since the bass came out so well, I'm planning several more guitars and basses, electric of course, and test the market around here.
First, My stratexplorer

My new fretless bass

Hey Down and Outman (what can I call you?), those are some cool axes! The bass just has that sensuous "grab me" and "play me" written all over it. I have a buddy that is a killer bass player (fretted, fretless, and stand-up), and I would love to hear what he would do with that baby!

Got any sound clips?

Oh, yeah, and welcome aboard!

Dennis

Thanks! I'm sure he would love it. Has a "woody" type of sound.
The tung oil is barely dry, I played it at church tonite. It has such a fast neck. Puts my P bass to shame.
Body

Back of body

Under construction

More pix
Ipe Fingerboard



Slick neck transition

Headstock


Next guitar will be it's little brother

Love the bass! Gotta try a solid body thru-neck someday. Oh....I'm right there with ya on your signature line!

Guitars are nice.....but let's see the reef tank!

Oh, and welcome

Very nice looking bass!! I like the tung oil finish.
Welcome aboard!

Right on, M8!

Great lookin' axes and really glad you're here!

E