Building a guitar from scratch is a whole different world than repairing a guitar. Being able to do one doesn’t always mean you are able to do the other. Just because I had the skills to repair and restore guitars didn’t mean I had the confidence to design and build my own let alone do one for a customer. All that has changed thanks to Chip Todd, I owe him a lot. What he said to get me started was, “You have the skills and patience so just do it!” 

This is a Spalted maple telecaster style body with a Fenderesque peg head short scale fretless bass. It has a flamed maple neck and peg head with an English Sycamore finger board. The design is my own and it plays like a dream. The secret is in knowing how to set them up so they sound and play like a 34″scale regular bass. This is the size of a Fender Strat. It has a very light fast finger board and is balanced beautifully. 

I put a lot of thought into the woods as I wanted a certain look. I wanted it my way. Its finish is natural lacquer my preference and the back is a light sunburst as is the back of the neck. Even the neck was carved by hand just like they did it in the old days, a labor of love for sure. Since completing this I have had many bass players play it and love it as I do. In fact, I have had offers to buy it but would never sell my first born! Would you? That has resulted in 2 customers considering having me build them one. Time will tell. If I do another I will do a full documentation of the build for all to see. 

I’m partial to a fretless bass and have my long scale basses as well. This, however, is my go to guitar! 

This is a really beautiful Fender Koa Wood Acoustic Bass that was brought to me with a broken peg head. The previous fix had used a peg head from something else (yes it is a bit odd) and it was separating again due to a small mishap on stage.

(I still can’t figure out why he didn’t match the original shape of the stock peg head; very odd!)

 I successfully repaired the break and it’s as strong as new again.

The wood and finish on the peg head didn’t match any of the wood or finish of the Fender. I stained the neck and airbrushed the color and pattern of the Koa Wood on the peg head to create a closer match. (I think it looks great!)

This is a Dan Armstrong (from Ampeg) Plexiglas Bass. They made these in the late ‘60s. They also made a 6 string as well! They are very unique guitars. 

Notice how the pickup slides out of the body. The bass came standard with a deep bass pickup and a bright bass pickup these can be changed in seconds; pretty innovative design. I seem to recall the 6 strings came with 3 or 4 pickups. This one is a reissue. They are very true to the original in every detail. (Right down to the simulated wood pick guard and peg head. (Just a bit understated; even in the ‘60s & ‘70s.) 

This bass needed nothing but a setup and a custom pick guard, truss rod cover, and peg head cover. The beautiful color is antique ivory pearl. I made these from scratch making a template from the old pick guard and truss rod cover. Both were the original dark wood print. The peg head cover was made from a pattern by taking the tuning keys off and tracing it. I cut it back just a bite around the edges on the peg head to give it a dimensional look. 

Very nice playing bass and great looks too.

Check out the solid wood and solid copper pickguards below these can be custom made for any style guitar copper is non ferrous so it wont affect sound or demagnetize a pickup.

Choose your wood and your color so yes you can have it your way! these are made to order so call us. 
. .

12►