Elite 4-String Fretless Quilted Maple Bass

The Elite 4-string fretless bass was inspired by an Alembic custom bass that sold for around $14,000. This bass is constructed in typical "hippie sandwhich" style. It is a neck-thru design with the neck hidden inside the body until it appears at the tail where it is revealed through the C-hole. The core of the body is solid Mahogany, which gives this bass a very warm sound. The binding body layer is Purpleheart, which provides a nice contrast.The top and back are beautiful pieces of local Quilted Maple. The top is bookmatched. The back is one solid piece with gorgeous popcorn quilt. The electronics cavity acces cover is cut from the back and inlaid in a contrasting Purpleheart panel.

This bass is a blast to play. The Bartolini MMC (Music Man) pickup is super deep, while the Bartolini J-Bass bridge pickup provides a crisp punchy high end. The Bartolini 9-volt active electronics provides for a wide tonal variation. The brass nut and the Ebony fretboard gives this bass a nice growl.

 

Specifications

Neck

Scale Length

34”

Frets

Two octave fretless

Nut Width

 

Width at 24th Fret

 

Configuration

Neck-through

Wood

7-piece laminated (Maple / Purpleheart / Maple / Purpleheart / Maple / Purpleheart / Maple). Laminations show through the tail of the neck in the C-cutaway.

Fingerboard

Ebony

Radius

10”

Fret wire

N/A

Position Markers

None

Side Dots

3/32nd White plastic

Truss Rod

Double expanding

Adjustment

Slotted nut at heel with custom cover plate.

Reinforcement

(2) Graphite

Nut

Brass – J-bass size

Headstock

Quilted Maple/Purpleheart

Tuners

Gotoh GB7 - Gold

Body

Construction

Solid laminated (Hippy sandwich style)

Wood

(top to back)

5-piece laminated (Book matched Quilted Maple / Purpleheart / Mahogany / Purpleheart / Single piece Quilted Maple)

Bridge

Schaller 463 - Gold

Bridge String Spacing

Adjustable rollers allow for a string pitch from 2-3/32" to 2-15/32" (53mm to 63mm), (17.5mm-21mm string pitch). Each saddle is also adjustable for string height, width and intonation.

Strap Holders

Flush mounted strap locks

Electronics

Neck Pickup

Bartolini MMC (deep tone dual coil)

Bridge Pickup

Bartolini 9J1-B

Electronics

Bartolini HR-4.6/918   3 Band Active EQ

Controls

Master Gain, Blend, Treble/Bass Gain, Mid Gain with push/pull switch center frequency.

Knobs

Hand made wooden knobs. Purpleheart knob body with Maple Burl tops.

Access Cover

Quilted Maple access cover with Purpleheart border.

Battery

1 9V Transistor Battery

Instrument Jack

Switchcraft deep panel stereo jack. Side mounted on bottom.

Shielding

Copper foil tape lining the control cavity

Finish

Body

Nitrocellulose hand rubbed lacquer

Neck

Nitrocellulose hand rubbed lacquer

Dimensions/Weight

Length

 

Width

 

Weight

8.5 lbs. or 3.86 Kilograms

Balance

Slightly neck heavy due to short horn and neck position.

Case Size

Fits a standard Fender-style bass guitar case

Pricing

List Price

Call or email for a price quote

 
 
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