LeftyBassist.com

Some of you guys know that I had ordered myself a bass a while back. Due to (mostly) a trial separation and eventual divorce, the guy simply put my project aside for a while (completely understandable). But, he got back to work and I finally received my new bass just today...in time for the Christmas concert series.

Made by Knuckle Guitar Works of Seattle. I went to NAMM 6 or 7 years ago and played every bass that Skip Fantry (luthier) had brought with him - all rightys, of course. His most famous bass is the Quake, which is a five-string with an extended low F# - lower than the B. With the right strings, it tunes down to one full octave below a traditional bass. I was not interested in THAT bass, but a traditional 5-string, mahogany body, maple sandwich neck, passive. When I finally decided to order a true, custom bass, I contacted a few guys, but Skip was my first choice. And, Skip hit a home run as far as I can tell. The body asymetrical, as you can see on the photo of the back. The woodgrain of each half are not parallel, which contributes to better overall strength. Below the cavity is the recessed input jack. Very cool. Although the bass is passive, he routed out the back cavity in case I later decide to add a pre-amp. And, though the pickups look like soapbars, underneath they are really P/J Nordstrams. He used ebony dust as "pore fill" for the body, which really turns the grain black and it pops. Very deep red, not quite as bright red as the photo, but just as gorgeous.







I have never, never seen a bridge like this. The strings actually rest on an elevated screw. I will get a close up of the bridge later. These photos were taken by Skip before he sent it to me. It is a keeper.

The fret markers are basically a cube that is inserted on the top of the fretboard and down into the front. When you look at the sidemarker, you are looking at the same marker that can be seen from the front. The actual same one. Also, a 36" scale. (But I have large hands....)

And, those Circle K strings (low tension) - I love 'em.

More later after a concert Sunday night.

Mike

That looks awesome!! I love the red and I dig the headstock. I won't buy some basses because of fugly headstocks I think that is cool and it looks like there is a purpose for it the way the tuners are laid out. Nordstrands pups are great and passive they sound big and full. Nice score! I would love to see close pictures of the furniture when you get a tic.

My recent repair work done to a Warwick Thumb fretless has similar markers they are so great nice choice.

Wow, man, that looks simply amazing! I wonder how the longer scale feels, but I'm sure it's super clear and piano-like with massive lows.

Congrats. Post a review when you have a chance.

Honestly, Mr. Bond, I cannot tell the difference between frets 1-6, as they are just about the same as a 34" or 35" (I had a lefty MTD Kingston for years). But, once you slid up above the sixth from on up, it is different. The reach is a little more deliberate. I think it will be easy to get lazy there, but time will take care of it. It isn't THAT much more of a reach. And, honestly, working with either the band or with the community orchestra/choir, I find myself above the 5th fret a good 95% of the time - lots of choral music is written in Bb or Eb. But, as I said, it is just a tad longer reach than "normal" (34" scale). I have a concert tomorrow night, and I will use the new bass. I don't anticipate any problems.

Okay, here is the "weird" bridge I mentioned. Images are a touch out of focus, but the camera simply won't focus that closely.





I have never seen a bridge like this before. No complaints, but certainly different.

Beautiful looking bass! Looking forward to your review....

Very piano-like tone. Surprisingly so. Now, to start off, the first 15 years I played upside down, righty basses, etc., and didn't get a lefty bass until 1981 or so (age 28). I started playing at 14, switched to bass quickly, and was working in clubs and bars at age 15 (Louisiana has a "Louis Armstrong" law allowing underaged musicians to play.) Since that time I have owned MIA Fender Precision (awesome bass!!), G&L L2500, Ric 4100, Alembic Orion, Peavey Foundation, and I still own a G&L SB-1 (split pup) and a Carvin LB75. Pretty decent stuff overall. This Knuckle Tremor (not quite a Quake - get it???) has a piano-like quality to it that I haven't seen before. Very crisp, very clear. Every note is clearly defined - I can see myself going to the woodshed a few times because of this bass.

The first 5-6 frets feel like any other 34" scale's first 5-6 frets. But, when I get above the 5th fret, I do have to reach a touch farther than I am used to, because the 36" scale has all its frets slightly farther apart. Not uncomfortable, just a required farther reach. In retrospect, perhaps the frets' extended distance contributes to its clarity. Nothing muddy at all - the higher notes are all crisp.

I love the pickups. I love the P sound, always have. I love passive, always have. Even though, the SB-1 (1988) and this one are the only passives that I own. But, remember all those great Motown sounds with Jamerson and Babbit? All passive. Many (most) of the slapping and popping from the 70's and 80's? Passive. Somewhere along the time line we musicians decided that active = better. It does mean different, but not necessarily better. I went with the P/J combination because I wanted that fat, full sound of the P with a little more clarity of the J. And, I found it. Very nice. The J is nearly too bright and brittle. When playing just that one pickup, I have to roll off the treble a bit. When played with the P, I roll it back to full.

Anyway, it's a keeper. I can tell that this will be my "go-to" bass. My "taxicab" and not my "sportscar," for you guys who understand that reference.

Workmanship is excellent from what I can tell. Every bit as good as G&L or the Orion, which IMHO is about as good as it can get. Weight - I don't have exact scales, but slightly less than my mahogany Carvin LB75...roughly 9 pounds??? Regardless, very comfortable, definitely not too light, but not heavy, either.

Sorry to cut this short, but I have to go play.... Can you see my big old grin all the way from Louisiana????