Now this is definitely a strange bass guitar, unless your a very patriotic American! Looks like it would be hard to play, but it’s a pleasure to look at for sure!
Keep on Jammin’
Comments
Jamconnectsays
That’s not such a strange gutar. Gibson has been making those American shaped guitars for year. In fact, I think one of the guys on th old tv show Hee Haw used to ply one of them.
Yes I do realize that Jamconnect, but most readers may not be aware of it. i just want to expose some of my readers to this style of guitar.
I do like the hand made aspect of it though. I think that some of these true sculptures, if that is how they refer themselves as, should get at least an “A” for effort. It’s like an old idea with a personal spin to it.
I can draw parallels with how some musicians take old tunes, add a little bit of a different views to it and wham, it sounds new and refreshing that’s all that I was trying to convey to everyone. Nice catch! You have the eyes of a jeweler my friend!
It’s just a little patriotic. Would you order/buy a guitar like this Patrick?
Davidsays
I agree with Patrick, no doubt a patriotic American he really is. Not weird but a sure hot stuff for collectors of musical instruments much more guitar collectors out there. Nice piece of collection, don’t you think?
Lyricssays
Nice Guitars and i wish that i can play my lyrics on it.
I’d dare say David! I, being Canadian and all that, would love to see a guitar like this made in the shape of my country some day! Maybe when I get a few more bucks, I’ll give a go.
Sorry for not getting back to you sooner, I guess your comment just blew by me!
Now that’s something you don’t see every day either Cort Bass Guitar reviews!
Gary Garrettsays
I built that guitar in Jacksonville, Florida in the 1990s (I don’t remember the exact year off the top of my head). It was sold on eBay to a collector in Japan.
The New England portion of it has two 3/8″maple reinforcement dowels drilled to prevent breakage. Yes it is similar to the Gibson, but follows closer to an actual map and was specifically designed around the neck, which was made first.
The set neck is maple and flows into the body. The neck is narrow (just a bit wider than a 4 string bass, making it easy to play). It has a very deep, but vibrant sound as the pickup is located at the first string node center.
I always used a strap on it, Florida (where it was built) and Texas kinda dig into your thigh if you play seated. I stopped building guitars and basses when Hurricane Frances destroyed my shop. I was surprised to see it here.
Wow, Gary what a pleasure it is to have the artisan who created this work of musical art!
I like how you started off with the neck and then worked backwards on this labour of LOVE that you composed. I’ve never made a guitar so I have to trust you on that way of constructing this one.
How wide is the neck? I also have to ask you, did you carve the eagle head? This part of the your creation is what keeps drawing me back to. I then focus on all the others parts of the bass but I constantly find myself going back to it, very nicely done my friend!
Another technical question is what did you use for your pick up and who made the bridge? I hope that you can share this information with us here on my blog because others have written to me through e-mail wondering if I knew what you used on it!
Thanx for the comment and …
Keep on building Gary!
Gary Garrettsays
Hi Chris, I mostly played guitar at that time, so the neck is narrow at 1.75″ at the carbon fiber nut, it’s 2.33″ at the 12th fret and 2.58″ at the heel. I used 4/4 maple (1″ thick) for it. It has a single heavy-duty truss rod which adjusts at the heel (you can see the body notch in the photo for the allen wrench). It has 21 frets on a dot rosewood fretboard… the dots are cream colored plexiglass. It has an EMG pickup, and if I remember it’s active with a battery behind the back cover (not sure … been so long).
The eagle on that one was my first eagle design…. very small… but few people noticed it, so since then ther carved eagle is much larger (and even now, many people miss it) I think THAT bridge is American Hardrock Maple stained ebony black, I just carved it to fit. The body looks flat in the photo, but it is actually arched over on the top with an blended armpit shear similar to a fender Jazzmaster, and a belly shear on the back.
I laid the entire guitar in Adobe Illutrator on my old 1991 Mac and printed it in overlapping pages glued to the wood.
I hope this helps. If I can answer any other questions, I am glad to do so.
Gary
Thanx for the info about the specs on your unique bass guitar! I am more then sure that if people look down at this comment they will know everything about your creation!
The only thing that we need now is for the owner of your axe to give us his views of how he loves it! I hope the new owner is reading this.
Thanx again Gary!
Johnnysays
Haha, that’s one American bass alright! I think the eagle bites you if you play anything non-American on it 😉
Leesays
This is one of the craziest bass guitars I’ve ever seen!
It does look really cool now doesn’t it Lee. I could sit back and look at it for hours!
Michaelsays
Very cool concept. Based on the EMG pickup and the way the strings are setup through the body, this looks like it might actually sound great too.. more than just a ‘show’ piece.
Jamconnect says
That’s not such a strange gutar. Gibson has been making those American shaped guitars for year. In fact, I think one of the guys on th old tv show Hee Haw used to ply one of them.
Chris says
Yes I do realize that Jamconnect, but most readers may not be aware of it. i just want to expose some of my readers to this style of guitar.
I do like the hand made aspect of it though. I think that some of these true sculptures, if that is how they refer themselves as, should get at least an “A” for effort. It’s like an old idea with a personal spin to it.
I can draw parallels with how some musicians take old tunes, add a little bit of a different views to it and wham, it sounds new and refreshing that’s all that I was trying to convey to everyone. Nice catch! You have the eyes of a jeweler my friend!
Keep on Jammin’
craig says
thats a really weird looking bass i must say lol
Chris says
Just imagine what you would have to do to it, if the north eastern part of the US broke off!
Thanx for the comment!
Keep on Jammin’
Kristine says
Wonderful instrument! It should be on the cover of USA Today.
Chris says
That would catch anyone’s eye, wouldn’t ya think Kristine!
Thanx for your comment.
Patrick says
It was absolutely a patriotic American that created that one. Inspirational, yes…but probably difficult to play, just like you said.
Chris says
It’s just a little patriotic. Would you order/buy a guitar like this Patrick?
David says
I agree with Patrick, no doubt a patriotic American he really is. Not weird but a sure hot stuff for collectors of musical instruments much more guitar collectors out there. Nice piece of collection, don’t you think?
Lyrics says
Nice Guitars and i wish that i can play my lyrics on it.
Chris says
I’d dare say David! I, being Canadian and all that, would love to see a guitar like this made in the shape of my country some day! Maybe when I get a few more bucks, I’ll give a go.
Sorry for not getting back to you sooner, I guess your comment just blew by me!
Thanx for the comment man!
Chris says
Well go out the and get one made Lyrics! Then get back to us on how it sounds!
cort bass guitar reviews says
I once saw an electric guitar with a body shaped like the Korean peninsular…
Chris says
Now that’s something you don’t see every day either Cort Bass Guitar reviews!
Gary Garrett says
I built that guitar in Jacksonville, Florida in the 1990s (I don’t remember the exact year off the top of my head). It was sold on eBay to a collector in Japan.
The New England portion of it has two 3/8″maple reinforcement dowels drilled to prevent breakage. Yes it is similar to the Gibson, but follows closer to an actual map and was specifically designed around the neck, which was made first.
The set neck is maple and flows into the body. The neck is narrow (just a bit wider than a 4 string bass, making it easy to play). It has a very deep, but vibrant sound as the pickup is located at the first string node center.
I always used a strap on it, Florida (where it was built) and Texas kinda dig into your thigh if you play seated. I stopped building guitars and basses when Hurricane Frances destroyed my shop. I was surprised to see it here.
Chris says
Wow, Gary what a pleasure it is to have the artisan who created this work of musical art!
I like how you started off with the neck and then worked backwards on this labour of LOVE that you composed. I’ve never made a guitar so I have to trust you on that way of constructing this one.
How wide is the neck? I also have to ask you, did you carve the eagle head? This part of the your creation is what keeps drawing me back to. I then focus on all the others parts of the bass but I constantly find myself going back to it, very nicely done my friend!
Another technical question is what did you use for your pick up and who made the bridge? I hope that you can share this information with us here on my blog because others have written to me through e-mail wondering if I knew what you used on it!
Thanx for the comment and …
Keep on building Gary!
Gary Garrett says
Hi Chris, I mostly played guitar at that time, so the neck is narrow at 1.75″ at the carbon fiber nut, it’s 2.33″ at the 12th fret and 2.58″ at the heel. I used 4/4 maple (1″ thick) for it. It has a single heavy-duty truss rod which adjusts at the heel (you can see the body notch in the photo for the allen wrench). It has 21 frets on a dot rosewood fretboard… the dots are cream colored plexiglass. It has an EMG pickup, and if I remember it’s active with a battery behind the back cover (not sure … been so long).
The eagle on that one was my first eagle design…. very small… but few people noticed it, so since then ther carved eagle is much larger (and even now, many people miss it) I think THAT bridge is American Hardrock Maple stained ebony black, I just carved it to fit. The body looks flat in the photo, but it is actually arched over on the top with an blended armpit shear similar to a fender Jazzmaster, and a belly shear on the back.
I laid the entire guitar in Adobe Illutrator on my old 1991 Mac and printed it in overlapping pages glued to the wood.
I hope this helps. If I can answer any other questions, I am glad to do so.
Gary
Chris says
Thanx for the info about the specs on your unique bass guitar! I am more then sure that if people look down at this comment they will know everything about your creation!
The only thing that we need now is for the owner of your axe to give us his views of how he loves it! I hope the new owner is reading this.
Thanx again Gary!
Johnny says
Haha, that’s one American bass alright! I think the eagle bites you if you play anything non-American on it 😉
Lee says
This is one of the craziest bass guitars I’ve ever seen!
Pretty cool though!
Chris says
It does look really cool now doesn’t it Lee. I could sit back and look at it for hours!
Michael says
Very cool concept. Based on the EMG pickup and the way the strings are setup through the body, this looks like it might actually sound great too.. more than just a ‘show’ piece.
Chris says
I never thought about that Michael, thanx for the insight!