Tom's Custom "Shorter" Scale Bass

[altgrendel]

That's the other thing I'm wondering about.  
 
How much will it weigh when done? I bet it's going to be pretty light for an Alembic bass.

[tommy]

Good question. I'm hoping it's light. We'll save that one for Mica.

[tommy]

My guess is that it won't way as much as a Jazz or P. And definitely won't way lighter than a short scale Alembic. It probably will way more that most commercial short scale basses like the Fender Mustang. Right now I'm playing a friends Hofner and there is no WAY any bass can be lighter. The thing is a toy! AnyWAY, it will be WAY cool. Hope I didn't WAY-ste any of your time.

[jazzyvee]

That looks a great project Tommy. I presume you are using standard tuning so i'm curious as to what gauge of strings will give you a good feel without being sloppy, especially on the E-string.  
 
Any idea of when its due to be completed?
jazzy

[tommy]

Several months till completion. As for the tuning, yes will be standard tuning. As for the string guage, I don't know what they have in mind, they've never made one like this before. Maybe after its made they'll play around with the string guage? I understand the sloppy thing with other short scale type basses.  The Hofner I'm playing has a sloppy E. I was also thinking of  using flat wounds because I love the upright sound, but I'm afraid that it will choke off some of its character. But I'm sure Alembic will know what's best for the instrument once it's in their hands.

[tommy]

Correction, I meant it WILL weigh less than an Alembic short scale bass. Obviously.

[mica]

I have had bad timing with your bass. I always get it after it's been sanded for the next coat of spray:

 
Oh well, maybe I'll have been luck next week. I'll be keeping my eye out for it so I can show you how it looks all nice and shiny.

[tommy]

A work of art I say! I just love how the left side slopes inward exposing the backside. And look at all those holes, what in the hell am I gonna do with all those knobs!! :}  I'm sure glad you found room for the control knob that makes the bass play by itself.

[altgrendel]

The thing I find interesting is that it looks like it's hanging in front of a Tribute guitar and it's actually slightly shorter than the guitar.

[dadabass2001]

You can't be sure of the relative lengths of each, because you can't see if their headstocks are level with each other. The mounting hooks might be staggered.
Still, it's going to be a beautiful bass.
Mike

[tommy]

Yes, I'm not sure if they stagger them that close to each other. It still casts a shadow on the tribute so it might appear even larger because it's closer to the camera.

[tommy]

The tribute has a scale of 25.5, my bass has a scale of 28. I would think the tribute body is much bigger. The body of my bass is about the size of a Little darlin guitar. I'm not sure if that's a tribute or not?? Maybe Mica can shed some light on this.

[tommy]

Light my fire, light my fire, light my fire, light my fire etc..
 
 
Jose Feliciano

[tommy]

Hows the progress?

[tommy]

Mica, I'm gigging 5 days a week and my hofners falling apart. What's the status?