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This is my latest bass that I have been working on.  It is predominantly domestic (walnut, maple, red oak) with on e small cocobolo accent.  I am pretty excited with the way it is starting to come out as I am moving through the lacquer process.

Thanks for looking,

Stephen

 

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www.ziegenfussguitars.com

WOW Steve! That looks great! The walnut realy darkened under the finish!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Yes! That is a gorgeous looking bass.
Good Job!

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Oh Yeah!
wonderful!
is the neck flat between the upper"horn" and the body?

Udi.

Great looking bass.  I love the shape and the use of the wood.  Really nice.  

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Waddy

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Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Stephen that's a great looking body and neck combination. It appears you are using Jazz Bass pickups, what kind, and is it active or passive?

Could you explain five knobs / switches? Thanks. Great Job so far. Finish is looking nice.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Great shape/lines Stephen and beautiful woods - you have a real winner there!

To answer some questions -

Udi: the neck maintains a constant profile all the way up to the 22nd fret.  That is the beauty of the blended transition block.  The first place that I saw it done was Fodera guitars.

Bruce:  I will be using passive jazz pickups - for now. ( I am working with some electrical engineers at work to develop my "own" on board preamp system).  Basically, for each coil, I am designating its own tone and volume, while also giving myself an on/on switch for series/parallel switching with the coils.  The two tones and volumes may seem excessive, but I play a great deal of harmonic laced bass routines, so I need to the response of the bridge pickup to be there without losing the warmth of the neck.  The series/ parallel switch is there for experimentation, or if I ever need more punch...

Thank you so much,

Stephen 

 

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www.ziegenfussguitars.com

Very, very nice! And reminiscent of the bass I co-designed/will be building (or technically, helping my doesn't-really-woodwork-at-all girlfriend build) soonish.

Gorgeous!!

Looks good.  Sort of a J-Bass with Fodora horns.  I remember seeing that on the Anthony Jackson contrabass a long time ago.  I never could really decide if I liked the look or not.  I think a lot of custom bass builders are doign that now.  It gets the strap location up the neck enough to get good balance, but looks heavy.  Kind of makes me want to finally build that bass I designed 15 years ago, a cross between a Warwick Dolphin Pro and a Ken Smith.

zehley,

I could not decide if I liked it either for a while.  I have been a Leo Fender man to the core - so yes, this has the a-symmetrical J-bass lower bout with an opened hand position and the Fodera singlecut feature.  I also pulled the neck out - more like a Fender to keep the guitar "long" feeling.  Warwick's feel a bit cramped for me, but I am fairly lanky.

Build it and show it!  We need more bass builders in and around here...

Stephen

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www.ziegenfussguitars.com

To give credit where it is due, It  is fashioned on Carey Nordstrand's singlecut design, which is a reflection of Vinny's Fodera's original singlecut bass work in 1988 (I believe)...

 

Thanks!

Stephen

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www.ziegenfussguitars.com

Great Bass - I bet you cant wait to string that bad boy up and shake the windows!!!
Cheers
Charlie

The Anthony Jackson contrabass is a Fodora.  That was the only single cut I saw for a long time back then.

I'll build it someday, just need to get some acoustics under my belt first.  My only concern is that I fear it will not be balanced.  I would only make it a 6 string bass as thats what I've been playing for 17 years.  I'm lost on a 4 string.  The upper horn is relativly short, some where between the Warwick Thumb and Dolphin.  Extending it never looked right.  I dont like the balance of the thumb bass at all because I tend to shift the bass to center it more at my body, so the upper horn hits my side.  I'm also lanky at 6'5" with a 80+" wing span, but even at that I dont like that long feel.  This is why I tend to center the bass on my body and have a neutral arm position.  The body size is similar to the Dolphin but a shorter horn.  That along with six tuning machines at the HS may make it a bit top heavy.

Oh, I like how yours looks, but Ive always hated Fender basses.  I think its a wanting to be differnt thing.

Yeah, I think Vinny Fodera worked with Anthony Jackson to develop the singlecut contrabass.  It is a little "uncurvy" for me, but started a trend in custom builders today....

It is funny that you say you are lost on a 4 string - because if I pick up a 5 or a 6, I am totally lost...I feel as though the blasted 4 has enough real estate to keep me busy for my life.  I wish I had started earlier on some of the 5's and 6's, because there is even more tonal variation to work with, but now it is just a little uncomfortable for me.

Acoustics are amazing.  There is just something about developing art with thinned wood - rather than carving a lock of wood; but as a bass player, I just can't help but build what I love to play.

Stephen

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www.ziegenfussguitars.com

I switched to a 6 string bass when i was 15 (John Pattitucci was my idol), less that two years after i started, so I dont know anything else.  I tend to move more accross the strings than up and down the neck, so a 4 string dosnt seem like it has much real estate at all.  I use the low B string a lot even if I'm not below E, so I could get away with a 5.  I play 99% ac guitar now that I'm not in a band anymore, so acoustics it is for now.  I figure if I get good at acoustics, an electric will be easy.  No bracing, no spherical top and back to deal with, no bending.  Just glue up a hippie sandwich and carve.

I love it. I love red oak and walnut too.

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Guitars, guitars and more guitars.

Very Stylish. I like it!