Russ' 2nd Custom Shop bass, a 6 string fretted

This is Russ' second GW Custom Shop bass of his own design. The first one was a 4 string fretless, with this second one of the same design being a 6 string fretted.

Neck:

7 piece; Flamed maple outers, macassar ebony center, two bloodwood stringers, then two macassar ebony stringers

34" scale stabilized birdseye maple fingerboard, fretted

Thin accent layer of zebrawood under fingerboard

Blue dyed maple burl block inlays to match topset, standard side dots

Swamp ash headstock

Blue dyed maple burl headstock overlay to match body

Thin accent layer of zebrawood under headstock overlay

Thin birdseye maple overlay on back of headstock

Body:

Swamp Ash body wings and back

Semi-Hollow body with resonant chambers routed for more acoustic "woody" tone and light weight

Blue Dyed Maple Burl top, top covers entire top (neck does NOT show through)

Thin accent layer of zebrawood between top and body wings

Neck set lower in body so just the fingerboard and accent layer underneath it are above the top of the body (bridge will have to be recessed)

Custom designed control cavity with battery compartments to eliminate need for a plastic pop-out battery box

Hardware and Electronics:

Chrome Hipshot ultralight tuners

Chrome Hipshot Model A bridge in aluminum

Two Custom Wound Kent Armstrong "Russ Hodges Specials" Pickups

Custom Stabilized Birdseye Maple ramp, routed in back to accept both pickups

Mike Pope 3 band preamp

Gator ATA Rated GPE-Bass Hardcase

The Build Process

Here are pics of some of the woods and inlays, and a scan of the original drawing I recieved from Russ and the final approved design drawing I did on the computer for the first bass I built for him of this design, a fretless 4 string. I simply had to make new templates to account for the 6 string neck.


Here's a scan of the original drawing that Russ sent me of his design for this bass	And here is the computer drawing of the design I did for Russ based on his drawing.

Glueing up swamp ash rear center cover block to neck blank	Neck blank ready for body wings
Body wings with tone chambers
Blue dyed maple burl topset	Roughed out pickup cover / ramp
Pickup cover / ramp ready for final sanding and polishing	Off to Kent Armstrong to put the pickups in
Body is all done, ready for the inlays and frets
Block inlays cut from blue dyed maple burl	... and in they go
Fingerboard ready for final polishing	Headstock logo in as well
Final routing and finish
Control cavity routed, ready for sanding	First coat of oil is on

Finishing is done, time to build it up!
Control cavity all wired up	All parts are in, time for the initial setup

All done and ready to go! I must say, I really like the combination of the dark blue dyed maple burl topset and inlays contrasting with the birdseye maple and swamp ash. A great combination of colors and textures and it sounds extraordinary to boot!

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