Full Custom 6 String for Russ Hodges

This is Russ' 2nd bass of his own design, the first was a fretless 4 string

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



    		•

    Status and Updates

    This is the second bass I've built for Russ of his own design, the first being a 4 string fretless. I just love the blue dyed maple burl top with the birdseye maple fingerboard and accents. This baby just POPS!

    (click on image to view larger version)

     

    Completed neck blank
    Center rear of swamp
    ash glued and clamped
    Neck with headstock, all acent layers, fingerboard and truss rod

    Body wings on, routing hollowed resonant chambers

    Beautiful blue dyed maple burl top
    Headstock roughed out
    Block inlays for fingerboard hand cut from left over burl topset
    Pickup cavities routed in roughed out ramp
    Pickup ramp radiused to match fingerboard

    Roughing in edges and mounting holes
    Pickup ramp completed and polished, off to Kent Armstong to build custom wound pickpus into it

    Hand cutting in the block inlays


    Headstock logo epoxied in as well


    Starting the final finishing process!
    The blue dyed maple burl topset really just pops with the birdseye accents!
    		 




    27 August - This beauty is all built up and shipped out to Russ!