Gareth Hughes

Up for sale is my Ernie McMillen Custom 4 String Fretless. Ernie McMillen builds guitars for the Avalon Guitar Company. Recently he has been working on Zematis guitars at Avalon, which retail at $15,000 in the US. Before that he worked for 15 years for Lowden Guitars, during which time he built many of the Goodfellow Basses that were made there between 1992-96. All this to say that the construction is top notch. Enough about Ernie and now the bass: I had the bass made in 2000, and whilst I do love it so I'm mainly playing upright for most of my gigs so this bass is criminally underplayed. Body is a regular jazz shape (taken from a mid 70's Fender template) and is one piece Mahogany with a bookmatched Rosewood cap (that has some damn sexy stripes running through it). Neck is a 5 piece: Maple Walnut Wenge (I think, or possibly Rosewood) Walnut Maple, Ebony fingerbard with Maple lines and dots above the lines. Scale is 35 inches. The headstock has Schaller tuners with a Rosewood cap and mother-of-pearl logo. Bridge is by ABM with adjustable 16-20mm string spacing. The pickups are by Bill Lawrence, the J45 model. These pickups have a huge frequency response and are very even from low to high. The electronics and standard Jazz passive: Vol/Vol/Tone. The bass was originally wired with a Bartolini TBIBT preamp (more on that later) with the jack socket side mounted. I didn't get the empty jack socket filled in, just discretely covered, so an active system can be installed without any modification. About the Bartolini preamp - I still have it and it still works, but I think it needs a new blend pot. Last time I had it installed it seemed to be quieter in the 50/50 middle position with both pickups on equally together, and significantly louder when either pickup was soloed. Asked around, someone thought the blend pot might be the wrong value. I don't really care for preamps so took it out and left it alone. I'll include it with the sale tho for your tinkering. And finally - the price: All in, with the pickups and pre, this bass cost £14-1500 to get made. I'm selling it for[s] £900 £800 £750[/s][b] £675 [/b] o.n.o shipped to the UK with a hard case and the Bartolini preamp. [b]Here's some examples of other basses that Ernie has built:[/b] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=53343"]Ernie McMillen Jazz Bass[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=57031"]Ernie McMillen Jazz 5[/url] [b]SOUNDCLIPS[/b]: Tracks were recorded straight into Garageband via an MBox Mini, with no added EQ or Compression, etc. [attachment=52539:Both_PU__s.mp3][attachment=52540:Neck_PU.mp3][attachment=52541:Bridge_PU.mp3] [attachment=52533:Fretless_Body_Full.jpg][attachment=52534:Fretless_Front_1.jpg][attachment=52535:He adstock.jpg][attachment=52536:Neck_Woods.jpg][attachment=52537:Back.jpg][attachment=52538:Body_1.jpg ]

If you're having a hard time deciding (which I guess you are, hence the post) then sell whatever gets you the most money to buy the thing you're after. If they're all equally good instruments in your eyes/hands then you're not really losing anything.

[quote name='thedontcarebear' post='569112' date='Aug 14 2009, 03:05 PM']Lowden made the other GB basses as well didn't they?[/quote] Yep - from 1992 to 1996. I'm not sure of the model names/variations but I've seen a few that Ernie made, including his own personal one, and they really are a perfect blend of function and craftmanship.

Bass is now sold folks, thanks for all the interest. Might have a 35" 4 string fretless by the same luthier up for sale soon. Mahogany body, rosewood car, lined ebony neck. PM me for more details. I'll get a proper post up soon. Thanks, Gareth

Afternoon bump

Morning Bump! (not to be confused with wood)

[quote name='Captain Rumble' post='567223' date='Aug 12 2009, 07:47 PM']That is one beutiful bass tell me is it still possible to sell children for scientific experiments -_-[/quote] I think it depends on what the experiments are. I'm sure we at Basschat would understand such actions and the authorities need not be notified.

Up Down!!! Or - Up the Irons!!! (I'm a Maiden fan, but it still works here) and of course - wha bou'ye?

Bumpage

Why thank you. *blush* :blush: (yes, I have been told I'm a sarky b*****d) All the basses I had Ernie build for me have a similar headstock. Just something about that shape I love.

Then you know you want it Or the torture will continue!!! Good to hear from you Dave. [quote name='LettuceFunk' post='565333' date='Aug 10 2009, 08:08 PM']Gareth i saw you play this one night in Bellini's in Newry with Matt McGinn and fell in love with it then. Now you are just torturing me. Dave[/quote]

Good point indeed. Edit done. [quote name='largo' post='565282' date='Aug 10 2009, 07:16 PM']That's a very nice looking bass. I have one word of advice. If you say the back has some "staining" then you should probably show a picture of it, if you can. Other than that, good luck with the sale.[/quote]

Hey Folks - Up for sale is my Ernie McMillen Custom 5 String. Ernie's builds guitars for the Avalon Guitar Company. Recently he has been working on Zematis guitars at Avalon, which retail at $15,000. Before that he worked for 15 years for Lowden Guitars, during which time he built many of the Goodfellow Basses that were there between 1992-96. All this to say that the construction is top notch. Enough about Ernie and now the bass: Body is a regular jazz shape (taken from a mid 70's Fender template) and is mahogany. Unique feature is that the body wings are completely hollow to reduce weight. The pickups, bridge and neck block are on a solid center piece. The resulting weight is an even 9lbs, weighed on my local post office scales. Like the early Fender Tele basses this bass has no body contours - in order to allow for the hollow wings. The neck is one piece maple, with a maple fingerboard. Scale length is 36" and has a tight and powerful B, and the other strings benefit enormously too. Neck is thin front to back, and has a flatter fingerboard than your average Fender. The headstock has lightweight Gotoh tuners with a maple cap and rosewood veneer underneath for the logo. Bridge is by ABM with 17-18mm string spacing. The pickups are by Bill Lawrence, the J45 model. These pickups have a huge frequency response and are very from low to high. The preamp is an Audere JZ3 model, in a Vol/Vol/stacked Bass and Treble configuration and with the Z-mode switch to change the impedance. Combined with the pickups there are a huge range of tones available. And now the only downside to this bass, and it's purely aesthetic. On the back of the bass there is some staining, coming from the center block out into the paint. As its only on the back of the bass it didn't bother me too much so I left it alone. And finally - the price: All in, with the pickups and pre, this bass cost £1500 to get made. I'm selling it for £850 shipped to the UK. Selling as I have a few too many electric basses as I'm now playing mainly upright. No trades. Thanks, Gareth

Bump - these are great, flexible and powerful amps. And this is a bargain price.

BUMP

Good thing you snapped this up - I was just about to go check how long/how much it would take to get me from Ireland to Sunderland and back in the car. Enjoy the rig!

[quote name='maidensprayer' post='555214' date='Jul 29 2009, 03:31 PM']This is just what I am looking for to use with my upright on stage,,is it still for sale? I live in Maine,,,bass player for the misty mountaineers, You can check us out on youtube. I am excited to hear back from you. Thans Dotty[/quote] Hey Dotty - Thanks for checking the amp out - but I'm guessing that shipping this amp to Maine would get mighty expensive. But if you want to do it send me a PM.

[quote name='Beneath It All' post='548476' date='Jul 23 2009, 12:43 AM']....I haven't sent you a PM - you sent me one[apparently] which I haven't recd.[/quote] Ah, apology -you wrote 'not rec'd', which I took as a question, as in 'had I not received your PM'. All clear now. My PM was checking if the amp was still available and would you ship t N.Ireland, and what would the cost of that be? Thanks, Gareth