benebass Posted August 15, 2011 Posted August 15, 2011 (edited) Hi - thought I'd post a few pics of this beauty, which was put together by The Bass Doc over the last few months. He somehow managed to make sense of my ropey attempts at graphic design & turn them into this: - [attachment=87105:IMGP2544.JPG] [attachment=87106:IMGP2545.JPG] [attachment=87108:IMGP2542.JPG] Neck - Made by the late, great Jim Cairnes years ago & is a slightly smaller 32" scale, with a really comfy fit for me. The decal was put together by Rothko & Frost, who did a great job. Over the years Jim & the Doc quietly put together some amazing custom builds up here in the North East. I wanted to acknowledge this rather than just whacking a Fender decal on, so ended up with pre-CBS Jazzmaster 'J&H' logo that sits nicely on the painted headstock. I settled on Electric IV for the name - blatantly inspired by the Fender Electric XII guitar... Body - Tulipwood. Not a wood that seems to be used a lot by luthiers, but a great sound board. The shape is a sort of Jaguar / Jazz Bass hybrid - the Doc did a great job here & kept the Jaguar look, but streched it slightly for better balance. It's finished in Dakota Red & the Doc suggested the pearloid plate, which is a classic combo. The shape is an adaption of the '70s Tele Thinline idea - like the way it fits in with the whole offset shape. Machines - Think they're Schallers. Bridge - ABM. Well-crafted piece of kit. The string spacing is a touch smaller than Fender standard, so the adjustable saddles were really useful. Electrics - Kent Armstrong vintage hot P & J (the WD ones), with passive vol/vol/tone. Had to put a neck J at the bridge for the string spacing to fit with the (hidden) pole pieces. It's currently strung with Status flats, which are pretty dead sounding - in a good way Really pleased with how it turned out - cheers Howard! B. Edited August 15, 2011 by benebass Quote
AndyTravis Posted August 16, 2011 Posted August 16, 2011 That's beautiful, love the pickguard nod to the 69 thinline Tele too! Quote
wateroftyne Posted August 16, 2011 Posted August 16, 2011 I had a plunk on this when it was naked(!)... it felt lovely. ..and now, it looks lovely, too. Nice one! Quote
The Bass Doc Posted August 16, 2011 Posted August 16, 2011 Cheers Ben. Good piccies. I particularly like the body shot where you appear in the reflection of all three knobs. Trust it's settling in OK and presumably you're as happy as a man with three knobs. Quote
benebass Posted August 16, 2011 Author Posted August 16, 2011 [quote name='The Bass Doc' post='1341517' date='Aug 16 2011, 09:28 AM']Cheers Ben. Good piccies. I particularly like the body shot where you appear in the reflection of all three knobs. Trust it's settling in OK and presumably you're as happy as a man with three knobs. [/quote] It's settling in just fine - think I'm as happy as a man with four! Cheers, B. Quote
Immo Posted August 16, 2011 Posted August 16, 2011 The upper horn's a bit too pointy in my book, but otherwise, it's a darn pretty machine. Grats! Quote
Blademan_98 Posted August 16, 2011 Posted August 16, 2011 Now, all you have to do is take a sander to it, let everyone know you found it in an uncles loft oh and that you don't know anything about guitars........ It'll be worth a fortune on eBay Joking aside, it looks stunning. You must be well pleased and I bet it sounds as good as it looks! Quote
benebass Posted August 17, 2011 Author Posted August 17, 2011 Thanks for the positive words. Funny the top horn gets a mention - I thought it was a bit pointy at first, but now I think it looks a lot more in proportion than a Jag, which can be a bit 'stubby'. Helps with the balance too... Cheers, B. Quote
FlatEric Posted August 17, 2011 Posted August 17, 2011 Very Nice. Slightly off topic - Didn't know that Jim was no longer with us. Recent? I have one of his wonderful necks on a bass - a work of art, in terms of look and feel. Cheers. Quote
The Bass Doc Posted August 17, 2011 Posted August 17, 2011 Jim passed away in May. I attended a money-raising testimonial gig for him earlier. Jim was in fairly good fettle at that event, though obviously weak. There were a few local bands featured, some playing his gutars, but one line-up played 'Spirit in the Sky' with Jim sitting in the front row. Maybe they thought it was apprpriate Quote
wateroftyne Posted August 17, 2011 Posted August 17, 2011 [quote name='The Bass Doc' post='1342686' date='Aug 17 2011, 08:14 AM']one line-up played 'Spirit in the Sky' with Jim sitting in the front row.[/quote] Quote
FlatEric Posted August 17, 2011 Posted August 17, 2011 [quote name='The Bass Doc' post='1342686' date='Aug 17 2011, 08:14 AM']Jim passed away in May. I attended a money-raising testimonial gig for him earlier. Jim was in fairly good fettle at that event, though obviously weak. There were a few local bands featured, some playing his gutars, but one line-up played 'Spirit in the Sky' with Jim sitting in the front row. Maybe they thought it was apprpriate [/quote] Again, slightly off topic . . . . Sorry to hear that. I have been thinking of doing a feature on him, in my blog - bit like the Peter Cook one. Once again, something like this reminds me not to think about things too much and just go on and do it!!!! Anyone else have a Jim Cairnes? Quote
BottomEndian Posted August 17, 2011 Posted August 17, 2011 <geordie> That's a proper canny bass. Geet lush. </geordie> Hats off to Howard and the late Jim. Quote
cd_david Posted August 17, 2011 Posted August 17, 2011 [quote name='BottomEndian' post='1343065' date='Aug 17 2011, 01:22 PM']<geordie> That's a proper canny bass. Geet lush an that like. </geordie>[/quote] Fixed Quote
BottomEndian Posted August 17, 2011 Posted August 17, 2011 [quote name='cd_david' post='1343091' date='Aug 17 2011, 01:42 PM']Fixed [/quote] Quote
wateroftyne Posted August 17, 2011 Posted August 17, 2011 [quote name='BottomEndian' post='1343065' date='Aug 17 2011, 01:22 PM']<geordie> That's a proper canny bass. Geet lush an that like 'y'knaaar. </geordie>[/quote] Fixed a bit more. Quote
EBS_freak Posted August 17, 2011 Posted August 17, 2011 [quote name='FlatEric' post='1343058' date='Aug 17 2011, 01:15 PM']Anyone else have a Jim Cairnes?[/quote] Yup, I have a couple... and there's a couple residing with my friend in Wolverhampton... Quote
Chris2112 Posted August 17, 2011 Posted August 17, 2011 I've always been a fan of Howard's basses. I think the first one I played of his was a fretless 6, it was great! Glad you're enjoying your new bass. Quote
lee650 Posted August 17, 2011 Posted August 17, 2011 I had a Jazz built by howard many years ago, gorgeous ash body and one of jims necks, birdseye maple with an ebony board, had the usual Badass/seymour duncan/schaller bits, it sounded amazing but weighed more than tank!! was recently listening to some recordings of it, just fantastic, i wonder who ended up with it Quote
FlatEric Posted August 17, 2011 Posted August 17, 2011 [quote name='EBS_freak' post='1343324' date='Aug 17 2011, 04:17 PM']Yup, I have a couple... and there's a couple residing with my friend in Wolverhampton...[/quote] Would genuinely love to see some pics of all four. Quote
hillbilly deluxe Posted August 17, 2011 Posted August 17, 2011 More of Howards creations,owned the Jazz for 10 ? years and a veteran of over 1000 gigs,Jim cairnes neck (truss rod has been tweaked once in all that time),and the Precision for about 2 years,both amazing,both exactly what i asked for. Do i get one of your prized chocolate frogs horrid ? Quote
rumour6 Posted April 10, 2013 Posted April 10, 2013 I recently picked up a Jazz5 from hillbilly deluxe: Howard body, Jim neck: best Jazz I've owned. [attachment=132170:IMAG0057.jpg] Quote
benebass Posted April 20, 2013 Author Posted April 20, 2013 [quote name='rumour6' timestamp='1365589164' post='2041366'] I recently picked up a Jazz5 from hillbilly deluxe: Howard body, Jim neck: best Jazz I've owned. [/quote] Looks lovely! Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.