Merton Posted June 6, 2019 Posted June 6, 2019 Unless you’ve been following the build thread you won’t know who Conway Instruments are. So check out this for the history: All you get here is porn (and specs): 5 string fretless, 30” scale with through body stringing Black limba core, English ash top and limba back Limba, maple and cooba set neck, pau ferro board Nordstrand MM5.4 pickup with coil tap and series/parallel switch There's more to it than that but it’s the basics. I’ll let the pictures do the talking. She’s stunning to look at, lovely to play and sounds huuuuge. 16 Quote
Merton Posted June 6, 2019 Author Posted June 6, 2019 (edited) And for comparison with my 32” ACG Finn...: Edited June 6, 2019 by Merton 2 Quote
3below Posted June 25, 2021 Posted June 25, 2021 (edited) Very tasty bass What strings / gauges are you using? I just tried capo and retuning on my G&L to simulate the 30" scale. The TI flat B string is too floppy to use for me at this scale. Edited June 25, 2021 by 3below Quote
Merton Posted June 25, 2021 Author Posted June 25, 2021 Thanks These are Newtone hex cores, 130 B string. It’s not too bad at all, good tension and tone. It wouldn’t compete with a 37” scale B but the construction of the bass helps immensely in the solidity of the B 2 Quote
LeftyJ Posted June 25, 2021 Posted June 25, 2021 That looks incredible! I especially love all the dark veneers at almost every glue joint, it really adds a touch of class to it. Beautiful bass! 1 Quote
eude Posted June 25, 2021 Posted June 25, 2021 7 hours ago, 3below said: Very tasty bass What strings / gauges are you using? I just tried capo and retuning on my G&L to simulate the 30" scale. The TI flat B string is too floppy to use for me at this scale. Most string manufacturers, including TI make sets specifically for different scale lengths. Faking 30" scale with a 34" scale set won't give very nice results as you've discovered. I have a 30.5" scale 4, which I popped some old 34" scale TI flats on, it was manageable, but I then bought a set designed for short scale basses and it was a whole world better. TI flats are very low tension and don't do too well when detuned. Sadly, TI only do their 4 string flats set in 30" scale flavour... Eude 1 Quote
eude Posted June 25, 2021 Posted June 25, 2021 6 hours ago, LeftyJ said: That looks incredible! I especially love all the dark veneers at almost every glue joint, it really adds a touch of class to it. Beautiful bass! It's even better in the flesh, I've been lucky enough to be able to give is a good spank on more than one occasion. It's a master class in, er, class 😉 Beautifully made and an equally beautiful sounding instrument. Eude 1 Quote
3below Posted June 25, 2021 Posted June 25, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, eude said: .....I have a 30.5" scale 4, which I popped some old 34" scale TI flats on, it was manageable, but I then bought a set designed for short scale basses and it was a whole world better.... I have also done this with exactly the same result. The long scale 5 set runs at 43 , 56 , 70 , 100 , 136. The short scale 4 set at .043, .056, .070, .106. The 106 E string is just so much better on my short scale basses. My thinking was if the 136 B string will work at 30" then combine that with a short scale set (accepting some of the main string wrap of the B string will go around the post - which from experience will work ok). Conclusion: If (when) I build the 30.5" 5 string bass it will not have my usual TI flats on it. Edited June 25, 2021 by 3below 1 Quote
Guest Posted June 25, 2021 Posted June 25, 2021 I think short scale strings have a totally different size core relative to the overall width. The guy from GHS was explaining it on TB the other day, I'll see if I can find the post. Quote
3below Posted June 25, 2021 Posted June 25, 2021 44 minutes ago, Ricky Rioli said: I think short scale strings have a totally different size core relative to the overall width. The guy from GHS was explaining it on TB the other day, I'll see if I can find the post. That would seem highly likely. Quote
SamIAm Posted November 6, 2023 Posted November 6, 2023 What a beauty (I saw you are bringing a 5 str fretless to the bash on Sunday and had to look see) S'manth x 1 Quote
Merton Posted November 6, 2023 Author Posted November 6, 2023 3 minutes ago, Smanth said: What a beauty (I saw you are bringing a 5 str fretless to the bash on Sunday and had to look see) S'manth x It will be there, as (possibly) will the builder himself 1 Quote
asingardenof Posted November 6, 2023 Posted November 6, 2023 3 minutes ago, Merton said: It will be there, as (possibly) will the builder himself Is this the bass you were playing at the Kieran tribute? Quote
Merton Posted November 6, 2023 Author Posted November 6, 2023 27 minutes ago, asingardenof said: Is this the bass you were playing at the Kieran tribute? It is! Quote
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