NancyJohnson Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 Lads and lasses With the prices of vintage basses going through the ceiling (along with custom-shop distressed models), I was wondering on this warm summer evening, whether anyone had had any experience of Bravewood Guitars in the the west country. This guy builds, restores (and used to relic) with a passion. Web searches seem to indicate this guy can build you a fantastic bass and make it look as though it's been dragged [i]behind [/i]the van for the last forty years to boot. I've been following the website progress ([url="http://www.bravewoodguitars.co.uk"]Bravewood[/url]) for a few years and feel that I'm teetering on the brink of going this route to get a vintage looking (and sounding) bass. The website is worth a look on it's own...there's some real eye candy on it. Meanwhile, in the real world, my '79 Precision hardly has a ding on it. The finish is apparently bombproof. Anyone? P x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul, the Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 (edited) I melt whenever I look on that site. His website deserves its own thread whether people are for or against replicas. I'm finding it very difficult not to post millions of pictures from the site. Edited August 3, 2007 by paul, the Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acidbass Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 AFAIK the guy has stopped making guitars and basses as custom orders. He just makes them now as a hobby and sells them when he's done. Luke Ward has one I believe, a Precision Bass, you can spy him on the Bravewood site with it if you look hard enough! I'd love one too myself, but sadly when I got in contact with them I was given the bad news! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 The "relic-ing" makes me ill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul, the Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 [quote name='acidbass' post='41068' date='Aug 3 2007, 08:37 PM']AFAIK the guy has stopped making guitars and basses as custom orders. He just makes them now as a hobby and sells them when he's done. Luke Ward has one I believe, a Precision Bass, you can spy him on the Bravewood site with it if you look hard enough! I'd love one too myself, but sadly when I got in contact with them I was given the bad news![/quote] He ought to start franchises. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-soar Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 So the guy is not a custom maker, as he no longer takes orders. Being a lefty, the chances of ever owning one of these beauties is very slim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 I like his "aged" 50's p/telebass, but I think he overdid the ageing thing, unless it's really meant to look as though it's done a few rounds with an industrial sander! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
douggy Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 i know this is a bit off topic but i was speaking to the fender custom shop rep and he was saying that the actual relicing is only a few processes and not insanely hard to do , but nuggets to get to look right , apparently , fine grade sandpaper , uv lights , wire wool and the outside are the main tools but he wouldent go into detail. the brave woods are awsome , id love for my 05 jazz to look like one of them in 10 years time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 I've emailed John many times recently to ask if he has any plans to build a 60's Jazz he always gets back to me...... but he never seems to have anything on the go........ I've asked him a couple of times to build something in his own time..... no hurry & no hassle..... sort of name your price !! he politely refuses, it's a real shame as his work looks outstanding ! Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted August 4, 2007 Author Share Posted August 4, 2007 I hadn't realised he wasn't taking orders any more. There's a very good chance that I will be mortgage free by years' end and while as a stop-gap I was thinking about a Geddy Lee signature [i]and[/i] a Mark Hoppus model for the interim, I will for probably the first time in my life have sufficient enough swag to start throwing at basses. I've been getting a Bravewood horn for some years. Arse! I certainly do not want to pay £1,200+ to Bill Nash for something he's just bought from Allparts. Shame. P x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alun Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 [quote name='neepheid' post='41075' date='Aug 3 2007, 08:45 PM']The "relic-ing" makes me ill [/quote] I must admit, I'm with you on that one. I don't really get it, it's a bit like buying a brand new car with a big dent in the wing. Each to their own, but it's not for me. Cheers, Alun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted August 4, 2007 Author Share Posted August 4, 2007 (edited) [quote name='Alun' post='41265' date='Aug 4 2007, 02:11 PM']I must admit, I'm with you on that one. I don't really get it, it's a bit like buying a brand new car with a big dent in the wing. Each to their own, but it's not for me. Cheers, Alun[/quote] Some years ago (early 80s) I was watching a music show on TV with my parents, when the camera focused on a bass player doing his stuff - I distinctly remember it was a sunburst Jazz and it was in horrific condition. Horrific. I remember my late father saying 'Why doesn't he just buy a new one?', but to me the guy was playing an instrument that looked as though it had a hundred thousand miles on the clock and it was love at first sight. Why do people love beat up basses (and guitars)? Why do people love reissued models? I guess because they give you the opportunity to buy into something that alludes to being something else at a fraction of the cost. We all agree that the older (and maybe more beat up) these basses get, the more desirable they become to some people (me), but this is nothing like owning a car covered in dings...it is to a degree trying to grab the allusion that you are buying into some kind of history and <shudder> MOJO. Sure if I had £10K to throw at a '62 Jazz without worrying, then perhaps I would, but I don't have that kind of swag, so maybe I'll take the next best route. From another perspective, I don't buy into the basses-that-look-like-furniture thing either. I'm sure that all the dudes and dudettes here who own Shukers, Sei and ACGs, love their basses but I think they have the personality of a dining room table. Sorry. </gets off soapbox> P Edited August 4, 2007 by NancyJohnson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 I think Jaco has a bit to answer for !! I've done the coffee table thing, and now I want a bass that's lived and been played as an instrument should...... one that's perhaps earned thousands of for it's owner, travelled hundreds of thousands of miles and played a million notes !! It's a romance thing to some extent..... but also old basses, old wood...... TONE !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alun Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 I agree that old beat up instruments can look great and there is definitely something about playing an instrument that's been around, both tonally and romantically, but those are genuinely used. My Washburn is decidely battered - had a few dings when I bought it second hand and then got toured around for 10 years, and now does look a bit "relic"-y, but all that damage is real. I just don't get the appeal of something so artificial, to me it's a lot more "illusion" than "allusion", but like I said each to their own - whether it's relics, coffee tables or sparkly painted pointy headstocks. Cheers. Alun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdy Posted August 5, 2007 Share Posted August 5, 2007 This one [url="http://www.bravewoodguitars.co.uk/BlondeJtype60.html"]http://www.bravewoodguitars.co.uk/BlondeJtype60.html[/url] is mine. I think I got the last custom order from John. It's a nice bass and I went for no reliccing as I prefer to do that myself by playing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwbassman Posted August 5, 2007 Share Posted August 5, 2007 I must admit the relicing thing doesn't really do it for me either - I understand and appreciate the appeal of a genuine used instrument, complete with history and all, and why such things cost so much... I own a [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?act=findpost&hl=&pid=2604"]Overwater Fretless 5[/url] - does that make me a coffee tabler? It's been my main bass for the past 4 years and whilst I want it too look good it is definitely for the playing, this is no piece of furniture... I've noticed a distinct change in my basses colouring over the past few months, the maple in the neck and the ash top have started to take on a much warmer hue... Basses are for playing and sounding great, but there's no reason they shouldn't look good too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted August 5, 2007 Share Posted August 5, 2007 A lot of that body relic'ing is awful... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnolia Posted August 5, 2007 Share Posted August 5, 2007 [url="http://www.bravewoodguitars.co.uk/Stackknob1960.html"]This[/url] is serious porn to me. Shame he doesnt do them anymore. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted August 6, 2007 Author Share Posted August 6, 2007 [quote name='Magnolia' post='41738' date='Aug 5 2007, 11:45 PM'][url="http://www.bravewoodguitars.co.uk/Stackknob1960.html"]This[/url] is serious porn to me. Shame he doesnt do them anymore. Nick[/quote] That is a beautiful looking bass...been looking at something like that for some time. If you've got the old Tony Bacon Bass Book, there's something very similiar (and original) within its pages. P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdy Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 [quote name='NancyJohnson' post='41790' date='Aug 6 2007, 08:20 AM']That is a beautiful looking bass...been looking at something like that for some time. If you've got the old Tony Bacon Bass Book, there's something very similiar (and original) within its pages. P[/quote] I originally asked John to build me that exact bass but as we went on I decided to have no relicing. Mine is the same as that but in as new condition. If you can get to North Birmingham you are welcome to try it out. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul, the Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 I'd love to get a thin nitro finish on my P-special. Anyone know anyone who does it? paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99ster Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 [quote name='wateroftyne' post='41717' date='Aug 5 2007, 10:16 PM']A lot of that body relic'ing is awful...[/quote] I'm afraid I can only agree with you about that... I really like some of the stuff he does (his restorations are great) - but his 'relic'ing' of the bodies in particular is a complete disaster. Old guitars just do NOT look like that! That looks nothing like genuine playing/handling wear. It just looks daft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beerdragon Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 As an aside, i like this bit The original sunburst finish was stripped in 1976, he was working in a band with a lead guitarist who had a black guitar, this guitarist insisted that the other guitar player and bass player should have white guitars to contrast against his, hence the sunburst coming off and the white going on... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broken Hero Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 [quote name='paul, the' post='42031' date='Aug 6 2007, 03:23 PM']I'd love to get a thin nitro finish on my P-special. Anyone know anyone who does it? paul.[/quote] [url="http://www.manchesterguitartech.co.uk/lacquer.html"]http://www.manchesterguitartech.co.uk/lacquer.html[/url] I don't know anything of them but maybe they'll be of use. Is it a sunburst cos that's a bit more important to get done well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99ster Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 [quote name='paul, the' post='42031' date='Aug 6 2007, 03:23 PM']I'd love to get a thin nitro finish on my P-special. Anyone know anyone who does it? paul.[/quote] Paul - talk to [url="http://www.andyviccarscustom.co.uk/"]Andy Viccars[/url] he did a fantastic job of putting a thin nitro finish on my 1960 Jazz... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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