Nick smith Signiture Bass

[Grainger guitars]

Around October last year our friend Nick Smith came to see us about having another bass made but to his design of shape which he called the “Midas”

We lost Nick in January in a tragic accident before we got past the design stage of his new bass.  However he had selected all of the woods and we’d gone through the detail on the spec that he wanted.

Following Nicks funeral at the end of February Gav and I felt it was only right that we finish Nicks bass, and after seeking approval from Nicks family we decided that it would be fitting that once complete we would hold a raffle or auction with all proceeds going to a charity close to Nick and his families hearts.

Over the last few weeks we’ve been progressing through the manufacture of Midas number 1.   And over the next week or so we’ll share the photos and videos of its progress so far.  This video shows the design of the bass, technical specs follow “Greenie” the Kratos he had from us a few years back which had become Nicks main gigging bass for Genesis Connected.  

It features a one piece ribbon sapele body with a beautiful book matched flame maple top, flamed maple one piece neck with ebony fret board, Aguilar HJ pickup and 18v preamp, led fret board side dots, Grainger bridge, hipshot tuners and Evo Gold frets!

Once the details of the charity raffle are tied down we’ll post on how it’ll all work, but we should have Nicks Midas done within the next 6 weeks!

Stay tuned for more updates!

[TrevorR]

What a great idea and a fitting tribute! ❤️  RIP Nick.

[Mike Brooks]

Top work, lads!

[Grainger guitars]

Here’s the first installment of the making of the Nick Smith Midas, these photos cover the making of the body from raw planks of wood to finish machined body.

Nick picked a stunning flamed maple for the top which has stained insanely well (you’ll see that in a separate video…)

  Let us know what you think 😁

Edited Monday at 17:04 by Grainger guitars

[Grainger guitars]

[Killerfridge]

The carving on that bass is stunning

[TrevorR]

Absolutely beautiful!

[Grainger guitars]

3 hours ago, Killerfridge said:

The carving on that bass is stunning

Thank you 

[Grainger guitars]

2 hours ago, TrevorR said:

Absolutely beautiful!

Thanks

[Owen]

Fair play, that is pretty lush. 

[Geek99]

What sort of money would it cost to make one of those ? With less exotic hardware 

Edited Monday at 21:33 by Geek99

[Grainger guitars]

21 minutes ago, Geek99 said:

What sort of money would it cost to make one of those ? With less exotic hardware 

A very rough ball park would be £2000-£2500 depending on spec

[Geek99]

6 hours ago, Grainger guitars said:

A very rough ball park would be £2000-£2500 depending on spec

Thanks but way out of my league (just like the instrument is)

[Burns-bass]

Stunning work and a wonderful gesture.

[police squad]

Absolutely stunning

Nice one guys

I'll be buying several tickets

[SICbass]

An excellent tribute to Nick. Well done.

[Matt P]

I'm loving this, the design is superb, the craftsmanship looks top notch and the motivation to keep going is admirable.

 

I'm not sure I'd ever be in the position to commission an instrument of this level so my only chance would be a raffle ticket (or a few).

 

looking forward to seeing this progress.

 

Matt

[Grainger guitars]

6 hours ago, Burns-bass said:

Stunning work and a wonderful gesture.

Thank you

[Grainger guitars]

1 hour ago, Matt P said:

I'm loving this, the design is superb, the craftsmanship looks top notch and the motivation to keep going is admirable.

 

I'm not sure I'd ever be in the position to commission an instrument of this level so my only chance would be a raffle ticket (or a few).

 

looking forward to seeing this progress.

 

Matt

Thanks Matt…..someone has to win it!

[Grainger guitars]

2 hours ago, SICbass said:

An excellent tribute to Nick. Well done.

Thank you 

[Grainger guitars]

3 hours ago, police squad said:

Absolutely stunning

Nice one guys

I'll be buying several tickets

Thanks 😊 

[pete.young]

Beautiful work. Looking forward to the next installment.

[Grooverjr]

Woof! That's all types of wonderful. Hopefully it will raise plenty of cash.

[Grainger guitars]

NS Midas….neck manufacture.  Nick picked a beautiful piece of curly/flamed maple.  We missed taking photos of the fretboard side which was the first operation, truss rod and carbon fibre slots and fret board location holes were machined on the front side, the carbon fibre rods glued in and the face skimmed to ensure it was flat.

 

These photos show the second operation, the neck is located on the fretboard pin holes from the first operation, machined to thickness, holes drilled for the brass threaded inserts, profile cut, tuner holes machined and then the carve was completed.  Machining time on the second side is around 40 minutes.

 

Once the fret board is made the front of the head and fretboard will be contoured to thickness together before being glued

Edited 10 hours ago by Grainger guitars