NEW BASS DAY…something different

[Km1110]

Hello all. Let me start by saying this is the culmination of me looking for “my 8 string”. I’ve had 8 strings from Dean, ESP, and Schecter (schecter being the absolute nicest). It’s always ended up being a novelty to me and I’d always sell them only to have a hankering later on for another. So I figured I’d make one that no matter what I’d never sell. What you see started life as a factory fretless pilot. After an experiment of trying the fretless neck on my mahogany bodied pilot pro 4 (it’s magic) this body was floating around for a few years without a neck. I discovered that it was a flame maple body that someone (or the factory?) had painted black. After stripping I couldn’t have been happier with what was underneath. I then contacted Steve McDonald Basses of Charles Town, WV to build the neck for me. It was important for me to keep the neck pocket unmodified in the event I’d want to convert back for whatever reason in the future so Steve built a 5 string width neck that fits in the 4 string pocket out of flame maple to go with the body. I was originally going to finish and assemble the bass myself but Steve made me an offer I couldn’t refuse and said send me the rest of the parts and I’ll finish her up. Annnnd here she is. Bartolini pickups and preamp, Hipshot tuners, ABM bridge. I absolutely couldn’t be happier. Anyone looking for a custom built bass do not hesitate to contact Steve. He does incredible work and unbelievably fair prices. Thank you for checking it out!!!

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Very cool!

 

[fronobulax]

Nice.

 

[Nuuska]

I suspect there is someone in Denmark who will take a VERY hard look on this beauty.

 

[GGJaguar]

So cool! I've only played a Hagstrom 8-string bass. Very unique.

 

[fronobulax]

So cool! I've only played a Hagstrom 8-string bass. Very unique.

I've held Hamer 8 and 12 string basses but it is a misuse of the word "play" to describe the interaction. I expect if I had ever used a pick and tried using one with them, it might have been a different experience.

 

[GGJaguar]

I expect if I had ever used a pick and tried using one with them, it might have been a different experience.

Yes, I used a pick with the Hagstrom. I don't think I could have played it fingerstyle.

 

[EWH]

 

[Km1110]

Wauw - unglaublich...

Your Pilot is utterly amazing and unique - it's absolutely farking genius and I salute both you and Steve...

I will have to say that the headstock optics are not to my tastes but, it's only a cosmetic detail and it's only the opinion of a biased, unflexible pointy headstock/pointy bass fanatic... And I miss the neckplate, too...

If this body was black from the factory, it's either because the color was hiding a flaw in the wood such as a knot, poor figuring, usw., or because it was just handy when they needed to fill a black body quota - B.C. Rich would do the exact same thing in their heyday, even covering up full-on solid hawaiian koa wood bodies with colors or trans/burst finishes...Ask me, I know... And I think only a drug-addled heavy metal bassist would dare to paint over such flame (yes, Mustaine, you KNOW I'm referring to you and your Bich)...However, you can usually tell which if the black was 2-part poly or rattle-can special...

Making a 5-string neck to fit a 4-string pocket is also sheer brilliance...!

Anyway, if you ever decide to sell this bass, I'd appreciate a spot on the short list...

Thank You SO much for sharing, @Km1110 - as well as for the inspiration...Please DO share many more fotos showing more details frontvand back of headstock, nut and bridge...

Have a great weekend...

It was definitely a factory or a professional refinish. It was too thick and clean to be an amateur job. As far as the headstock, that’s the style Steve uses on his customs. I told him go for it…I’m ok with it. I’ll post some pics of the build here later

 

[EWH]

 

[mgod]

Curious. I've had a Hagstrom for 52 years, but can't imagine using it in place of an actual bass. It's a curioisty. The most interesting thing about it was when I got my first Starfire put it in an alternate tuning, if I recall the pairs were 6-6-5-6. Or 6-5-6-6 depending on which way you count.