GW Custom Basses and Lutherie - Grandon Westlund, The Bass Kahuna

Full Custom 6 String for Russ Hodges

This is Russ' 2nd bass of his own design, the first was a fretless 4 string

Neck:

7 piece; Flamed maple outers, macassar ebony center, two bloodwood stringers, then two macassar ebony stringers

34" scale stabilized birdseye maple fingerboard, fretted

Thin accent layer of zebrawood under fingerboard

Blue dyed maple burl block inlays to match topset, standard side dots

Swamp ash headstock

Blue dyed maple burl headstock overlay to match body

Thin accent layer of zebrawood under headstock overlay

Thin birdseye maple overlay on back of headstock

Body:

Swamp Ash body wings and back

Semi-Hollow body with resonant chambers routed for more acoustic "woody" tone and light weight

Blue Dyed Maple Burl top, top covers entire top (neck does NOT show through)

Thin accent layer of zebrawood between top and body wings

Neck set lower in body so just the fingerboard and accent layer underneath it are above the top of the body (bridge will have to be recessed)

Custom designed control cavity with battery compartments to eliminate need for a plastic pop-out battery box

Hardware and Electronics:

Chrome Hipshot ultralight tuners

Chrome Hipshot Model A bridge in aluminum

Two Custom Wound Kent Armstrong "Russ Hodges Specials" Pickups

Custom Stabilized Birdseye Maple ramp, routed in back to accept both pickups

Mike Pope 3 band preamp

Gator ATA Rated GPE-Bass Hardcase

Status and Updates

This is the second bass I've built for Russ of his own design, the first being a 4 string fretless. I just love the blue dyed maple burl top with the birdseye maple fingerboard and accents. This baby just POPS!

(click on image to view larger version)


Completed neck blank	Center rear of swamp ash glued and clamped	Neck with headstock, all acent layers, fingerboard and truss rod		Body wings on, routing hollowed resonant chambers
Beautiful blue dyed maple burl top	Headstock roughed out	Block inlays for fingerboard hand cut from left over burl topset	Pickup cavities routed in roughed out ramp	Pickup ramp radiused to match fingerboard
Roughing in edges and mounting holes	Pickup ramp completed and polished, off to Kent Armstong to build custom wound pickpus into it		Hand cutting in the block inlays
	Headstock logo epoxied in as well
Starting the final finishing process!	The blue dyed maple burl topset really just pops with the birdseye accents!

27 August - This beauty is all built up and shipped out to Russ!

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