Kiwi Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 My parents dropped me an email the other day about this bloke who lives by himself in a small community in the South Island and makes acoustic and solid body guitars from NZ native timbers. I've had a dream of owning a bass made from NZ native timbers for quite a few years (and the equivalent in english timbers too). So I checked out his website here: [url="http://www.singingwood.co.nz/"]http://www.singingwood.co.nz/[/url] I guess you could say he's a bit like a NZ Carl Thompson but waaaaaaay better value and probably a bit more savvy when it comes to tonal character of timbers because of his acoustic experience. Having said that, I'm not aware that he's made any basses yet out of the 80 instruments he's made in the last 7 years but he certainly seems committed to the job and delivering a good instrument. So after a quick flurry of emails, I'm about to take a leap of faith and put a deposit down on a creation of his with the following spec: 6 string 36" scale fretless laminated neck bright sounding but resonant inspired by the Fodera Beez Elite single cut shape (but may not necessarily be a direct copy) semi hollow body All NZ native timber (agreed mostly rimu construction with a puriri fingerboard) Creative Theme : love of the NZ landscape His trademark is at least one or more inlaid leaves around the instruments he produces. The exchange rate is still reasonably strong at the moment so it seemed like a very good deal. Delivery date isn't likely before Christmas so there's plenty of time to finalise things. Luckily I accepted offered a job offfer yesterday too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platypus Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 Now that's going to make an interesting build diary... Congrats on the new job Steve P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7string Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 I've just watched the documentary that's on the website. Really interesting and thought-provoking. I look forward to watching the progress of your order!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 Interesting looking instruments. Has he made any basses before? I couldn't see anything in the gallery section... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted May 8, 2008 Author Share Posted May 8, 2008 [quote name='BigRedX' post='194911' date='May 8 2008, 06:56 PM']Interesting looking instruments. Has he made any basses before? I couldn't see anything in the gallery section...[/quote] I don't know that he's made any basses yet but he has already demonstrated an understanding of how important a hard fingerboard is for a fretless. He suggested Australian ironwood but thats obviously not a NZ native. He does have an old kowhai fence post he's saved which might do the job if the puriri isn't up to the job, or there's some black maire as well. All of these species (so far, apart from black maire) are indigenous to where I grew up in Canterbury as well. The dramatic topography of NZ means that there are often quite sudden changes between ecological communities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul, the Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 Ooh, exciting! I love the acoustics on his site. I like the homely designs, it's exactly what I needed to see after all these plastic looking basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted May 21, 2008 Author Share Posted May 21, 2008 Update, he's just glued the neck. He's selected a 7 piece laminate consisting of heart kowhai, tawhai (NZ silver beech) and kohekohe (NZ mahogany). Have to say I don't have a clue what they sound like and Ian is charting new territory as well. The kowhai is very very dense (comes from an old fence post) and the kohekohe is soft so I guess its been choosen for tone. Kowhai: [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kowhai"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kowhai[/url] Kohekohe: [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohekohe"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohekohe[/url] Tawhai: [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_beech"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_beech[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 I look forward the the first pics with some intrigue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted May 21, 2008 Author Share Posted May 21, 2008 Yes, me too. He says he'll be sending some over soon. The neck will be left to settle for quite a few months and then replaned so hopefully its going to be reasonably stable. I suspect the fingerboard will be super dense puriri but we'll see. I'm really looking forward to seeing what the body shape will look like when he gets around to doing that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoop Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 This is going to be a fascinating thread, seems like you're getting both a unique and lovingly crafted instrument. I watched the documentary. I like people like him. They have passion for their work which is fuelled by a spiritual fulfillement rather than an obsession with filthy lucre. Can't wait to see how this turns out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7string Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 [quote name='Crazykiwi' post='203529' date='May 21 2008, 09:51 AM']I'm really looking forward to seeing what the body shape will look like when he gets around to doing that.[/quote] Yeah. It's going to be great to see what he comes up with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted July 28, 2008 Author Share Posted July 28, 2008 Well this is a bit interesting. We were discussing body shapes this week and he sent me a picture of the 4 string he had been making for someone else. The lines were a bit awkward looking and so I tried to offer some delicate constructive feedback in comparison to what I was hoping for with examples from other manufacturers (Shuker, Thompson and Fodera). With the result that the guy lost his bottle and has backed out completely from the project! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcgraham Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 Ah. That is unfortunate. Sorry about that. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peted Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 He's obviously building these instruments for himself and not his customers. That is a real shame as the thread sounded interesting and very different to the normal builds you get on here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted July 28, 2008 Author Share Posted July 28, 2008 Yeah, i suspect he just lost confidence. I just replied saying 'its up to you mate'. In some respects it appears I've set him a challenge if he's not totally comfortable with the aesthetic side of things. I'll post the photos of his 4 string up here later. Feel welcome to tell me if you think my expectations were too high! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted July 29, 2008 Author Share Posted July 29, 2008 Here are some of the photos he sent. [attachment=11364:electricbass1.jpg][attachment=11365:electricbass4.jpg] [attachment=11366:electricbass5.jpg][attachment=11367:electricbass6.jpg] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcgraham Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 I can see what you mean by 'awkward lines'. 'Deformed' would be my blunt description. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedontcarebear Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 That is very ugly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 That is pretty ugly... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted July 29, 2008 Author Share Posted July 29, 2008 ok, so its not just me then? I found a bit worrying the lines on the headstock which aren't completely straight. They sort of wobble a little. The ironic thing is that his acoustic guitars look beautiful. I guess he's just not set up for sculpting solid bodies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 Yup, ugly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassjamm Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 That's a shame mate...although to be honest with you, if he wasn't cool with or 100% comfortable with the build, you'd be best off just leaving it. The bass in those pics is pretty foul though! lol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 [quote name='Crazykiwi' post='250194' date='Jul 29 2008, 09:23 AM']ok, so its not just me then? I found a bit worrying the lines on the headstock which aren't completely straight. They sort of wobble a little. The ironic thing is that his acoustic guitars look beautiful. I guess he's just not set up for sculpting solid bodies.[/quote] On the plus side dude, you've probably saved yourself a fair whack of cash. Is it not possible to get New Zealand sourced woods shipped to one of the more reputable builders over here in the UK? Eude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted July 29, 2008 Author Share Posted July 29, 2008 [quote name='eude' post='250237' date='Jul 29 2008, 10:12 AM']On the plus side dude, you've probably saved yourself a fair whack of cash. Is it not possible to get New Zealand sourced woods shipped to one of the more reputable builders over here in the UK? Eude[/quote] It definitely is, the only problem is actually finding the stuff. NZ woods are generally protected and subject to logging quotas. Some of it like rimu and swamp kauri is pretty easy to find but other stuff like a nice lump of quilted red beech is pretty difficult unless you know someone who has a log they're cutting up. Yet I have friends with a kitchen floor made out of slats of gorgeous quilted red beech! A lot of stuff is often just acquired opportunistically over a long period of time and stock piled. I think thats what Ian has been doing. Having said all that, my parents often need something to keep them occupied so I guess I could get my dad to do a bit of detective work... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassjamm Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 Lol...get him to send some pics of that... Detective Kiwi, the mission, to go under cover and spy out the ancient woods of the Island!!! Hang on, lets get BBC involved...thated go down well on the box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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