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Eastwood Custom Basschat Edition Bass?

NancyJohnson

By NancyJohnson,
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Should we try and get Eastwood Custom to make a Basschat edition bass?  

48 members have voted

  1. 1. Eastwood Custom Basschat Edition Bass?


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bigsmokebass Proficient

bigsmokebass

Posted
Posted

I'll admit, the only thing that put me off buying an Eastwood is scale length. Most being 30/32" and I'm more of a 34/35" solid body scale player. 

I've always admired Eastwood for their quirky looking instruments but construction and quality of instruments has always been a priority. Hoping with an input, should we get enough collaboration, to design something fitting for all of us 😁

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NancyJohnson Grand Master

NancyJohnson

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30 minutes ago, stewblack said:

It's a fascinating concept. I'm interested but my goodness, can more than one Basschatter really agree on a single design? 

I think it'll be a case of whittling down the specifications once we get enough people.

I suppose as I proposed this, I'll try and drive it forward as far as I can.  We're all different and we all have differences in opinion and taste, but bear in mind that if there's enough potential with #1, we could do this more than once.

The one thing that I've already noticed is that there's love for Serek basses and short scales; like I said initially it's not about copying what's out there, it's more like trying to do something different or raise an long extinct bass (or guitar design) and working with Eastwood to put a twist on it.  It may sound brutal, but this isn't about producing a budget version of a Serek; just save up and buy one. 

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borntohang Rising Star

borntohang

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Been working with Eastwood this last summer and they're nice guys - enjoyed the instruments I've got chance to play so far. I've been bending their ear about a hardtail Map Bass with "32 scale finished in the nifty metallic green colour they're doing the Airline 59's in, but they're not biting just yet...

I think your major limitation is going to be agreeing on a spec without even a broad design proposal. Pretty sure you'd get more people if you brought forward a general design from the start and then ran a poll to work out the little details?

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Bassassin Grand Master

Bassassin

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3 hours ago, NancyJohnson said:

The one thing that I've already noticed is that there's love for Serek basses and short scales; like I said initially it's not about copying what's out there, it's more like trying to do something different or raise an long extinct bass (or guitar design) and working with Eastwood to put a twist on it.  It may sound brutal, but this isn't about producing a budget version of a Serek; just save up and buy one. 

I don't think anyone's suggesting a "Serek copy". Simply the concept of an attractive, contemporary-looking shortscale (of which the Serek is an example) appears to be a popular one. However since Eastwood specialise in  knocking off  - sorry, deriving inspiration from - unusual, out-of-production designs, how about something like the Fenix SH from the 90s?

I am getting the impression though that you already have a personal preconception of what you'd like the bass to be & perhaps a contemporary shortscale isn't it. Fair enough - anyone else here a fan of the Maton Ibis? Australian-made bass from the 60s, I first encountered these about 20 years ago when I met an ex-pat Aussie bassist in a rehearsal room, he had a gorgeous, immculate white Ibis, which I guess from his age he'd had from new. I was particularly taken by the aesthetic & he was keen to tell me all about it. Wouldn't let me play it though - and certainly wouldn't let me buy it!

So if it has to be a re-hash of an oldie - I want one of these:

matonibisbass1.jpg

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Wolverinebass Experienced

Wolverinebass

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6 minutes ago, Bassassin said:

However since Eastwood specialise in  knocking off  - sorry, deriving inspiration from - unusual, out-of-production designs, how about something like the Fenix SH from the 90s?

Funnily enough, one of them (white with a less insane bottom horn) was my first bass which I still have. It's brilliant.

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Chownybass Rising Star

Chownybass

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Building a bass isn't as simple as deciding on a spec. Sending it off to a manufacturer and immediately getting 12 basses back. If only it was. Dealing with the factories isn't easy.

We manufacture in fairly small numbers - but even we have minimum commitments in order to deal with the factory. And they're way more than 12.

To make a bass the process goes something like this : 

  • Draw on the back of a piece of scrap paper something like what you want
  • Turn it into a proper drawing
  • Finding out the specifications and dimensions of the parts and then modifying the drawing again. There's maths. Maths is involved.
  • Finding the parts. Again a problem with scale here - depending who your parts supplier is - parts minimum quantities can be very high.
  • Choosing and sourcing wood (or picking something your factory has ready access to)
  • Get samples made. VERY RARELY are they right off the bat. And as the one commissioning the design you pay (sometimes at a premium) for each sample.
  • We've never got the product right first time with the factory. Generally 2-5 prototypes are made.
  • Once all that's done you have got to get the product made.
  • Then shipped (unless you're happy to pay courier prices)
  • It's expensive and time consuming. It takes us generally 12 months at least to bring something to market. I doubt it's any different for Eastwood.

Now. None of this is to say it isn't possible. Just thought I'd offer some insight. You could certainly do it easier if you used an existing body (P-Bass/Jazz Bass) and neck. But then... what's the point? Why not just buy a cheap P-Bass and modify it yourself? 

If anybody has any questions about what making stuff is like... my door is always open. If anybody has a desire to start manufacturing basses en mass... my door is always open (it only benefits us to put work in the direction of our factories)

Laters!

Edited by Chownybass
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Low End Bee Proficient

Low End Bee

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I've got an Eastwood Stormbird/non reverse Thunderbird thing. Very giggable. Lovely blue metallic finish. 

I think you're better off going for something that looks cool and retro but can stand using generic parts off the shelf.

I'd go for something like a Ned Callan Cody myself. Can't find a better pic than this. £155.00 would be good too.

scan-080314-0078.jpg

 

 

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Bassassin Grand Master

Bassassin

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31 minutes ago, Low End Bee said:

I've got an Eastwood Stormbird/non reverse Thunderbird thing. Very giggable. Lovely blue metallic finish. 

I think you're better off going for something that looks cool and retro but can stand using generic parts off the shelf.

I'd go for something like a Ned Callan Cody myself. Can't find a better pic than this. £155.00 would be good too.

scan-080314-0078.jpg

 

 

There's a thought - a shortscale Nobbly Ned. Would have to be shortscale to counteract the stumpy top horn. Or headless, which is not a bad idea considering how little flair was displayed by Mr Cook's original headstock. Actually the more I think about that, the more I like it - the Basschat Headless Ned... :ph34r:

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