CB Basses Performance 5

The CB Basses Performance 5 was, up until recently, manufactured by luthier Cliff Bordwell in his Orlando, FL shop. This particular instrument was the last produced in this style; the line has been discontinued as Cliff pursues other bass building projects. The Perfomance series was intended to be the CB "economy" model but I found the features and playability to surpass those of other custom "boutique" basses. I'm sure a used P5 may surface on rare occasion but if you're looking for a new one, you're s*** out of luck! I got the last one.

The Performance 5 (P5) features a double cutaway alder body with a nicely figured walnut cap; the headstock sports a similar walnut veneer. The lower cutaway provides effortless access to the 24 fret. The lower bout is carved in what can be best described as a "pseudo-Omega" shape (with apologies to Alembic). The body and neck sport a satin finish. Cliff uses top-notch hardware including Dunlop straplocks and Hipshot bridges and tuners. Hipshot tuners are actually an upgrade at an additional cost of $10 per unit. This bass is passive and utilizes Delano J (neck) and MM (bridge) pickups. the control layout consists of volume / volume / J mid roll-off / MM treble roll-off. The J pickup provides a nice well-balanced tone without being muddy or thumpy. The mid roll-off allows some modest tonal variation but be careful...too much midrange cut strangles the character. The Delano MM is equipped with a 3 way selector switch (single, parallel, series...something like that) which provides 3 distinct tones, all useful when balanced with the J pickup. The MM pickup, when soloed, produces a punchy overdriven tone. I found that using a J / MM mix of 50/50 or so works best in my CW / classics band. The configuration is extremely effective; I see no need for the addition of active circuitry.

The 35" scale "modern" neck uses two very attractive pieces of maple with a wide center laminate of wenge. The fingerboard is a tightly grained Bubinga with a slightly pink cast. The fingerboard is flat and the 24 frets are dressed well. The frets are a bit narrower than what I've used in the past; I'm not sure what fretwire Cliff uses. The tilt-back headstock (16-18 deg.?) provides a clean break over the stabilized ebony nut. The truss rod is accessible at the heel and requires a 3 mm allen wrench. The headstock itself defies description..but I'll try anyway. The shape can best be described as "hydrocephalic Gumby". The perceived size can be daunting but in no way contributes to the total weight nor does it affect balance. The P5 weighs in at approx. 8.5 lbs. and balances perfectly while sitting or on a strap. The P5 came with a high quality gigbag and all associated hardware (allen wrenches, strapends, etc).

I've used the P5 once in a practice setting and plan on using it for our next live venue. My practice rig consists of a Yorkville 2 X 10 combo; my live rig contains an RBI, Crest CA-6, and Acme B-4. I'll reserve these opinions for a later date.

The workmanship is flawless. The truss rod required a slight adjustment but that's to be expected. I'm normally quick to find defects and /or design quirks but, so far, I've found none. Pickup height / balance was acceptable although I find this will need to be changed in response to my playing style (hack) and string type (whatever's on sale at GC).

The P5 is built solidly and should withstand the wear 'n tear of normal playing. All the hardware is firmly secured and adjusted correctly. As far the finish goes, time will tell. A thick coat of polyurethane on this bass would have been criminal; I'm willing to live with a few nicks, blems, and abrasions. As reliable as the P5 appears, I never venture out without a back-up.

I dealt directly with Cliff Bordwell while ordering my P5. I had actually contacted him for product information as I was looking to purchase a used P5 online. Cliff had one left and gave me an incredible deal. Cliff includes a lifetime warranty on his entire line of basses. I've just learned that Cliff will now be building JP Basses (France) in his Orlando shop.

This is my 5th (and hopefully last) 5 banger. I also use a Status Stealth 5, David King headless 5, Modulus Genesis 5, and a Peavey Cirrus 5. If you're considering a well-built custom bass, I strongly encourage you to visit his website: www.cbbasses.com. Cliff is a joy to work with and I look forward to acquiring another CB or JP bass in the not-too-distant future.