Product: Frankinstein Guitar Works Lake Placid Blue - J Style Bass
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted
05/19/2008
at
06:01pm
by
Patrick
Features
:
10
This was my first Frankinstein Guitar Works custom built four string bass made in January 2008. Body consists of a one-piece Spanish Cedar back and a Maple cap (overall weight just under 9 pounds which the same for a medium weight Jazz Bass) with a thin nitrocellulose finish, a rear tummy cut, a set USA Custom Guitars J-Style neck with a 1" C shape neck - plain maple with a dark rosewood fretboads with medium frets and real clay dot markers. We decided to experiment and went with a single Q-Tuner Neodydium magnet based humbucker and a non-traditional tonewood for the body back and it worked out wonderfully.
Sound
:
10
The Q-Tuner Neodydium magnet based humbucker is awesome! It really lets to growl of the Spanish Cedar (and is a little bit smoother than Mahogany) and the brightness of the Maple shine through. This is a great combination of woods and I was lucky that Seppo had some nice one-piece blanks to work with. The pickup is very transparent and I can get a wide range of tones based on changing picking styles/position. Double stops and chords retain definition and eschew mud! Harmonics leap out with ease and just ring.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
Lake Placid Blue topped with satin nitrocellulose and carnauba wax just like my other Frankinstein Guitar Works projects - great thin finish that allows the wood to resonate and has a great feel. Seppo's great set neck heel carve allows easy access up to the the 21st fret. Tight build tolerances as with all Frankinstein Guitar Works pieces I have tried. Action was initially a little high for my tastes but we adjusted it to taste and this is a wonderfully easy bass to play!
Reliability/Durability
:
10
Extremely well built and should last a very long time.
Customer Support
:
10
Seppo and I both enjoyed experimenting with this one even though we toyed with a couple of pickup locations until I had the sound I wanted and I was 100% happy. Seppo was a great help in choosing the wood and opening my eyes to some of the non-traditional tonewoods that are out there that are simple amazing.
Overall Rating
:
10
Simply put Seppo builds exceptional, custom basses and guitars. These are Master-built Custom shop quality but with the personal interaction and support you cannot get with the big guys.
