The Gary Willis Tone

February 2nd, 2010

Okay, this was unexpected but I thought I’d share it anyway. I think I may have just “nailed” the signature fretless tone that bassist Gary Willis has used (both on Tribal Tech albums and his own solo work) with a bass of my own. However, my bass (aside from being fretless) is just about completely unlike his. Read the rest of this entry »

Indecision

January 26th, 2010

It isn’t easy for me to admit being indecisive about these things, but here it is.  Let’s rip off the scab. Read the rest of this entry »

Re-inventing an original

January 21st, 2010

Here’s an interesting thought experiment for you.  If Leo Fender were alive today, and he were going to re-invent the Precision bass, what would it be? Read the rest of this entry »

Two new Geckos; the “master plan”

January 19th, 2010

Two new Gecko basses are in progress.  Pictures are posted at the usual forums. Read the rest of this entry »

Paradox solved; a new combination

December 21st, 2009

Please refer to my earlier post regarding a paradox which was seemingly created by swapping necks and bodies of two (or more) bolt-on basses.  I’ve since realized that this isn’t really a paradox after all.  After all, I’m not really “destroying” a bass by swapping necks with another bass.  I’m only creating new arrangements (or restoring previous ones) and it’s the arrangements that need to be identified. Read the rest of this entry »

Canary (part 2)

December 18th, 2009

OK, one all-Canary Gecko 5-string fretless neck has been ordered.  Yay!

Canary

December 13th, 2009

Possibly my favorite exotic wood for Gecko bass necks is Canary.  Yesterday I learned that Warmoth has some Canary neck blanks available, which can be made into Gecko necks.  They also told me that they have a few dense pieces of Canary in stock, which would be suitable for a fretless fingerboard.  This is probably NOT what I needed to learn.  Oh, sweet temptation!  I need one more neck, I really do.

Gecko “turbo pickup” Black Korina body arrived; general status update

December 10th, 2009

Yep, it’s finally here!  Actually it got here about a week ago, but I’ve been busy with Other Stuff ™ and haven’t had the chance to post about it yet.  Please forgive the lapse.  Anyway, pictures are here at the forums (again!).

Read the rest of this entry »

Delano SBC “Driver” pickups

December 1st, 2009

At long last, Delano finally offers a pickup in the new “standard” P2 shape for 5-string bass guitars.  I received a pair of these yesterday, and my initial impression is VERY good.  In a word, wow. Read the rest of this entry »

New fretless Gecko 5 neck in Bubinga; Gecko body

November 28th, 2009

It’s gorgeous.  Pictures can be found here, at the forums (as usual).

My “turbo pickup” Gecko body is on order.  I’ll post an update when it arrives.