This is an ultra short scale bass, or bass ukulele, strung with specialised synthetic strings from Aquila in Italy which allow full double-bass like notes. It is quite astonishing to hear (use headphones with the video clip).
The body is solid laminate birch and poplar in a shape and size tenor ukulele players will recognise. The attractively set neck is braced internally via the laminations in the wood - which also add a unique and bedazzling graphic effect. The construction is a through-body style, which ensures strength at the usual weakness around the neck joint. Basic geared tuners are supplied on the shortened headstock, which also mounts a hand cut stone nut, at a slightly wider then normal width of 47mm (usual width is 45mm). The pickup is of the undersaddle piezo variety, and is housed in an adjustable sapele bridge, allowing some room for intonation control. I have supplied a synthetic stone saddle - which provides a more resonant and warm tone than a bone saddle would with these strings. There are no sound controls between the pickup and the output - ensuring 100% of the tone reaches the amp. Volume and sound shaping can then be done via your amplifier. The added benefit of this set up is that you will never find yourself running out of batteries during a show.
The finish is painted black on the rear and polyurethane laquer throughout, this ensuring humidity does not get into the laminate, and providing a comfortably smooth playing experience. Neck depth is reasonably thick in a D profile, and is comfortable to play - especially for larger hands.
Scale length 55cm
Instrument length 73cm
Width 26cm
Depth 6cm
Nut width 45cm
Underside pickup straight into 1/4" instrument jack.
Geared tuners
Moulded resin nut
Stone saddle
Construction is 90% laminate birch and poplar, 10% Sapele
E1A1D2G2 tuning - Same as bass guitar
Genuine Aquila Thundergut strings
Hand-built and dispatched from the UK. Thanks for supporting a small UK music business
