What's new...
September - 2008 -
Two more!...
This one is a mahogany topped custom body with a very traditional look and feel. Simple and effective!.
This baby is another Eden A/P model with a gorgeous black walnut top and back with wenge accents. This is the first James Bass that incorporates a playing ramp between the pickups! It also has the Acousti-phonic piezo bridge by Graphtech.
See more pics and info on these basses on the Models page, under 'Eden A/P' and 'Custom Creations'.
Still more to follow over the next few weeks... keep checking in!!
August - 2008 -
Here are a couple of the latest... hot off the bench.
This first one is a macassar ebony topped Trinity model. Very classy bass, with great tone.
The next is a very custom bass, with a body and headstock designed by the customer. It has a striking black limba top, a custom faux f-hole feature, and bloodwood accents. It also has the Acousti-phonic piezo bridge by Graphtech.
See more pics and info on these basses on the Models page, under 'Trinity' and 'Custom Creations'.
A few more to follow very shortly! Thanks for stopping by....
June - 2008 -
Just so you know I wasn't joshin', here are some pics of what is 'on the bench' at this time. In addition to these, I've got a couple more in the early stages.
Also, just want to take this opportunity to thank some folks for being there with the 'right stuff' to help make these instruments possible! - Steve and the guys at Windsor Plywood of Spokane, Washington, Larry at Gallery Hardwoods, and Jason at Hipshot
Will keep you posted with final pics of these babies before they leave for their new homes. Have a fantastic summer!
May - 2008 -
Things are heating up a bit here. Taking in quite a few orders to keep very busy during the summer. Some very interesting and custom stuff coming up! Some simple, and some elaborate. Great mix!
Also just finished this one up:
It is a medium (32")-scale Mahogany body Flood model, with a gorgeous figured walnut top with a maple accent. It also sports a pair of Q-Tuner pickups. These babies sound fantastic. They are made with extremely powerful and light neodymium magnets. Check them out on their site. Excellent output and tone. I can definitely predict using more of these in the future. See more picks of this bass on the Models page, under 'Flood'.
The Pricing and Custom Options pages have also been updated with a few new selections and updated pricing.
One final note for now... .we can now take Visa and MasterCard through PayPal! You do NOT need a PayPal account to use this feature. You will see on the Pricing page a 'Pay Now' button (at the bottom of the page) where you would select the payment type (deposit, payment, final payment). This opens up some additional possibilities for those of you who prefer to pay this way!
Like I said, we've got a lot going on here... should see quite a few additions over the next few months.
Check back again soon!
January - 2008 -
Ah, another new year. After taking a little time off last summer, we're back in the swing of things. One bass I had the pleasure of working on this winter was for a great young player named Tommy Winter. Check this guy out. Great talent and a bright future ahead, I'm sure. Here is Tommy's bass:
It is a short-scale Mahogany body Eden model with an EMG PJ setup along with EMG's BQS 3-band EQ system. This is a tone monster! I was very pleased with how it turned out, and so was he - and that's the important part! Check him out here.
Some new instruments (including another 6-string guitar) are in the works for this spring. I'll keep you posted.
On another note, on the sound reinforcement side of things... I had the opportunity to check out a local company (here in north Idaho) that puts out some excellent bass cabs. Avatar has been around awhile, quietly putting out great gear with surprisingly affordable pricing. I just picked up a B212NEO cab. FANTASTIC! Great bass response, plus a Foster HF driver - making it a great full-range unit. With special-designed Neodymium speakers by Eminence, this cab only weighs 56lbs.
I would encourage you to pop in to their site to check out their stuff. Great selection of bass and guitar cabs for ANY discerning musician. Their pricing is just the icing on the cake! www.avatarspeakers.com
Thanks again for peeking in. Talk to you again soon.
April - 2007 -
Spring is here. Just wrapped up a couple great new basses -
This one was the customer's own body design, called "Resurrection". Aptly named, this one delivered just before Easter, Resurrection Sunday! Super comfortable and balanced, loaded up with Nordstrand Fat-stack pickups and an 18v Aguilar OBP-3 preamp. It also has brass side dot markers on its 35" scale neck. The angled zebra-wood top added some great character to this unique body design. The customer, Kenn Luck, was great to work with on this - and we were both very pleased with the way it turned out!
The next one, shown here is for a return customer, adding a fretless James bass to round out his collection!
The black limba top is a real eye-catcher, and had some very nice curl as well. Combined with a mahogany back and bloodwood accents, this one really turned some heads! It is also powered by an 18v Aguilar OBP-3, paired up with EMG-HZ humbuckers. It also has black nylon tape-wound strings on it, giving it an excellent, thick vintage voice.
As usual, both of these new ones can also be seen on the Models page.
Also, my wife and I had the opportunity to take a little trip, and enjoy taking in some music from our friends in O'2L, as they wrapped up their spring tour. They had their James Bass Eden A/P in action on some great new material - pictured here with their bass player, Chris Altenhoff. He is one great player!
On another note, although the shop will be remaining open for the summer, I am having to put my production time out a ways in order to allow time for some personal projects. After the summer, I should be back to a normal production schedule. However, please don't let that stop you from calling or e-mailing me for a quote to just to talk bass! Thanks again for checking James Basses out!
December 28th - 2006 -
Hi, and hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! Looking forward to a great new year.
As promised, the EUB is completed. Here are some shots:
I must say, the customer and I were very pleased with how it turned out. You can check out more details about it on the new EUB page.
Also, got some great feedback from Al Pitrelli on his Eden A/P.
He loves the sounds, and is recording with it on some tunes for O'2L's next CD. He says he also plans on using it on the upcoming Trans-Siberian Orchestra CD, Night Castle! Should be a great one.
Working on a few new ones, including a new body style, and the anticipated fanned-fret 5-string bass. Should be pretty cool. Hopefully not so much time between updates in the future. Thanks again for stopping by!
August 16th - 2006 -
Hello again! It's been a little while since the last update. Sorry for the delay. I've been busy putting out a few more instruments...
March 13th - 2006 -
Check out a couple new basses on the Models page! Look for the new Zebrawood Eden model, and the Morado-topped Testament model --
Also, some other news... I am currently working on the first Piezo-equipped James Bass. It is a 5-string fretless for a very special customer (although all of our customers are special, of course!). This one aims to be one of the most versatile basses out there, without a doubt. More to come on this as we go along.
And, as mentioned earlier, I'm gathering the material for the first James Bass EUB (Electric Upright Bass). It will have a beautiful Pau Rosa body and Maple/bloodwood neck.
Please continue to check back here in the 'What's New' section whenever you visit James Basses. Thanks again!
January 16th - 2006 -
As promised... we finally have completed the first James GUITAR! It is a 6-string custom electric. Check it out on our new Guitars page!
January 2006 -
Happy New Year to all of you!
I would like to point out a couple of new links I now have to some other bass related sites. First, I welcome Nordstrand Pickups. Carey Nordstrand makes custom pickups that I offer on my basses. They sound superb. Not only does Carey make his own pickups, but he is an incredible bass builder as well. Check his stuff out!
Next, I would like to welcome Bassgirls.com to the links page as well. This unique site is dedicated to the interests of female bass players (but I'm sure they won't mind if some of us guys visit their site as well!). It has some great info on players, bands and music.
Looking forward to a good 2006. As new instruments are completed, I will be sure to highlight them here first.
November 2005 -
James Basses will soon be endeavoring into the 6-string electric guitar arena. I will also be developing an electric upright prototype, with the help of a good friend and customer. 2006 is shaping up to be interesting as well... talks of fanned-fret offerings and possibly a new 'stick' style instrument are also floating about. As progress is made in these various areas, I will keep you updated here.
June 2005 -
James Basses moves shop! Still located in beatiful Post Falls, Idaho, but a now with a little more elbow room.
Ongoing -
Check out the Leviathan custom bass in the Models page. Also see the latest ultra-customized Eden-X model in the "Custom Creations" section at the bottom of the Models page as well.
Thanks again!
Greg Lambas