Custom 7 string fretless Benavente build pics!

[Alexis]

omg, how do you find such amazing wood?

 

[ApteraBassist]

well there a tons of websites out there. the difficult part when you search for "exotic hardwoods" a lot of hardwood flooring companies come up. Just gotta browse tons of websites that will show you what they have in stock. Also doesnt hurt that I live in Oregon where theres lots of woods companies.

 

[ApteraBassist]

UPDATE! Benavente just sent me a pic of the neck!

 

[JosephAOI]

GOOD GOD!

 

[ApteraBassist]

Well said =)

 

[Winspear]

Can't find where in the thread you changed your mind from fretless?
Anyway that neck looks absolutely amazing!

 

[ApteraBassist]

Can't find where in the thread you changed your mind from fretless?
Anyway that neck looks absolutely amazing!

It's still going to be fretless, just going to have lines for reference!

 

[Winspear]

Ah, awesome! I did wonder - just wasn't aware standard slotting was the procedure for that
GASing hard...

 

[ApteraBassist]

you're tellin me! seeing the progress pics for this bass has got me GASing hard enough to start spec'ing out the fretted sister of this bass... Once my 6 string Benavente sells on ebay I'm putting in the down payment for a Benavente 7 string fretted double cut, with a spalted maple top and Wenge fingerboard

 

[Winspear]

Haha I'm also wanting a fretted fretless pair of 7 strings very similar to yours - long way off though...
I've heard the name Benavente around quite a bit. How good are they (obviously very good..but you know what I mean haha). What kind of price range for these customs?

 

[ApteraBassist]

Quite honestly, they're the only bass i'll ever play. they kinda ruin every other bass. here's a link to some tapping stuff i did. they just play effortlessly.


I've never actually played a fodera... but if they do play better it still wouldn't be enough for me to pay a starting price of 10 grand for one!

For a basic option benavente, bolt-on, 7 string, would start at about $3,500.

 

[Winspear]

Nice I'll have to keep this name in mind.
Insanely clean playing!

 

[ApteraBassist]

Also if you wanna have a look at the one i've got on ebay here's a link =)

Benavente Vortex custom 6 string bass with Kahler tremolo | eBay

 

[ApteraBassist]

Nice I'll have to keep this name in mind.
Insanely clean playing!

Thanks! again.. i literally can't play that bass line on most other basses...

he also makes a fine 7 string guitar!

 

[ApteraBassist]

Update!

Finally got a chance to go back to Benaventes and take my own pics.

Man I love that burl! Cant wait to see the black stain on it!

Here's my hand against the top of the neck for size reference. Really not that intimidating

Here's my hand arounf the 12th fret where the upper horn will be meeting the neck. I can still wrap my hand around it!

 

[Vostre Roy]

Man I love that burl! Cant wait to see the black stain on it!

I'm pretty sure it'll look awesome, but that burl is so crazy, its almost criminal to stain it

 

[ApteraBassist]

I'm pretty sure it'll look awesome, but that burl is so crazy, its almost criminal to stain it

As you can see on like page 3, i did a test and does look awesome. thats one thing i love most about this bass, is that i got a wood crazy enough to be untouched, but then to have a trans black stain is going to make it SO unique!

 

[broj15]

I have wanted an instrument with this tuning for quite a while now (i've always had a back and forth love affair between guitar and bass) so i will definetely be keeping an eye on this. Apologies if i just overlooked it, but I'm really curious as to the scale length on this. i know the 7 string bass that used the same tuning Ibanez released a few years ago had a 30" scale, but i feel like that wouldn't provide enough tension on the low B to get that nice "bell-like" piano tone that defines the bass instrument.

 

[ApteraBassist]

I havent had any experience with tuning this way on a 30inch bass. this bass will be a 34 inch scale. my bass in my profile pic is a benavente 6 thats tuned the same as a guitar and the scale length works beautifully. its also a 34 inch. if you end up pulling the trigger on a bass like this and i can give you some pointers on string gauge etc that will help you make the transition if you're used to guitar.

 

[iron blast]

I still tear up when thinking of such gorgeous wood getting stained. I know it will still look amazing tho. Im definitely jealous of this one.