Nathan Enders shared the latest creation from 96 Art Custom Instruments, which is a neck-through design four-string with a killer Buckeye burl top complete with matching pickup covers and knobs.
“The coloring in the burl on this bass is spectacular, a perfect example of what buckeye burl can produce – it looks like an explosion of tans, browns, and steel blue colors,” the company shares. “The neck is a laminate of curly maple and walnut accent stripes and has been shaped to a medium-slim C profile. The heel of the neck has been carved with a generous relief, which combined with the open shape of the body horns gives excellent access to the upper frets. There is a curly maple tone block on the back of the neck where it passes through the body, along with a walnut accent stripe to match the stripes in the neck, giving the back of the body a nice clean look. The electronics cavity features a walnut cover as well as magnetic latches in lieu of screws.”
The fingerboard is ziricote, which they explain is a great substitute for ebony. Its 24 frets are inlaid with blue abalone markers on the front and side.
The pickups and electronics are made in-house. The Blackjack Soapbar pickups are described as having a modern, dark tone with a balance of top-end sparkle and warmth. A three-way mini-switch lets you toggle between the pickups. The bass’s preamp includes a three-band EQ and volume control.
“For hardware, this bass features a shop-made brass and steel bridge. The massive brass bar and saddles on the bridge give a solid tone with tons of sustain,” 96 Art adds. “The bridge is fully adjustable for intonation and saddle height. The bridge has a brushed surface and a wax finish. The nut is brass and matches the finish on the bridge. The tuners are Hipshot USA Ultralite’s with 3/8″ string posts, in a satin finish to match the brushed steel on the bridge. The strap buttons are nickel.”
