This time... It'll be a proper CS! thoughts?

[Gmon3y72]

Alright folks!

I'm starting to put together ideas for my next bass. The basic idea is this:

Corvette $$ 5 string
Neck Thru
Swamp ash (standard wood)
White high Polish with matching headstock
Black Hardware

The optional parts I'm thinking of are:

Yin/Yang fret markers and knobs.

or.

Custom designed Fleur de lys fret markers.

However I have an idea which I'm playing with but I'm unsure whether Warwick would allow it through CS...

I think most will have seen Rob Trujillo's burnt in wood design on one of his basses. (I've attached the image just incase)

If possible I'll want to get the outline of a Fleur De lys burnt into the top of the bass, I've attached an example of the positioning also.

What are your thoughts?

Is the burn-in thing something that Warwick would consider?
Not a big issue if they didn't I suppose, but I love the idea of having both a yin/yang design for the fret markers and the Fleur De Lys.

 

[Martin Such]

When I was very young (14-17), I was burning images into wood, including such complex ones as Leonardo's "Mona Lisa". So it wouldn't be a problem to do that. I have no idea if it's still possible to get a proper tool to do it, though. Back then I had an old russian one, inherited from my father. It looked and worked pretty much the same as a soldering iron, I'm just not sure if the temperature is the same...

 

[Lex]

If possible I'll want to get the outline of a Fleur De lys burnt into the top of the bass

I don't know how that's going to work with a white HP finish... the paint and varnish are THIIICCCKKKK

 

[Gmon3y72]

I don't know how that's going to work with a white HP finish... the paint and varnish are THIIICCCKKKK

Hmmm... it's an odd one.

I'm trying to go for a black and white colour scheme you see... White finish, black hardware/dark fretboard etc, Make it look a bit retro, kind of like a piano or something. :d

Has anyone seen (in the flesh) the airbrush designs like at the bottom of:
Warwick Basses Amps & Rock'n Roll

I suppose that could be another option.

The thing is, I just want it to look subtle. Maybe not clear to see from a distance, I definately do not want it to look like the Rob Trujillo bass, maybe burnt in before the high polish is applied so it just looks embossed (if you get what I mean?)

Would Warwick actually consider it? I mean, would it affect the sound/tone etc greatly?

 

[Gmon3y72]

When I was very young (14-17), I was burning images into wood, including such complex ones as Leonardo's "Mona Lisa". So it wouldn't be a problem to do that. I have no idea if it's still possible to get a proper tool to do it, though. Back then I had an old russian one, inherited from my father. It looked and worked pretty much the same as a soldering iron, I'm just not sure if the temperature is the same...

Cheers for the response dude! The thing is, I can draw but I wouldn't want to let myself loose on a bass I just paid a couple of grand for

I just wouldn't trust myself! :lol:

It's an idea I'm 100% considering, but only if a pro (i.e. Warwick) were to do it

 

[Gmon3y72]

Ok so I'm adding another image to help describe what I mean.

Just played about with Photoshop to give an idea... Just need to use a little imagination with it :lol:

What are peoples thoughts of this:

You can olny "just" see the Fleur De Lys when it's enlarged. The image is to display positioning on the body shape and how subtle I would like it

 

[hans dirty]

i reckon if your going to commit to the design then say it loud .....
"subtle" can be a dangerous word in design
the Fleur de lys is such an iconic symbol ... i think it would look great !!!
do it loud n proud
turn it on its side and it could cover the whole bass body ...
also i agree it would make a great inlay on the neck fret markers !!
do as many mockups as you can ....

mebbe paint the bass like the french flag and have a white Fleur de lys covering the entire body.
your a brave englishman ... heheh
just fanning the fire

hans

 

[Lex]

fan away, hans dirty!

I agree... go bold or go home hahah!


to clarify though Gmon... are you going for a white painted high polish or a 'white-washed' wood finish where you can still see the grain?

 

[Gmon3y72]

i reckon if your going to commit to the design then say it loud .....
"subtle" can be a dangerous word in design
the Fleur de lys is such an iconic symbol ... i think it would look great !!!
do it loud n proud
turn it on its side and it could cover the whole bass body ...
also i agree it would make a great inlay on the neck fret markers !!
do as many mockups as you can ....

mebbe paint the bass like the french flag and have a white Fleur de lys covering the entire body.

just fanning the fire

hans

Ha ha ha

I'm not sure about the French flag thing, but yeah... :d

The Fleur De Lys means a lot to me. for a bunch of reasons, one being that it's the native flower of and used as a symbol of New Orleans... which explaining why I like it and feel connected will take a lifetime (especially as I'm from the UK) Think: Sports teams, the NOLA metality, the music etc.

The other and main reason (which happens to be either co-incidental, or maybe fate... I'm not sure) is this:

Me and my wife lost our son last year shortly after birth, his middle name is Gabriel.
We gave him Gabriel after the Archangel Gabriel, despite neither of us being religious it felt right. The Fleur De Lys means so much more to me now because months afterwards we found out that the Symbol is an iconic representation of the Archangel Gabriel.

I don't want the symbol to over-power the entire bass. if you were to imagine and old desk with a carving into it, then it being varnished so running your fingers over the carving it would feel like it was meant to be there... That's kind of how I imagine it.

Like looking at the bass closely and at an angle you could see it, feel it. but dead on... maybe not as clearly.

Just to have that feeling of satisfaction knowing it's there... :d

 

[Gmon3y72]

fan away, hans dirty!

I agree... go bold or go home hahah!


to clarify though Gmon... are you going for a white painted high polish or a 'white-washed' wood finish where you can still see the grain?

You know... I'm not really too sure to be honest. I've looked through the gallery and at the samples of colour and am not sure what would look better.

If I'm totally totally honest, I've kind of taken inspiration from your basses. :lol:

I'm in no way trying to copy you though. It's the simplicity, but elegance which drew me to the idea.

 

[Lex]

You know... I'm not really too sure to be honest. I've looked through the gallery and at the samples of colour and am not sure what would look better.

If I'm totally totally honest, I've kind of taken inspiration from your basses. :lol:

I'm in no way trying to copy you though. It's the simplicity, but elegance which drew me to the idea.

cool man... yeah the white is pretty striking I gotta tell ya!!!

I think if it's high polish, you're not going to get much our of embossing and any effect that's textural rather than painted... the layers of paint and varnish are really thick so that effect may be lost

on one of my white basses I have silver fret markers and a silver W on the headstock... this looks really REALLY cool, it's very subtle. Maybe you could do the Fleur De Lys in silver, either solid or an outline?

 

[hans dirty]

mate sorry about all the reasons ...

i got to say ...
the solid colours high gloss finishes are exceptional ...i mean unbelievable!!!!
the colour choices are vast ...


with a little of the history now...

how about an all white gloss body (matching headstock)
white painted back of the neck ....
fingerboard out of the "whitest" suitable timber you can get and
Fleur De Lys inlays backlit with white leds



keepin it clean


hans

 

[Lex]

agree Hans... how's your stryker going by the way mate?


I like the idea of a light fingerboard... sounds cool man

 

[Gmon3y72]

cool man... yeah the white is pretty striking I gotta tell ya!!!

I think if it's high polish, you're not going to get much our of embossing and any effect that's textural rather than painted... the layers of paint and varnish are really thick so that effect may be lost

on one of my white basses I have silver fret markers and a silver W on the headstock... this looks really REALLY cool, it's very subtle. Maybe you could do the Fleur De Lys in silver, either solid or an outline?

Hmmmm... I hadn't thought of that! Do you have any images of that so I could better imagine it? :d

 

[hans dirty]

its a shiny monster truck with a warwick w on it

 

[Lex]

and

and

 

[Gmon3y72]

mate sorry about all the reasons ...

i got to say ...
the solid colours high gloss finishes are exceptional ...i mean unbelievable!!!!
the colour choices are vast ...


with a little of the history now...

how about an all white gloss body (matching headstock)
white painted back of the neck ....
fingerboard out of the "whitest" suitable timber you can get and
Fleur De Lys inlays backlit with white leds


keepin it clean


hans

It's cool man, don't worry

I probably should've explained the reasoning first! :lol:

Just want to make him proud, y'know?

I like the sound of the painted back of the neck! that sounds great! However, I think a darker fingerboard would be more striking. Giving it that piano/tuxedo sort of look.

Can Warwick put in LEDs on a custom inlay?

If so that would be amazing. I used to really like the ideas of LEDs however I'm a little unsure of them now. I like them a lot. but... Hmmmm....

:lol:

Just undecided on it!

 

[hans dirty]

jesus .... is that astro turf ? some kinda fake grass ?
you gotta leave new york man ...

 

[hans dirty]

It's cool man, don't worry

I probably should've explained the reasoning first! :lol:

Just want to make him proud, y'know?

I like the sound of the painted back of the neck! that sounds great! However, I think a darker fingerboard would be more striking. Giving it that piano/tuxedo sort of look.

Can Warwick put in LEDs on a custom inlay?

If so that would be amazing. I used to really like the ideas of LEDs however I'm a little unsure of them now. I like them a lot. but... Hmmmm....

:lol:

Just undecided on it!

you want the tuxedo you gotta go ebony fingerboard ....
re the leds ... they ROCK
pretty sure they can custom anything

 

[Lex]

jesus .... is that astro turf ? some kinda fake grass ?
you gotta leave new york man ...

hahah it is... *but* it's actually back in Perth