GORAN BASS

Goran Popovic 5-string custom bass.

OK, first I have to state that Iуm first and foremost a guitar player. That said, my expectations toward a bass can be a bit different from those that a real bass player has. I do some home recording, and since I usually write songs without a band, I like to test arranging possibilities as much as possible, so I needed a bass. What I had laying around the house could hardly be called a bass, so I decided to replace it. Since I allready own a few Shamray guitars (LP Standard, Artist), and have played God knows how many, the question to whom to turn to was never really a question. The level of craftsmanship and enthusiasm of Shamrayуs luthiers is second to none, and I was shure that their love for the art of guitarmaking will show in this guitar too. 

The model I chose was Warwickуs Thumb 5, mostly because I like its ergonomical and elegant lines, and because most of the bass players whose sound I like, like my hero Jack Bruce, late Allen Woody and Yugoslaviaуs Vlada Djurdjevic among others, use it a lot. I compiled as much data on construction as possible, and even got some help from the extremely informative Warwick web site, and the rest was left to Master Vladimir Korobeynikov, who did his work in best possible manner. 

The resulting bass has following specs: Radiused neck trough body Five layer neck, consisting of maple/mah/maple/mah/maple strips, with wenge veneer laminated on headstock Mahogony body wings wenge fretboard with composite radius, from 12у at nut to 16у at 24th fret 34у scale length 24 medium byelorussian frets, mamonth nut Custom-made Warwick-style bridge and stop tailpiece Custom-made passive humbuckers with wooden (bodies - mahogony, tops - wenge) covers Passive electronics ( Push/Pull Volume that controls/splits Neck hum, Volume for Bridge hum, Tone) with complete shielding My signature "P"-sign inlayed in pearl on headstock Hand waxed It feels and plays great, with nice action, smooth neck, and resonably light, balanced, comfortable body. Sounds are rich, very versatile and cover many quite different types of playing, ranging from lower midrange smooth and jazzy with lots of sustain, trough tougher, rockier solid bottom end with that steely zing in its voice and to the snappy, aggressive, funky slap with great dynamics п itуs like it has an built-in EQ and compressor that doesnуt eat any of its life or presence! All around a great instrument п itуll be fun growing old with it. Big thanx to Shamray Guitars!

 Best regards, Goran Popovic Yugoslavia