Single Cut Basses
I do, it has to be said, have a bit of a soft spot for single cut basses. So when I came across the home of Aquilina Basses (French site here, English here) I dug in.
Single cut basses have just one cut out, compared to the more usual double cut away model. If you can picture a classical guitar in your head, or an old steel-string acoustic, you’ll know what a guitar with no cut aways looks like. The guitar body near the neck on the top string half was originally cut away to provide better access to the high frets. I’m not sure when or why in the life of the guitar the second cut away became common, Leo Fender just made them that way, giving them their two distinctive ‘horns’.
Bass guitars inherited the double cutaway design of their higher pitched brethren, via Leo Fender, even though the double bass has no cut aways. However, with through-neck designed basses, there are a number of reasons to go for a single cut design.
The single cut allows for more contact between the neck and the body, adding stability. It also allows for more wood in the body, which affects the appearance, and potentially the sound. Their looks are slightly controversial – many players think they look ugly – and some argue that the design restricts access to the upper frets, but it never has for me. Makers like Veillette Guitars do make bolt on models (a nice diagram from them here).
Back to Aquilina and their Shelby bass for a moment, this imposing looking 7 string shows how the neck looks from behind, quite different as you can see:
While I’m here it would be just wrong not to show you the front of this lovely bass too:
The design also shifts the balance of the bass, increases the weight and enhances the sustain. You may see those as plusses or minuses. I think the choice to go for a single cut design is one of personal preference, since there aren’t dramatic differences in tone. They sure do look different though, don’t they!
That is a really beautiful bass.
“some argue that the design restricts access to the upper frets”
From looking at it I would imagine playing above the 12th fret on the lower strings could be tricky. I would love to have a go on one though and prove myself wrong!
Hi Tom – I think it depends on left-hand (or fret hand 🙂 ) technique. For folks that wrap their thumb around the side of the neck, I think it would be a problem.
I started out on classical guitar and would receive a serious beating anytime my thumb moved from the middle of the back of the neck. Needless to say, apart from the psychological scars, it has left me able to deal with most forms of bass guitar :).
Well worth searching a single cut out and trying for yourself, as you say. I was so smitten that I actually own two single-cut basses now!
Thanks for your reply.
I agree that proper technique is important and often overlooked.
Which single cut out basses do you own? I would love to take a look. You have really intrigued me to hunt one down and give it a whirl now…
I have a couple of Elricks – I really must do a post about them!
[…] of articulation I’d associate with a Ken Smith or a Fodera. Then I saw it. A very striking single cut bass, with at least a nod and a wink to a Fodera – at least in my […]
[…] during the NAMM Show, is more traditional in appearance that the wilder extremes of some of the single-cut thru-necks like mine in the rage. Rob oversees the production: “These basses are not […]
Hello
please check out Richard Bona with his AQUILINA DB5
on myspace.
Hello Aquilina Basses – I think this is the link: Richard Bona with his AQUILINA DB5 – Thank you for sharing!