Bass of the Week: Bootleg Guitars Dawg
Described as a “down and dirty,” no-frills bass, the Bootleg Guitars Dawg 4 bass gets its name from the Cleveland Browns’ Dawg Pound of which we assume luthier Jon Hill is a member. Hill, who is based in Cleveland, explains he designed the bass for the working musician.
The 4-string version of the Dawg has a 34” scale and is built with a Northern Ash body complimented by a quarter-sawn maple neck. Interestingly enough, Hill uses dollar coins for string trees.
In keeping with simplicity, the bass has a pair of passive Bartolini BC4C humbuckers with only a volume control and a blend. (A toggle switch from the prototype is shown in the pictures.)
The Bootleg Guitars Dawg bass is made in the USA and is listed for $1,849. For more info, visit the Bootleg Guitars website.
Bootleg Guitars Dawg 4 Gallery:
Bootleg Guitars Dawg 4 Specs:
- Neck: Premium Grade, Quarter Sawn, Northern Hardrock Maple, Bolt-On
- Fingerboard: Quarter Sawn Maple, 24 Fret 16” Radius
- Truss Rod: Single action, Made In USA
- Headstock: 4 in line
- Scale: 34”
- Nut: Solid brass 1.5”
- Frets: Jumbo / Jescar
- Inlay: Black Dot, 6mm
- Body: Solid, Northern Ash
- Pick Guard: Red, Black or White Pearloid, W/B/W, B/W/B
- Strap buttons: Black or Chrome
- Bridge: Hipshot B style, solid brass 3/4” SS
- Pickups: Bartolini Humbuckers BC4C
- Control Layout: 1 volume, 1 blend
- Pots: CTS, 500K
- Output Jack: Switchcraft
- Strings: 100, 80, 65, 45 Nickel
- Finish: Gunstock oil / Semi-Gloss Headstock
- Case: Soft Shell Case Included
Looks nice, but a bit pricey for the average working musician. There are a lot of basses in that price range that offer more.
yeah but I think its supposed to be all handmade. id say its competitively priced but definitely not cheap.
I found an unwanted Yamaha BB1200 that was beat to crap and pretty much unplayable. The bass and the case cost me less than $150.00, put some Bartolinis in it with a mid cut boost toggle and stacked bass and treble pot, pick up selector pot in all spent less than $700.00 when finished and now it plays and sounds incredible. Best of all, it really is a no frills instrument and I don’t ever worry about scratching it up since it came to me “pre worn”. Best results come from building it yourself.
well… looks like shit.
Nothing shitty about it…Zsolt! Its a nice instrument! Can you do better?
I’ve played them (would love to own one) Superior feel and sound! You get a Boutique hand built bass for the price of a machine production bass. You can’t go wrong with this choice.
That’s cool buddy . Zo.!!
It is pricey if you compare to a Fender, Yamaha or Ibanez, but all of those are mass-produced instruments. This is a handmade masterpiece, made to order, in America with premium components. In my opinion, this price will not last long. These are a steal.