Bass of the Week: Creston Electric Joe Sheil Bass

My favorite basses we feature in this column have a story to them, and this one is no different. Joe Sheil wrote to us to share his newest instrument and the background to its creation.

“In June 1968 my parents scraped together what they could to purchase my 8th grade Grad present – a barely-used cherry red 1965 Fender P Bass,” he wrote. “A few short decades later and I’m still playing it; I’d like to think they’d be quite pleased to know it was used on a recording released just this past Monday! To honor that bass and help keep it safe and revered considering the crazy stuff I’ve put it through over the years, Creston Lea of Creston Electric Instruments in Burlington Vermont built me a bass that matches the exact specs of the build for the ’65. With a couple of modern touches; torrified alder body, lighter, more accurate tuners, Lollar’s Precision 90 pickup, and a wonderful custom paint finish by local artist Sarah Ryan.”

Other features include a quartersawn maple neck with an Indian rosewood fingerboard and a four-saddle bridge. Aside from the artistic finish, the bass is very traditional in design, but that’s exactly what makes it great.

“My point in writing is to suggest that a dozen layers of exotic woods, complex electronics, and lots of strings won’t necessarily guarantee what I now have — a high-quality bass that rings through and true; like a bell. That what Creston delivers,” Sheil concludes.

Creston Electric Joe Sheil Bass Specs: