Bass of the Week: Burls Art Burst 5-String Bass
Blake Burley of Burls Art states on his website that all of his instruments begin as an idea, “with some ideas being more daring than others.” This week we’re checking out a super cool build called the Burst 5-string bass.
Burley made the instrument using 2,000 colored pencils for the body. It’s not the first time he’s used the medium for a body. In fact, he’s been building one guitar per year with colored pencils. Every year is a chance to refine his methods, and clearly he’s getting it down pat.
The bass came together with a roasted flame maple neck and ebony fingerboard. Burley also utilized colored pencils for the headstock and fretboard inlays. Other features include a G&L L-Seires pickup and preamp, a Hipshot KickAss bridge, and Gotoh tuners. But instead of read about all that, just watch this mesmerizing build video.
Burls Art Burst 5-String Bass Photos:
Burls Art Burst 5-String Bass Specs:
| Scale: | 34″ |
| Body: | Color Pencil |
| Neck: | Roasted Flame Maple |
| Fingerboard: | Ebony |
| Frets: | 22 Jescar Jumbo Stainless Steel |
| Pickup: | G&L L-Series |
| Preamp: | G&L |
| Bridge: | Hipshot KickAss |
| Tuners: | Gotoh |
| Other: | Schaller STrap Locks |
| Weight: | 11 lbs |
Talk about a one-of-a-kind showpiece instrument! It’s hard to tell for sure, but sounds like it has decent intonation. A lot of fun watching the start to finish build process. Nicely done. I wouldn’t have the patience for it.
Nice that they post the weight! Also strings go almost straight thru to the tuners, not always seen on a 5-stringer. And a single pup with simple controls, ~neat! Beautiful artwork on it’s body does not make me think of pencils or crayons, but of some of the art nouveau designs found on buildings like NYC’s Chrysler Building and Rockefeller Ctr. ~Real nice IMO; an impressive bass guitar work of art that also appears to be very playable! -Perhaps a wee bit of sharp edges on it’s body tho?
11 lbs is way too much