Balkun Guitars and Zak Schenck Team Up a Primus-Inspired, Jazz Bass–Fueled Custom Creation
This week, we’re checking out a custom build by Balkun Guitars made for bassist Zak Schenck. The unique instrument features from fairly obvious influences while imbuing new ideas to make something fresh. Luthier Stephen Balkun gave followers the inside scoop on his Instagram.
“[Zak and I] worked together to design this one-of-a-kind instrument with elements from some of his favorite bass designs combined with some original Balkun flair,” he wrote. “Zak is a big Primus fan (as am I), so of course it is certainly a tribute to a Carl Thompson/Claypool style instrument. But it also has plenty of Jazz Bass DNA in there, and contours that are derived from my own designs. Mix that all up in some fancy tree woods, and lo and behold! A low-end, thump-a-saurus-rex ready for heavy grooves and smooth moves. This build was quite an adventure with its share of challenges, but it ultimately came out as a very unique and striking instrument that sounds great and is incredibly fun to play.”
The custom-carved body is crafted from roasted swamp ash with a AAA flame maple top. Its impressive neck is also made from AAA quarter-sawn flame maple with stunning figuring showing on the fretboard and back of the neck. As Balkun mentioned, the bass is set up like a Jazz bass and is fitted with EMG J-style pickups and an active preamp. Hardware includes a Gotoh 404SJ-4 bridge and Gotoh tuners with a de-tuner “E” key, all finished in gold.
Balkun Guitars Custom 4-string Bass Specs:
| Construction: | Bolt-on |
| Scale: | 34” |
| Body: | Roasted/Torrefied Swamp Ash |
| Top: | AAA Flame Maple |
| Neck: | AAA Quarter-sawn Flame Maple Neck |
| Frets: | 24, Jescar 47095 Nickel/Silver Fret Wire |
| Nut Width: | 1.5” |
| Fretboard Radius: | 12” |
| Nut: | Black TUSQ |
| Pickups: | EMG J-set Pickups + Active System |
| Pickup Covers: | Matching Flame-maple Pickup Veneers |
| Hardware Color: | Gold |
| Bridge: | Gotoh 404SJ-4 Gold Bridge |
| Tuners: | Gotoh With De-tuner ‘e’ Tuning Key |
| Truss rod: | Two-way Adjustable Truss Rod |
| Finish: | High Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
| Other: | Magnetic Control Cavity, in Matching Flame Maple, Hand-carved/Painted Head-stock Logo |
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
These new basses are crazy, new designs everywhere who would have thought of this before, back in the 70s good options,now great options- keep tearing down the box and creating dreams for all musician’s.