Manta
Logical and yet confusing naming here.
A “manta ray” is much larger than a “stingray” and doesn’t have a stinger. And yet, my Manta is definitely smaller than a Sting and has at least as much, if not more, sting. So what gives?
Well, the Manta body shape is clearly based on a Sting (but less obviously so than is the case for a “B” versus “P”). The headstock is a modified reverse version of a Sting. And a Manta generally has a humbucker in the (scale-corrected) “sweet spot”. So there’s that. But let me show you some pics.
Manta prototype
This was actually not quite the prototype but a second attempt. The first one was slightly gothic based on a design by my son which I took and rounded out a little.
35” scale with 22 frets, Xtend construction with the neck going all the way to the pickup (could have used a couple more bolts I suppose). Three piece maple neck with maple board and a walnut heel block. Body is grain-enhanced northern ash, wenge contrast layer and book-matched quilted maple top. Neck and body finished with nitro (not an option any more) by the fabulous David Searle (check his web site here). And of course Hipshot UltraLite tuners and A-Style bridge.
The Delano quad coil MC 5 HE/M2 pickup is switchable series/single coil/parallel, and the signal is then “processed” through a Nordstrand 3b-3 pre.
One of the most balanced sounding basses I’ve made, and of course the red looks absolutely stunning. Don’t forget the little beauty mark on the back of the neck - that’s what I mean with “working with the timber”.
You Only Live Once, right?
While I normally prefer to let the timber speak for itself I ended up in a slightly different spot with this bass. The “all blue” neck approach is the result of a dare, and it turned out quite spectacular.
In contrast the specs are rather pedestrian: 35” scale with 22 frets, Xtend construction, three piece maple neck with maple board all stained with aniline dye, and a padauk heel block. Body is grain-enhanced northern ash dyed with aniline dye, and a book-matched unstained padauk top - yes, that’s the natural colour. The finish is Osmo Polyx 3032 for an amazing natural feel, and Hipshot UltraLite tuners and A-Style bridge round off the picture.
The Delano quad coil MC 5 HE/M2 pickup is in the scale-adjusted “sweet spot” and switchable series/single coil/parallel. The Delano PC 5 HE is in the P sweet spot but reverse-mounted. Before the signal gets to the Nordstrand 3b-3 pre it is routed through a 4-way rotary for neck/both series/both parallel/bridge.
Justin called …
Yep, Chancellor that is. Well, he didn’t actually call but the customer who ordered this Manta really is into Justin’s playing and sound and based his specs around that focal point.
The timber is pretty conventional, really. 3-piece maple neck with maple board and maple heel block, 35” and 24 frets, and matching headstock. Northern ash body (stained a very dark shade of midnight blue) with a spalted flame maple top (ever so slightly dyed with diluted black) and matching electronics cover.
Electronics are very different from anything else I’ve used. A matched pair of Nordstrand Big Blademan pickups are located approximately in the scale-corrected Wal positions. And the Nordstrand JC-3b pre-amp with its vast range of adjustments opens the gates to almost infinite tonal options.