Kinal Owners Club--Custom to be built

DaveAceofBass

DaveAceofBass

Supporting Member
Feb 20, 2004
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Charlotte, NC
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#1
Well, since my good Linc Luthier bass is out of commission for the time being, I'm going to have Mike Kinal build me another bass. I was speculating on a CB Bass or a Nordstrand, but they're talking about a year long waiting list before it's even started. I need a workhorse bass and Mike is willing to do what I want. I already have a bass of his that I got via trade, but this one will be exactly to my specs.

I'm deciding between a DK or a chambered MK model. It will be a 5-string, 24 frets, 34" scale, ebony fingerboard, myrtle top, swamp ash body, sunburst finish. The neck will be flame maple/wenge/purpleheart. I'm going to do something special with the pickups--custom made Kent Armstrong pickups and a John East preamp. It will also have a piezo bridge with string-thru body. There are further details I'm still ironing out. The bass will be light weight, but well balanced. The goal is to have a bass with an open airy tone, but fat full lows and punchy mids, and light on a strap for long gigs. Kind of a J-style instrument, not over the top flashy.

I'm not sure what kind of bridge or piezos to use, either RMC/Hipshot or Graph Tech/Hipshot. I'm more familiar with the RMCs, but I might want to give the Graph Tech a try. If I go Graph Tech I'd have to decide between an A-style or a B-style bridge.

The neck shape will be similar to my Linc bass. Hopefully that bass will get fixed too...I really miss it.

Here's a pic of my current Kinal bass:

Kinal.gif

ResizedMK.gif


If you own a Kinal, post a pic! Any suggestions on this build are welcome.
 
#2
"The goal is to have a bass with an open airy tone, but fat full lows and punchy mids, and light on a strap for long gigs."

Make sure you use a light piece of Swamp ash if you want this sound that you've described. So far, with what you say you're specs are, you can expect a tight, punchy, focused sound with some glass on the top end. If you want the sound that you've described than you may want to consider an alder body and maybe a roswood fingerboard (pau ferro is what I'd suggest).

Also, why the piezo bridge? If you want a workhorse bass do you need a piezo bridge?
 
#3
emjazz said:
"The goal is to have a bass with an open airy tone, but fat full lows and punchy mids, and light on a strap for long gigs."

Make sure you use a light piece of Swamp ash if you want this sound that you've described. So far, with what you say you're specs are, you can expect a tight, punchy, focused sound with some glass on the top end. If you want the sound that you've described than you may want to consider an alder body and maybe a roswood fingerboard (pau ferro is what I'd suggest).

Also, why the piezo bridge? If you want a workhorse bass do you need a piezo bridge?
Click to expand...


I have a bass with an alder body and pau ferro board--see the pic. I don't care for rosewood--it's too warm, but maple is too bright. Ebony has always been my favorite, preferably Macassar. Alder isn't bad, but the ash will give me more mids which is what I want. I don't want the bass to be too bright, but I want it to be clear. Another option is Korina or Mahogany. The piezos add some zing and acoustic presence. My Linc bass has them, and I'm not sure how long it will be out of the rotation of basses. I want this bass to be similar to that but more of the less fragile variety.

Also, the light piece of ash may or may not be necessary because this bass will be chambered or semi-hollow. I don't want it to be neck heavy....
 
#4
DaveAceofBass said:
I have a bass with an alder body and pau ferro board--see the pic. I don't care for rosewood--it's too warm, but maple is too bright. Ebony has always been my favorite, preferably Macassar. Alder isn't bad, but the ash will give me more mids which is what I want. I don't want the bass to be too bright, but I want it to be clear. Another option is Korina or Mahogany. The piezos add some zing and acoustic presence. My Linc bass has them, and I'm not sure how long it will be out of the rotation of basses. I want this bass to be similar to that but more of the less fragile variety.

Also, the light piece of ash may or may not be necessary because this bass will be chambered or semi-hollow. I don't want it to be neck heavy....
Click to expand...


The bass that you have may be alder with a pau ferro board but it also has Barts and a Bart preamp...that's adding warmth and compression to the sound. Kent Armstrong pickups are more open and clear sounding...so is the East Pre.

Also, alder has a more even response eq wise where as ash has the presence of a mid scoop. Swamp ash less than heavy norther ash but still a bit of a scoop.
 
#5
emjazz said:
The bass that you have may be alder with a pau ferro board but it also has Barts and a Bart preamp...that's adding warmth and compression to the sound. Kent Armstrong pickups are more open and clear sounding...so is the East Pre.

Also, alder has a more even response eq wise where as ash has the presence of a mid scoop. Swamp ash less than heavy norther ash but still a bit of a scoop.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your comments. I agree about the Barts, that's why I'm going to steer away from them. I'll talk more about the wood choices with Mike as we go forward. Maybe Korina or even walnut would be a better choice. I always thought ash added some high mids to the tone. Alder is a bit bland in tone for my taste. I'll see what Kinal says.
 
#6
DaveAceofBass said:
Thanks for your comments. I agree about the Barts, that's why I'm going to steer away from them. I'll talk more about the wood choices with Mike as we go forward. Maybe Korina or even walnut would be a better choice. I always thought ash added some high mids to the tone. Alder is a bit bland in tone for my taste. I'll see what Kinal says.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm just throwing generalizations out for some food for thought. I'm sure whatever Mike says is the best way to go.
 
#11
On the topic of body woods, I think Korina might be the best answer.

It will be lighter than ash, and very mid present. Walnut might not be a good choice as it has a very extended low end and is not that lightweight.

Just my thoughts. I'm sure it will be a great bass :)
 
#13
Hey everybody,

I spoke to Mike Kinal earlier, this is going to be a special bass. It's going to be one of his DK-5 models, only fretted and with a set-in neck similar to the Kompact's design. Pickups will be custom Kent Armstrong pickups and special U-Retro preamp with Graph Tech piezos in a Hipshot A-style bridge. The string spacing will be 18.5mm and it will have a flame maple and wenge neck with an assymetrical v-shape profile. The fretboard will be macassar ebony. The body woods might still be up in the air, but we talked about a maple top and back with an alder core. I might talk to Mike more about other options there. Spruce is what he normally uses. I'm still thinking about ash, and I just noticed a DK with a spruce top and ash body. I'm going to ask more about this before we go too far there. The finish will be kind of like a classic sunburst look.
 
#19
Groovin said:
Sooo any updates on this bass?? Are we handing out #'s for Members? I need to post some pics of my babies. :)
Click to expand...

No update...Mike's been on vacation. I'd love to see your babies. I tried a killer SK21 that Brian from the Low End had at the guitar show the other day. I wanted to take it home....but couldn't do a trade and I have another Kinal on the way.

I'd love to see your "babies"....come on let's see them!:hyper:
 
#20
My second arrives tomorrow morning. I need to borrow a camera but as soon as I do pics will be forthcoming!! Both are MK-5B's (Serial M45 and M95). Just picked up the second from a Tb'r (it was a bass I've been tracking for a long time...) More details and pics later. :hyper:
 
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