Mark Frith Fretless Bass

I'd like to introduce you to my friend and colleague, luthier Mark Frith. Mark is a graduate of David Savage's Rowden Farm Workshops in Devon, England. Rather than building furniture, he has instead turned his attention to primarily fretless and EUB basses.

Mark is also a fine composer and pianist, with professional grade sound design and Pro Tools skills. His beautiful bass is a significant milestone because it is the first completed instrument using design and technology based on research developed then shared via eLUTHERIE.org. Essentially his bass embodies the spirit of eLUTHERIE.org as filtered through Mark's playful curvilinear design aesthetic.

He writes:

"Having spent a large part of my career expressing my creative self through music composition via digital technology, I now feel that I have come full circle.

"Being able to express myself creatively through a tactile artisan medium — trading digits for atoms — breathing living design concepts into beautiful materials which in turn, in the hands of skilled performers, come alive to produce music is, for me, alchemy.

"It completes the circle and makes me whole. We luthiers are very lucky people."

Although credit is his, I can't help but feel elated by his moment.

Description of the instrument:

"This thru-neck 4-string fretless bass guitar has a 34" scale. The hardware is Schaller M4S Tuners, Schaller Piezo Bridge with La Bella 760n strings. Body woods are Zebrano facings on Maple with an American Black Walnut core. Thru-neck is five piece re-sawn Maple with Walnut stringers.

"I've experimented by using your aluminium Neck Core concept (developed via Orchid) which does give double stopped notes a great deal of extra clarity. It really makes the instrument sing and increases sustain which not only improves the tonal profile but also amplifies the effect of the performer input, enhancing the loop/bio-feedback between the instrument and musician. Together with the body and neck woods it produces a long natural decay. In the neck profile I utilised a high rising heel which really helps the left hand position as you approach the top end of the neck."

Please notice the quality of his workmanship, including consistent and precise joinery. Bold and deliberate use of contrasting woods. Fine clear finish. Repeating motifs in the form of French curves. Mark seems to naturally produce smoothly rounded shapes — even in his music — so I am excited to watch and learn how he will incorporate the organic structure of the Simplicity tuning system. Bart Townsend and I have promised him the first completed bass system for his pending semi-acoustic 5-string fretless.

Mark Frith
mfrith@mac.com
Devon, England
PHONE 01409 281047

Comments

[Rick Toone]

The more I look at this bass, the more I like it. Curves are cute!

I also really like what you wrote...

“Being able to express myself creatively through a tactile artisan medium — trading digits for atoms — breathing living design concepts into beautiful materials which in turn, in the hands of skilled performers, come alive to produce music is, for me, alchemy.

“It completes the circle and makes me whole. We luthiers are very lucky people.”

...empathizing with your desire to create solid objects. I don't regret my "computer years" and use those skills all the time, but tangible is more deeply satisfying somehow.

The other bit is about surrendering a piece of art over to an artist who will then use that tool to make art. There is some incredible psychological amplification taking place via that procession.

[dsavage@finefurnituremaker.com]

I watched this process as it unfolded. It seems clear and sensible now, almost obvious, that Mark should make musical instruments given his background. It was not so clear at the beginning. Making at the best is a spiritual process, we put in a part of ourselves to a piece of work. Mark has the potential to become an exceptional instrument maker of great sensitivity.
David

[Al Shaver]

Beautiful Mark, simply beautiful.

[Paddy flynn]

WOW mark, it was worth the wait to see the photos definte. Al took the words out of my mouth. very different. love it.