“SILVERTWIN” 3615 SHORT SCALE BASS

A highly unusual take on a hollow body Rickenbacker bass. Sort of a “junior” 4005, with excellent strap balance and much easier playability than the larger, long-necked original 4005. This design still retains the juicy hollow-bodied midrange tones and resonance of a 4005, which contributes to its terrific sustain.

The request from the client was to create a bass like the burst 3615 shown elsewhere in this section, but with a short (30”) scale, and a simple headstock similar to that of a 3001. A warm white finish was specified (reference was a slightly-aged Olympic White), to have a bit of contrast with the pure white back and sound hole binding. Additional specs include Rickenbacker HB-1 humbucking pickups for silent stage use and extended low, end, and a mono output.

STUDIO-CALIFORNIA began with a scrap 1967 model 360 guitar body, which had suffered a broken neck. The back and neck were removed, and a custom-built 25-fret short-scale bass neck was built and fitted. A one-piece back was added, for durability.

Finish is a slightly warmer version of Olympic White, which we custom-mixed, as is usual for everything but Jetglo. The wiring harness is a custom-built item from Dane Wilder, with matched pots, vintage caps, and pushback cotton-insulated vintage wiring. A work of art in itself!

This bass is already getting daily use by Silvertwin’s leader and bassist, Isaac Shalam. The band is based in London UK, and is heavily booked and working on their next album. In the past, Isaac has played a Fender Precision, a Danelectro and a Rickenbacker 4003. His experiences with these instruments informed his specification for this bass: short scale, light body, good balance on its strap, and HUGE sound. It’s now his favorite bass!