Combine Newsletter - November 2025
October's Guitar of the Month Winner!
We’re pleased to announce that Bill A. (@goodcircuits) is the latest winner of our Guitar of the Month contest, with a double submission of 2 finished basses!
Curious about his process? Here is his story:
"The first is a burned bass, but, unlike Carter, I threw mine into a fire pit and let my son douse it with lighter fluid! I then sanded it and finished the body and neck with tru oil and gunstock wax. The process took more of the char off than I would have liked, but it really brought out the wood grain. So I’m happy. I installed an LHZ preamp with an EMG 45J in the bridge and a 45P in the neck. I needed to sand some extra room in the pickup cavity because apparently EMGs are wider at the bottom than the top, but the combo sounds like an old Spector which is what I was going for. I tuned it to drop F# with 45-125 gauge strings. I also flush-mounted a set of Dunlop strap locks and installed Hipshot O-Ring knobs."
"I love the sound of a Spector and the feel of a Dingwall, so I leaned into that even more with the second build. I call this bass “Tony” because I saw Tony Levin play an NG3 in a Liquid Tension video—the one time I think he’s been seen with anything other than a Stingray for decades! I used the same electronics as above (LHZ/EMG FTW!) and flush-mounted the strap locks. For the finish I mixed three different stains to get as close to Dingwall’s Laguna Seca Blue as possible. I sanded the body with 1000 grit paper after the finish dried because the stain had raised the grain, but I think it came out well. The neck is finished with tru oil and gunstock wax because Ernie Ball necks are the best! This one is tuned to drop A with 40-120 gauge strings. I included Dingwall knobs to complete this tribute." - Bill A.
Bill's win has earned him up to 50% off the base price of his next DIY Guitar Kit, and his build has been shared on our website and social media!
His guitar is built using our Multiscale Headless 5-String Electric Bass Kit.
MULTISCALE BASS KITS AVAILABLE!
Build your ultimate bass with our extended range DIY kits, featuring swamp ash bodies and extra long scale lengths.
Go fretless, headless, or multiscale — the choice is yours!
November's Guitar of the Month Contest
We know you're all busy working away on your builds, and we expect some of you will complete them in time to enter November's Guitar of the Month contest! The winner will receive up to 50% off the base price of their next DIY Guitar Kit, and their build will be shared on our website and social media.