Blog de DoctorBass.net All Things Bass

As you probably know, we always have some instruments made by Irish luthier Chris Larkin. I believe that Chris is one of the best in his trade, and he is also a good friend a wise guy with a very interesting view on life.

Chris trying a 9 string beast…

Chris Larkin is a professional luthier based in Co.Kerry in South West Ireland. This is one of the few Gaeltacht areas in Ireland where Irish is still used along with English.

Chris has been building instruments for 30 years (he says this is the best job on Earth), specializing in guitar family instruments from electric, acoustic, Jazz, basses, EUB (Electric Upright Bass), mandolins, bouzoukis, etc.

I’ve known Chris Larkin for more than 10 years, and we’ve emailed back and forth hundreds of times. This allows me to give customers all the basic info about Chris’ work and create the custom instrument they are looking for. He has visited me and I’ve been to his place too. Sharing some hours with him and his wife Syra really makes you understand his “no compromise” approach to business. Chris works alone, which allows him to control the whole process, from wood selection and storage, to planning, building and testing the instruments. Chris Larkin exhibited his creations at the Frankfurt Musikmesse for years, showing them to the world and getting customers for a life time (many of them have 2 or 3 instruments made by Chris).

My personal experience with Chris started when I bought two basses and I was blown away by the concept, quality and Chris’ open mind approach for future orders. I’ve ordered lots of instruments to Chris over the years, and I have to admit I really involve myslef in the whole process and enjoy it as if the new instrument were for me. Hopufully I am able to translate my enthusiasm to the customers, and I am happy to report that the number of positive stories and satisfied customers reaches 100%.

Lately Chris has been developing some less than usual instruments, such as baritone guitars, guitar-bouzoukis, short scale electric double basses, etc.

Let’s talk about basses: after years of making his trusted Reacter shape (which he still makes), he’s released two new bass shapes: the Syra (named after his wife) and the trendy Singlecut. Here are some pics to further illustrate the differences:

REACTER

SYRA

SINGLECUT

Of course Chris will be happy to build any type of bass (you can even send a template with your favourite shape). The list of options is almost endless: wood selection, finish, neck attachment, number of strings (he’s built from 4 up to 9 strings), electronics, inlays, etc. We’ll be delighted to guide yuo through the process and let you know about options, prices and lead times.

Here’s a selection of some examples of different shaped basses made by Chris

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I like to establish relationships with the luthiers I work with that go beyond the professional aspect, and I like to visit them at their work place when possible. Hearing them talk about their work method and watching them work on the instruments is a revealing experience. Sharing some hours with them also allows me to see the full picture. Here are some pictures of my last visit to Chris in May 2006. I have included some pics of the surroundings on purpose because I think this gives some clues too. Hope you like them:

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Apart from the pics of Chris at work (he is installing a Highlander pickup on my bouzouki, then testing a new bass preamp and later carving out the top of an amazing Jazz guitar), you can see some of the surroundings around his “Shoreline” house/studio/workshop. I visited Dingle next day, which must be one of the nicest Irish landscapes. I enjoyed two sunny days in a row, quite unusual for West Ireland.

Here’s a brief summary of some of the musicians (some professionals, some not, some well know, some not) who have bought Chris Larkin instruments from us lately. Click on the picture to zoom it.

If you want to witness the building process of a Chris Larkin acoustic guitar, click on the ultrasonography picture bellow and then go to the bottom of the page (it is my band’s Blogs, so I am afraid there’s no English version for that). Chris is currently making an acoustic for the guitar player in my band, and we’ll include images of the building process as Chris sends them. The guitar will be finished towards the end of April 09.

I really believe that Chris’ instruments deserve even further exposure, so despite this being a Bass BLog, I have included several guitars that I have in the shop for sale. Don’t forget to tell the guitar player in your band, or get one yourself if want a really high end guitar to go along your great bass.

These guitars were bought by a collector and have not been used onstage except for the Super Strat #2 at the bottom. The rest have just a few hours of use in the studio. Don’t miss this chance to save lots of money and also jump the queu. Ready to take away!

If you are interested in one of these guitars just contact us here

ASAP JUMBO

ASAP Jumbo acoustic guitar. Birds eye maple back and sides, yellow cedar top, mahogany/flamed maple neck, ebony fingerboard with walnut binding, headstock veneer in walnut. B.Band EMF Core-99 piezo system with internal preamp (no onboard controls).

Huge sound, amazing 6th string, very low action if needed, very easy to play even with the stock 0.13 strings. The definitive Jumbo. The deep low end does not hide the rich mids and clear highs. One of the few jumbos that you can use not just for strumming, but also fingerpicking. amazing with open tunings.

Condition: Ex-demo, used some hours in the studio. Just a couple of tiny dings on the top, otherwise absolutely flawless

Price New: 4000€ Special Offer: 3200€, with hardcase

Click on this link to download the full specs: asap-jumbo

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ASAD

Chris’ original body design guitar.

Sycamore body and figured walnut top. Glued in walnut/flamed maple neck with rosewood fingerboard. 24 frets. Tune-O-Matic bridge, handwound pickups by Aaron Armstrong in the U.K.. Volume, Tone and 5 way rotary switch for 5 different combinations, all of them hum-cancelling. rotary switch has five positions which link the 4 coils in five humbucking combinations to give five separate voices. The positions (from bridge to neck) are 1. coil A +coil B, 2. coil B + coil C, 3. coils A+B parallel to coils C+D, 4. coil A + coil D, 5. coil C + coil D.

Lots of usefull top class sounds. A guitar with a strong personality and also amazingly well designed from the player’s point of view, with ergonomics like no other.

Condition: Ex-demo, used some hours in the studio

Price New: 3000€. Special Offer: 1900€ with hard case

You can download a word file with the full specs here: asad2hb

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SUPER STRAT #1

Chris also makes versions of classic guitar upon customer’s requests. This guitar is based on a Fender Strat, onviously, but with some clear differences:

Hollowed out solid flamed body (not just the top), birdseye neck. Flamed maple pickguard and backplate. Set neck with 22 frets and shamrock inlays. Wilkinson tremolo and Schaller locking machineheads and roller nut. Australian Kinman Hx pickups: authenic vintage strat sound (think the Shadows) with zero noise.

Classic sounds in a guitar with top class materials perfect construction and finish.

Condition: Ex-demo, used some hours in the studio

Price New: 4000€. Special Offer: 2900€, with hardcase

You can download a word file with the full specs here: super-strat-1

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SUPER STRAT #2

Chris also makes versions of classic guitar upon customer’s requests. This guitar is based on a Fender Strat, onviously, but with some clear differences:

Hollowed out solid quilted body (not just the top), birdseye neck. Rosewood pickguard and backplate. Set neck with 22 frets and shamrock inlays. Wilkinson tremolo and Schaller locking machineheads and roller nut.

Seymour Duncan JB & Jazz pickups. Classic Gibson in a Strat-type guitar.

Condition: Used, in perfect shape. Just a few small superficial marks

Price New: 4000€. Special Offer 2500€

You can download a word file with the full specs here:super-strat-2