A large part of the guitars I have built have proven to be quite a challenge – whether it be finding the best solution for a particular construction or finding the most suitable form or design. However, crafting this particular unique bass has been the most challenging yet.

When using new materials, it is necessary to put them through numerous tests to determine their effectiveness. In constructing Picasso, its most outstanding feature was the use of stabilized wood. In addition to using this material on the top and on the back, I also wanted to use it on the fingerboard – which would be formed using small pieces of this wood, in eleven different colours. It took me six months and countless tests in order to find the exact method and the most suitable glue that would give me the quality I was looking for.

To this day, Picasso remains the most difficult and complicated bass that I have ever built. Every single part of the colourful puzzle represents an individual piece of stabilized Maple burl, which I formed by hand – and with great precision, added by hand to the puzzle.

From its conception, the entire process of this project took me two years. During this time I was able to succeed in finding a way to reach my goal – to create Picasso exactly as I had imagined.

Technical specification:

Body: Bulgarian Elm tree core, stabilized burl Maple irregular shaped pieces colored in 11 different colors for top and back.

Neck: Seven pieces flamed Balkan Maple, two Ebony stripes, Purple heart CONE core and Maple veneer lamination;

20mm (0.787″) thickness at the first fret

22mm (0.866″) thickness of the 12-th fret

24 Evo Gold medium frets

Side position marks – “Hanging dots” original KD design

16″ (406.4mm) fingerboard radius

34″ (863.6mm) scale

45mm width at the nut

Matching headstock

45mm (1.771″) width at the nut

Fingerboard: Stabilized Burl Maple wooden mosaic

Construction: Bolt-on

Tuners: Gotoh

Bridge: Hipshot, string-spacing 17,9mm (0.704″)

Pickups: KD hand-made humbuckers, put in wooden boxes in the same color for maximum compatibility with the color and the wood texture of the body

Nut: Stabilized burl Maple, two matching color

Finish: Oil

Strap pins: Schaller locking

Hardware: Gold

Electronics, controls:

Toggle 1: Active/Passive

Active/Passive Toggle 2: Neck pickup Series/Parallel

Neck pickup Series/Parallel Toggle 3: Bridge pickup Series/Parallel

Bridge pickup Series/Parallel Pot 1: Master VOLUME

Master VOLUME Pot 2: Blend

Blend Pot 3: BASS

BASS Pot 4: MIDDLE

MIDDLE Pot 5: TREBLE

Weight: 5,250kg (11.5lbs)

Copper shielding protects the entire electronic box and pickups.

For orders send me an e-mail via the Contact form or just call!

Click on the images to enlarge!

On our Facebook page you can see the available rare wood materials. Click KDbasses to check them out.

This unique bass comes with:

– Gigbag or HISCOX – KD hard case;

– Certificate Of Authenticity;

– Set of two KD cleaning towels:

– LIMITED LIFETIME warranty

KD, “Picasso” 5-str. bass in the hands of Andy Irvine

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