View allAll Photos Tagged flamemaple
Welcome to low-end heaven. This tightly packed display of Bacchus bass guitars, spotted in a Tokyo music store, reads like a love letter to boutique craftsmanship at accessible price points. Made in Japan by Deviser, Bacchus is a brand celebrated for delivering hand-finished instruments with tonal punch, custom-shop looks, and smooth-as-butter playability—all without the eye-watering price tag of some boutique luthiers.
At the heart of this display are numerous Bacchus Handmade Series and Global Series basses, each flaunting its own distinct finish—from charcoal burst to natural ash and deep aqua quilt tops. The headstocks gleam under recessed lighting, while the gloss finishes play with reflections from the polished wood floors. There's a heavy lean into 5-string and 6-string territory here, a clear sign that this shop caters to serious players who need versatility, extended range, and modern tonal flexibility.
Architecturally, the display itself is an efficient labyrinth of sonic sculpture. The basses stand tightly packed but thoughtfully arranged, forming a visually rhythmic grid of tuner pegs, fingerboards, and tonal variety. The shop’s lighting design—cool ceiling spots over warm floor tones—gives the entire room a curated gallery feel.
This isn’t just a retail moment—it’s a snapshot of a culture that reveres craft. In Japan, even production-line instruments get attention to detail usually reserved for custom shops elsewhere. Whether you’re a slap-happy funk monster or a fingerstyle explorer, Bacchus offers a gateway into the boutique world that feels both grounded and elevated.
The Flame Maple in our front yard throws out fall colors as it prepares for spring.
Autumn Flame Maple trees are a patented variety of tree with the scientific name Acer rubrum. Its leaves are the classic lobed maple shape and are bright green with a hint of scarlet in the spring and summer, turning to a brilliant red early in the fall.
During our recent "snow event," these birds waited in our young maple for a place to open up at the feeder. We were filling them twice a day during the cold and snow.
I found a Squier Telecaster in Cash Converters for less than 100 quid and correctly identified it as at least worth it for the neck alone. I bought it and discarded the body. Turns out it was a Samick Korean one (S series from 1989) and the neck is indeed very good. I started the project last year in my old place and didn't get past finishing the e-bay bought swamp ash body so put the project on hold. I moved houses recently and decided to finish it off. The body is, as previously mentioned, a very nice lump of swamp ash. I added a bookmatched piece of flame maple veneer to the top, some red and black dye, finished with Rustins Plastic Coating (hey it was good enough for Brian May!) high grade electronics (Switchcraft pots/plug-hole/Seymour Duncan pickups) and it is now finally finished.
By the way, it sounds great :-)
Our Flame maple lives up to its name in this capture. this is the tree that was planted for our granddaughter and is the same age that she is.
Autumn Flame Red Maple
Acer rubrum 'Autumn Flame'
Modified Squier CV Jazzmaster- '62AVRI pickups & tailpiece/vibrato, Staytrem bridge &vibrato arm, Vintage Inspired Pots potentiometers & caps.
Modified Squier CV Jazzmaster- '62AVRI pickups & tailpiece/vibrato, Staytrem bridge &vibrato arm, Vintage Inspired Pots potentiometers & caps.
FAKE 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard guitar. This replica was sold to a collector as an original 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard. It is not, It is a VERY good fake. In fact it is a hand made replica, not a reworked Gibson product. I have personally verified thirteen 1959 Gibson Les Paul guitars that a collector bought from a vintage guitar dealer. Don't let this happen to you! Vintage guitar authentication.
My guitars and other instruments often end up as handy photographic subjects (when I'm not playing them...!) and this is no exception - having a play around with the idea of light painting.
25 second exposure in a blacked-out room, sole illumination a small torch...great fun!
At the Fender Flagship Store in Tokyo, this eye-catching Jazz Bass stands out with its rare, beautifully figured maple top. Finished in a stunning gradient that transitions from a deep red to a warm orange, this unique instrument embodies both classic Fender craftsmanship and a modern, daring aesthetic. The flame maple top adds a luxurious touch, giving the bass an almost three-dimensional quality that catches the light from every angle. This isn’t just a bass; it’s a statement piece, designed for musicians who want an instrument that performs as well as it looks.
The craftsmanship on this Jazz Bass is unmistakable. With a maple neck and fretboard, it offers the player a bright, punchy tone, while the dual single-coil pickups ensure that unmistakable Jazz Bass sound—rich, full-bodied, and with plenty of midrange growl. The tortoiseshell pickguard and chrome hardware add a touch of classic elegance, balancing the instrument’s bold colors with timeless Fender design elements.
Located in Shibuya’s bustling shopping district, Fender’s Tokyo flagship provides bass enthusiasts with a rare opportunity to see and experience such a unique instrument up close. Whether you’re a collector, a professional bassist, or simply a fan of iconic musical instruments, this Jazz Bass is a true gem. With its blend of exceptional build quality and striking aesthetics, it’s a bass that stands ready to inspire players and turn heads in any setting. It’s clear that Fender’s Tokyo flagship is not just a store but a curated space where musical art meets innovation, and this Jazz Bass is a perfect example of that ethos.
1958 Gibson Les Paul Standard guitar. Cherry sunburst finish, PAF pickups, Brazilian Rosewood board, Honduran Mahogany....what's not to love?
Modified Squier CV Jazzmaster- '62AVRI pickups & tailpiece/vibrato, Staytrem bridge &vibrato arm, Vintage Inspired Pots potentiometers & caps.
This 1952 Gibson Les Paul Model originally had a trapeze tailpiece. I bought the guitar in 1985 from Jimmy Brown at the Guitar Emporium in Louisville Kentucky. The top was amateurishly repainted so I had a luthier respray the "Goldtop" and I ground down an ABR-1 tune-o-matic and installed that. This is an extremely light weight and excellent sounding Les Paul. It is a BLAST to play. ;)
Modified Squier CV Jazzmaster- '62AVRI pickups & tailpiece/vibrato, Staytrem bridge &vibrato arm, Vintage Inspired Pots potentiometers & caps.
1953 Gibson Les Paul Standard guitar. Goldtop weather checking finish details. Vintage guitar authentication.
This 1952 Gibson Les Paul Model originally had a trapeze tailpiece. I bought the guitar in 1985 from Jimmy Brown at the Guitar Emporium in Louisville Kentucky. The top was amateurishly repainted so I had a luthier respray the "Goldtop" and I ground down an ABR-1 tune-o-matic and installed that. This is an extremely light weight and excellent sounding Les Paul. It is a BLAST to play. ;)
FAKE 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard guitar. This forgery was sold to a collector as an original 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard. It is not, It is a VERY good fake. In fact it is a hand made replica, not a reworked Gibson product. Don't let this happen to you! Hire an expert who has SEEN and KNOWS a good fake when they see one. I have personally verified thirteen 1959 Gibson Les Pauls that turned out to be fakes.
1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard Guitars. The epitome of cool guitars. Played and favored by REAL guitar heroes like, Billy Gibbons, Jimmy Page, Joe Perry, Duane Allman, Ace Frehley, Jeff Beck, Paul Kossoff, Joe Walsh, Gary Richrath, Steve Lukather, Gary Moore, James Hetfield, Michael Bloomfield, Peter Green, Gary Rossington, Ed King, Slash, Edward Van Halen, Eric Clapton, Rick Nielsen and many many others. Vintage guitar authentication.
I liked the way the sun hit the instrument, and you can get a tiny sense of the shaped carved top. The carved top is one of many distinctive features of the guitar, but it's also one that's very hard to capture in a photo.
Before I was a photographer, I was a musician for 20+ years. I played bass with quite a few bands, but don't have too many pictures from those times. I found this one, and frankly forgot that I had never posted it. For those keeping score at home, it's a Billy Sims Jersey. This one was taken, of course, mid-song, at a gig in Saginaw at a place that I have forgotten the name of. :(
I recently had to swallow my pride as the wife despoiled my beautiful recently-laid lawn with a kids swing/slide thing. It is a monstrous carbuncle. To think I even helped construct it too. The horror; the horror.
This was a sweetener. I'm fickle and easily bribed when it comes to domestic issues.
It is a thing of beauty, a Paul Reed Smith SE Custom 24. The body is mahogany with a flame maple top, the fretboard is rosewood with bird inlays. Made in Korea ('SE' stands for 'student edition'), it both looks stunning (to me, at any rate) and sounds great too. These fellas are 1/4 the price of the US-made versions.
Not particularly cheap but only 8 tanks of diesel and will last a lifetime, hopefully
I took part to a one-week instrument building workshop in Austria in July 2024.
The focus of the course was to build a monochord, but I chose a specific variant, called KoTaMo. It is a combinaison of the Japanese Koto, the Indian Tanpura and the Monochord.
The faces are made of beautiful flame maple (aka curly maple), the sides and internal support board are Sitka spruce, the tuning boards are made of pear wood and the feet consist of black walnut and cherry.
The wood is finished using linseed oil and waxed.
I've tuned the monochord part to an E3 (on a 432Hz tuning base) for the 23 steel strings and one octave lower for the 6 brass strings.
Controversial 1956 Gibson Les Paul Standard guitar that purportedly had some "gold" in the pickups cavities. 1990 Houston Guitar Show.
Modified Squier CV Jazzmaster- '62AVRI pickups & tailpiece/vibrato, Staytrem bridge &vibrato arm, Vintage Inspired Pots potentiometers & caps.
1977 Boogie Bodies Mighty Mite set neck guitar serial number 17. Back when Ken Warmoth, Lynn Ellsworth, Wayne Charvel and Dave Schecter were blazing the SUPERSTRAT path!
This guitar was bought for $5K from a seller that thought the guitar was a refin. Jury is out on this one. 1990 Houston Guitar Show.