Sandy 'Bubba' Gerken's "Marilyn"

Based on the last of the custom-built Shen flame-tops, this bass uses straight satin blonde to let the wood do the talking. And man does it talk! But even with gorgeous figured maple all around, bluegrasser Sandy Gerken decided to up the ante with a 5-A birdseye maple tailpiece from none other than Mike Pecanic.

Sandy also ordered up a number of other custom treatments for the bass, including a slightly thinned neck, dot position inlays, Norton carbon fiber endpin with Wolf Super Endpin Ball, and a Revolution Solo pickup (not pictured). The bass also sports the "usual" NC touches, like the high quality bridge blank, adjusters and comprehensive setup. The latter incorporates slightly upped string heights and Thomastik Dominant strings for big sound with a mellow tone.

Sandy is the bassist for bluegrass band Kentucky Wind.

A couple shots of some of the hardware... Despiau bridge with Pecanic aluminum adjusters and a 5-A birdseye maple compensated tailpiece, also from Mike Pecanic. Sandy opted for inlays at the "3, 5 & 7," done in mother of pearl.