my new La Scala ROCKS!

[brutuscheezcake]

hey there bass fans!

i have received my new bass, a New Standard La Scala (http://www.newstandardbass.com/lascala.htm). it is a beautiful bass both to look at and to hear. i have a laminated Cleveland from these guys and decided to get a hybrid flatback La Scala . i absolutely love the Cleveland but the sound that this new bass gets is so much more complex and resonant. the arco projection is incredible. i had it strung with starks, in case you were wondering.

the bass was shipped out to lemur music for final setup and some dots. the guys at lemur music ( http://www.lemurmusic.com ) are the best. jerry and gang know their stuff and dealing with them is an absolute pleasure. i really cant say enough good things about these guys. if you havent got one of their spring fling catalogs, get one as it is a great source of bass P@RN. i musta spent at least an hour pouring over EVERY single detail. the shop guys are the icing on this cake. a visit with jeff and len is also a lesson on the instrument itself.

(in fact, the ever-suffering mrs cheezcake and i are set to do a piano/bass duo thing tomorrow afternoon, "the jolly dutchman". we picked it out together at lemur. how delightful!)

did i mention that there is a great cheesesteak place on the way? (oh yeah... http://www.eatphillysbest.com)

back to the bass....

the bass came with some interesting touches. the tuners (on my request) are not shiny, they are flat. the end pin is a new design to me (pictures will follow) and the finish is slightly "antique-d". this bass is an absolute beauty to look at.

dealing with Wil and Arnold is a breeze and i have never been more satisfied with a quality instrument. and yes, i bought it unheard.


please excuse the poor photography....


your bud,


simon

[Marcus Johnson]

Welcome to the club, CHEESESTEAKCAKE. The pics look fine; much nicer than the last ones of the Shanghai bass!

[brutuscheezcake]

lets see....


still sounds great!

i better get to work!


simon

[Uncletoad]

Sweet.

I want to live there.

Looks fabulous. I played Chris Fitz's and it knocked me out.

What is that endpin?

I'm hoping for a lengthy compare and contrast of the two as you get used to it.

[Andy Allen]

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

I'm hoping for a lengthy compare and contrast of the two as you get used to it.

I'm hoping Simon will host an LA mini-belchfest so that us local guys can compare them

Andy

[redfun]

Me three on the comparison, Simon. And count me in on the gathering at your house that Andy has planned. I live just on the other side of the mountains in your picture. By the way, how did the recital go with Mrs. Cheezecake?

Joe

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Congrats, bro. As BIGGUS told me right after I got mine, "welcome to the big ****-eating grin club."

[CamMcIntyre]

I'm also looking forward to the comparison. I've had my Cleveland laminate for about a year and a half [i think...], and the idea of a 2nd bass being a hybrid La Scala is something that seems appealing despite me not needing another bass. It's pretty far down on the list of bass gear to buy [right behind another electric bass actually], but i'd be interested in the comparison.

take it easy.

[5stringDNA]

I am so Jealous.. I really want one of these, but my savings account says a house is more important, haha.

[mpm]

I nominate Andy to run with the LA-LA Belchfest idea...

[brutuscheezcake]

hey guys,

uncletoad, airbass, redfun, cam... there isnt really a comparison to be done in my mind. this would be the same for any carved vs. laminate though. teh La Scala is just in a different class.

the Cleveland has an absolutely huge THUMP, moves an impressive amount of air, and amplifies nicely but has a typical laminates acoustic decay where the La Scala has a resonance and sustain, a depth and growl that brings out the individual character of the bass. this is a bass that will develop its own sound over time. what you put in will help determine what you get out.

the Cleveland was my first decent upright and the La Scala is that next big step up, both price wise and tonally.

if your criterion of merit is tone, the choice is obvious. of course it didnt become obvious until i got the La Scala.

this is the kind of bass that you lovingly name.

hey MrPizz, i put the starks on and Wil said when he tried it, he loved the combination and was going to try them on his bass! HA! i loves them heavy-a$$ed strings.


deeply tonal,


simon

[Freddels]

To get a good comparison you'd have to compare hybrid LaScala to hybrid Cleveland. My hybrid Cleveland sounds absolutely wonderful. I haven't tried a LaScala . . . yet!

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by POPEYETWINKIE

this is the kind of bass that you lovingly name.

You mean like "Juliette" and "Lena"?

hey MrPizz, i put the starks on and Wil said when he tried it, he loved the combination and was going to try them on his bass! HA! i loves them heavy-a$$ed strings.

Me too - the LaScala sings like a steroidal bird with the Starks on. I'm always tempted to put them back on, but I like the Dominants pretty well for now.

[Marcus Johnson]

Is there any string that doesn't sound good on the La Scala? I mean, I've gone from a variety of Spiros to Obligati to Animas, and they've all been great. I haven't had that experience with other basses. I mean, maybe I should try some weed whackers next time around, and save myself a coupla hundred bucks.



ps.....ain't gonna happen.

[godoze]

"sings like a steroidal bird"


I knew a soprano like that once...

The LaScala is violin cornered correct ?

[Marcus Johnson]

Yup.

[Jake deVilliers]

Hey Simon, those strings you're talking about are which 'Starks'? Spirocore, Flexocore?

Thanks

[larry]

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

Is there any string that doesn't sound good on the La Scala?

I'm kicking around going to Olivs on my hybrid Lascala. I put an Oliv G I had laying around on with the rest being Superflexibles. Wow. It sounds really good. Now it's killing me to think about $370 or whatever for a set of strings (plus luthier cost for widening the nut slots). I may go with Oliv G & D and keep the Superflex E & A, or wait and get something else down the road. You should hear that Oliv G on the Lascala. though.

[brutuscheezcake]

hey there jake!

they are thomastik-infeld spirocore starks, red bottom with a green top.

stark means heavy (or thick, or strong).




simon

[redfun]

Simon,

What's your take at this point on the flatback influence of the sound of your La Scala?

Joe