New Standard Cleveland...

htbgen · #1 10-07-2008, 10:54 AM

Hi all,

I posted a while back on Bluegrass Bass Place asking for advice on just what sort of New Standard I should get (ply/hybrid/carved/cleveland/la scala). Based partly (but probably mostly) on their good advice I ordered a ply Cleveland. The crate arrived in the UK early August - being October now, I guess I'm qualified to pass comment - I LOVE THIS BASS (and I'm English, so I don't say this sort of thing lightly).

Where do I start...just over a year ago I imported a Upton Bass/Swingmaster ('cos I couldn't find a decent DB at a reasonable price in the UK). This was my first encounter with a 'real' Double Bass (Brief player history - bass guitar: 37 years / EUB:1 year / Double Bass:1 year). When I opened the (Upton Bass/Swingmaster) crate, I thought "this plays fine, but it doesn't sound much like a musical instrument"...I was not aware of how much the tone of a double bass is affected by just playing it - one year on, and the Englehardt had developed a nice round tone. I've owned many new electric basses, but the effect of playing-in has been nowhere so pronounced - quite an eye opener.

Don't get me wrong - the Swingmaster was (eventually) a good bass - but by way of comparison, straight out of the crate, the New Standard was just wonderful - I'd heard all
these tales on the boards & they were all true - what a fine instrument this is!

I had the bass strung with Pirastro Evah's on the bottom, and Lenzner plain guts on the top - this seems to be a good combination (for me anyway) - warm & balanced.

So. how can I describe the sound of the Cleveland? - big, warm, sweet, mellow, tight, crisp - every adjective I'd use to describe the best bass I've heard in my 38 years of playing experience. I can't recommend this bass highly enough - the same goes for the guys that make these wonderful instruments - thank you Wil & Arnold - you will not deal with better people.

I'm attempting to post some pics of this beautiful bass (I said to Wil "make it look like a piece of washed-up driftwood" - and he did). All in all, a fine, fine bass.

hdiddy · #2 10-07-2008, 11:12 AM

That put a smile on my face.

Sweet bass.

D McCartney · #3 10-07-2008, 11:26 AM

That is a beautiful bass! Congratulations and welcome to the NS club. It will grow on you as you play it, just gets better and better as you learn what it can do.

Dwight

CamMcIntyre · #4 10-07-2008, 05:25 PM

Congrats man! I've had mine for several years now [2004 i believe] and it just gets better and better. The tone is amazing.

Granted, I play in pretty different contexts, but hey-the bass still kills. I've got mine strung with Spirocore Weichs.

all the best.

Jet Nero · #5 10-07-2008, 06:03 PM

The color of that bass will hurt the tone. I recommend you order another one and send the current one to me straight away. I'll pay shipping.

All jest aside, that bass is HOT!

Paul Warburton · #6 10-07-2008, 06:03 PM

Congratulations! You've dealt with the right people...congrats on that too!

Uncletoad · #7 10-07-2008, 06:15 PM

Love that shade. Very nice. The light thing is all that and more!

I have mine string up with Gut tops and dead Spiro bottoms. It's a fantastic sound. Plugged in it's stupid good. That thing will sound even better after a year too.

**Joshua** · #8 10-07-2008, 08:55 PM

Uber-drool.

JeffKissell · #9 10-07-2008, 11:59 PM

Damn........

I like that color!

The boys do some decent work, eh!?!

-J

Gearhead43 · #10 10-09-2008, 01:43 AM

I have a question for you, htbgen, and for any other laminate Cleveland owners out there.

How would you rate your basses as far as durability, ability to stand up to gigging / transport / an occasional bump, etc.?

I have read that they are very, some say extremely, lightwieght construction.

Although I understand the idea behind making them as lightweight as possible for maximum volume and tone, I don't want a plywood bass that is as durable as paper mache either.

Are the basses very thin-walled? Or is the laminate material itself just very lightwieght? How thick is the laminate around the f-holes and how many plys can you see?

Thanks for info, opinions, etc.

salcott · #11 10-09-2008, 01:49 AM

FWIW, my LaScala has taken a couple of pretty good knocks in the past year with no ill effects. It's good to get the first scratch/edge dent over with; kinda like a new car; you worry a little less after the first one.

JeffKissell · #12 10-09-2008, 02:36 AM

Gearhead43,
Check out the ad that is usually on the banner to your left.

3 plys to the laminations, the top is spruce & poplar, the back is maple & poplar. My Cleveland (#170) has solid maple sides. It's built kinda like a tank but it doesn't play like one! Mine has a few dings and scratches but nothing serious. It leaves the house at least once and as many as five times a week for gigs, rehearsals, lessons, etc. I think this bass sounds best with gut strings but I currently have it strung with Belcantos while I learn arco. It's loud and full sounding with decent arco tone and @$$ kickin' pizz. Most people assume it's carved.
I bought mine new in early '05 and had it shipped out right before Arnold won a bunch of awards at ISB (and got a swelled head.

).

htbgen,
Congratulations, that is a beautiful bass you have!!
I do believe Arnold and Wil have outdone themselves yet again.

-J

Uncletoad · #13 10-09-2008, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gearhead43

How would you rate your basses as far as durability, ability to stand up to gigging / transport / an occasional bump, etc.?

I beat the crap out of mine for most of 3 years straight gigging. It's a horse. Snow, Heat, Wet, banging into stuff. It's a fantastic road bass. When I don't know what I'm walking into for the night I leave the A bass at home and take my Cleveland. Never lets me down.

Doesn't play like a $20K bass, it's not meant to. Best $5 I ever spent.

htbgen · #14 10-09-2008, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gearhead43

I have a question for you, htbgen, and for any other laminate Cleveland owners out there.

How would you rate your basses as far as durability, ability to stand up to gigging / transport / an occasional bump, etc.?

I have read that they are very, some say extremely, lightwieght construction.

Although I understand the idea behind making them as lightweight as possible for maximum volume and tone, I don't want a plywood bass that is as durable as paper mache either.

Are the basses very thin-walled? Or is the laminate material itself just very lightwieght? How thick is the laminate around the f-holes and how many plys can you see?

Thanks for info, opinions, etc.

Can't say for sure on durability as I've not owned it long enough to pass comment - what I CAN say is that the construction is solid and executed to a very high standard...I can't see this bass falling apart or caving in...it looks and feels built to go the distance.

Eric Swanson · #15 10-09-2008, 05:44 AM

Nice to see such a well-made, clearly effective, AND inexpensive instrument.

"Love" sounds like the right word. Indeed, this is a mighty statement from a U.K. native.

Thanks very much for sharing it. And AES bass owners, thanks for the meaningful, professional, relevant reviews.

This whole thread feels like a breath of fresh air...

arnoldschnitzer · #16 10-09-2008, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffKissell

Gearhead43,
3 plys to the laminations

Nope, 5.

D McCartney · #17 10-09-2008, 09:29 AM

It is almost three years to the day that mine arrived in that crate. (I still have the crate taken apart in my shed.)
So three years of hauling it in my pickup to church, bluegrass, jams, and recording, indoors, outdoors, air conditioning, summer humidity, winter dry. Doesn't seem to matter, there are a few dents or scratches but not a hint of structural problems.
Dwight

drurb · #18 10-09-2008, 10:27 AM

I sure would expect a ply bass as well-made as the Cleveland not to be anything close to delicate. That sure seems to be the case. I don't think durability is much of an issue with ANY decent ply bass though. Kays and Engels have literally been banged around for decades. From all I've read here, it's not durability that makes the Cleveland stand out. Rather, its owners often tout its sound, playability, and overall craftsmanship combined with the expected durability of a ply.

Gearhead43 · #19 10-09-2008, 10:38 AM

Thanks for the info guys. I want one so bad it hurts. Hands down the coolest new bass out there today, IMO.

coreybass · #20 10-09-2008, 01:27 PM

Congrats on the new bass!

The two Clevelands plys I've played have been awesome. I played Jeremy Allen's (not sure if he still has it) and a few notes on Dwight McCartney's at Wintergrass a few years ago. Both great basses with huge sound! I'd be very interested to know more how the plys compare to the hybrids. Chris Fitzgerald has one of each, I think. Chris?

Corey