New Standard Cleveland... - Page 2

Jason Sypher · #21 10-09-2008, 12:38 PM

Mojo to spare. Love it when a plywood bass makes me drool!

MingusAmongUs · #22 10-09-2008, 05:50 PM

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.

My Cleveland is easily the most sturdy bass I have ever seen, in spite of its light weight. It is built like a tank and the seams are solid as a rock.

Can't give you exact measurements or ply counts but I wouldn't be the least bit concerned about it. It's no thinner than any other. I have always babied my instruments but this bass, like most basses, has taken a few knocks and weathered them fine.

CamMcIntyre · #23 10-09-2008, 06:00 PM

Mine has survived plenty. Sometimes I don't judge things quite right & I run the side into the door. At some CTA [subway] stations, if they don't have a handicap gate, I've hit it while lifting it over the turnstyle.

Lots of opportunities to get damaged, and none have happened yet.

Marcus Johnson · #24 10-09-2008, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamMcIntyre

Sometimes I don't judge things quite right & I run the side into the door.

I do that too.... with or without the bass.

There's another thread here that asks about one's dream bass. For me, I think a ply Cleveland with Spiros and a flight case might be it. With that rig, I could sound great anywhere in the world, and sleep at night without worrying about imploding basses.

PS.... that is a particularly nice looking Cleveland you've got there. I love that finish.

PPS.... damn... no gig tonight, but now, for some reason I feel like playing my La Scala!

Paul Warburton · #25 10-09-2008, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

I could sound great anywhere in the world

Key words: I could
I'm sorry, you know I love you and your playing.....
I'm just in a playful mood tonight. Aw ****. Another derailment.

Marcus Johnson · #26 10-09-2008, 07:11 PM

Hehe... at least I didn't say "would".

JeffKissell · #27 10-09-2008, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arnoldschnitzer

Nope, 5.

Thanks for the clarification Arnold. My bass is quite dark and the plys are hard to see.

Oh...and sorry 'bout the swelled head comment. Don's walnut bass is just about most beautiful bass I've ever seen!!!

-J

CamMcIntyre · #28 10-09-2008, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

I do that too.... with or without the bass.

There's another thread here that asks about one's dream bass. For me, I think a ply Cleveland with Spiros and a flight case might be it. With that rig, I could sound great anywhere in the world, and sleep at night without worrying about imploding basses.
:

Yeah-the time of my life when that happened a lot was middle school. Shoulders started getting more broad than I realized.

So-I've got everything, but the flight case. I use Spiro Weichs [i think i said that early in this thread].

The whole thinking I need to upgrade eventually was killed by these boards and my current gig. I'm doing a run of 'Damn Yankees' in a suburb here [woohoo 7th Largest Theater in Chicagoland]. I've gotten comments from a variety of people-including the other cast members, my subs, and audience members.

I'd like to have another bass, so that I'd have one to practice on while my other bass is at the theater, but I don't think I need an "upgraded" bass to do what I want on it (theater gigs). I don't have the money for that, so I've pushed that idea into the back of my mind and knowing that my bass sounds great makes it a lot easier.

CamMcIntyre · #29 11-17-2008, 12:03 AM

So, I finally figured out how to do the picture in post thing. So here's 3 pictures of my Cleveland and I. The first two are from the video montage the director made for 'Damn Yankees' and the last one is from a showcase I played for a few years back.

velvetphil · #30 11-19-2008, 08:34 AM

Damn, that neck looks enormous...

Uncletoad · #31 11-19-2008, 09:15 AM

Its a bigger neck but very comfortable. I prefer it over a slender neck. Keeps my thumb honest.

Paul Warburton · #32 11-19-2008, 09:57 AM

Nice pics, Cam...Damn, you're so young.
Yeah...the neck makes my fiver's look like a toothpick.

Eric Swanson · #33 11-19-2008, 10:05 AM

I like it a lot.

I am with Marcus; one of my dream basses. Lots of sack, no fretting.

Nice pics, Cam. Thanks very much for taking the trouble to share them...

I remember when I had hair...on my head.

CamMcIntyre · #34 11-19-2008, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

Nice pics, Cam...Damn, you're so young.
Yeah...the neck makes my fiver's look like a toothpick.

Yep. I'm 22. I've still got a ton to learn, but I'm having a blast. I recently went from playing 5-10 shows a year to playing 3-4 a week. Thankfully, I've been booked with local theater shows since early September. I'm booked through May at this point.

When i went from playing the high school's Kay and Engelhart basses to playing this-it was a huge change. However, I find it's quite comfortable now. Most of the other guys that have tried it have said that it's a huge but comfy neck.

Eric-I had hair down to my shoulders till mid June. If my family is any indicator, I'll die with a full head of hair-it'll just be extremely thin.

Jim Henderson · #35 11-22-2008, 05:29 AM

htbgen,
I've got #104, a laminated Cleveland the same color as your beauty. It weighs less than my Kay (52 M1) or the carved Juzek that Arnold and his boys rebuilt. I use the Cleve for all recording, live and studio and Uncle Toad is right about the "stupid beautiful" amplified tone. Big and fat with excellent mid range. Also, it does gets better and better over time. Congrats ol' partner you've got a hell of a great bass.
Jim

CamMcIntyre · #36 11-22-2008, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Henderson

htbgen,
I've got #104, a laminated Cleveland the same color as your beauty. It weighs less than my Kay (52 M1) or the carved Juzek that Arnold and his boys rebuilt. I use the Cleve for all recording, live and studio and Uncle Toad is right about the "stupid beautiful" amplified tone. Big and fat with excellent mid range. Also, it does gets better and better over time. Congrats ol' partner you've got a hell of a great bass.
Jim

IIRC, mine is #124. I know I've got a picture of the label on here somewhere, I just can't seem to locate it. I'll check tonight once I get to the theater.

As I've said many times on here-the tone is the closest thing to what I hear in my head. I can't think of something better to say than that.

all the best.

htbgen · #37 11-22-2008, 04:35 PM

...just for the record, mine's #292 and sounding sweeter by the day. My lot (The Red Flags) had just about finished the new album by the time I got the cleveland, but I managed to sneak it in on a couple of tracks - sample can be heard here - http://www.myspace.com/3redflags - on track 1. Bearing in mind it was only a week or so out of the crate, it was getting a sweet sound already.