DR Heartfield 5 Fretless

bassjigga · #1 11-13-2009, 02:26 PM

For Sale only: DR Heartfield 5 fretless

Here's the story on this bass. When I got it, it had that horribly ugly black-pink metallic burst 80s paint job. Someone had modified it with 4 string bartolini jazz pickups. The preamp was dead. It has been defretted, and the grooves filled with some black substance. I don't know what it is but it hasn't ever been an issue. It's a maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, and alder body.

Since then, I had it completely refinished to sunburst on the body and a clear satin finish on the back of the neck. The hardware is still original. Since the guts were useless, I replaced them with delano pickups and a glockenklang 3-band preamp. The work was done by Joe Zon, so this is no hack job. It's a night and day difference - like a completely new bass.

I'm selling because I don't use it much and just trying to downsize gear. The case is fairly beat up cosmetically, but still functions. Obviously I won't recover the money put into it but it's a cool bass and might as well be played. Not looking for any trades - sale only.

$650 shipped in the Continental U.S.

funkybe · #2 11-13-2009, 02:38 PM

cool piece. Is there anything on the fingerboard?

bassjigga · #3 11-13-2009, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkybe

cool piece. Is there anything on the fingerboard?

No it is unfinished

ahollowhd · #4 11-13-2009, 02:56 PM

Can you describe the control functions for the preamp?

bassjigga · #5 11-13-2009, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahollowhd

Can you describe the control functions for the preamp?

Sure can:

Master volume: pull up for passive mode

Pickup blend

Treble: Active +/-18 db @ 18KHz, in passive mode acts as classical high cut

Bass: +/- 14db @ 40Hz

Mid: +/- 9db @ 550Hz

9 Volt

bongomania · #6 11-13-2009, 03:50 PM

Cool and tempting!

ahollowhd · #7 11-13-2009, 05:54 PM

Is it strung EADGC?

bassjigga · #8 11-13-2009, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahollowhd

Is it strung EADGC?

It is at the moment, but the nut is slotted for BEADG.

bongomania · #9 11-13-2009, 10:11 PM

Couple Q's: Would you describe it as more "sustainy-solo-y" or more "thumpy-percussive" or could you slap some other tone/flavor labels on it? And in the pics the colors look ultra vivid, like intense fuschia in the "red" band--is it like that IRL, or is that just an effect from the camera or my monitor?

Thanks!

bassjigga · #10 11-14-2009, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Couple Q's: Would you describe it as more "sustainy-solo-y" or more "thumpy-percussive" or could you slap some other tone/flavor labels on it? And in the pics the colors look ultra vivid, like intense fuschia in the "red" band--is it like that IRL, or is that just an effect from the camera or my monitor?

Thanks!

Well it's always hard to describe tone but to me alder always sounds fairly open and airy. It really sounds a lot like an old jazz bass to me. If you favor the neck pickup it gets a little more percussive and upright sounding. The bridge pickup has your jaco tone.

There is definitely red in it, however not as saturated as the photos. Probably my camera and/or monitor.

cartelli_man · #11 11-15-2009, 06:41 PM

geeze...i'm trying to sell my fretless right now...i'm not digging the tone...but if that happens im definately interested

ahollowhd · #12 11-16-2009, 02:59 PM

More Q's: Scale, string spacing, and weight.

bassjigga · #13 11-16-2009, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahollowhd

More Q's: Scale, string spacing, and weight.

Scale: 34"

String spacing: 3/4" or 19mm at the bridge

Weight: about 9 pounds on a bathroom scale

J. Crawford · #14 11-27-2009, 10:44 AM

I really like this bass, it keeps drawing me in.

New fretless addict wishing he had the cash bump!

bassjigga · #15 11-27-2009, 04:54 PM

you know you want it! bump

Kael · #16 11-30-2009, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassjigga

Scale: 34"

String spacing: 3/4" or 19mm at the bridge

Weight: about 9 pounds on a bathroom scale

Really? I thought that the heartfield rivers were 33.5" scale for some reason.

bassjigga · #17 11-30-2009, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kael

Really? I thought that the heartfield rivers were 33.5" scale for some reason.

I don't know I just measured from the nut to 12th fret and it was 17".

4StringedFiend · #18 12-01-2009, 08:18 AM

This is a sweet looking bass man! If I had the money this might the bass that would make me switch to a 5er. I grew up hearing my father crank out tons of sweet basslines with some amazing tones on his DR-5 and have envied his bass ever since I was about 9 years old. Plus that XLR out would be extremely helpful in recording situations, I hope someone who's gonna really appreciate her is going to pick her up.

bassjigga · #19 12-01-2009, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4StringedFiend

This is a sweet looking bass man! If I had the money this might the bass that would make me switch to a 5er. I grew up hearing my father crank out tons of sweet basslines with some amazing tones on his DR-5 and have envied his bass ever since I was about 9 years old. Plus that XLR out would be extremely helpful in recording situations, I hope someone who's gonna really appreciate her is going to pick her up.

Ahh I should note that.... the XLR is not connected to anything. It's really just there to plug the hole. It was part of the original preamp which was dead.

kylej7 · #20 12-01-2009, 10:54 AM

I believe the scale length on the DR5 is about 33.85 inches (its 860mm). Bump for Heartfield, they're GREAT basses.