FS: TBC Fretless Custom Lightwave 5

Hhai · #1 07-15-2011, 05:09 PM

Wow this one's gonna sting. It pains me to do this. This bass never ceases to smack a smile on my face, it's so relaxing and wonderful to play, and has such lovely mwah to it. I love it and I know i'm going to regret this, but these days I'm just wanderin around playin acoustics and focusing more on guitar and my moog. There's no point holding onto such a wonderful bass when I'm not playing it the way I should (I ain't much of a fretless player either, but I try, this instrument makes me wish I was so I could justify it and try to force myself to keep it!)

This is a custom TBC bass from when they were located in California. It has the lightwave 2.0 pickup system, a ridiculously nice Brazilian Rosewood fretboard, and I recently strung it with D'addario Chromes. Never figured out the body wood but I think it's Honduran Mahogany, the top is a ridiculous piece of Spalted Maple. Sounds and plays wonderfully. I'd rather take this any day over regular Lightwave's. So much prettier in every way. The previous owner (swpyne) made a bunch of modifications to it, including a complete refinish and headstock reshape to name a few. It came with a receipt showing all the work done, and I'll ship that out too (obviously). More info on it from the old thread here: FS: Custom TBC Fretless Lightwave 5

I should mention I don't know how the blue part of the strings ended up like that on the nut like that, but it plays as it should all across the board on all strings.

Price dropped to $1000 + actual shipping. Stupid good price. PP or MO. Split fees if PP. Firm (trying to be). Worth every penny. Ships in a hardshell case. I've kept in excellent condition since I received it and is in the same condition. No trades please unless you got something really special.

Thanks for looking!

Sinokawori · #2 07-15-2011, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hhai

$1200 + actual shipping. PP or MO. Buyer pays fees if Paypal.

I'm not a mod, but taken from the rules:

No surcharges on an item are allowed, this includes the 3% for Paypal. That fee is the seller's responsibility, not the buyer. Paypal's usage agreement specifically prohibits this.

**Mound of Sound** · #3 07-15-2011, 08:24 PM

Jerry blanket bump

Hhai · #4 07-15-2011, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sinokawori

I'm not a mod, but taken from the rules:

No surcharges on an item are allowed, this includes the 3% for Paypal. That fee is the seller's responsibility, not the buyer. Paypal's usage agreement specifically prohibits this.

Ah. Didn't see that. Sorry yo. Removed.

Sinokawori · #5 07-15-2011, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hhai

Ah. Didn't see that. Sorry yo. Removed.

Yeah, i thought it was unintentional. I guess it's all good now ^^
Good luck with the sale

swpyne · #6 07-15-2011, 10:34 PM

This was previously my bass and I had it "rebuilt" by Eclipse guitars here in Denver to turn it into the beauty that it is today. I spent a great deal of money to have the body stripped and refinished with many coats of hand-rubbed nitro. I had the headstock reshaped and the bass clef inlaid on the front. The board is a beautiful piece of brazilian rosewood. It's an amazing fretless with a sound more like an upright then I have ever gotten out of any other bass I have owned. It's really eerie how the optical pickups can make you think you are hearing a flatwound string on an upright bass.

Wonderful instrument that someone will be VERY happy to own and play! Perfect for traditional jazz IMO.

Here are a few more photos from my archive..........

Hhai · #7 07-15-2011, 11:05 PM

Thanks for chiming in Spencer! Much appreciated. +1000 to very happy to own and play. Just a wonderful bass. The pain of putting it up for sale is sinking in..

Jazzdogg · #8 07-15-2011, 11:26 PM

Does this bass have a piezo to supplement the high frequencies?

swpyne · #9 07-16-2011, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzdogg

Does this bass have a piezo to supplement the high frequencies?

Yes it does although I rarely used it when I owned it. I felt the tone from the optical pickups sounded great without any piezo blended in.

ahollowhd · #10 07-16-2011, 09:42 AM

What is the scale length and string spacing?

Hhai · #11 07-16-2011, 10:32 AM

Here's a description of the piezo from their site:

iceTone™ Our exclusive circuit allows blending the LightWave Optical Pickup with tailored piezo transducers built into each string saddle. The result is a smooth, natural high frequency enhancement ranging from crisp high end to percussive presence. iceTone cannot be selected separately, but is added to the optical signal as the control knob is turned up.

iceTone™ doesn't sound like a usual piezo; is it?
Unlike conventional piezo systems, iceTone™ is designed as a selective enhancer; you can use the optical pickup signal by itself, or dial in iceTone to add mids or mids and highs. The iceTone™ signal cannot be played by itself, however. The LightWave system's master volume and tone controls affect both the optical and iceTone signals.

I agree with swpyne. i don't use it much either, maybe for a little boost every now and then when i need some more cut and treble for certain applications, but I never had it on more than 20-30%. The optical pup sounds really great by itself and I rarely need it, but it's there.

Quote:

What is the scale length and string spacing?

From swpyne's old thread:

Quote:

The scale is 35", the string spacing is 18mm and it weighs in at 7.96 lbs. on my digital scale.

SeaBassTheFish · #12 07-16-2011, 12:27 PM

Great sounds clips still up on the old thread (link in first post), in case anyone is interested. Just thought I'd chime in so that I can live vicariously through whomever the lucky chap is that gets to own this next.