The Mike Lull Club Part 3

[Vic]

Originally Posted by pauliebass

I'm sure Mike would swap out electronics for you.

Yeah, that's what I'm figuring... either that or just a component or two to convert mine as needed.

[Vic]

The other thing I'm not totally sure will stay on-board is the pearl guard. It looks nice, but I might want to try something else on it eventually. I'll figure that out later, tho.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by Vic

Roll call...

Lull M4V/M5V players? Specifically, ash/maple? Just wanted to get a snapshot of some of you folks who've owned and gigged them a bunch.

I hate ash/maple JJ basses. For some reason I bought this and actually like it a lot. Go figure

[Vic]

Update...

Just got off the phone with Mike's shop, and it turns out I'm wrong.

Doing a stack with the tone on top is no big deal.

They're gonna' send me a stack that's tone on top and mids on the bottom, which I'll hard wire to 250Hz. DONE.

They also told me I can just replace that cap with a hex instead of flat blade, but they couldn't send me one as they didn't have any in stock (no problem). Mainly I just wanted to make sure it was what I thought it was (possible). DONE.

I'm gonna' screw around with this bass with yet another preamp someday, but in the mean time, I'll be happy with this one as-is for a while I'm sure.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Vic

Update...

Just got off the phone with Mike's shop, and it turns out I'm wrong.

Doing a stack with the tone on top is no big deal.

They're gonna' send me a stack that's tone on top and mids on the bottom, which I'll hard wire to 250Hz. DONE.

They also told me I can just replace that cap with a hex instead of flat blade, but they couldn't send me one as they didn't have any in stock (no problem). Mainly I just wanted to make sure it was what I thought it was (possible). DONE.

I'm gonna' screw around with this bass with yet another preamp someday, but in the mean time, I'll be happy with this one as-is for a while I'm sure.

Cool. That will be a nice tone stack on that bass! Get a nice mint guard on there (if you continue to not dig the one on there now, or even a black one) and that seems to be a keeper!

I still keep looking at that ice blue P on the Austin Bass Trader's site, as a backup/fly bass. Don't need it, but want it. Beautiful looking instrument and a very good price!

[Vic]

Originally Posted by KJung

Cool. That will be a nice tone stack on that bass! Get a nice mint guard on there (if you continue to not dig the one on there now, or even a black one) and that seems to be a keeper!

Yup... I rarely need high mid control anyway, but boosting low mids when favoring/soloing the bridge is great. And yeah, I already have the black on another bass, but mint is good, maybe parchment, possibly tort... dunno, but no rush on that. Pearl is ok for now.

I still keep looking at that ice blue P on the Austin Bass Trader's site, as a backup/fly bass. Don't need it, but want it. Beautiful looking instrument and a very good price!

+1 I hope you get it. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.

[RocketMusic]

My Ash/Maple M5V also has a passive tone stacked on top of the mids (plus a three-way mid frequency toggle). So the knobs are volume, blend, passive tone/mids, treble/bass. I LOVE this bass!

[Vic]

Originally Posted by RocketMusic

My Ash/Maple M5V also has a passive tone stacked on top of the mids (plus a three-way mid frequency toggle). So the knobs are volume, blend, passive tone/mids, treble/bass. I LOVE this bass!

That's pretty much exactly what I'll end up with except of course for the switch. I could maybe add that someday, but honestly, I seriously doubt I'll ever need it, so it wouldn't be worth my time to install.

If I decided to get uber-nerdy about it, I might screw around with hard wiring different mid points, but I doubt it.

The main thing that blew me away the most about this bass is it has the same amazing focus and power, especially on the B string, that I have in another bass I just love to death. I've played a LOT of basses with this general spec at this point (5 string ash/maple or at least ash body J basses) and a relative few have this kind of power and focus... especially in a 34" scale.

Now, before you go off on me for the whole 34"/35" B string thing, which I know has been well beaten to death, I want to point out I already understand you don't have to have a 35" scale to have a great B, BUT, I do think it's a little harder to have a truly great B... even exemplary (like this one is) on a 34" scale. It does present a little added challenge to the Luthier in BOTH wood selection as well as construction.

Then of course, it's always also a challenge to get the uber light ash to sound similar to a heavier ash bodied bass, especially with an aluminum bridge, making this one even more special IMHO. I'm tempted to try a brass bridge just to see what happens, but honestly, it doesn't need it.

IMHO anyway.

[Vic]

Originally Posted by RocketMusic

My Ash/Maple M5V...

I forgot to ask you a question in my last post... do you string the B top or bottom? I had to replace the strings on mine and the set I chose wasn't long enough for a thru-body, so it's currently top strung (and I'm still not missing anything). If you've messed with it much, which strings do you use? I'm thinking of messing with it some on this one, but as I recall from past stuff on this, it doesn't seem to make a huge difference.

[Modern Growl]

^^Your a cheating man whore!

[Vic]

Originally Posted by Modern Growl

^^Your a cheating man whore!

Shhhh!

[RocketMusic]

Yeah, I've not noticed a difference through the body or otherwise. As it is, I've been using TI Jazz flats strung through the body. I haven't changed strings in quite a while, so there's not much experimenting going on here! LOL

I look at things like that and the 34" vs 35" scale debate as "live and let live" things. If you dig one vs. the other, by all means go with the way you dig it! All of us have different hands, different ears & different brains. Not to mention - every bass is unique, it's quite easy to find a "bad" example of anything that anyone deems the-end-all-be-all. Live long and prosper. And I wish everyone would have the chance to find at least one bass that gets them as excited about it as you are about this one. That's a great thing.

You did create an itch in my mind mentioning the brass bridge... I've got a vibrating gremlin in my Lull's bridge, so I've been contemplating a bridge change for a while. And light as my M5V is, I wouldn't mind adding a little mass there...

[prd004]

Originally Posted by Vic

Roll call...

Lull M4V/M5V players? Specifically, ash/maple? Just wanted to get a snapshot of some of you folks who've owned and gigged them a bunch.

Been playing an ash/maple M4V for almost ten years! Whatcha want to know?

[Vic]

Originally Posted by prd004

Been playing an ash/maple M4V for almost ten years! Whatcha want to know?Attachment 317219

You may have just told me but basically, maybe just a bit on other basses you've tried and what you like (and heck for that matter) don't/didn't like about it. Maybe any mods/changes you did?

Just general stuff.

[Holdsg]

It's OK Vic, you're safe here among friends.
Some of us go both ways too...speaking about basses from two great American luthiers, dontcha know it.

[prd004]

Originally Posted by Vic

You may have just told me but basically, maybe just a bit on other basses you've tried and what you like (and heck for that matter) don't/didn't like about it. Maybe any mods/changes you did?

Just general stuff.

I had the electronics upgraded by Mike.
Originally it was V-V-bass-treble with push/pull active passive.
I had it changed to Master volume, blend, tone (tone works active or passive), stacked bass/treble.

The other mod I had done (also by Mike) was I had the pop up battery compartment replaced with a hard wire one. The pop up compartments kept wearing out.

My other basses are/were Pedulla Rapture, Fender American Jazz, Carvin LB 5'er, Carvin AC40.

I use the AC40 for acoustic gigs but the Lull is the only one I use for anything else. It's been nothing short of perfect stage or studio. I've used it for Rock, blues, hard rock, alt country, soul/funk and jazz.

[Vic]

Originally Posted by Holdsg

It's OK Vic, you're safe here among friends.
Some of us go both ways too...speaking about basses from two great American luthiers, dontcha know it.

Yeah, I know, and honestly, after having been part of two Luthier roundtable events now, co-respectful camaraderie should be assumed, not otherwise.

[Saluki]

Originally Posted by Vic

You may have just told me but basically, maybe just a bit on other basses you've tried and what you like (and heck for that matter) don't/didn't like about it. Maybe any mods/changes you did?

Just general stuff.

I like the neck profile for a fiver. 18mm spacing is perfect for me. Is your 34" scale 18mm or 19mm?

[Vic]

Originally Posted by Saluki

I like the neck profile for a fiver. 18mm spacing is perfect for me. Is your 34" scale 18mm or 19mm?

34/18. With only two exceptions, I'm pretty much done with 35" scales, especially on a J bass.

[Holdsg]

This arrived yesterday and we're just getting acquainted.
Loving it so far






love the grain on this piece of solid mahogany




Sounds great. I'm gonna try a few tweaks, like different strings (Cobalts for sure) to coax some more growl out of it.