Mike Lull or Sadowsky? (with a twist)

[Mikaelbass]

thanks for the input guys, Madbassplaya I think you may be right, after looking at videos of bryan beller playing his mike lull thunderbird I think that may be the better option simply because of the sound coming from that bass, sounds like an even stronger Tbird. I'll await replies from both Mike and Roger and see what they have to say.

Cheers

[willsellout]

The only thing that is special about Lull is his T-bird pickups. Why not build something around those pickups? Definitely cheaper than your options now.

[TBird1958]

I own the first production Lull T-4, and helped a little with the project, aside from Mike building a great bass, his Thunderbird pickups are simply the best, far better than those used in any post '60s 'Bird, Sadowsky doesn't have anything that can get near them for tone, period. Re the headstock, look again and you'll see that it's curve mimics the lower 'bout on the T Bird quite nicely.

[Mikaelbass]

Tbird!! I never got around to posting pics of my MK. II thunderbird. It kills man, as you probably know, for what I am doing, my stingray, jazz or even my super warmoth jazz didnt cut it or have that huge sound like that thing does. Did you find the mike lull pups a big improvement over the stock ones? I dont know if it is your cup of tea, by chromes on that bird is sooo huge.

I will agree that after noting the curve's similarities the headstock seems more appealing, do you know if Mike offers a ebony fretboard as a custom option? I dont plan on getting an off the shelf model, as I specifically want a 34" 5 string. (and apparently mike lull will do any colour i want?)

Cheers

[millsbass5]

Originally Posted by Mikaelbass

Hello everyone and Merry Christmas from Australia!

I will be in the position to acquire a high end bass for myself, in the NYC sadowsky kind of price range. Currently my bass of choice is my Gibson Thunderbird w/flatwound strings as i get huge amounts of low end and strong focused mids which i require in my music. I primarily play pickstyle due to stylistic reasons within my band but I also enjoy fingerstyle in most other musical situations. To give you an idea of the sound I go for, it is very large and thick slightly overdriven sound (SVT-VR) and I also use a synth pedal for distortion.

Now, my idea is to get a bass made for me like I have always wanted (Sadowsky modern shape, with ebony board and black hardware) but I am unsure of what pickups to use to fit the sound I need. This brings me to thinking about the Mike Lull T5 as it will certainly fit within my needs, only I do not find the headstock appealing. So I am asking those of you out there with any wisdom as what would be a good course of action? Are there any Sadowsky pickups which will fit my situation? Perhaps the modern soapbars in the classic J position with the Mid Freq boost option?

Cheers in advance

Check out the Lull Brian Beller 5 Sig. That bass sounds like it'd be right up your alley.

Check it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc3YPzOn8Aw

[Mikaelbass]

Originally Posted by millsbass5

Check out the Lull Brian Beller 5 Sig. That bass sounds like it'd be right up your alley.

Check it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc3YPzOn8Aw

Ooft, thats thick

[TBird1958]

Originally Posted by Mikaelbass

Tbird!! I never got around to posting pics of my MK. II thunderbird. It kills man, as you probably know, for what I am doing, my stingray, jazz or even my super warmoth jazz didnt cut it or have that huge sound like that thing does. Did you find the mike lull pups a big improvement over the stock ones? I dont know if it is your cup of tea, by chromes on that bird is sooo huge.

I will agree that after noting the curve's similarities the headstock seems more appealing, do you know if Mike offers a ebony fretboard as a custom option? I dont plan on getting an off the shelf model, as I specifically want a 34" 5 string. (and apparently mike lull will do any colour i want?)

Cheers

Lulls are a big improvement over the stock Gibson pickup, they really have a warm, vintage growl. You can get the pickups in chrome, nickel, raw nickel, gold and black -4 or 5 string. Mine was a custom color, metallic orange, AFAIK the ebony board shouldn't be a problem - Send Paul an email, give him a little time to respond, they're busy getting ready for Winter NAMM, building a new Non Reverse 'Bird for the show

[rollcall]

sadowsky

[millsbass5]

Originally Posted by Mikaelbass

Ooft, thats thick

Damn straight. As Jethro Tull would say, it's "Thick as a Brick". If you don't get it, Google it.

[millsbass5]

Originally Posted by Gougedeye

How about one of these? http://www.mikelull.com/site/instrum...s-JT4_JT5.html
As a Mike Lull owner, I am a bit biased, however they are superb basses! Good Luck.

Holy hell!!!!!! I didn't see that. Go to the bank N-O-W!!!! BTW the way, did I mention ?

[bdgotoh]

I have a wonderful Sadowsky but if you're looking for Tbird tone then a Lull is the way to go. I loved the tone of my T4 but didn't like how it felt, so Mike built me the PT4 below. I asked for it without a pickguard so the pickups could be in the same place as on the T4, but with the feel of the P body and wider neck.

Mike will do an ebony board for an upcharge, I got one on a different Lull P4 without any trouble.

[mattwear]

I too find the Mike Lull headstock rather unappealing. I think the Mike Lull Jeff Ament sig T4 with its reverse headstock solves the problem. In my opinion a vast improvement on the look of the T4. I got gas!

[Fuzzbass]

Originally Posted by bdgotoh

I have a wonderful Sadowsky but if you're looking for Tbird tone then a Lull is the way to go. I loved the tone of my T4 but didn't like how it felt, so Mike built me the PT4 below. I asked for it without a pickguard so the pickups could be in the same place as on the T4, but with the feel of the P body and wider neck.

Mike will do an ebony board for an upcharge, I got one on a different Lull P4 without any trouble.

Wow, that's an awesome bass.

[madbassplaya]

You guys are cray cray! Lull's headstock is legit, so is Roger's!

I think my favorite is Nino's:



Back on topic: I think Lull is the OP's way to go.

[pauliebass]

I don't get not liking the Lull headstock. Seems like the last thing in the world to care about anyways. It's a product identifier, and to me it says badass.

[Musicman20]

Originally Posted by pauliebass

I don't get not liking the Lull headstock. Seems like the last thing in the world to care about anyways. It's a product identifier, and to me it says badass.

If you are spending a lot of money, I don't see why you would compromise on something you don't like.

[Jimmy Stump]

My tone goals were different (I was looking for a Jazz bass), but for what it's worth, I auditioned a few Sadowskys before settling on a Lull jazz bass. They are both quality instruments.

[Mikaelbass]

After much consideration I think the mike lull will be the way to go. For those in the know, if i were to use chromes on a 35" scale bass would the string tension be much higher than usual? and if the switch to 35" is really worth it?

Ice metallic blue with a bell cover, black or chrome hardware?....

Cheers

[Fuzzbass]

Originally Posted by Mikaelbass

After much consideration I think the mike lull will be the way to go. For those in the know, if i were to use chromes on a 35" scale bass would the string tension be much higher than usual? and if the switch to 35" is really worth it?

Ice metallic blue with a bell cover, black or chrome hardware?....

Cheers

String tension: here's a funny (to me) story. My first 35" scale bass was a Modulus Quantum 5. When I first got it I thought the increase in tension was significant, but I eventually realized that it was because of the OEM D'Addario XL strings and not scale length. Once I put my usual DR Hi Beams on, I didn't notice any increase in tension. Which makes sense: 35 is only 3 percent more than 34.

Is 35" really worth it? Depends on what you're looking for. It might (according to some) improve B string response to a small degree, but you're getting 35" scale across all 5 strings, and to my ears the extra scale length gives a slightly different timbre. Because of that I prefer 34", but again, the difference is slight.

Bottom line: if I found a really cool fiver that was only available in 35" scale, then scale length alone would not make me think twice about grabbing it.

[Saluki]

Mike is making 34" scale now as an option, right. Call Paul at the shop.