Valenti Stealth Fretless Review!

[Fretless5verfan]

Here's the initial impression:



That should give you the gist of how i feel about the bass


I'll do a more in-depth review after my 1212 gets here and i gig out with the whole new set-up, but man oh man does this bass sound great!!

The mwah is definately present big time, but you can tone it easily down if need be with some right hand and EQ fiddlin'

It's surprisingly deep and the OPB-3 is phenomenal at giving you dozens of USABLE tones. I can really bump up all the knobs to extremes and i just can't go wrong. And don't even get me started on the coil taps. They evenly boost the output and tone of both pickups (and give you hum unless even), which is good cause the Fatstacks are a tad quieter than what i'm used to.

As far as feel goes, SLICK is the only word that describes it. I think as long as i keep the neck nice and clean, i might have to stick with gloss necks on my 5s The neck on this bad boy feels like home for me. The shape is different than i'm used to, but i don't see it making a difference in the long run.

Balances great while both standing and sitting. Nice and light. and came with a sweet case.

New pics, soundclips, and a more in-depth review to come.

[pointbass]

Oh, my

That bass is so beautiful ..... congratulations

[darkblack99]

Such an attractive bass.

I certainly would consider having one of those made, if I was in the market.

[Fuzzbass]

Killer! I love bass-ic black basses.

[tplyons]

Very sexy. Nino better get a Christmas present for that one!

[Fretless5verfan]

Originally Posted by tplyons

Very sexy. Nino better get a Christmas present for that one!

Is permanent patronage a present? If so, then he got one

I was thinking about getting some celinders and nordstrands, but honestly i'm thinking about just sticking with nino for everything and forgetting the 6 strings (Unless Nino will make me Valenti 6. Then i would be set )

[bigbottomline]

Beautiful.

How much more black can you get? None, none more black.

[Nino Valenti]

Originally Posted by bigbottomline

Beautiful.

How much more black can you get? None, none more black.

DR Black strings, Black Knobs with no lines, paint the pole pieces...


...inbetween sets at a dark bar/club, he'll never find it.

[OpaqueBass]

Originally Posted by Nino Valenti

...inbetween sets at a dark bar/club, he'll never find it.

yes... (rubs hands together with rather large smile on face).

he'll never find it you say...

[Fretless5verfan]

Originally Posted by OpaqueBass

yes... (rubs hands together with rather large smile on face).

he'll never find it you say...

Hey now...

It'll be real easy to find actually. It'll be that mass of shadow strapped to my chest 24/7....until i get the next one (read 4) that is


Update: had to stop playing because my fingers got sore, but man i'm LOVING the sound of the fatstacks in both HC and SC modes. Can't wait to see how an NP5 and a Fatstack sound together. (which will be in my next Valenti order muhahahaha )

[bigbottomline]

Originally Posted by Nino Valenti

DR Black strings, Black Knobs with no lines, paint the pole pieces...


...inbetween sets at a dark bar/club, he'll never find it.

Do you make leftys?

I'm thinkin' about an exotic lefty 4-string fretless, no lines of course.

Thanks!

(I sent you a PM a few days ago)

[lamborghini98]

Wow....
Where are those knobs from? Theyre really good looking!

I suggest (if you can find them) Fender Tapewounds for that. Theyre excellent strings.

wow... thats really an amazing looking bass. Congratulations!

[syciprider]

[DEVILMAN]

WOW!...Very VERY nice...cosidering it came from the largest/highest landfill area in the world(SI, used to live there, miss it...).
Anyways, cograts & Nino, you've done an outstanding job again...

cheers,
~S~

PS: It almost reminds me of the Haney that Boogiebass has(another killer/favorite)...

[TaySte_2000]

So ace but you already knew I approved

[Alistair R]

Awesome! Congrats!

[The Crusader]

effin awesome!!!congrats dude!
just in time for a merry Christmas!

[ptidwell]

Fretless5verfan,

That is an awesome looking bass.
I am anxious to hear your impressions of the fatstacks.
I'm in line with Valenti #20 I opted for the DC5's on mine.
So when I decide to go fretless I'm sure Nino will again get my business.

[Fretless5verfan]

Originally Posted by ptidwell

Fretless5verfan,

That is an awesome looking bass.
I am anxious to hear your impressions of the fatstacks.
I'm in line with Valenti #20 I opted for the DC5's on mine.
So when I decide to go fretless I'm sure Nino will again get my business.

The fatstacks are really cool man. Definately have that J type sound to them, but they sound more thick and deep to me. And then when you kick them into singles, they get significantly louder and get a grinding aggressive quality that works surprisingly well with fretless (but you also get a little annoying hum). I think on a fretted i'd need another type of neck p-up too keep the bridge p-up from getting out of control bright (which is why i'm going NP5 neck, FS bridge on my next one) but i think a pair of these might go in my slap project bass instead of the Sadowsky's i was gonna go with originally

And as far as the fretless aspect goes, i went from playing a fretted 35" 6 string exclusively, to playing this unlined fretless 34" 5 string and i'm already starting to feel at home on this bad boy.

[Pennydreadful]

Not into the whole 'stealth' look myself, but Nino definitely makes some cool-lookin stuff. And I don't think I've ever heard a negative word about him.