Valenti #062: the make-over

[Chef]

The basics:
Ash, maple, really nice flamed fingerboard, Nord side-by-side humcancelling pickup.
34" scale, 8.5lbs.

Before:
volume only, no pickguard, no tone, no control plate.
So close to "1955 Precision" though...hmmmmmmmm.....

After:
New nut, a couple of frets dressed, new parchment p/g, control plate with volume and tone, output jack moved to the side; and some new DA XL165 nickel, in their new "balanced tension" set. Nino also made the trussrod access route larger too, which makes it nice and easy to access.

Result:
Very much nicer to my eye, and man, it sure plays and sounds great.

As always, "exceeding expectations is meeting expectations" when it comes to Nino's work.


pix:

 

[SherwoodGreen]

That is one fine looking bass you have there, Chef!

 

[mark beem]

Nice!!

 

[Fuzzbass]

That is one fine looking bass you have there, Chef!

Ditto. Classic!

 

[Chef]

It's been a loooooong time since I had a simple, passive 5 string that worked this well for me.
I dig it. Nice solid lows, great mids, snappy highs. Perfect.

 

[nutdog]

Definite improvement. Looks beautiful.

 

[Chef]

I've had a lot of "1951-ish" stuff, and, while the slab bodies have never bothered me, I do in fact dig the '55 spec contours.

 

[pasta4lnch]

Looked great both ways . . . better now by an inch imo. Nice!

 

[nukes_da_bass]

Was longing for that bass when it was on Bass NW... Now the pain is worse! Nice score, massive improvements ( at half the price of Sadowskys version).

 

[jlepre]

I like it. I like it ALOT! Nice improvements. How much does she weigh Chef?

 

[Chef]

the pickguard, control plate, tone pot and knob, and, relocated jack took it from 8.0 to 8.2 on my digital fish scale.

 

[jlepre]

Wow! Lightweight too?

 

[madbassplaya]

I was going to buy this one as well. I wanted to send it back to Nino to get the same mods done minus the pg.

Looks killer! How are you liking the balanced tension, Chef?

 

[Chef]

they feel good, I like them.
I'm not hugely particular about strings..................

 

[lomo]

Very nice. I was eying that puppy on BNW site as well. Nice "adjustments".

 

[M.R. Ogle]

Excellent! I love the idea of a modern five-string with that aesthetic. If it starts wearing a bit at the edges, it'll even further the concept.

 

[madbassplaya]

they feel good, I like them.
I'm not hugely particular about strings..................

Are you using the .145 B? I'm using the set with the .130. Thinking of going bigger though...

I still have first dibs, right?

 

[Chef]

130 I believe.
I think Mr Bowlus beat you on dibs, but, it really isn't gonna matter much.
I don't see flipping it anytime soon.

 

[lomo]

.145 B?

Sounds more like a nail than a string

 

[madbassplaya]

130 I believe.
I think Mr Bowlus beat you on dibs, but, it really isn't gonna matter much.
I don't see flipping it anytime soon.

Don't make me search my pm's.

Sounds more like a nail than a string

I am really digging balanced tension but the .130 balances with a rather light set of strings. The .145 balances with a more normal size. I agree that a .145 is HUGE though.

That's another thread in itself...

Nino's the man, this bass is legit, and as always Chef owns basses that make me jealous.