And even more specifically; “prototype”.
So after a few months with my new fretless, I thought it was time to share the fun with my TB sisters and brothers.
The Prelude: Anyone who knows me around here knows that I am more immune to GAS than most. Every couple few years though, I usually refine my tastes and/or needs and make some sort of move. Lately, I’ve been in search of something not quite so “J bass” for a fretless. I also was interested in experimenting with a 5th string. And I’m cheap.
So lo and behold, at the end of last year I get an update email from the good folks at Veillete that they’ve added an online shop for prototypes and such available directly from them. One bass that has stayed in my mind since I first read of it in BP is the singlecut from them. Sure enough, there were a couple for sale. Now, per my cheapness, I decided to let it go for awhile to ensure that I really wanted one. Months later, I was still checking their site daily to see if it had sold, and decided to begin communications with them on it.
The one catch to the specific model for sale was that it had a Bart pre in it, and I was hoping for straight passive (the BP article I was working from was on the Retro model). It turned out that they had a Glockenklang 2 band pre in stock which was not only bypass-able but also had a passive tone control when in such mode. Win!
(I will leave the details on their purchase program to requests for the info or simply recommend anyone interested to contact Veillette.)
A small bump in the road occurred when I recv’d it though, in that somewhere in shipping some wiring had come loose and it was not functioning up to snuff. They were uber helpful back at the shop and had me send it back for repair. The bright side to this very slight setback was that I was able to play the bass for a bit and requested a few other setup specifics to better personalize it to my playing style. It was returned muy pronto, and I have hardly put it down since.
As a prototype, and what is essentially an older version of the current model, it has some minor differences. The body is alder with a flame maple top (matching HS too), and the neck is graphite reinforced. The bridge is wooden and due to the work involved in making it, is no longer offered. It has Citron soapbars with the afore mention Glock pre. The neck is one piece maple with a Pau Ferro fingerboard.
Playability is absolutely wonderful, with uber comfy low action. I am a “play lightly and crank the amp” player and this suits me great. It also balances perfectly with the light weight tuners I asked them to add (it originally had a hint of neck dive).
The B string is ridiculous. I have always been of the opinion that a B string is the result of all the ingredients of a recipe (as in there is no one quality that ensure a great B), and this has ALL of my fave ingredients. Highest end materials and construction? Check. 35” scale for increased tension (all things equal)? Check. Graphite reinforcement and singlecut design for maximum rigidity? Check. It would be difficult to imagine this B not being high quality, and it delivers in spades. Being a n00b to this string I wanted to hedge my bet with as many of these qualities as possible, and it is a home run.
The tone is just what I wanted. I play it primarily passive, and my goal was warm and woody organic tone with plenty of punch; mission accomplished. And while I don’t use the pre often, when I do (most often to add a hint of bass boost to bridge pickup solo punch) it is excellent. It is advertised as sounding exactly like passive when active with no boost, and I would have a tough time arguing.
And finally, the company. As you might be able to tell from this writeup, I move slowly and am excruciatingly detail oriented. Basically, to any luthier trying to get some work done, I’m a nightmare. Martin Keith and Joe were nothing but patient with me, and couldn’t have been more helpful. I don’t spend money easily, and when I do I make sure every detail is perfect and they delivered 100%.
I would not hesitate to do business with them again, and am already dreaming of perhaps adding a 5 string fretted version to my arsenal.
Check them out!
So after a few months with my new fretless, I thought it was time to share the fun with my TB sisters and brothers.
The Prelude: Anyone who knows me around here knows that I am more immune to GAS than most. Every couple few years though, I usually refine my tastes and/or needs and make some sort of move. Lately, I’ve been in search of something not quite so “J bass” for a fretless. I also was interested in experimenting with a 5th string. And I’m cheap.
So lo and behold, at the end of last year I get an update email from the good folks at Veillete that they’ve added an online shop for prototypes and such available directly from them. One bass that has stayed in my mind since I first read of it in BP is the singlecut from them. Sure enough, there were a couple for sale. Now, per my cheapness, I decided to let it go for awhile to ensure that I really wanted one. Months later, I was still checking their site daily to see if it had sold, and decided to begin communications with them on it.
The one catch to the specific model for sale was that it had a Bart pre in it, and I was hoping for straight passive (the BP article I was working from was on the Retro model). It turned out that they had a Glockenklang 2 band pre in stock which was not only bypass-able but also had a passive tone control when in such mode. Win!
(I will leave the details on their purchase program to requests for the info or simply recommend anyone interested to contact Veillette.)
A small bump in the road occurred when I recv’d it though, in that somewhere in shipping some wiring had come loose and it was not functioning up to snuff. They were uber helpful back at the shop and had me send it back for repair. The bright side to this very slight setback was that I was able to play the bass for a bit and requested a few other setup specifics to better personalize it to my playing style. It was returned muy pronto, and I have hardly put it down since.
As a prototype, and what is essentially an older version of the current model, it has some minor differences. The body is alder with a flame maple top (matching HS too), and the neck is graphite reinforced. The bridge is wooden and due to the work involved in making it, is no longer offered. It has Citron soapbars with the afore mention Glock pre. The neck is one piece maple with a Pau Ferro fingerboard.
Playability is absolutely wonderful, with uber comfy low action. I am a “play lightly and crank the amp” player and this suits me great. It also balances perfectly with the light weight tuners I asked them to add (it originally had a hint of neck dive).
The B string is ridiculous. I have always been of the opinion that a B string is the result of all the ingredients of a recipe (as in there is no one quality that ensure a great B), and this has ALL of my fave ingredients. Highest end materials and construction? Check. 35” scale for increased tension (all things equal)? Check. Graphite reinforcement and singlecut design for maximum rigidity? Check. It would be difficult to imagine this B not being high quality, and it delivers in spades. Being a n00b to this string I wanted to hedge my bet with as many of these qualities as possible, and it is a home run.
The tone is just what I wanted. I play it primarily passive, and my goal was warm and woody organic tone with plenty of punch; mission accomplished. And while I don’t use the pre often, when I do (most often to add a hint of bass boost to bridge pickup solo punch) it is excellent. It is advertised as sounding exactly like passive when active with no boost, and I would have a tough time arguing.
And finally, the company. As you might be able to tell from this writeup, I move slowly and am excruciatingly detail oriented. Basically, to any luthier trying to get some work done, I’m a nightmare. Martin Keith and Joe were nothing but patient with me, and couldn’t have been more helpful. I don’t spend money easily, and when I do I make sure every detail is perfect and they delivered 100%.
I would not hesitate to do business with them again, and am already dreaming of perhaps adding a 5 string fretted version to my arsenal.
Check them out!
