40" scale Quake bass in production (2000USD)

[ixlramp]

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The luthier used to be known as 'Knuckle Guitar Works' but has combined his various projects into 'Kalium Music'. The original Quake basses were fully custom and far more expensive.

The longer scale allows thinner strings for a particular tension, however also, a longer string is inherently more flexible. The combined result is that a string has the flexibility and clarity of the next higher string on a normal bass, so a B has the clarity of a 34" E, F# has the clarity of a 34" B etc.
Half of the extra length is acheived through shifting the bridge to the right, the player experiences i have seen over many years are usually that it is surprisingly easy to play.

 

[bholder]

Yay! Glad Quake is back again! Here's my original neck through fretless 5:

Shout out to Skip Fantry, Mr. Knuckle / Kalium!

 

[Mastodon2]

"Easier to play than the scale suggests", a nice way of saying "not as bad to play as you might expect". Talk about being dammed by faint praise.

 

[lug]

I know a couple of people who have Quake basses, universal praise.

 

[mmbongo]

Found a picture of the designer of the 40" scale bass. He enjoys futbol in his spare time.

 

[NicJimBass]

Seriously?

That aside, the bass looks hella cool.

 

[Bob_Ross]

The original Quake basses were fully custom and far more expensive.

I gotta admit though, I find those original Quake basses far more appealing than these current ones. I asked Skip if he plans to re-introduce a neck-thru model ...I can't recall what his exact response was, but it didn't sound promising.

 

[knumbskull]

just experienced a sharp, stabbing pain to my wallet.

 

[ixlramp]

I didn't mean to sound negative with my scale length comment. The experiences of those who have played them or own them is usually something like 'surprisingly easy to play', such as:
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5 extra inches split between bridge and nut. Moving the bridge to the right is quite comfortable for the plucking arm, and the 1st fret is 2.5" further away, not much.
Another review thread Invalid Link Removed

 

[jackn1202]

Seriously?
View attachment 3199452

That aside, the bass looks hella cool.

Oof, now that's what I call over engineering...

 

[Warpeg]

40"? That's getting into DB territory. Does it come with an endpin?

 

[lz4005]

Oof, now that's what I call over engineering...

Not knowing the difference between in and out makes me think the ad copy was written by a moron.

 

[NicJimBass]

Not knowing the difference between in and out makes me think the ad copy was written by a moron.

Or perhaps someone outside the industry. The Kalium guys are too knowledgeable to let this slide, so I'm wondering what happened.

 

[lfmn16]

Not knowing the difference between in and out makes me think the ad copy was written by a moron.

Or a salesman, but you already said that.

 

[dBChad]

If I could afford that, I would want extra thick strings on it and tune it down one octave (Contra Bass)!

 

[bholder]

If I could afford that, I would want extra thick strings on it and tune it down one octave (Contra Bass)!

Exactly how I tune mine - EADGC - starting at E0, one full octave down from a normal 4 string bass low E (20.6 Hz vs. 41.2 Hz).

 

[TonyP-]

I played them before and totally dug them.

 

[Jim Carr]

Seriously?
View attachment 3199452...

Input. Need input. Need input...

 

[micguy]

I want one of these, in 4 string, so I'd have a bass I could play down to low B with regular gauge strings (albeit with a decidedly longer winding length). I'm also 6'3, and if I had this, I could understand what it's like to be 5' tall and play a 34 inch.

 

[Dwight Trash]

Damn, just yesterday I had a rational down to earth serious conversation with myself about my insatiable lust for more bass gear. Do I really need two of every single size of cabinet?
Besides, management at the local stores have heard every single song, scale and bass chord I know. It took me most of the day (I have a lot of extra time on my hands) but I finally convinced myself that I was right in not constantly shopping for anything else.
Turns out that I was wrong.
I must have one of those!