6 string arch top bass, piezo, 33 scale, Claro, roasted maple

[emjazz]

Congrats Pete!!

 

[MarkA]

I'm sure when I get this bass in the coming week, I will have a lot to say about the ergonomics and the sound. I'm curious if it is preferred that I keep those comments to this thread or start a NBD thread under the basses section. Please chime in if you have an opinion.

I think it's fine to post comments in both places -- here, for those who've been following this thread, and, if you're inclined to post a New Bass Day thread in the basses section, this is an instrument that seems deserving of that wider exposure.

 

[Old Blastard]

It sure looks beauty. And Mr. Drake does a helluva fine job

 

[Drake Custom]

Thanks all. I have some glam pics to show.

 

[peterpalmieri]

I have never uploaded audio to soundcloud. Please be patient, I just did some noodling, hopefully the audio quality is ok.

If it actually worked I will do something a bit more formal.


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Please excuse the fret buzzing, I've been fooling with strings and the setup it's not dialed in

 

[Splods]

Sounds great, excellent work!

 

[Headless Llama]

Killer build!

 

[peterpalmieri]

This bass puts a "puh" on the front of each note in a way that can drive a band in a way I've only experienced with a double bass. It also has the sustain of a piano but also gets P bass grindy out of the front pick up if you dig in.

It's a real winner, I've always played basses that I thought, "that's a good sound faithful to the recording", when I play the beast I think, man this is what they should have used.

My 3 1/2 day weekend is officially over, sure gonna miss her.

 

[peterpalmieri]

Great article about Andrew Drake, one heck of a guy! Realize I still owe everyone a review but one having to much fun

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[MarkA]

Great article about Andrew Drake, one heck of a guy! Realize I still owe everyone a review but one having to much fun

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Cool! Not a bad article. Mentions that Andrew has a bass going to Bass Gear Magazine for review, too (photos of it in the article). Good deal.

As for "owing" anyone a review, just say that you're doing in-depth field research, which shouldn't be hurried.

 

[Drake Custom]

Thanks everyone. Thanks Pete for sharing the article. Even with its mis-quotes and other messed about info, I got a kick out of the story. They sent me emails with the story before it ran and I corrected it but they liked parts as written and went with it. They did not record the interview and the reporter barely took notes so therefore my quotes were sometimes amalgamated from several I had made, or just plain made up. Ah....the modern press. I was happy they chose to do a story on me and it is only a small local paper, so I was not too bent out of shape.

I am sure Peter will have a review soon. We had an issue with the blend pot. After delivery she has developed a scratchy blend pot that would not go away, so I sent a nice Borne blend pot. My wiring guy thinks he might have installed one of the old style pots I used to use. I rather did not like those pots and thought they were all gone. As of late, I have started switching over to only Borne pots for my basses that have the Aguilar passive front ends. I still use EMG kit with EMG pups.

We also are trying out the LR Baggs CTRL-X piezo preamp so this bass is the maiden voyage for that. Can't wait to hear what Peter says about the function and tones after he has had some time with it. In the past, I used the Ghost system then fell in love with the Fishman Power chip's tone, but could not stand the short battery life of that module. LR Baggs boasts 1000 hours so we will see. The tone of the LR Baggs seemed to be great.

 

[PaulReside]

I may have missed it but what did the weight come out to on the beast? I'm guessing about 10.5lb.
I have commented on this bass when Pete started using it as his avatar that I'm totally in love with it.

 

[peterpalmieri]

I may have missed it but what did the weight come out to on the beast? I'm guessing about 10.5lb.
I have commented on this bass when Pete started using it as his avatar that I'm totally in love with it.

I haven't weighed it, but it is way north of 10.5lbs. its a tone monster and will certainly require a stool for a 2-3 hour gig.

Andrew had offered ways to lighten to load on future builds but I can't say I'd change a thing at this point. Video review coming this week.

 

[IconBasser]

That tone is to die for man! One of the nicest sounding basses I've heard in a while for sure. Easy on the eyes too

 

[Hugo Novaes]

Wonderful work of art.

 

[Drake Custom]

Thanks to all for the kind words. Full disclosure on the weight.....she is 13 pounds according to a bathroom scale I have. Could be more or less. On a strap she seems to not feel as heavy, but you can't grab her by the neck and hold like that for too long. It is funny but the best sounding Jazz bass I ever played was 12 pounds. I do believe the weight is a factor in the tone. With the Beast #1, heavy construction with large chambered insides, good pickups and materials, and the technique of the player have a profound impact on the tone. Nice B for a 33 inch scale, no? My soul sure moved when I heard it the first time through my system.

The owner has some cool video of the bass being played. If you all ask nicely he may post it here. Pretty please with sugar on it......

 

[peterpalmieri]

Forgive me I post these videos in another thread going on but forgot about this one.

Here is my friend Mitch playing the bass at a little hang we had yesterday. The audio was captured on my iPhone.

 

[Marcury]

Holy Moley!

 

[emjazz]

Ok...one of my favorite sounding electric basses hands down! That bass passive for me would be all that...incredible Pete!!!!!

 

[peterpalmieri]

Ok...one of my favorite sounding electric basses hands down! That bass passive for me would be all that...incredible Pete!!!!!

The piezo is active the magnetics are passive. I won't say never but I haven't yet found the piezo to be super useful the pickups do it all. The soundcloud or YouTube videos are all passive mags.