Another Valenti Comparison Please...

[dannoman]

Ok, I am curious on how Valenti's Compare to Mike Lull basses. I keep seeing people asking about how they compare or dont compare to Sadowsky's, but i am interested in a Lull and curious on how Nino's work compares to them. From what i've seen, Nino's work looks and sound superb, but i have no way to play one before i buy....

Any info would be helpfull...

 

[burk48237]

I think this is actually a better comparison. Both Nino and Mike offer multiple options on a deluxe Jazz platform. Where as Sadowsky tries to deliver the "Sadowsky sound" and only offers Basses (their have been a few exceptions) with his own pick ups and pre amps. I have a feeling their both pretty close. I've only played a couple of Lulls and wasn't impressed, but in both cases, I believe the issue was pickup/pre combo and not workmanship. I have not had the privilege of playing one of Nino's basses but I'm suspicious that with right formula you'd be getting a great axe.

It's similar to eating at Mongolian BBQ (where you pick all the ingredients, and they cook it up) verse eating at a fine restaurant where the Chef does thing his way. I personally love Rogers formula and believe it works, the other method could be hit or miss but you could find a real winner.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

About a year ago I emailed Nino specs on a 5-string bass with every option I'd ever wanted. He promptly returned my email with a price quote, which was extremely reasonable. His waiting period at that time wasn't bad either. I've never played one of his basses, but I've looked at the pictures on his site many, many times. IMO Nino builds fantastic basses with superb attention to detail at the best prices to be found anywhere. With Nino, you aren't limited to a certain brand of preamp or pickups. I really like that. Plus, he's a great guy.

I was ready to pull the trigger on the Valenti when I found a Mike Lull M5V on the Blueberry Hill Bass site. I'd done business with Jay Lewis (JPJ) a few times before, and he's become a long distance friend. The Lull had the pickups and preamp that I wanted, so I went with the Lull instead. It's been almost a year, I'm still amazed by it's sound and construction quality. There's not a single thing about my Lull that I would change.

The only downside to both Mike's and Nino's basses that I see is that they don't have as good as resale prices as many of the other upper-end Fender-style basses out there. But IMO if you get every option you want on an instrument, the chances are very slim that you'll ever sell it.

And if you find a used one, either brand of bass can be found at killer prices. IMO you can't go wrong with either a Valenti or a Lull.

 

[Nino Valenti]

I sent a 35" J5 to Mark Beem. He owns a couple of Lull's and ywould be best to answer this question.

I've played a few Lull basses. All of them were passive and that were all excallent made, well playing basses.