Yeah, I have the BassMods Active/Passive 2 band in it with the Batolini Deep Jazz P-ups.. Love it..
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Anyone have experience with BASSMODs Basses?
- Thread starter JayVek-72
- Start date
Yeah, I have the BassMods Active/Passive 2 band in it with the Batolini Deep Jazz P-ups.. Love it..
I asked a friend of mine (who posts here but will remain anonymous) about his opinion of this bass, based on just looking: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Here was his response:
"I've heard of them, but have no in-person experience.Looking at it objectively I would say that it certainly looks like a high quality bass.
I like the 19mm spacing (on a 5-string I'll take the spacing as wide as I can possibly get it). I like Bartolini pickups and preamps if the goal is a mellow, hi-fi, pristine, studio type of quality. I would absolutely go with volume/blend/bass/treble as opposed to the volume/volume version. I love a maple fingerboard, especially if it's in a satin finish rather than a gloss or a tinted gloss. I love the binding and block inlays. If it's been Plek'd than the fret work will be impeccable, and the setup SHOULD be just as spot on.
On a 5-string I prefer a D profile neck, but the C profile isn't necessarily a deal breaker. I like the Hipshot hardware, but I don't see an indication of what model bridge they're using. It looks vaguely like a Hipshot Model A, but I can't be sure. I'm ambivalent about chambered bodies. Some folks think they have a huge impact on tone, some folks not so much. My only experience with chambered instruments is on a few Telecaster bodies, so it's hardly an apples to apples comparison.
I really dislike the body shape. It's like when you see a home builder try to build a Fender body and not quite get it right. Most noticeably the shape of the horns and the cutaways where the horns meet the body are all wrong. The upper bout in line with the bridge pickup also looks like there's too much material. The knee cut looks like it's too shallow as well. The headstock can't quite decide if it wants to be a Sadowsky headstock, or something like a Valenti that was slammed headlong into a brick wall. Not a fan of that at all.
Regarding it playing like it's a couple thousand dollars: At a sub-$1,000 price you're undoubtedly going to get something that feels like a sub-$1,000 bass from any reputable small builder, and probably on par with a $1,000-1,200 instrument from a big name like Fender or Ernie Ball. The difference here is that this one comes Plek'd from the factory. Virtually any instrument that's been Plek'd will feel like that. Take a pawn shop Squire out to Mike Lull's shop and have him Plek it and you'll think it's an MIA Fender... Until the seasons change and things move on it a little bit and you make a single adjustment. Now you're right back to out of Plek spec conditions. Still in pretty good shape, but nowhere near where it was immediately after it was Plek'd. I'm sure when you first get it things will be nothing short of amazing. Give it a year and it will likely sit in the same quality range as I listed above, which is about what you would expect. If you paid a couple thousand dollars from a similar reputable smaller builder AND had it Plek'd, I'm almost certain you'd be in a different echelon of instrument than this.
Here are the real questions: Do you dig it? Does it tick all your boxes? Do you have the cash? Do you need and/or want an active 5-string Jazz style bass? Do you dig it more than similar basses from other builders? If you answered yes to all of the above, then buy it! haha"
Here was his response:
"I've heard of them, but have no in-person experience.Looking at it objectively I would say that it certainly looks like a high quality bass.
I like the 19mm spacing (on a 5-string I'll take the spacing as wide as I can possibly get it). I like Bartolini pickups and preamps if the goal is a mellow, hi-fi, pristine, studio type of quality. I would absolutely go with volume/blend/bass/treble as opposed to the volume/volume version. I love a maple fingerboard, especially if it's in a satin finish rather than a gloss or a tinted gloss. I love the binding and block inlays. If it's been Plek'd than the fret work will be impeccable, and the setup SHOULD be just as spot on.
On a 5-string I prefer a D profile neck, but the C profile isn't necessarily a deal breaker. I like the Hipshot hardware, but I don't see an indication of what model bridge they're using. It looks vaguely like a Hipshot Model A, but I can't be sure. I'm ambivalent about chambered bodies. Some folks think they have a huge impact on tone, some folks not so much. My only experience with chambered instruments is on a few Telecaster bodies, so it's hardly an apples to apples comparison.
I really dislike the body shape. It's like when you see a home builder try to build a Fender body and not quite get it right. Most noticeably the shape of the horns and the cutaways where the horns meet the body are all wrong. The upper bout in line with the bridge pickup also looks like there's too much material. The knee cut looks like it's too shallow as well. The headstock can't quite decide if it wants to be a Sadowsky headstock, or something like a Valenti that was slammed headlong into a brick wall. Not a fan of that at all.
Regarding it playing like it's a couple thousand dollars: At a sub-$1,000 price you're undoubtedly going to get something that feels like a sub-$1,000 bass from any reputable small builder, and probably on par with a $1,000-1,200 instrument from a big name like Fender or Ernie Ball. The difference here is that this one comes Plek'd from the factory. Virtually any instrument that's been Plek'd will feel like that. Take a pawn shop Squire out to Mike Lull's shop and have him Plek it and you'll think it's an MIA Fender... Until the seasons change and things move on it a little bit and you make a single adjustment. Now you're right back to out of Plek spec conditions. Still in pretty good shape, but nowhere near where it was immediately after it was Plek'd. I'm sure when you first get it things will be nothing short of amazing. Give it a year and it will likely sit in the same quality range as I listed above, which is about what you would expect. If you paid a couple thousand dollars from a similar reputable smaller builder AND had it Plek'd, I'm almost certain you'd be in a different echelon of instrument than this.
Here are the real questions: Do you dig it? Does it tick all your boxes? Do you have the cash? Do you need and/or want an active 5-string Jazz style bass? Do you dig it more than similar basses from other builders? If you answered yes to all of the above, then buy it! haha"
No offense but how does that guy know how things will move on a bass he has no experience with?
But it's an anonymous opinion on a bass guitar he has not played, just looked at online. It's got to be worth something to someone, somewhere.. Not to me, but what do I know..? I own one the basses, it is awesome.
I bought a BassMods K635 about a year ago, and I absolutely love it! It's definitely on the heavy side (never weighed it, but my back certainly feels the difference after a two-hour gig), but the tone, fit and finish, and feel are phenomenal. I'd been looking for a six-string Jazz-style bass for some time, and just didn't have the cash for a Low End LEJ or comparable model. For $1,300 shipped, I couldn't be happier with the BassMods.
I would really like to hear one of these played finger style without so much slap and pop. They sure are nice looking basses.
They do however have a custom line that is made here in America.
This is my girl--One of a kind Bass Mods custom shop KM5 (aka) {My Vanilla Love} - White Limba Body / Buckeye Burl Top / Birdseye maple neck with Flame maple fretboard-Delano Pickups with a Pike Audio Blue Box preamp plus Copper cavity shielding!... American Made... I Absolutely Love this Bass!!!Invalid Link RemovedInvalid Link RemovedInvalid Link RemovedInvalid Link Removed
Good Lord, She is gorgeous!!! Enjoy her! They are fantastic basses.
Here is mine and it is chambered. I don't feel it be heavy at all.
I was interested in one. Never could get a phone or email response. I went Fender Elite instead. My Elite is under 10lbs and has the ebony board which I prefer .
I’m pleased.
They look like great basses but many do complain about the weight. The BassMods I’ve heard all sound very alive .
I’m pleased.
They look like great basses but many do complain about the weight. The BassMods I’ve heard all sound very alive .
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