Are Cataldo Basses Any Good

[StayLow]

One of the few basses I GAS for.

Joe Nerve, or anyone, how's that two-piece bridge?

 

[Dadagoboi]

One of the few basses I GAS for.

Joe Nerve, or anyone, how's that two-piece bridge?

Joe's is one of my very early basses. The bridge on his bass is the Mark I version. The current version is Mark III. They function equally well but the Mark III looks better.

 

[Old Blastard]

Yeah, they're not cheap. Thanks for your interest!

I don't know. Looking at the prices on the website, they don't cost as much as some OEMs and far less than the big boutique builders. Having worked with Andrew Drake, I am a firm believer in buying or ordering from small luthiers. My total custom Drake cost far less than a big guys custom shop. And I Gig all 3 of my Drakes so they're not fragile things. I've never played a Cataldo but they look robust enough to last 3 45-minute sets a few days a week

 

[TMARK]

These look really great. Cataldo has very good aesthetic taste.

 

[Bass Viking]

The internet is a good place to start, bad reviews never go away. JohnK didn't like one of my first 10 basses (when they cost less than $800 delivered). Even though I offered him full refund he published a bad review, it's still floating around. He later sold that bass for more than he paid for it. I'm sure someone will be glad to direct you to his review.

I've also seen JohnK call Warmoth necks horrible but I know better, having owned several Warmoth necks. Take his opinion with a grain of salt.

 

[Dadagoboi]

This is the most recent Cataldo.

Joe Nerve's and JohnK's were about eighty basses ago.

 

[bholder]

This is the most recent Cataldo.

Joe Nerve's and JohnK's were about eighty basses ago.

I love that finish color!

 

[StayLow]

This is the most recent Cataldo.

Joe Nerve's and JohnK's were about eighty basses ago.

Gorgeous! Is the pickguard glued on?

With respect, I suggest you'd benefit greatly by a website redesign. More pics, list all models offered, info on Blaster vs. Bucker pickups, which gig bag you include, avg. weights, avg./current time to complete a build, etc. Things every single person is likely to ask. I've tried two different browsers and see no color samples on the Options page.

 

[Dadagoboi]

Gorgeous! Is the pickguard glued on?

With respect, I suggest you'd benefit greatly by a website redesign. More pics, list all models offered, info on Blaster vs. Bucker pickups, which gig bag you include, avg. weights, avg./current time to complete a build, etc. Things every single person is likely to ask. I've tried two different browsers and see no color samples on the Options page.

Doublestick 3M tape made for automotive applications.

Thanks for the advice.

I prefer contact with a prospective customer first. Pretty much anything is possible, prices listed are a starting point. The maximum increase for a paint or stain option is $150, about a dozen solids and metallics are standard if I have them in stock. ThunderBlasters are discontinued, USA made ThunderBuckers are my standard pickups and are on about 90% of all Cataldos out there. Average weight of a 4 string is 8-8.5 lbs., build time varies from 8-12 weeks, and deposit is 50%. Most basses include a hard shell case. Gigbag is in the $50 retail range. Prices include US shipping. Most worldwide shipping is an additional $100. Paypal, checks, and wire transfers.

Do other builders list all this info?

 

[StayLow]

Thanks very much.

Yes, others do. Plus nut width, string spacing, what the finish on back of the neck is. Conversation is great, but also wastes your time. Ideally your site would look at least as good as Gibson's and be as informative, covering the basics and if virtually everything is optional that's cool so then say so and list the options.

Currently your site states that two of the five bass models come with Thunderblaster pickups, which is different than what you just posted above. Since the description for only one model states there's a pickup choice, I reasonably presumed that there's no choice with the other models perhaps because they're described as kind-of signature models.

I asked, and many others will ask too, but just as many will shrug their shoulders and order someplace else. It just doesn't scream "attention to detail".

Hell, simply embed the guy's YouTube video of "Won't Get Fooled Again" and it'd boost traffic & sales, rather than having it as a vague external link. That's a fantastic performance and superb tone he's recorded using your bass.

Actually, I just noticed it doesn't even appear as a link on your current site. I found it via a cached version of your previous site that has the JAEbird on it, which the current site doesn't.

JAEbird




I'm sure there's a TB'er with web expertise that'd make a great site for a modest discount on a build. Win/win. Disclosure: that's not an offer on my part.



.

 

[Dadagoboi]

I asked, and many others will ask too, but just as many will shrug their shoulders and order someplace else. It just doesn't scream "attention to detail".

This may be difficult to believe but I prefer to do things my way. I'm sure it cuts down on the number of inquiries but I'm OK with that. If the product shots don't say attention to detail, IMO verbiage isn't going to help and the customer's better off finding someone else.

I'm happy with my business whatever the size. There's a limited number of builds I can do and if no one's ordering I'll still be building. I'm fortunate that I've hit my target numbers for the last five years, probably due to the fact they've been very low.

As far as the site I do it myself depending on my motivation. Many people have offered, I've declined.

I'm moving away from the replica basses, that's why they're no longer on the site.

Next Up:

Wide 5, wenge/ebony neck, 1 7/8", 19mm

 

[pineapplerobot]

Holy hell I'll take two!

 

[Tanner5382]

I've also seen JohnK call Warmoth necks horrible but I know better, having owned several Warmoth necks. Take his opinion with a grain of salt.

Yeah, and doesn't he use Allparts (or similar) necks?

 

[Bass Viking]

Yeah, and doesn't he use Allparts (or similar) necks?

I'm not sure what JohnK uses but he doesn't like the steel bars in the Warmoth necks. He says their necks sound dead. I haven't had that problem.

 

[Tanner5382]

I'm not sure what JohnK uses but he doesn't like the steel bars in the Warmoth necks. He says their necks sound dead. I haven't had that problem.

No Warmoth necks I have encountered have had they issue either. I've found them all to be very nice quality.

 

[Dadagoboi]

I don't really like the extra weight of Warmoth necks although I use some of them with carbon rods. They're a little lighter than the steel ones.

Warmoth Deluxe Five tilt paddle necks.

They all sound pretty lively to me.

My current Twelver necks are built by @ctmullins, 32 and 34 scale . Three piece maple, mac ebony boards, dual trusrods.

 

[godofthunder59]

I am with Carlo Warmth necks with steel rods are to heavy. I find them to be to stiff, lifeless afairs.

 

[Bass Viking]

I am with Carlo Warmth necks with steel rods are to heavy. I find them to be to stiff, lifeless afairs.

A stiff bass neck is a good thing.

 

[godofthunder59]

A stiff bass neck is a good thing.

That's what I tought as well till I tried a Warmouth, like playing on concrete.

 

[Ryan Atchison]

I know I've been lurking around for a while, don't worry I'm still interested in an Explorerbird!
How much does this model cost?