Brubaker Brute Club, Part 2

[ErnieD]

ErnieD,
Best place for updates and communications with Kevin and Tom is on the Facebook Brubaker site.

Up to now, I've just dealt with the Ebay store seller and checking in here on TB. Not really in a rush yet but if July comes and no bass, maybe then I'll check out those cats on FB for some helpful updates at that time.

Til then is this the Brute waiting line?

 

[gustobassman]

New Brubaker Brute MJX-5 in Tobacco Burst with Coil Splitter.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200774100727662&set=o.130940250270524&type=1&theater

Now that is freakin awesome!

 

[wrench45us]

This is really unfair. I get all psyched up to make those initial steps towards exploring buying a brute and it turns out they're very, very hard to find.

On the other hand, now the whole pickup circuitry has been improved for more options and an easier choice, so waiting was not a bad thing.

Now I hear headless may be coming -- again waiting may not be a bad thing.

 

[phillybass101]

at least its nice to see they do exist and will have the updates as per advertised, so cool.

@Phillyb101, where'd you scope those new MJX's at? I didn't know they had a burst 5er. Are there some new color schemes coming?

I'm in the Brubaker Family man and I spend a good deal of time communicating with Tom and Kevin and sharing my ideas with them. I honestly really like the Brute line, so much that I bought two of them. A Brute through a killer rig gets the job done for me. I like knowing that most times when I play out, I'm not going to sound like most folks out there. For me, I like Brubakers through Tecamp Gear. I'm working on getting a really nice Tecamp Bass Cab to complete my rig. Tecamp however is not cheap. I also have a USA KXB-5 in build. I intend on running thr KXB-5 through a Puma 500 head and a Tecamp Virtue Cab before I explore any other new equipment.

 

[Ds1]

Yeah, all the waiting sucks, but Kevin will not put crap out there with his name on it. It was actually one of the Asian factories that screwed up, which was out of Brubaker's control - if it wasn't for them we would've had our SC's and new MJX's back in January

 

[beggar98]

Yeah, all the waiting sucks, but Kevin will not put crap out there with his name on it. It was actually one of the Asian factories that screwed up, which was out of Brubaker's control - if it wasn't for them we would've had our SC's and new MJX's back in January

I deal with Asian manufacturing everyday and I definitely understand how challenging the QC can be. The test of a good company isn't whether or not they have quality issues, but how they handle them when they arise.

 

[othefool]

Hey Brute Club, #26 Here...

As things seem to go, once I found one of my favorite basses of all time (and invested in new amplification etc.) my Jam/Funk band disbanded and I found myself playing 98% URB. So, Max has been in the closet for most of his life.

Just finished an album though, and got to record the Brute on one track. I am really happy with the way it sounds, so I thought I would share (even though I am in more of a 4 string modality these days, and am not sure if I did the 5 string justice...)

I played my Brute on the song "Losing Kind" by Lisa Valentine.

[This invalid link has been removed]

 

[metermech]

Hey Brute Club, #26 Here...

As things seem to go, once I found one of my favorite basses of all time (and invested in new amplification etc.) my Jam/Funk band disbanded and I found myself playing 98% URB. So, Max has been in the closet for most of his life.

Just finished an album though, and got to record the Brute on one track. I am really happy with the way it sounds, so I thought I would share (even though I am in more of a 4 string modality these days, and am not sure if I did the 5 string justice...)

I played my Brute on the song "Losing Kind" by Lisa Valentine.

[This invalid link has been removed]

I love that tone long with the playing I consider it excellent. Wanna share how you recorded that?

 

[othefool]

Thanks metermech...I just plugged right into a DI. I believe the tone is the M pickup solo'd, tone controls opened all the way up, in other words: pure Brute!

 

[metermech]

Thanks metermech...I just plugged right into a DI. I believe the tone is the M pickup solo'd, tone controls opened all the way up, in other words: pure Brute!

That's what I'm talking about...thanks

 

[ErnieD]

Thanks metermech...I just plugged right into a DI. I believe the tone is the M pickup solo'd, tone controls opened all the way up, in other words: pure Brute!

I could def hear that SRay 5er tone in that recording. I chose the Brute over the SRay35 cause I owned two US Sray 5ers a couple years apart and moved them both out soon after. Also, saw where a few TBers weren't blown away by their SRay34/35's.

When I bought my 55-02D later, I think I preferred the two pup setup. And I know I def liked the Lakland/Skyline necks alot.

So I'm hoping to get the same sorta feel and abit different tone than the -02D I recently sold here. Guess I'm missing my 55-02D. But from what all I've read and the few vids I've seen on the Brutes; I think I'll be liking it fine.

So I'm sitting tight, waiting on the newer Brutes to ship/arrive. Glad they are, I guess, addressing any QC issues now but I wanna get my hands on the Brute asap.

 

[Ewo]

Hey, Brubaker fans--

I've got a US-built Phoenix Extreme and a Brute JJX-5 for sale. Links are in my sig.

You *gotta* see the wood on the Phoenix...

 

[phillybass101]

Latest Pic of my KXB-5 Build. She is going to be a beautiful blonde with a Bitchin Attitude.

 

[DaveTomasi]

In your hands Walt, she will voice some thunderous funk!

It's so cool to see these instruments come together!

Latest Pic of my KXB-5 Build. She is going to be a beautiful blonde with a Bitchin Attitude.

 

[phillybass101]

In your hands Walt, she will voice some thunderous funk!

It's so cool to see these instruments come together!

Thanks Dave. I understand you're getting quite the build as well!!!!!

 

[gustobassman]

I have a question for anybody with an older Brute....

How is your neck holding up?

I bought mine used, it has seen a few different owners. Mine came to me from Massachusetts to San Diego and i have had to make quite a few truss rod adjustments over the past couple of months. It may still be "settling in" to my environment, but for having to make as many adjustments as i have it feels a little excessive. I can track mine back to '09. Anyone have any inside info as far as how these instruments are holding up?

 

[a2zbassman]

I have a question for anybody with an older Brute....

How is your neck holding up?

I bought mine used, it has seen a few different owners. Mine came to me from Massachusetts to San Diego and i have had to make quite a few truss rod adjustments over the past couple of months. It may still be "settling in" to my environment, but for having to make as many adjustments as i have it feels a little excessive. I can track mine back to '09. Anyone have any inside info as far as how these instruments are holding up?

I think this is pretty standard for the Brutes. I never leave home without my truss-rod wrench in my gig bag. I usually have to make a slight tweak on a monthly basis to keep the action as low as I like it, tightening in the winter and loosening in the summer. Although it seems to need less frequent adjustments as it has aged . . . mine has a SN in the 20's. It's the nature of the beast: thin, front to back, necks. and the Brutes don't have the carbon-fiber reinforcement rods like the USA Brubakers. On my US KXB I have to adjust probably once every 1.5 - 2 months. The great thing about the Brubakers, Brutes included, is that you can adjust and play it immediately. There isn't that half-day to a day settle in period to worry about. The frequent adjustments are a small sacrifice to pay for owning the best playing and feeling neck in the business, IMHO.

 

[gustobassman]

I think this is pretty standard for the Brutes. I never leave home without my truss-rod wrench in my gig bag. I usually have to make a slight tweak on a monthly basis to keep the action as low as I like it, tightening in the winter and loosening in the summer. Although it seems to need less frequent adjustments as it has aged . . . mine has a SN in the 20's. It's the nature of the beast: thin, front to back, necks. and the Brutes don't have the carbon-fiber reinforcement rods like the USA Brubakers. On my US KXB I have to adjust probably once every 1.5 - 2 months. The great thing about the Brubakers, Brutes included, is that you can adjust and play it immediately. There isn't that half-day to a day settle in period to worry about. The frequent adjustments are a small sacrifice to pay for owning the best playing and feeling neck in the business, IMHO.

Thanks man! This is exactly what i'm talking about. The lack of carbon fiber rods makes sense. I agree with you about the fact that you can adjust and play immediately. I've been able to do that so far with my Brute. And, yes.. the neck is like no other! I won't be afraid now to do the little tweaks necessary to keep my action low.

Where is your serial number? There isn't one visible anywhere on mine.

 

[a2zbassman]

Thanks man! This is exactly what i'm talking about. The lack of carbon fiber rods makes sense. I agree with you about the fact that you can adjust and play immediately. I've been able to do that so far with my Brute. And, yes.. the neck is like no other! I won't be afraid now to do the little tweaks necessary to keep my action low.

Where is your serial number? There isn't one visible anywhere on mine.

My SN is handwritten on the back of the headstock. You must have one from the very first run, one of the prototypes possibly. Mine was from the very first production batch.

 

[gustobassman]

My SN is handwritten on the back of the headstock. You must have one from the very first run, one of the prototypes possibly. Mine was from the very first production batch.

Ahh, ok, there is nothing written on the back of my headstock. Kinda cool! Thanks for the info!