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Brubaker Brute Club, Part 2

#921
It would depend on if it was stock or not. If it is modded then I would consider the condition of the bass and the cost of a new one factoring in the cost of the mods and installing them.. A new Brute 5 er will sell for around $650+ depending on if it is a SC (single cut) or an MJX.. I don't see too many JJXs anymore. The one I got is in great shape and was modded with Bart quads and an NTMB 3 band preamp with A/P (active passive) and two stage mids. For me considering the mods and the overall shape of the bass what I paid for it was worth it. I would not pay more than $625 for a used stock Brute unless it was a SC.. They seem to be selling new for $800 or so.. Brute MJX SC5 Review @ NoTreble .

Here is a new MJX SC5 on eBay right now for $619 new! That is too much wood for me though.. The price is great!
 
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#922
After having a few days to really play around with this bass I must say .. it is the most versatile bass I have ever owned. The tonal options are just amazing to me. With the switchable Bart quads I can go from front/both/rear for each pup and with the pan control there are just so many options available. That is without even using the tone controls. Just pan, volume and switching pups.. When I start using the tone controls it gets even more mind blowing. This bass has a Hipshot A with 18mm spacing.. which is not bad.. I had been on a 19mm kick but this is nice too and not too different.. The neck is very comfortable to play on. I had to get some fretwork done on my 55-02 (the edges were kind of sharp) but this neck is flawless.. I don't know if the previous owner had it done or not. This neck is right up there with the MTD necks and Lakland necks if not superior to both. The bass balances extremely well and is easy to play with or without a strap.. no neck dive at all... It is not too heavy and the 22 fret 34" scale neck is perfect for me since I had a shoulder injury last year that sometimes give me problems trying to tune up. No such issue with this bass. So far I have found no flaws whatsoever with it from aesthetics to functionality and I am totally and thoroughly sold on Brubaker basses. I have a 55-01 that I also really like and probably will never sell but this Brute is hands down the best bass I have ever owned. I am tempted to get a stock MJX just to see what the stock Brutes are like and I may just do that if I decide to sell off another bass.
 
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#923
a2zbassman said:
Looking forward to pics, and sound clips if possible. I've been toying with the idea of trying a set of the RJ Neos. Want to hear how they sound with the Bart pre in a Brute!
Click to expand...
Surprisingly enough it STILL sounds like a Brute and I like that. However it's more refined and articulate. The three way coil split actually works and when in Single Coil mode I can actually hear some JB references in my tone. I asked around to see if someone was interested in helping me promotionally and or financially with a live demo on a live sound stage but received no response. I can save up the dough to do this myself but then it would just become a promotional video for me and my playing, of course I'd let folks know I was using the Reed James J/MM set with a Bart Pre and that would be the end of the story LOL!!!!!! Surprised to hear you're letting your KXB-5 go. You must have something really nice that you want instead. If I were to run a set of RJ Neos in a JJX I'd match it up with an Aggie OBP3. I've heard that combo in a Bass Mods Jazz and it was straight up killin. Now having said that I'm getting a 4 string (cream colored) RJ VVN set for my Geddy Lee Jazz. I am however going to use an Audere Pre for the simple fact that I can still sell the bass later as all original as I'll keep the stock setup and won't have to rout the body for a Battery Box. If I make the decision to make it a keeper I will later switch in an Aggie OBP3 and rout for a battery box.
 
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#926
Sav'nBass said:
Nice! Pics?
Click to expand...
Of course! No pics, no bass right?
I'm sure I got a nice deal, basically mint aside the added string tree. I need to set it up properly, as it's got some buzz on the lowest frets, especially the first on the G string.
Oh, and I apologize for the odd couch pics :)
IMG_5370-2.jpg IMG_5371-2.jpg
 
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#928
I'll be playing a live radio Broadcast with my upgraded Brute with a group called Curtis Jr. on Friday 2/6/15. Station is 104.5. Event is called Live at 5. Playing the Philly Xfinity Ampitheatre.
 
#930
Yeah me too... I could probably pick it up on the Tunein Radio app on my phone.

Roy Vogt said:
Just did a clinic with the new singlecut and a natural ash body. A great bass, very easy to play with a great sound. A bonus was the Brubaker design which puts the fingerboard a little closer to the center of your body. It was a 34" scale that felt like a 32" scale-neat trick that makes for a very comfortable bass.
I was very impressed!
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That's it!

I could not put my finger on it.. but I think that is one of the things about these brutes that is so appealing! It feels like a 32" scale bass but plays like a 34" scale bass..
 
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#931
I am the proud owner of a Brubaker Brute MJX-5. I believe it is a 2011 model because the first three characters on the back of the head stock are J11 - is this the correct way to date the Brute?

It has the pickups with the white Brute logo on them but no coil split switch.

The body appears to be nato, doea anybody know which years they are chambered?

I am satisfied with how the pick-ups sound but I'd like to install a coil splitter switch.

Can anybody recommend a good fitting cheap case.

Any information is appreciated. Thanks
 
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#933
Bassometer said:
I am the proud owner of a Brubaker Brute MJX-5. I believe it is a 2011 model because the first three characters on the back of the head stock are J11 - is this the correct way to date the Brute?
It has the pickups with the white Brute logo on them but no coil split switch.
The body appears to be nato, doea anybody know which years they are chambered?
I am satisfied with how the pick-ups sound but I'd like to install a coil splitter switch.
Can anybody recommend a good fitting cheap case.
Any information is appreciated. Thanks
Click to expand...

Not sure of the dating...

As for a case... IMO investing in a case is a worthwhile investment.. To that end...

Protec Contego

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.. either one of those would be excellent and not too expensive. Of course there are other pricier options that would do the job very well...

I think thast out of the first 4 digits after the letter the first two are the month.. the second two are the day.

Bassometer said:
The neck on this bass is extremely comfortable. It might have something to with the string guage: 40-60-75-95-118. These are the smallest strings I have ever used but they give off a pretty good bark from the M/M pick-up.
It's a fun bass to play that's for sure.
Click to expand...

Yeah I really like my Brute... It is very easy to play, easy on my back, easy on my shoulder (I had a left shoulder injury a little over a year ago that makes tuning up sometimes problematic..) and very comfortable to play.
 
#934
Well the day before, I get a message they're using a stripped down version of the group. The Lead Guitar Player played bass for the radio show. The Lead Guitar player is also the producer of the forthcoming CD and played bass on the CD. Instead of hating I took this move as I must be doing something right. The Lead Guitar Player/Bassist for the CD didn't want me to steal his shine. I have several other projects I work with and just took it as a lesson about the Music Business. There's Music, then there's the Music Business. The last show I did with them, man I laid it down that night and received great responses from the Audience. That plus the fact the Lead Guitar player asked me to turn down :-) at sound check essentially told me what's up. Funny thing. A musician friend was gigging at another establishment and told the manager I was playing on the radio so they dialed in. He liked what he heard and wants to hire the band to do gigs there. Being the great guy I am I connected the leader of the group with the contacts so his band could play there. Will I play with the band when they play the gig I helped them get? I'm still keeping an open mind. I already know I can play and I'm too established and experienced to get into a hissy fit with the Lead Guitarist who obviously wants it all LOL!!!!! Do you think I turned down? :-)
 
#938
Yes. It's got the newest version pups and preamp that we were taking about yesterday in your other thread. It also has the coil tap switch for the MM pickup . . . Single coil for j-bass tone and both coils in series for the fatter MM tone. As far as price goes, that's the standard list price for a new four string. It says OBO so shoot them an offer, who knows. The seller, honspree, has carried the Brute line since very early on, so they're likely a very reliable seller also.
 
#940
So I purchased a "brand-new brute" on eBay. I guess the bass itself was an older version which did not have the splittable pick up option. I ordered a blue burst pick guard with it, and the pick guard has the selector switch hole already drilled in it. The guy is asking me if he wants me to have him wire in the switch for free. My question: Are the older generation Brubaker MM style pick ups, splitable?
 

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