Brubaker Brute Club

[mmbongo]

If it were me and I was interested, I'd jump on that bass before the smoke clears. The worst that could happen would be that they're now offering another color for the wood pickguard from the factory. It won't be less than the plastic one.

Here's another one, then:
NEW Brubaker Brute Series Mediterranean MJX-5 string bass | eBay

I just can't see them buying a $250 pickguard to give away though.

 

[a2zbassman]

Here is my guess as to how the pickguards work.

>>> The flamed maple wood guards are mass produced with just a simple black boarder. Like the one on the first run Mediterranean series:

Example - my JJX-5 (before I painted the body black):

Now on black body:

>>>> I then think that Kevin takes one of the already made plain/black-boarder'd guards and does his custom paint job on one of them as per your request. But it will always have the black boarder.

Example 2 - my ex- (now johnnybass01's) MJX-5 with custom ordered guard:

I originally requested that the guard be painted in a sunburst, yellow out to a red edge, matching the red of the Brute (attempting to achieve the same aesthetics as my black boarder guard on the black body). The cost for a custom guard to those specs was upwards near $375 - $400 if I recall correctly. I opted for the cheaper one obviously. But the major up-charge for it would have been having to make the guard from scratch, and then paint it.

Hope this makes sense.

My point in all this is that the one's offered on the newest Brutes may not have the custom paint from Kevin himself. Just done by somebody on the assembly line with the ability to handle an air-brush. That's why it's not the cost of the Brute plus the added $250 for the "custom" guard. Or, maybe Kevin had a few painted up sample guards lying around and offered them up for this next run????? Anyway, these newer ones don't seem to have the beauty and detail of any of the custom ones I've seen in the past. So, I'm betting it's something like my first guess.

And that's my $ .02 . . .

 

[othefool]

So, I was having a GAS crisis, in regards to purchasing a 5 string. A month or two ago I had bought a beautiful used MTD Z5, that I played for a week but unfortunately decided to return due to a neck or fret issue that I didn't want to be bothered with running down. After returning it, I looked into more options and found out about the Brute. The MTD was amazing, but I was a little put off by the 35" neck. I would have gotten used to it, but since returning it I decided to look for a good 34" 5.

No one around here has a Brute, so I would have to buy un-played. I think I have heard every sound clip, and read almost every thread about it, and am pretty sure that I will be beyond stoked with this instrument. I have, however, had a GAS crisis recently.

Here on TB, there is an amazing MTD 5, fully upgraded, and set up by MT himself, with a custom hard shell case, for a couple hundred more than a new Brute. What a beautiful instrument. I was wondering if I should buy this, prob. worth more than 2K new, for a couple hundred more than a new Brute, which will lose a couple bills at the get go.

I don't buy a lot of instruments, but I buy to play, not to invest, so money is not the main consideration. So here is where I am at: I am about to buy a Brute vs. a more "valuable" instrument. It sounds amazing, has been reviewed as playing amazing, and it is beautiful.

I have been drawn to the black/white MXJ5, but also to the Mediterranean version, both of which are on the bay today. I showed all of these basses to my partner and daughter, and asked them which one they thought was more attractive. The verdict was unanimous for the Mediterranean. This surprised me, because a Brute vs. a deep sunburst MTD does not cry "beauty." It is, after all, a Brute.

But it is beautiful. I don't question when a bass tells me that I must play it, and have had as many good experiences buying from the interwebs as in person. I will send you a picture, when I am ready to be a member of this club.

 

[johnnybass01]

I myself don't like 35 " scale bass's so even though the MTD 5 is a good deal I just couldn't do it. As far as the brutes go I couldn't be happier the out of box set up is great and the best thing to me is the neck it's wide and thin super fast like butter. There is a guy on here that is a f bass dealer and now he is also carrying the brutes so that speaks for itself. There is a Mediterranean one on the bay for 699 obo I think he would let go for 650 . You never know

 

[johnnybass01]

Put it this way , I sold my Warwick FNA jazzman 5 after buying the brute. I had a brute stolen and immediately had to have another, I am proud owner of the red one pictured above. And the record label i'm with offered me an endorsement deal with fender or ibanez , I opted to buy my own and brubaker is all I will play at this point in my life even If I can others for free!! I also understand that the newer ones are being made in a different factory and the quality is better than the first ones in every respect, i didn't really see anything wrong with the first ones!!!! P.S. my wife also loves the Mediterranean finish...

 

[Brad Johnson]

Here's another one, then:
NEW Brubaker Brute Series Mediterranean MJX-5 string bass | eBay

I just can't see them buying a $250 pickguard to give away though.

??

That's the Mediteranean, which comes standard with the wood guard. Otherwise it would be black or white and they didn't come that way.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Hi all! I just took possession of a Brubaker JJX5 with upgraded Bartolini pups and preamp.

At first I wasn't dazzled by the Barts, but after a little tweaking help from Brad and some others I am starting to love it.

IMAG0124 by originalfuzzychaos, on Flickr

That's great, glad I could help. I've heard that combination just tear it up in the mix.

 

[othefool]

that b/w Brute looks so amazing...although gf told me (from pics) that the b/w one looks like a "toy" and the Mediterranean one is "the one..." Usually I take her advice, but I am the player, here! Indecision remains...

guess I better sleep on this, and perhaps pull the trigger in the morning.

btw thanks johnnybass for your feedback. I had already made up my mind based on the scale thing, but I figured what is TB good for other than thinking out loud? y'all are my people...

 

[mmbongo]

??

That's the Mediteranean, which comes standard with the wood guard. Otherwise it would be black or white and they didn't come that way.

Cool, so I should be able to buy that flame maple pickguard for the same price as a plastic one ($69)?

 

[Brad Johnson]

Cool, so I should be able to buy that flame maple pickguard for the same price as a plastic one ($69)?

You'd need to check with a dealer on that. I have no idea at this point. Pretty sure it wouldn't be the normal price of a guard that Kevin Brubaker painted.

 

[fuzzychaos]

BTW, who is the keeper of numbers? I would like one please.

 

[DaveTomasi]

BTW, who is the keeper of numbers? I would like one please.

So let it be written. So let it be done.

The Brubaker Brute Club welcomes fuzzychaos!

J. Crawford - 1 (On Hiatus)
Supertanker - 2 (Retired)
a2zbassman - 3
orlando123 - 4
DaveTomasi - 5 (will be back)
JayCY - 6
coop - 7
vision - 8 (Retired)
stoneboy26 - 9
drpepper - 10
liquidsunshine -11
Billy Low - 12
Robear22 - 13
jjbb123 - 14
madsci918 - 15
zulujack - 16
johnnybass01 - 17
mmbongo - 18
skyj - 19
Marginal Tom - 20
Rowinsho - 21
ubnomnar - 22
TRichardsbass - 23
phillybass101 - 24
fuzzychaos - 25

 

[brubakerguitars]

Hey All, Thanks for the support with the Brutes! The wheels are just starting to turn with these, so there are going to be slight adjustments with pricing, new additions to expand the Brute Series line and any improvements we can make as we move forward. I appreciate your feedback as it is essential to make this a successful product. Working with a distributor means now I have some muscle to get my instruments out there on a bigger level- it's tough as a small custom builder to get this going on your own! Right now we are getting small shipments in and making sure the the instruments are up to specs.(which is top priority) and I make sure of that- I have inspected every bass thus far and will continue this. AP international is the distributor and they are based out of NJ close to the shore- about an hour from New York city. This is a smaller distributor(more attention to the details) and the head cheese there has been in the music instrument manf. and import business for about 30 years. It is our goal to sell great instruments at a great price, at all different price points on the import side and the US made side eventually. We are planning to introduce a single cut Brute Series model at the Jan. NAMM show- any TB ers interested in pre ordering??? I can't give any pricing info. but I know it's going to be priced right! Ok- this is too long here but thanks again and yes I am painting the custom pickguards for now to help things progress with getting basses sold to dealers that APINTL is setting up. Eventually this will be done where the Brute basses are made to be cost effective etc. Sorry about any price confusion but I think Brad cleared it up. TB Rocks! KB

 

[a2zbassman]

Heads up all you looking for one of the new Brutes. This just went up on eBay. B-Stock Brute MJX-5.

Bet this wont last long at that price!

 

[johnnybass01]

was that just Kevin Brubaker himself asking if any TBer's want to preorder a singlecut brute. can I get a hellllll yeahhhh!!!!!!!!!!! I'm am all in!!!! And I already decided i was going to NAMM this year too sweeeet....

 

[Kwesi]

Heads up all you looking for one of the new Brutes. This just went up on eBay. B-Stock Brute MJX-5.

Bet this wont last long at that price!

I'm seriously tempted but I can't make any moves until my Fender sells. There's also another KXB-5 I'm considering so I guess time will tell .

 

[brubakerguitars]

Oooops! I was told I am not allowed to do that...hope the TB police don't come after me! Forgive me as I am not a regular here.

 

[othefool]

I ordered the Mediterrenian MJX5 on the bay yesterday...I will request a number when it arrrives...

Nice to see you stop by, Kevin...the sight of the singlecut Brute is breathtaking, any plans to produce a fretless version? My midlife crisis is around the corner, and I already know that instead of a sports car, it will be a botique bass or two. Brubakers are on the short list, so we might be in touch...

What is the story with the KXB basses? Are those also sourced offshore, or are they made here?

 

[Ds1]

What is the story with the KXB basses? Are those also sourced offshore, or are they made here?

(I hope you don't mind me answering for you, Kevin) All of Brubakers instruments are made in the USA, with the exception of the Brute series; Thats why the Brutes have their own series.

 

[johnnybass01]

I hope more of the newer brute buyer's give the stock electronics a chance. I have a new JJX5 on the way and after seeing the video posted by malcom hall I am intending to leave it stock.The one I am currently playing has bartolini's and an Audere preamp and although the tone is great the bass suffers from low output. So much so that I thought I was having a problem with my amplifier.The preamp section on my head was reaching the point that it was starting to breakup. Last night at rehearsal I decided to run my sansamp inline and actually boosted the signal going into the amp where I got the clip light to come on when playing hard then i back off a touch. WOWWWW what a difference no distortion just think strong bass.I would have thought that a 18 volt preamp would have tons of output but I guess I was wrong . I always knew that bartolini's are on the lower output end of things but geeeez what a difference..