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Brubaker Brute series

TRichardsbass

TRichardsbass

Inactive
Commercial User
Jun 3, 2009
3,330
398
Between Muscle Shoals and Nashville
www.facebook.com
Disclosures
Bassgearu, Music Industry Consulting and Sales. Tech 21, NBE Corp, Sonosphere.
#1
Okay, I've been spending so much time tracking down basses that I just learned about the Brubaker Brute series.

I saw the picture of that beautiful and colorful Brute in Bass Player Magazine from the NAMM show.

Can anyone tell me if the Brute's are made in the USA and also, if anyone has seen this issue of Bass Player (the one with Jonas Hellborg on the cover) is that cool pickguard wood or is it the normal material? I did the fiery look of this bass.

Makes me reconsider every bass I own and just getting a couple of these.

Tell me!
 
#2
Someone suggested one of these to a post a few days ago as the best new bass value out there. Brubaker's website shows a bunch of boutique style basses and a box referring to the Brute series, but no mention of their build origin.

The Low End in Murfreesboro is close to my home and Brian has a black 4 string on his site. I'm going to try and stop in this week to check it out.
 
#3
The Brubaker you saw labeled as a Brute at NAMM in Bass Player unfortunately was not a Brute. That one is a custom/handmade US model (I believe it's a Brubaker NBP-5), although it is the model that the Brutes were designed after, but not a Brute. The Brute series is made in China. That is a custom spalted maple pickguard on it though. Kevin would probably design and make one similar to install on a Brute . . . for the right price.

The current price on a Brute 5'er is listed at $712, my wild guess for the for the US handmade one (and please don't quote me on this) would be 3 to 4 times that cost.

Here's some TB links on the Brute series for you to browse at your leisure:

Original thread posted as the Brute series was introduced - with follow-up.


Brute club forum
 
#4
a2zbassman said:
The Brubaker you saw labeled as a Brute at NAMM in Bass Player unfortunately was not a Brute. That one is a custom/handmade US model (I believe it's a Brubaker NBP-5), although it is the model that the Brutes were designed after, but not a Brute. The Brute series is made in China. That is a custom spalted maple pickguard on it though. Kevin would probably design and make one similar to install on a Brute . . . for the right price.

The current price on a Brute 5'er is listed at $712, my wild guess for the for the US handmade one (and please don't quote me on this) would be 3 to 4 times that cost.

Here's some TB links on the Brute series for you to browse at your leisure:

Original thread posted as the Brute series was introduced - with follow-up.


Brute club forum
Click to expand...


Thanks Az man! I just did a little research and noticed that the Brutes are handled by APINTL. Thats the company for Andy Papiccio, former Kramer principal and current Floyd Rose king.

I just spoke to Andy and he has a showroom that I pass by everyday. I'll be stopping by his showroom today or tomorrow to check out all the Brutes. He tells me the first production is due in any day now.

Wow, I ask a question and find out the mother lode is in my backyard!
 
#5
The Black and red Spalted Maple bass was a precursor to the Brutes and was originally an NBP ("P" for pickguard). It belongs to Kevin Walker. That particular bass might even be called the Kevin Walker model, I'm not sure. The pricing would be in line with the US NBS custom models.

This will be the second run of Brute basses, seems like the first one was a long time ago. With Andy I think the Brutes are in excellent hands.
 
#6
Brad Johnson said:
The Black and red Spalted Maple bass was a precursor to the Brutes and was originally an NBP ("P" for pickguard). It belongs to Kevin Walker. That particular bass might even be called the Kevin Walker model, I'm not sure. The pricing would be in line with the US NBS custom models.

This will be the second run of Brute basses, seems like the first one was a long time ago. With Andy I think the Brutes are in excellent hands.
Click to expand...

Thanks Brad!

I went by this afternoon and tried out the Brutes Andy had. I was very impressed! The neck on the 4 string felt very comfortable in my hand and the bass overall just felt good. The one I played was set a little lower then my personal preference, but the bass still rang out well without any noticeable fret buzz. I liked the control layout. I would love to have been able to throw a set of flats on this one, she would have sounded even better.

I can't wait for the first production to arrive. I'll be going back to the new showroom and marvel at them.

I think I just found the workhorse bass I was looking for.
 
#8
Brad Johnson said:
Hope it works out for you.
Click to expand...

Thanks again Brad. It would work out better if I could find a way to get the bass and the pickguard from Kevin without having to sell some of the collection. I can do the bass, but the two combined right now will stretch my budget.

For example, I have a Korean made Kramer ST500 explorer style guitar in Kramer Sparkle red with an original Floyd Rose system on it. From 1985. Maybe someone will read this thread and purchase it from me......
 
#9
When I got my Brute it rocked my world, and changed the way I thought about basses! I've been through a few high end USA basses from Lakland, Zon, and Spector to name a few and these Brutes are the most incredible basses I've ever played for the price. The Brutes do benefit greatly from a pickup upgrade, and once that's done they are definitely in the top 5 basses you can get for under $1000. They're probably in the top 10 under $1800!

The only problem with the Brutes is that they have me REALLY intrigued to try a real hand made Brubaker. That's a scary, debt inducing thought :)
 
#10
mmbongo said:
When I got my Brute it rocked my world, and changed the way I thought about basses! I've been through a few high end USA basses from Lakland, Zon, and Spector to name a few and these Brutes are the most incredible basses I've ever played for the price. The Brutes do benefit greatly from a pickup upgrade, and once that's done they are definitely in the top 5 basses you can get for under $1000. They're probably in the top 10 under $1800!

The only problem with the Brutes is that they have me REALLY intrigued to try a real hand made Brubaker. That's a scary, debt inducing thought :)
Click to expand...

Welcome to my world;)
 
#11
mmbongo said:
The only problem with the Brutes is that they have me REALLY intrigued to try a real hand made Brubaker. That's a scary, debt inducing thought :)
Click to expand...

It can happen! That's exactly what got me my KXB-5. I'm just glad I don't live anywhere near MD, or I might be in way over my head. But I don't regret getting the KXB one little bit except that my Brutes aren't getting much love lately.
 

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