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Carbonetti Guitars (and Basses)

#21
Rumblefisher said:
I enthusiastically agree!

The one on the wall was the NAMM bass. Sadly for me (happily for someone else!) it's been purchased. I've already asked him to build a 4 string version, albeit a bit modified (mahogany body, rosewood board as opposed to the alder/maple combo). I'm envisioning even more tubby thump at the cost of a little punch.
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I know who got it - heard about it at NAMM. I was both happy and sad at the same time. The fretwork on that bass is insane.

The pickup on the NAMM MoonPhase and the LaBella strings seem like they were designed to work together. My problem? I don't like the feel of any LaBella strings. The sound of 'em is fine. I'm not worried if I decide to order it will be sorted out but I'm not putting LaBellas on it. I'm deciding on either a 4-string or a 5-string (E-C, not B-G which is what the NAMM bass was). It won't happen for some time, but I'm saving up hoping I can do it at some point sooner rather than later.

I have an Ulrich BassDesign Retro57 with a mahogany body, as well as various other body woods on my other basses. I think it all boils down to whatever sound you envision out of a particular bass and/or the type of music you play. I've got a great alder body semi-hollow Tele-shaped (as in guitar, not the reissued 50s P they called a Tele) with a '71 fretless P neck (rosewood board) that is an amazing combo.
 
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#22
FenderP said:
I know who got it - heard about it at NAMM. I was both happy and sad at the same time. The fretwork on that bass is insane.

The pickup on the NAMM MoonPhase and the LaBella strings seem like they were designed to work together. My problem? I don't like the feel of any LaBella strings. The sound of 'em is fine. I'm not worried if I decide to order it will be sorted out but I'm not putting LaBellas on it. I'm deciding on either a 4-string or a 5-string (E-C, not B-G which is what the NAMM bass was). It won't happen for some time, but I'm saving up hoping I can do it at some point sooner rather than later.

I have an Ulrich BassDesign Retro57 with a mahogany body, as well as varoius other body woods on my other basses. I think it all boils down to whatever sound you envision out of a particular bass and/or the type of music you play. I've got a great alder body semi-hollow Tele-shaped (as in guitar, not the reissued 50s P they called a Tele) with a '71 fretless P neck (rosewood board) that is an amazing combo.
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That's awesome. I agree the fretwork is immaculate. I also agree that the pickup can be whatever you want it to be...James will voice it accordingly.

A quick anecdote about the strings...I recently took my Ken Smith to James for setup and string change. It was wearing KS tapered roundwounds, and I took some TI flats for him to put on because I’ve always been curious about Ken smith and ti’s. He ended up putting on some la Bella LTF because he thought I would love them, of course offering to switch to TIs if I wanted. I thought the LTF were great, but still I wanted to see if the TIs and the KS were the match made in heaven I thought they’d be. Sheepishly I asked if he could switch em out, and he did so with a smile. Not a bad feeling to be felt, he was super nice about it. I ended up taking my stingray specifically to have him set it up with the LTFs because I really did like them that much!!

My point in this long winded story is that James (and the rest of the crew as well) is there to do what’s right for your instrument but also to make you happy with whatever you guys decide together!
 
#23
Rumblefisher said:
That's awesome. I agree the fretwork is immaculate. I also agree that the pickup can be whatever you want it to be...James will voice it accordingly.

A quick anecdote about the strings...I recently took my Ken Smith to James for setup and string change. It was wearing KS tapered roundwounds, and I took some TI flats for him to put on because I’ve always been curious about Ken smith and ti’s. He ended up putting on some la Bella LTF because he thought I would love them, of course offering to switch to TIs if I wanted. I thought the LTF were great, but still I wanted to see if the TIs and the KS were the match made in heaven I thought they’d be. Sheepishly I asked if he could switch em out, and he did so with a smile. Not a bad feeling to be felt, he was super nice about it. I ended up taking my stingray specifically to have him set it up with the LTFs because I really did like them that much!!

My point in this long winded story is that James (and the rest of the crew as well) is there to do what’s right for your instrument but also to make you happy with whatever you guys decide together!
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I know. I had a bit of a back and forth at NAMM with him about potential options. We did talk about strings a bit. I genuinely dislike the feel of all LaBella strings (I've tried quite a few different sets over the years on various basses). The only set that would work if it felt right would be the 1954s. It doesn't mean the LaBella's are not quality strings; far from it. None of them are for me. I feel the same about TIs lol That had to be THE worst feeling string I've ever tried. Couldn't get 'em off fast enough.
 
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#25
Thanks so much for this post! Glad I caught! I've been friends with James for over a decade, since he was based down in the East Village.
He is an incredibly creative and talented luthier, as well as an all around great guy!
Here are photos of me, holding the 5 string Moonphase bass, with him and Eric Coco, the owner of LaBella String, in the middle holding an Olinto bass at this years NAMM where I was their guest:
IMG_20250124_175724239.jpg

and at the Guitar Shop NYC last Sept:
IMG_20240923_142015814(1).jpg
 
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#26
Quasar Wave said:
Thanks so much for this post! Glad I caught! I've been friends with James for over a decade, since he was based down in the East Village.
He is an incredibly creative and talented luthier, as well as an all around great guy!
Here are photos of me, holding the 5 string Moonphase bass, with him and Eric Coco in the middle holding an Olinto bass at this years NAMM where I was their guest:View attachment 7159870
and at the Guitar Shop NYC last Sept:
View attachment 7159871
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Thanks for sharing those, great photos! Totally dig your style as well! :D
 
#27
Rumblefisher said:
I enthusiastically agree!

The one on the wall was the NAMM bass. Sadly for me (happily for someone else!) it's been purchased. I've already asked him to build a 4 string version, albeit a bit modified (mahogany body, rosewood board as opposed to the alder/maple combo). I'm envisioning even more tubby thump at the cost of a little punch.
Click to expand...
I heard Scott Devine from Scott's Bass Lessons purchased it!
 
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#31
FenderP said:
I know Sean Hurley and Nick Campbell also played and liked it; there are videos out there. It really was a stunning piece.
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I’m late to the party I see :)

Those are 3 of the most recognized players out there and their endorsement means worlds over mine.

I tells ya though, I knows a quality instrument when I sees one, and this is qua-li-ty!
 
#35
FenderP said:
Prob closer to $5k I would guess.
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I got some spiffy options on mine and went a little past that number. It’s possible my view is distorted because I went in knowing I wanted Honduran mahogany neck, Brazilian fretboard etc etc…I *think* it started at 4 or 4.5K…thank you for the correction though, it’s important to be accurate. Much appreciated :)
 
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#36
All good. Most custom builds I have looked at - not just Carbonetti - generally are in that closer to $5k range give or take. Adding options/specialty work drives it up.
 
#37
I’m a happy Carbonetti owner, and I second everything said. My bass took a while l, but James was very communicative and put in a lot thought into how to make the build unique. Happy to answer any questions, here’s my bass:

IMG_2782.png

RenderedImage.jpegIMG_0413.jpegIMG_0416.jpegIMG_0417.jpegIMG_0418.jpegIMG_0421.jpeg

And here’s an audio sample, recorded just with an iphone:



So smooth, great playability, and stunning looks, could not be happier.
 
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#38
Tfers said:
I’m a happy Carbonetti owner, and I second everything said. My bass took a while l, but James was very communicative and put in a lot thought into how to make the build unique. Happy to answer any questions, here’s my bass:

View attachment 7208122

View attachment 7208115View attachment 7208117View attachment 7208118View attachment 7208119View attachment 7208120View attachment 7208121

And here’s an audio sample, recorded just with an iphone:



So smooth, great playability, and stunning looks, could not be happier.
Click to expand...


Fantastic Tiago!! Astoria has more Carbonettis per capita than any other neighborhood in NY ;) well, except sunset park I guess!
 
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