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Carl Thompson Bass

#22
Szymanski862 said:
@ Benthughes, I could understand why ppl would think its an odd choice when your working with a high budget like that but i really think its the best bass i could purchase. I love the very woody unique tone to them. They seem to be very lightweight and balance well. I have been playing a stingray and a warwick for years and i am tired of my shoulder and arm killing me after. I want something that has a killer, versatile sound thats also lightweight and plays good. And most of all they have tons of options you can change anything from the scale length to the woods to the appearance ect. However i will say i have never heard of Skjold and would be interested to look at it now that you say that.
Click to expand...

You have just described my Skjold. It weighs 7.9 pounds. I have had it almost 4 years and I am still finding new tones. It looks great and sounds awesome. I am not trying to plug my band, but go to Philadelphia Wedding Bands, DJs, Top Dance Bands, Philadelphia Disc Jockeys, Party DJs Philadelphia. Click on bands, and click the band London and watch the video. I am playing my Skjold on all of the tracks. Also, Pete will build you what you want; he is always willing and ready to talk to you about your axe, before he takes a dime. Do yourself a favor, check out Skjold basses.
 
#24
I think people don't realize that Carl thinks of himself more as an artist than as a luthier (at least that's the impression I get). Ordering a bass from him is basically commissioning a work of art; you're paying him money so that you can end up with a "Carl Thompson Bass", not a bass built exactly to your specs.

It reminds me of a story where a wealthy guy commissioned a portrait from an up-and-coming artist, then hated how it turned out because it wasn't what he was expecting. Turns out the artist was Salvador Dali.
 
#25
Sorry, I was just "driving by" and saw this post.

I have never played a Carl Thompson before, so I have no emotional experience to draw from, but 2-4 year wait for a bass that may not be what I ordered seems RIDICULOUS ! I look back 2-4 years from now and my tastes have changed so much. To think that I would be just as excited in 2-4 years as I am now when I ordered a bass seems unlikely.

I would take Mica's advice from Alembic - Go buy a USED Alembic ( Carl Thompson in your case ) and see if you even like it. Then, if you're ready and in love with it, THEN order YOUR bass.

Who knows, Jack Black could be president by the time you get your bass.
 
#27
I used to own a Carl Thompson that was so old that it was made in his kitchen back in the 70's. I have to say that not a single bass I've owned or played could even come close to that bass other than my Fodera. Just how he angles the neck back alone made it easier to play than the vast majority of boutique basses out there. It was also the first bass I've played that I could take my hands off of, standing or sitting, that would stay at the exact same angle it was before. He truly is a master at his craft.



Michael
 
#29
Owned a CT and four Wals I still have a Wal, that is all I am going to say:

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#30
honestly a wal MkII was my first choice of a bass but i just don;t know if i am going to enjoy standing playing for extended periods of a time with what feels like a tree hanging from my shoulders. The sound is perfect but they feel like bigger heavier clunkier warwicks. Howver i am looking into Pete hilton as the wait time and price are both much better than carls.
 
#31
CT's are probably worth the wait, if you want it that much... but do you want it that badly that you're willing to wait that long? They're fantastic but Carl usually takes a fair bit of licence with them- I knew a guy who got a CT and the neck on his was 2 inches wider than he asked, because he told Carl he had big hands Carl "knew he would like it". He thought it was better than a narrower neck, but you should bear in mind that you should let Carl do his thing, which to some people isn't as custom as they'd like. Also, they're very very pricey... so like the others have been saying, Pete might be a better option (not saying that you don't have the cash, it just seems more practical imo).
 
#32
Szymanski862 said:
@ Benthughes, I could understand why ppl would think its an odd choice when your working with a high budget like that but i really think its the best bass i could purchase. I love the very woody unique tone to them. They seem to be very lightweight and balance well. I have been playing a stingray and a warwick for years and i am tired of my shoulder and arm killing me after. I want something that has a killer, versatile sound thats also lightweight and plays good. And most of all they have tons of options you can change anything from the scale length to the woods to the appearance ect. However i will say i have never heard of Skjold and would be interested to look at it now that you say that.
Click to expand...

7.7 lbs. And for sale :D

skf2.jpg
 
#33
phishaholik said:
I have to say that not a single bass I've owned or played could even come close to that bass other than my Fodera.
Click to expand...

... which brings up a point. Why not get a Fodera? The wait is now less than two years, and you can depend on the delivery date they set, thanks in large part to Jason. You also get exactly what you ask for. Further, Fodera's customer service is second to none, and they treat each of their customers like family. You will not wait 24 hours for a response to an email. Usually not even two hours. I've emailed Jason at 1:00 a.m. my time (4:00 a.m. Jason's time) and gotten an immediate response. I mean like two minutes.

I don't want to do business with someone who makes it difficult to communicate with them. And I sure as hell don't want to do business with someone who disrespects me enough to change the specs of my bass on a whim, after I've paid thousands of dollars to get what I want.

BTW, I've had great experiences with other builders after the sale, including Roger, George and Jerzy. They all know the value of customer satisfaction.

Finally, a fair number of people here give great props to CT basses, so I'm not saying they're not excellent. However, they're not for me, even if they were easy to get.
 
#39
To add some information regarding Wals....

The Mark III design has the Wal sound with much lighter weight, is a completely balanced instrument with absolutely no neck-dive, and is a fast and effortless feeling bass design to play. The sound is variable and I think you can have a total Wal sound, or dial-in a P-bass if you wish.

I own both Mark IIs and Mark IIIs and have played both styles for years and years. I have never played any other bass that is as comfortable as a Wal Mark III. It is truly different. Four hour gigs are a breeze. The booty of these basses is truly unique. The emotion in their sound is palpable. There is a reason such a mystique surrounds them.
 

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