Carvin Vader headless basses

[DrDAV14]

I have a 30" Vader inbound by the end of Feb.

 

[skeeler]

Cool. Please come back to give us your review. How many strings?

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

I have a 30" Vader inbound by the end of Feb.

You damn well better post a NBD with specs and a handful of pics!

 

[west*coast*bass]

Toptube: That's good news. Thanks.

Everyone: I'd love to hear reviews of the short scale Vader, especially the 4 string.

I played a 30" scale at NAMM last week...I like the sound MUCH better from the 34" scale. Plus with no headstock, the 30" felt like a toy.

 

[skeeler]

Thanks for the data point.

 

[DrDAV14]

I will chime in once it arrives. I also may order the radius single coils and see how they compare to the humbuckers. Its good to have both options.
I like to keep a short scale in the arsenal, this ones right up my alley.

 

[groooooove]

I have a 30" Vader inbound by the end of Feb.

did you ever recieve this bass?

anyone else?

my interet in the 6 string 30" has peaked again. can't seem to find anything new about them since i last looked.

 

[DrDAV14]

Yes, I have received it and am playing it very consistantly since March.
I love the balance and the light weight. The tone of the bass is very much a hot passive sound. It has that non-hifi clarity, but width through the low-mids.
I find it a good balance with my active basses. I am interested to try the single coil pickups in this model, I may order another (in time) just to compare the 2.

 

[skeeler]

DrDAV14, how many strings does this bass have? What strings are you using?

Also, how do you feel about the reach to the low frets on this bass? With the short horn, I wonder if the bass would hang with the CoG closer to the player's fretting hand than something with a longer horn, which would make the reach longer, mitigating the benefit of the shorter scale length. What's your experience?

Can you post some photos?

 

[Ghastly]

Ok, I'm a Fender guy so please cut me a little slack... why is this called a "Vader" bass? Cool looling bass, btw.

 

[Toptube]

Ok, I'm a Fender guy so please cut me a little slack... why is this called a "Vader" bass? Cool looling bass, btw.

Jeff Kiesel is a Star Wars fan.

 

[Handyman]

Ok, I'm a Fender guy so please cut me a little slack... why is this called a "Vader" bass? Cool looling bass, btw.

I find your lack of faith disturbing.

 

[Daniel Piper]

It's Vader's Sig.

Ok, I'm a Fender guy so please cut me a little slack... why is this called a "Vader" bass? Cool looling bass, btw.

He was with BC Rich for years.

 

[Ghastly]

Jeff Kiesel is a Star Wars fan.

As simple as that? LOL. Cool actually.

 

[lfmn16]

It's an abomination!! But I want one.

 

[Daniel Piper]

I know right! So bad but so good.

It's an abomination!! But I want one.

 

[DrDAV14]

My Vader is a 4 string, Short scale.

 

[skeeler]

My Vader is a 4 string, Short scale.

@DrDAV14

I'm very interested in the 4-string SS. Can you comment on how the reach to the first fret compares to other basses? Is it noticeably shorter than on most 34-inch bases? Would you mind measuring the distance from the the end of the tuner knobs to the nut?

 

[DrDAV14]

I like where the bass sits on me with the shorter top horn. The bass length, from the end of the tuners to the locking nut is 33.7".
I've owned quite a few 32" & 30.5" scale basses. This is one of my favorites, by design, sound, weight and build quality.
I'm a dyed in wool headless player since 1985. I like a headlesses compactness, ability to stay in tune better, and balance.
I find the quality of the bass vs the price is a very good balance, a DEAL as it were. Nay sayers about the scale and look, there NOT me. I gig this bass weekly and find it fits me to a "T"
Kudos to the Kiesel boys.

 

[skeeler]

@DrDAV14

Thank you for your detailed reply and for measuring the bass for me. This may be my next bass. Now I need to decide on a color.