Club Moollon

[The Gear Guru]

With serious local applied music students really hungry to get a Moollon prior to the fall semester and posting want ads accordingly specifically for P-IVs, it was bit of a shame about that used Dakota Red P-IV w/maple neck getting sniped and shipped abroad so fast, although I shouldn't be surprised...everyone's making heaps money off of the process and we all know the demand.

Facts re: the Reverb Ad, since we see discrepancies all the time and folks are always emailing us for details. As in the past, we aim to be as transparent as possible when used Moollons pop up.

1. We normally wouldn't consider the consigning broker working in proxy a "musical vendor", and the P-IV was actually sold by a private party out near Ilsan, not a musical vendor in Seoul. Like nearly all private party sellers in Korea, said individual originally insisted on selling locally and not shipping it. And bubble finish incidents do happen...nitro reacts with plastics/foam/nylon like nothing else

2. The part about YJ giving it a fairly recent setup is correct.

3. Is selling on Reverb at approx. twice at what of what it was locally put up for sale.

Thanks for this clarification Andi,
I am the buyer and now seller of that Dakota Red Moollon P. I am also an owner and lover of two other P IV classics which I play regularly. I am happy to play and represent Moollon instruments when people ask me what I play or see the headstock when I give lessons or play gigs. It's not just about the instruments playing great, which those who've had the opportunity know they do, it's the beings who put the work in. I highly respect you, YJP, and the rest of the Moollon team. You always get back to me quickly, with clear answers to my question, demonstrate much professionalism, and obviously have a killer product to represent.

I don't like hearing that local students don't have access to these instruments, and it wasn't my intention to strip anyone of an opportunity to own one. I was offered the bass by someone who I built somewhat of a business relationship with while he was here on TB and he emailed me one day with pictures and a price, and I didn't think twice about it. I'm aware that the demand is going up and that people are paying new and above new prices for the instruments. I'll be honest that I saw it as an easy way to make some money, but i'm certainly not making twice what I got it for.

Were you not able to buy it from the owner who had it in the shop while YJP was setting it up? I know that's not your business and I've seen you post that you don't have time to buy and sell Moollon's, but if any focus is on keeping them local and in the community, shouldn't someone on the Moollon team be scooping them up before they end up going abroad?

Regarding this Dakota Red P. Yeah, it's unfortunate that the seller wrapped it in plastic bubble wrap and that had to happen. I've now purchased around 10-15 Moollon's from him, with maybe only 2-3 hiccups in transaction and/or shipping. He also sends me a label that they're from OZ music company, that is why I originally put "Musial Vendor" in the ad, but changed that after reading your post. My mistake.

The reason I pick up these Moollon's is yes, I know I can make some money on them and I enjoy being able to take shipment, clean, test, set up, take pictures, write ads, and move along these instruments to new owners. I am a player and lover of the instruments and highly respect you and YJP. When I deal with people in selling your instruments, I try and use the same professionalism that i've seen you demonstrate time and time again.

I have one more P IV Classic incoming after this Dakota Red bass arrives, and if you guys want me to stop bringing them into the states and selling them as i've been doing (check my TB history, i've been selling quite a few), I would have no problem pulling the plug.

I've taken down the Reverb ad so I can offer the bass at a more reasonable price. As you can see, I put my time, money, and effort into getting these basses and getting them into the hands of new owners. Do I make money and benefit from it, yes. Do I do it because I love the instruments and company, yes. I've enjoyed being able to help spread the Moollon gospel and take full accountability for my actions.

I appreciate you Andi!

Best,
Steve

 

[Ultradust]

Thank you Steve. We sincerely appreciate your candor and kind words.

In getting the link to the Reverb ad, we had no idea that you were the seller, and are only aware of the fellow who has been enabling the transfers in between. All in all if you ask YJ, he has no personal qualms with any extraneous re-selling prices due to the market and demand.

He and I have had the conversation many times since seeing several supported musicians flipping their Moollon guitars and basses on the cheap a number of years back, that led to his change in artist policy: YJ frankly would prefer that every Moollon not be undervalued when sold. So all's good in that regard and please don't refrain from selling the bass as a result of the above post.

Granted, every new Moollon guitar or bass sold is already a financial minus for the company, but as mentioned so many times before that's very much the "why" of Moollon in the first place. What people sell things for is entirely up to them, regardless of YJ's vision to have his best as affordable as possible as new instruments to those that need them...When out of his hands, YJ feels everyone is rightfully free to do with whatever they want to do with them, be it making profit off of them while flipping them in sales, or profit from livelihood as active musicians, as long as it eventually ends up in the hands of the ones that needs them.

And although it's been one of the greatest joys while working with Moollon to be able to connect local young musicians (many who come to the Moollon shop but are not able to afford new a instrument) with previous models and keep the YJ's vision for affordable vintage quality especially over the past decade (invariably leading up to an in-shop setup and heartfelt conversation), we as well know it's wishful thinking to assume that we can always be on hand to swiftly play matchmaker, just as we're more than a little preoccupied especially since late 2019 (I myself working three jobs at the moment).

We fully acknowledge that said so-and-so may contact you when a good deal pops up over here for consignment, much faster than we can facilitate a timely engagement on our end We're not going to stand in the way, it's 100% legitimate to do so...and once again, out of YJ's hands. Again no lie, and I hope this point is clear; it's why that little blurb at the end of the FAQ is still there: YJ believes every Moollon will find its final owner somehow, be them here or on the other side of the planet.

The primary reason for the above post compounded with the seasonal aspect is that we've been getting so much email and Facebook DMs from people asking about the frequency, specific details as outlined in ads relating instrument history, of course original pricing of so many consigned models over the past year. And when there's a clear discrepancy to be noted in an ad or is passed on to us in email inquiries, we make every effort to maintain transparency when asked, and felt it reasonable to call things out for once. But transparency is all we're hoping for, when possible.

We've had to deal with a significant amount of misinformation regarding the Moollon brand right up to our last years at NAMM, and when asked, we have no reason to not state things exactly as they are, and this includes the nitrocellulose fiasco last year that put us in a real pickle, just our luck happening as everyone suddenly wanted a new Moollon... Moollon is an open book, and YJ's vintage spec goods with bushing-free sticky tuners, heavy headstocks, temperamentally thirsty ebony fretboards and a thin nitro finish that will dent or chip if you even just look at it being something we never shy away from mentioning. The above post was admittedly a bit compounded based on timing and context, but all in all we hope this massive thread will continue to be a constructive point for conversation and transparency whenever possible.

And in the same way, since we've never felt a need to opening convey the company hope for young talents over here, it's time for us to be equally as transparent in this conversation, and by no means are you at fault for not know about it. We admit it's an idealistic vision we've always maintained and have tried to be as proactive as we can with the local scene, but equally admit the market itself and artists abroad need Moollon as well, more than ever.

And as each Moollon instrument has always been a solo build by one dude since the start of the Classic Series, each one sent somehow abroad to find a new owner ultimately has YJ's blessing in the DNA of the instrument itself.

 

[J.Wolf]

Looking hard for a P classic (4) if anyone knows of one that is or might be available. TIA.

 

[Matt Dean]

Things are heating up outside of this forum regarding possible trade offers. Just wanted to check in with this community before I pull the trigger on anything in case you’ve been sitting on the fence.

I decided I am more of a P kinda player. So, I’m throwing this out to the club: straight trade for a killer Moollon Jazz V for a Moollon P V. (The Jazz V has been recently set up and plecked by SF Guitar Works, so it is a truly killer playing bass guitar).

Edit: photo added.

View attachment 4348115

Things are heating up outside of this forum regarding possible trade offers. Just wanted to check in with this community before I pull the trigger on anything in case you’ve been sitting on the fence.

 

[ericsmith]

Hello Moollon gang.

I’ve got a question.
My Moollon P bass from 2019 sounds great BUT there seems to be a sort of bloom or latency when I play the E and A strings and the notes on them. Anyone else have this?
The low notes don’t really seem to pop out when I play.

Or is it just that I’ve played the bass in strange rooms with strange gear…don’t know! I need to investigate this more.

 

[franklindayala]

Tim's Moollon on the vid.

 

[mmbass21]

Hello Moollon gang.

I’ve got a question.
My Moollon P bass from 2019 sounds great BUT there seems to be a sort of bloom or latency when I play the E and A strings and the notes on them. Anyone else have this?
The low notes don’t really seem to pop out when I play.

Or is it just that I’ve played the bass in strange rooms with strange gear…don’t know! I need to investigate this more.

Kind of sounds like bad or dead strings? I took my an Ibanez to band practice last Wed and it's normally a very mid forward modern tone but there was no punch to it. It had no sustain and I felt like I was fighting it for the attack of the notes to come out, maybe similar to your issue?

Anyways I put on new strings yesterday and it's back to normal. Not sure if you have rounds or flats on your P, I typically use rounds on everything and on occasion they just unexpectedly die.

 

[cxcxcx]

Hello Moollon gang.

I’ve got a question.
My Moollon P bass from 2019 sounds great BUT there seems to be a sort of bloom or latency when I play the E and A strings and the notes on them. Anyone else have this?
The low notes don’t really seem to pop out when I play.

Or is it just that I’ve played the bass in strange rooms with strange gear…don’t know! I need to investigate this more.

Open-ended question that can have several causes as a answer, depending on what’s really going on, and the definition and suitability of the words being used as descriptors. I’m 100% positive I could diagnose this in less than 30 seconds with the bass in my hands - if it the issue is on the bass itself.

First, I’d go around and see if there are any loose screws on the instrument. You don’t want to tighten them as hard as you can, but they should be snug. If there’s something mechanical on the bass going on, you might be hearing the lower strings getting duller as they age, especially if they were bright before. This can be solved with a string change. The other possibility is that the neck may require some adjustment to get less relief. Sometimes greater string height over the frets might cause something could be perceived as latency or bloom.

Also could be that you’re not accustomed to changes between the sound and response of playing at lower volumes and higher volumes with this particular bass yet. Another angle is that certain rooms can accentuate or reduce certain frequencies due to the physics involved in how sound travels. You can be playing in a room like this, actually start thinking you have dead spots on the neck, and then get home and find out everything is just fine. Different types of amplifiers and speakers may project sound in unfamiliar ways.

If all of this still remains a mystery, you can try posting a video that displays the issue, which may help in a more accurate diagnosis.

 

[ericsmith]

Thanks for the thoughts.
I’ve got quite a bit of experience playing bass professionally but I’ve never encountered this before.

I had a new set of Labella deep talkin flats before, with the same issue. Then my strings were not quite as high as I’m used to.
Then I changed to Labella Jamerson set, old but still good, and the issue remained…
I don’t think it’s about the strings.

Pickup doesn’t seem to be too far off the strings either.

 

[600 Ohms]

Thanks for the thoughts.
I’ve got quite a bit of experience playing bass professionally but I’ve never encountered this before.

I had a new set of Labella deep talkin flats before, with the same issue. Then my strings were not quite as high as I’m used to.
Then I changed to Labella Jamerson set, old but still good, and the issue remained…
I don’t think it’s about the strings.

Pickup doesn’t seem to be too far off the strings either.

Have you tried non-LaBella strings? This will be unpopular, but I find their strings to be made on another planet. Some people love ‘em but they have a high failure rate.

 

[RudyTardy]

Have you tried non-LaBella strings? This will be unpopular, but I find their strings to be made on another planet. Some people love ‘em but they have a high failure rate.

1000000%

 

[ericsmith]

I have a new set of Fender flats, going to give them a go!

 

[AMJBASS]

Have you tried non-LaBella strings? This will be unpopular, but I find their strings to be made on another planet. Some people love ‘em but they have a high failure rate.

High failure rate?! News to me. I've been using them for years, and have never had a failure with them. If anything they are remarkably consistent.

You could try dropping the pickup down a bit. It will give you a bit less low mid/mid content, and a bit more bass/treble will come through. You also could go the other way with string gauge. Not every bass responds well with heavy tension.

 

[600 Ohms]

High failure rate?! News to me. I've been using them for years, and have never had a failure with them. If anything they are remarkably consistent.

You could try dropping the pickup down a bit. It will give you a bit less low mid/mid content, and a bit more bass/treble will come through. You also could go the other way with string gauge. Not every bass responds well with heavy tension.

I warned it was going to be unpopular, but I’m not the only person who has had this experience with LBs and has said so publicly, even on this very forum. I’ve had to send back multiple sets over the years. I have a friend, an endorser, who can’t say enough nice things about them and the company, and to him and you and everybody else I say “it’s awesome to be you”.

Truly not trying to be disparaging, but when I read that I thought, “I’ll bet that’s it.”

Maybe it sucks to be me?

 

[AMJBASS]

I warned it was going to be unpopular, but I’m not the only person who has had this experience with LBs and has said so publicly, even on this very forum. I’ve had to send back multiple sets over the years. I have a friend, an endorser, who can’t say enough nice things about them and the company, and to him and you and everybody else I say “it’s awesome to be you”.

Truly not trying to be disparaging, but when I read that I thought, “I’ll bet that’s it.”

Maybe it sucks to be me?

It’s all good. I just haven’t had this experience. Been a fan of them since I started playing a couple decades ago(I am not endorsed).

 

[600 Ohms]

It’s all good. I just haven’t had this experience. Been a fan of them since I started playing a couple decades ago(I am not endorsed).

I’m allergic to them, but LaBellas do have legions of fans because they do manage to make a really pleasing and unique noise (when they are acting properly!) that no other string can seem to replicate. I’m happy for everyone who manages to get consistent performance out of them.

 

[kenny ames]

I’m allergic to them, but LaBellas do have legions of fans because they do manage to make a really pleasing and unique noise (when they are acting properly!) that no other string can seem to replicate. I’m happy for everyone who manages to get consistent performance out of them.

FWIW, been fortunate to have had a La Bella endorsement for nearly 25yrs.

Love many elements of their strings (wide array of options, older family run American made strings, etc).

However, they have had some consistency issues over the years for various reasons. They would be the first to tell you that. They’re great about customer support. Although, I can understand $30-50 is a lot to invest where you have to follow up with the manufacturer to make things right.

Having said all that, when they’re hitting on all cylinders they’re hard to beat in my book.
My 2 cents. Worth every penny.

 

[sam91]

I warned it was going to be unpopular, but I’m not the only person who has had this experience with LBs and has said so publicly, even on this very forum. I’ve had to send back multiple sets over the years. I have a friend, an endorser, who can’t say enough nice things about them and the company, and to him and you and everybody else I say “it’s awesome to be you”.

Truly not trying to be disparaging, but when I read that I thought, “I’ll bet that’s it.”

Maybe it sucks to be me?

I'm using my Labella .110 set for years now, probably the best set of flats I played on.
The catch is that I had to change the G string 3 times before I got a good string. They have great customer support that was willing to help me professionally and express mail me a new string each time without too many questions.
They can be very inconsistent, but hands down the best flats manufacturers around IMO (with great cs).

 

[600 Ohms]

I'm using my Labella .110 set for years now, probably the best set of flats I played on.
The catch is that I had to change the G string 3 times before I got a good string. They have great customer support that was willing to help me professionally and express mail me a new string each time without too many questions.
They can be very inconsistent, but hands down the best flats manufacturers around IMO (with great cs).

This is all I meant. It's like a great Gibson: you might have to get through a few before you find one.

 

[J.Wolf]

Out for delivery! Cant wait to check this bad boy out. 2020 build, originally owned by a local in SK. Shop relic'd Seafoam Green.