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Its an old pic of when one of the last owners was selling it here, but now i own it
Here's my flawless carved top IXP 5 circa 1995 Entirely built by Greg himself.
Hanging out with two friends.
If you've got a 4 string or know someone who might want to sell one, shoot me a PM.
Hanging out with two friends.
If you've got a 4 string or know someone who might want to sell one, shoot me a PM.
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I am gonna start looking for another Curbow
Some of the best basses ever made!!View attachment 3446541 View attachment 3446542 View attachment 3446543 My first Curbow Petite 5.. Wow...I absolutely love everything about this bass. Tonal beast all the way.. more impressive is the Rockwood, I love the richness, clarity & punch. Really reminds me of my Status Graphite basses, but better with more warmth. I think it’d survive a nuclear blast..
I am gonna start looking for another Curbow
Undoubtedly.. I’ve owned several Ken smiths, Status Graphite, Modulus, Roscoe, Brubaker, Fibenare, F bass, & the list goes on... they all have qualities I like, but there’s something extra special about these Curbow Petite’s.. that elevates them above them all imo. I think I’m hooked on Rockwood!
I wish I’d bought a Curbow years ago. Rockwood is amazing!
they are the best I've ever played, haven't played like massive amounts of basses but some pretty high end ones, and I got to say Curbow are the ones that impressed me the most, specially the Rockwood necks, now I just need a fretless and my bass guitar needs will be done, still looking for the right rig tho
I’ve made the jump up to 6’ers recently, if anybody has a nice Curbow Petite 6 to trade for my Curbow Petite 5, pm me, thanks!
I’m gonna order some new strings for my Curbow petite 5,
Just curious what gauge/ brand strings do y’all use on your Curbows?
Edit: I’m a DR & D’addario fan, so it likely will be one of those, but I’m still open to suggestions
Just curious what gauge/ brand strings do y’all use on your Curbows?
Edit: I’m a DR & D’addario fan, so it likely will be one of those, but I’m still open to suggestions
I've been using D'Addario XL nickels, mostly because they're to only 6-string sets that I can constantly get at GC, plus they're decently priced and sound good. After years of using steels, I found I like the slightly warmer tone of the nickels with the Rockwood neck.
Speaking of Rockwood necks, after getting frustrated with crackling and popping on the controls and the output jack repeatedly cutting out, I decided to have the stock Bart XTCT preamp on my Petite 5 replaced with a new NTMB. The depth of the pot for the push/pull active/passive switch meant that the volume control had to go in spot where the midrange knob originally was, but having the bass/mid/treble controls lined up along the bottom edge makes more sense to me than the standard control arrangement anyway.
With the new pre, the bass has really come alive! The NTMB feels like it has a lot more fullness and midrange presence, though maybe that's just the result of finally having a fully-functional output jack
. Anyway, it's rapidly becoming my go-to bass!
Speaking of Rockwood necks, after getting frustrated with crackling and popping on the controls and the output jack repeatedly cutting out, I decided to have the stock Bart XTCT preamp on my Petite 5 replaced with a new NTMB. The depth of the pot for the push/pull active/passive switch meant that the volume control had to go in spot where the midrange knob originally was, but having the bass/mid/treble controls lined up along the bottom edge makes more sense to me than the standard control arrangement anyway.
With the new pre, the bass has really come alive! The NTMB feels like it has a lot more fullness and midrange presence, though maybe that's just the result of finally having a fully-functional output jack
. Anyway, it's rapidly becoming my go-to bass!
I may order some D’addario nickels for my Curbow Petite, I use them on my Yamaha TrbJP2 & love em. Thanks Mike! I’ve always wondered how a new NTMB Bart pre or Demeter onboard pre,would sound in my Curbow, vs the stock Bart XTCT pre. I have a NTMB in my Modulus & it’s great.I've been using D'Addario XL nickels, mostly because they're to only 6-string sets that I can constantly get at GC, plus they're decently priced and sound good. After years of using steels, I found I like the slightly warmer tone of the nickels with the Rockwood neck.
Speaking of Rockwood necks, after getting frustrated with crackling and popping on the controls and the output jack repeatedly cutting out, I decided to have the stock Bart XTCT preamp on my Petite 5 replaced with a new NTMB. The depth of the pot for the push/pull active/passive switch meant that the volume control had to go in spot where the midrange knob originally was, but having the bass/mid/treble controls lined up along the bottom edge makes more sense to me than the standard control arrangement anyway.
With the new pre, the bass has really come alive! The NTMB feels like it has a lot more fullness and midrange presence, though maybe that's just the result of finally having a fully-functional output jack
Skuli is one of my favorites as well! Cool to know what strings he was using--he gets such great tone!
Mine is a 96 model, & id have to check but I’m pretty sure mine is the old 9v Bart XTCT pre, but I’d have to look inside again. Its my first & only Curbow, so my knowledge of Curbow specs are limited.
great basses nonetheless!
Thought y'all might appreciate this unicorn: an extremely light-weight (~6 lbs) 1-piece ash Curbow 4-string fretless M-series(?). I'm guessing it's a custom M-series, since it's ash (not maple) and nearly1 3/4" thick(!). Extremely comfortable on a strap. Made in 1998, perhaps?
I happened upon it; and though I have absolutely no need for more basses, I just couldn't pass up the chance to check out a Curbow.
The previous owner must have gigged it a lot as there's plenty of mojo on the body (slightly cracked top...don't know how/if I'll fix that); but the neck seems perfect. Rockwood is no joke! I'm not sure what preamp it has (it's unmarked), but it's been bypassed to passive wiring for some reason.
I happened upon it; and though I have absolutely no need for more basses, I just couldn't pass up the chance to check out a Curbow.
The previous owner must have gigged it a lot as there's plenty of mojo on the body (slightly cracked top...don't know how/if I'll fix that); but the neck seems perfect. Rockwood is no joke! I'm not sure what preamp it has (it's unmarked), but it's been bypassed to passive wiring for some reason.
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Awesome find! I'd love to have another Curbow fretless myself...
Normally that would be a Bartolini preamp, probably an XTCT back in '98, though that looks a little different from the Barts I'm used to seeing. The 18v setup was definitely not standard for '98, either! I assume the switches are a midrange frequency switch and maybe a coil selector for the pickup?
By the way, Sperzel will gladly send you a replacement string clamp for the missing one on the G-string tuner. They're very cool folks!
Normally that would be a Bartolini preamp, probably an XTCT back in '98, though that looks a little different from the Barts I'm used to seeing. The 18v setup was definitely not standard for '98, either! I assume the switches are a midrange frequency switch and maybe a coil selector for the pickup?
By the way, Sperzel will gladly send you a replacement string clamp for the missing one on the G-string tuner. They're very cool folks!
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Greetings, and help me value my basses, please.- Latest: gustobassman
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