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Custom Ps?

#6
you mean something like this prototype I recently completed?

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this could just as easily have a Nordie NP-4 in it and make it a little truer to a traditional P.

the Dark Star equipped production models will have a pickguard that more closely resembles a '51 Tele P than the later P-style guard this one sports. those with a Nordie NP-4 will come with this style of pickguard

all the best,

R
 
#9
Wow, bdgotoh, that's an impressive lineup! I've had GAS for an Aztec Gold Lull like yours, with a J neck and possibly P/J pickups. How would you compare it to the Lakland Glaub with the split-coil? I've been very impressed with the Skyline Glaubs I've tried, but also with the Lull J's and PJ5. I've never tried a Lull P4 or a U.S. Glaub with Jazz neck. Based on specs (21 frets, heel contour, 12" fretboard radius) and shorter delivery time I'm leaning toward the Lull (or maybe a Don Grosh) if/when I go the boutique P route, but I'm curious about your views.
 
#11
Nedmundo said:
Wow, bdgotoh, that's an impressive lineup!
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Thanks, I confess to being a huge P bass fan. I actually have a couple of other customs on order, like Darrin Huff is building me a P bass in his great Z4 shape. Most of mine have a J neck, it's by far my favorite combo.

I've had GAS for an Aztec Gold Lull like yours, with a J neck and possibly P/J pickups. How would you compare it to the Lakland Glaub with the split-coil? I've been very impressed with the Skyline Glaubs I've tried, but also with the Lull J's and PJ5. I've never tried a Lull P4 or a U.S. Glaub with Jazz neck. Based on specs (21 frets, heel contour, 12" fretboard radius) and shorter delivery time I'm leaning toward the Lull (or maybe a Don Grosh) if/when I go the boutique P route, but I'm curious about your views.
Click to expand...

I have a Lull V4 jazz too, those three are some of my very best basses. I am a huge fan of Mike's basses. I've known him for years because his shop is nearby but I had never played his basses until a couple of years back. I was blown away at how nice they felt, played and sounded. He can hit the weight you want so accurately, the frets are perfect both in feel and lack of buzz, and his pickups sound awesome. My Jazz has the best single coils I've ever heard, partly because the middle poles are raised to match the fingerboard radius.

So the P4 vs the Glaub: I've owned 3 of the Skylines before I got my USA Glaub. They are terrific basses but the USA is noticeably better in my opinion. It not just the cosmetic fit and finish, but the edges of the fingerboard are rolled better and much more comfortable. The neck on mine is amazingly comfortable with a shallow, thin C shaped back and it's just barely 1.5" wide. The Lull always felt slim and comfortable until I got the Glaub, but now it feels bigger. All three of the Lull necks are very consistent when you compare them, with a full C shaped back - it's not at all thick or fat, just nice and round. The Glaub is almost V shaped but without the peak of the V, that's why it feels thinner. The Lull neck resists movement better and plays a bit faster for me somehow.

I can't think of any downsides for the Lulls, that red '55 P was a custom order and plays like heaven! He somehow heard what I said and did exactly what I wanted even though we didn't discuss every detail. I just took the gold P to him and said I wanted one like it that weighed 8-8.5 lbs with a single coil pickup and the traditional guard/controls.
The big downside on the Glaub is the body barely has any forearm contour at all. It's really bugging my wrist/arm and I'm going to have to do something about it soon. Otherwise it's an awesome bass.

If I didn't have a Lull P you can bet I'd be working hard to get one!! The Glaub is great and I want to keep it, I just wish they'd put a better contour on the body.
 
#12
Thanks, that's exactly the kind of comparison I was looking for. My impression of the Lull J neck is consistent with your description. It's like my 2003 Am. Ser. Fender Jazz, but just a hint fuller in the rear contour, which I actually prefer.

The difficulty I have with ordering a bass like this is the random nature of wood. To me, the key to the best tone is resonant woods. I want to hear the woods in the amplified and recorded tone, as I could with a '94 MIJ P-bass I unfortunately sold. The Lulls I've played have been excellent in this respect, so I'm inclined to take the chance.
 
#13
thewanderer24 said:
Sadowsky.

I got mine as a P/J. Lots of people do em as straight P's though, too.
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I have a Sadowsky P : [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

My first bass was a mid '70s Fender P. The two biggest benefits of the Sadowsky for me:

- NO dead spots on the neck ( the fender was very uneven w/ respect to sustain of notes)

- open E string is just as consistent in sound as the other open strings ( again, the fender was just inconsistent even after proper setup and a Badass II bridge)
 
#14
I've spent some time with both basses this weekend and found out part of the difference. The back contours aren't different like I thought - both are nice round C shapes but the Lull is more full. The main difference is width, it turns out the Lakland is 1-7/16" wide! Very narrow but comfortable. So I think that's most of why it feels smaller than the Lull, which measures at a bit less than 1-9/16.

I've had 6 Lulls and the tone was very consistent. I had a buddy over this weekend and he was really impressed with Lakland until he tried the P4...
 

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