Fight : EBMM CUTLASS vs SEREK LINCOLN

[Benko]

So, during Covid I started making and sharing some (humble) bass covers on my youtube channel, simple songs that I can learn, play and record within a couple of hours.

Today I covered Courtney Barnett's Elevator Operator, the bass is straight forward and a good head banging.

Recording the covers also allows me to rotate the collection and play the 4 strings I have (the music project I'm in is solely 5 strings), and today I could not really decide between my SEREK and my EBMM Cutlass so...I thought I would give it to the opinion of the TB community!

The original track :


Serek Lincoln (Serek P90 & Guild DS):


EBMM Cutlass:


Right after the recording I liked the Cutlass better, I struggled less than with the Serek and its special pickup configs to get something that I like...but after coming back, the Serek sounds pretty good too, less "in your face"

To your vote!

 

[LowEndLobster]

Oh man, both sound EPIC.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Lobster nailed it. They both sound great. But I personally prefer the smoother tone of the Serek. That Serek on that track made me instantly think … Tina Weymouth . I like it !!! Wow!! That bass sounds fun.

The Cutlass is more aggressive and would probably be my choice if I was a pick player with a heavy hand.

 

[Benko]

Lobster nailed it. They both sound great. But I personally prefer the smoother tone of the Serek. That Serek on that track made me instantly think … Tina Weymouth . I like it !!! Wow!! That bass sounds fun.

The Cutlass is more aggressive and would probably be my choice if I was a pick player with a heavy hand.

Woh, thanks. Yes indeed I wanted to play the Cutlass a bit aggressive and this is a little bit over the top, even finger style but I just love the way it breaks.

By the way both recording are through the DI of my Gallien Krueger Legacy 500, directly in the interface and no amp or cab sim, barely any EQ or compress

 

[Kaa]

The Serek by a bit. The Cutlass is just is bit too grindy.

 

[Benko]

Oh man, both sound EPIC.

<3

 

[Relsom]

I like Serek in that it has a more solid, gut punch kind of presence. Almost as if the Cutlass needs to have the action raised a little. I remember the first time I heard a Caprice live via my friend @armybass, how much I liked the subtle grind to it, but hearing these 2 back to back, I gotta admit I'd probably like the Serek more if I had to choose.

 

[dwellers]

I am particularly interested in this comparison and will have to try my own test of my Lincoln with 2 Serek singles and my EBMM Caprice. No that I'll post it of course...just for me. But I do like the way the Serek sits in the mix and just is so fat sounding and smooth. It doesn't stand out in parts like your Cutlass (which still sounds good mind you). Just prefer the Lincoln in that context. I suspect I would prefer my Lincoln as well. Thanks for posting!

 

[petch]

With this song, I like the attack of the Cutlass! Both sound great.

 

[roller]

Both sound great, but...

Even though the Cutlass is sitting a smidge louder in its mix, the tone sounds a little thin compared to the Lincoln.

If the Lincoln was sitting as high in the mix as the Cutlass, that's the one I'd go with. The Lincoln is fatter and thicker.

 

[two fingers]

I prefer the P-Bass-like grind of the Cutlass. The good news? They both sound great. There's no "wrong" answer.

 

[Gizmot]

In real life, both of these are good basses and you will probably like either one of them.

In these clips, there is no doubt that the Serek sounded bigger and fatter. One of my buddies has had a Serek for several years and he just loves it.

 

[Isaac_James]

They both sound great, but I think for that bass line, in that song, the Lincoln wins.

 

[Benko]

I am particularly interested in this comparison and will have to try my own test of my Lincoln with 2 Serek singles and my EBMM Caprice. No that I'll post it of course...just for me. But I do like the way the Serek sits in the mix and just is so fat sounding and smooth. It doesn't stand out in parts like your Cutlass (which still sounds good mind you). Just prefer the Lincoln in that context. I suspect I would prefer my Lincoln as well. Thanks for posting!

I'm curious about this one, the 2 serek single ones sound very different i think...and the Caprice too!

For that recording, the P90 is at 100% and i mixed the Guild DS at about 40%, it can sound really different with that pick up configuration but the DS is really hot and have a tendency to be too loud

 

[Benko]

I prefer the P-Bass-like grind of the Cutlass. The good news? They both sound great. There's no "wrong" answer.

Courtney Barnett's bassist Bones Sloane seems to enjoy playing different gears : MIJ's jaguar, p-bass, ripper...lately he was using an Am Std Mustang Bass...so nothing tamed to begin with!

 

[dwellers]

I'm curious about this one, the 2 serek single ones sound very different i think...and the Caprice too!

For that recording, the P90 is at 100% and i mixed the Guild DS at about 40%, it can sound really different with that pick up configuration but the DS is really hot and have a tendency to be too loud

Yes, very different indeed.

How did you mix the pickups? Do you have a blend control rather than a 4-way selector switch?

 

[Benko]

Yes, very different indeed.

How did you mix the pickups? Do you have a blend control rather than a 4-way selector switch?

It's VVT configuration, no selector or blend control.

I honestly don't play it much and rarely amplified so everytime i have to fiddle to find a good mix

 

[micguy]

The Serek by a bit. The Cutlass is just is bit too grindy.

I like grindy - I say the Cutlass. Of course, it could be the strings....

 

[tminus10]

As soon as you hit the first note on the Cutless I knew I liked the Serek by a wide margin

 

[Chicken Wing]

Great clips @Benko ! You and I are probably the only people on TB with both a Cutlass and a Lincoln. Love them both