First impressions: Valenti 5 string

[embellisher]

I have received a new Valenti five string. I will give a full review after I get to know the bass better, try it at a couple of rehearsals, gigs, etc. If the tone grows on me, I will probably also use it to record at least one song when my band ([Invalid or Expired Link Removed]) goes in the studio next month.

Specs will be in the second posts, these are my first impressions, after having the bass for two days, and playing it through my bedroom amp, and through a Bass Rockman with headphones.

This thing is beautiful. Perfect fretwork, and a lovely sherwood green finish.

The control cavity is nice and clean, fully shielded, and features star grounding.

The pickup routes are nice and tight.

This thing just reeks of quality. As good of fit and finish as I have seen on any sub $2000 bass.

The neck profile is a tad thicker than I prefer, but it is still very playable.

Sounds very good through my Fender Bassman 25, and my Rockman.

Gets a very convincing Jazz bass sound, as well as a decent P imitation, and a dual humbucker modern sound.

 

[embellisher]

OK, here are the specs.

The bass features:

Alder Body, P style
Pau Ferro Fretboard
Sherwood Green Finish w/Matching H/S
24 Frets
Black Hardware
HipShot B style bridge and UltraLite tuning gears
Nordstrand Dual Coil pickups
Humbucker/Single coil mode for each pickup
Tort P/G
Aguilar OBP-1, wired at 18 volts
-Volume (with active/passive push/pull)
-Blend
-Treble/Bass on a stacked pot

The coil taps give this bass a ton of tonal variety. I am sure that it will take me several weeks to learn all of the capabilities of the pickups and preamp.

Oh yeah, this bass looks a lot like a Roscoe Beck 5.

Nino, post pics of the bass when you have a chance.

 

[Ryan L.]

Cool. I am anxious to hear more about it after you have had it awhile.

I am seriously wanting a 4 string. And Valenti right up there at the top of my list of contenders.

 

[Beav]

Indeed, lets see some pics

 

[Nino Valenti]

Indeed, lets see some pics

 

[dees]

congrats on the new bass!
I don't really like the color, nor the pg shape, but that's personal.
I bet it plays great

 

[Beav]

That's awesome looking! congrats embellisher

 

[Lorenzini]

Most unique Valenti I've seen!

 

[Mike McGibney]

Very nice indeed. Nino, do you shape the headstocks yourself, or is that how they come from Warmoth? Also, where did you get the pickguard from?


Thanks

Mike

 

[James Hart]

I will probably also use it to record at least one song when my band ([Invalid or Expired Link Removed]) goes in the studio next month.

I am sure that it will take me several weeks to learn all of the capabilities of the pickups and preamp.

Great.... I'll never get to get my turn

j/k Nino was teasing me the other week that I would get the first go at it... guess I need to just forget about it for a while

I'll be waiting for updates Jeff! I love the look of the thing!

 

[moorebass]

I am not feelin' the tort pickguard - but to each his own

 

[Nino Valenti]

Very nice indeed. Nino, do you shape the headstocks yourself, or is that how they come from Warmoth?

I sent Warmoth trracings of my headstock and they use it to cut my HS on each neck, for a fee. They have a 4 string tracing and 2 5 string tracings, 4+1 and 5 inline.

Also, where did you get the pickguard from?

When I received the body, I made a tracing and sent it to Bryan Boots, a guy I met on The Pit, and he fmade a template for me and I made the pg from that template.

 

[Dincrest]

*in best Paris Hilton voice* "That's hot." And the super-ultra cleanliness of the cavities in Nino's basses never fails to impress.

 

[Ryan L.]

Wow. I think that is my favorite Valenti so far. And I really dig the color.

 

[Deleted member 5551]

With the guard and pickups-reminds me [visually] of a Roscoe Beck 5.

 

[karrot-x]

With the guard and pickups-reminds me [visually] of a Roscoe Beck 5.

+1

 

[MAJOR METAL]

Very Nice Nino, your doing some really creative and beautiful work.

 

[phxlbrmpf]

This is hottttttttttttt!!!

 

[Larzon]

Nice looking Bass! Looks very similar to the Roscoe Beck V.
Nice color too.

 

[GetLow]

damn... i am putting that on my GAS list!!!

i have heard nothing but good about valenti basses.