Hammersmith K4 - TalkBass Special Model

[MarkoYYZ]

Hi guys. Apologies regarding the thread that got deleted in the Basses forum, any talk about this special release model should happen here.

This model will be available for shipping in late May, give or take. We had a bunch of dealer requests on these at NAMM and in discussing how to make the numbers work, MAP pricing is going to be $1095 for the single pickup model and $1195 for the two pickup model. Lace Alumitone Bassbars will come stock and dealer finishes will be Black, White, Surf Green and 2TSB. We'll be making a TB special edition that will be available here by pre-order at a special price of $900 for one pickup and $990 for two pickup, which includes shipping anywhere CONUS. This represents a discount of $200+ from where it will retail.

We will take deposits of $450 or $495 (50% respectively) and will build and ship in the order we receive confirmed orders. The TB model will be a limited run based on the qty sold here up until Feb 28. Each will have a TB specific emblem of some kind - probably on back of headstock - and will be numbered #/## indicating the limited run.

Specs are as follows:

Body: Pacific NW Alder with Poly finish
Neck: 5pc laminated - Canadian Maple with Walnut stringers for stability
Fingerboard: Indonesian Rosewood (or Ebony if CITES documents become too great to deal with)
Nut Width: 38mm (1.50") Heel Width: 58mm (2.28")
First fret depth: 19.5mm 12th fret depth: 21mm
Fingerboard Radius: 304mm (12.0") Neck profile: Slim C
Scale: Optional 33.25" or 30.0"
Tuners: Hipshot licensed Ultralights
Bridge: Hipshot Supertone (modified version by Hipshot, or similar by Hammersmith)
Pickups: Lace Alumitone Bassbar 3.5
Wiring: Vol-Tone or Vol-Vol-Tone with 2 pickups
Strings: D'Addario NYXL 45-105 (50-110 on short scale)
Includes: Well padded custom gig bag, T-shirt, toolkit and shipping CONUS

Stock Finishes: Black - Vintage White - Surf Green - 2TSB
TalkBASS custom finish: To be determined by group. If response is good, we may do TWO finishes

Renders are show below for reference. I'll post some follow ups with photos of finishes prototype basses, as well as video clips as they get uploaded.

Please note that the shape of the bass is not up for suggestions, or the inclusion of the pickguard. I may be willing to entertain offering a P variant (which can also be a reverse P) at a small premium, since the Lace pickups are somewhat of an unknown, but I would really like to stick as much as possible to the aesthetic we've created and to help establish the recognition of this bass.

Standard Finishes:

Possible custom TalkBASS finishes, as brought up in the earlier thread:

Serial numbers will be assigned in sequence that we receive your orders - meaning your PayPal deposit.
[email protected]

If you have any questions, please feel free to discuss here - and please make sure to vote for the model!

Thanks.

 

[Lowendtech]

Metallic gold as long as the flakes were tastefully small and not a big chunky flake.
More like a metallic goldtop.

 

[BassmentPlayer]

Hi,

Really interested in these basses.

I thought my gas was done but I had't figured on someone coming out with a new SS that I liked.

I voted for the blue and the white.

Questions:

1. Would maple be an neck option on the blue bass?

2. Why is the white bass the only one with blocks? (TB specials should all have blocks, No?)

3. Why is the blue bass the only one with no binding option?

3. Does Con US include Canada?

General comments.

Not enough SS basses in the world
Not enough SS with maple necks in the world
Not enough SS with blocks and bindings in the world
Not enough SS that are blue in the world.

I think I just talked myself into a bound, blue, two pickup SS with a maple neck that has blocks.

Any chance of that?

Great looking bass. Thanks for making a SS.

 

[primussucks9126]

Can we send paypal stuff now?

When do you think youll decide on the finishes?

What size frets are you using?

Last question where is the 36th fret harmomic on the long scale model?

Im waiting to hear some soundclips before i decided if ill stick with the alumatone. The one soundclip posted so far makes the alumatones seem quite honky and midforward. Thats fine, but id like to request hearing a sample where that midrange is tamed a bit.

Really stoked about this!

Im keeping my fingers crossed for ebony.

Also hoping it stays without blocks on the neck. Binding would be alright. I love binding and dots.

Sorry, i know ive been a chatter box about this in both threads, its just hitting so close to my "dream bass" specs.

I voted for blue or rootbeer.

 

[wintremute]

Each will have a TB specific emblem of some kind - probably on back of headstock - and will be numbered #/## indicating the limited run.

So...carrots?

 

[Benko]

I'm gasing very much for the model, now I really wonder the difference in tone between the long scale /2 pick up and the SS / 1 pick up, would it be possible to have a demo (even of the prototype) of the 2 ?

TB Blue & Blocks would be my go-to in term of color

 

[NKBassman]

@MarkoYYZ , I'm sticking to my guns and requesting a "vintage/faded red" color, like the old "Kay" bass in the attached pics.

 

[MarkoYYZ]

The only reason I put the blocked and bound maple neck on the white model is because it would fit with our "White Tux" finish we offer among the rest of our models, otherwise it will be a rosewood or ebony board with no blocks. Not maple and not with other sorts of blocks or inlays.

This isn't an unlimited option sort of thing. It's to create ONE model that as many TB users as possible might be interested in, keeping it at the same $900 special price that we're offering the pre-sale special on Facebook on. The thread was unfortunately deleted, but the most frequent replies seemed to be the ones I made renders of. Faded red or carrot orange or silverburst were mentioned, but seemed to be one-off sort of comments. If additional posts are made in support of these colors then I'll add a render and poll choice (though it might reset the results?)

I have to make a minimum of 5 in any finish we do. Maybe I'm underestimating the number that might sell here, but I can run several of the options if we receive at least 4 orders for each (I'm willing to have an extra for stock).

We'll get some sound clip comparisons up in the coming days. In the meantime, some clips from NAMM and our Roadshow events will follow in my next post.
.

 

[ScarfFace]

When can we send our deposit?

 

[MarkoYYZ]

Not the greatest of sounds, but a starting point. I think Sean had the tone rolled off just a hair, and didn't get into any slap style, but the tone goes from low and thumpy to fairly bright. In the position it's in, it cops a P bass tone fairly well, just ever so slightly tighter since it's a little closer to the bridge.

 

[MarkoYYZ]

When can we send our deposit?

Send me an email with your name, shipping address, phone number and paypal email. Best if I send an invoice detailing the product and then follow that with a paypal request matching that invoice. If anyone wanted to get in and grab an early/low/first number, then I guess you can send $450 to [email protected] and then follow up with the other info so I know exactly who it's from.
.

 

[Joe Nerve]

Cool looking basses. Subscribing... so I can see them when people start getting them. I like all the colors, so I ain't voting .

 

[MarkoYYZ]

So...carrots?

We'll print a carrot next to the serial number

 

[DerekW]

Kinda in love with the white with black binding.

 

[MarkoYYZ]

...and just like that, serial 0001 is gone. Thanks Justin!

 

[Lowendtech]

...and just like that, serial 0001 is gone. Thanks Justin!

Congrats to both of you.

 

[NKBassman]

(Snip)

Not the greatest of sounds, but a starting point. I think Sean had the tone rolled off just a hair, and didn't get into any slap style, but the tone goes from low and thumpy to fairly bright. In the position it's in, it cops a P bass tone fairly well, just ever so slightly tighter since it's a little closer to the bridge.

Sounds great! Not at all what I expected the Alumatones to sound like.

 

[keto]

Tuxedo, bound maple, option to P or reverse P = take my money. At what point are specs nailed down?

 

[wintremute]

Is there an option for the angle of the Tuners?

 

[primussucks9126]

Is there an option for the angle of the Tuners?

It seems like theyre straight on the 30" scale mockup. I like it better that way, but watevs. Small potatoes.