So it has a couple of gigs under its belt now. Here's my review: it's amazing. I go straight into a GB Shuttle and a lightweight Bergantino 112 as a stage monitor, Shuttle goes DI to the mains.
First: the sound. It's incredible. Flexible as hell. Cuts through the mix when I need it to, sits underneath the floor and shakes the room when I wanted it to. Very little adjusting of the dials during the gigs - one partial turn of the VTC and I got the "pop" I needed on some songs. My drummer and singer (we had a sub guitarist) both commented on how fantastic it sounded and how much it added to the mix.
Second: the playability. Oh, wow, the playability. The bass is lightweight, the neck is perfect for a guy like me who still wants everything to play like a violin. It was so *easy* to play. Hell, on a couple of songs I even had a chance to slap a bit, and believe me, ordinarily that's nothing anyone should be subjected to. This bass, it practically played itself. Or it felt like it. I felt so comfortable with it immediately I couldn't stop trying new, more adventurous things (not always a great idea in a pop cover band, but whatever). I can't wait to gig with it again. The drop D tuner was awesome, too.
The negatives: It's so beautiful to look at that I was paranoid of scratching it. I tend to run around a lot during gigs and have fun with the crowds, but I was afraid of potentially damaging it. I did it anyway but whenever anyone got too close I'd run away like a child. Alas. Also: I wish it had a popout battery compartment so you don't have to take off the back panel to change out the battery.
Overall, this thing was worth every penny it cost. Hats off to Roger and crew. This is an instrument that I'm sorry, I've read all the stuff here about Fender vs. Sadowsky etc, but I've never played or owned a Fender that can begin to compare with the looks, tonality and playability of this instrument.
Anyone on the fence about buying one: DO IT.
