Im looking to get a Italia mondail bass, i need it for playing some song which require a semi acoustic bass, songs like 'Machines' by Biffy Clyro. Does anyone know if this bass has a profesional enough sound for gigging or recording?
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Italia Mondail
- Thread starter HarryHarmonix
- Start date
The v1.0 version of this bass was the hands-down worst bass design I have seen in over forty years of working on basses. It literally self-destructs. I doubt you'll see many still around. It was a horrifically terrible instrument. Did they redesign it? I don't know nor care. Anybody selling a bass that bad shouldn't be in the business.
Do a search and you'll see my explanation of why.
Do a search and you'll see my explanation of why.
Do you have a link Bongo?
I did a search, and found posts of you wanting to buy one, having bought one and then subsequent posts in other threads claiming it self destructed. Any specific thread/pictures on it?
I did a search, and found posts of you wanting to buy one, having bought one and then subsequent posts in other threads claiming it self destructed. Any specific thread/pictures on it?
is this another situation like with the 2010 danelectro longhorn that you trashed in the same way, yet i ended up loving?
Not unless you think you could learn to love a bass that will always eventually disintegrate into at least three pieces.
Even someone who thinks of a Danelectro DOA as a decent bass might get the memo when if an instrument actually imploded on you, but you guys buy whatever crap you want.
It's your money. :scowl:
I have owned two Italia basses. They do NOT fall apart, they are built like tanks. That is a load of nonsense. Maybe one was a dud.
If you can, play it beforehand and see for yourself.
If you can, play it beforehand and see for yourself.
No, not any more, it's ancient history.
Essentially, the situation is exactly like having an acoustic guitar with a tailpiece and no top, as there was no full length internal support, nor was the plastic top structural or load-bearing. The thin back and sides of the hollowed-out body were carrying the whole of the string tension at really bad mechanical advantage. Eventually, the neck starts warping upward at the pocket, the firewood-grade agathis body bowl fails and the whole abortion just folds up on itself between the neck at the top pickup. Just like a flattop guitar with no top would.
No luthier I showed pictures of it to could recall seeing a worse, more doomed, idiotic design. Of course, Italia were totally hiding out on this and wouldn't return email or calls.
Never mind that in every other way it was a cheap, coarsely-made instrument.
I'm assuming they eventually must have done a drastic redesign, but I'll pass on buying another one. BS company, BS instruments.
It was a truly awful bass. Made stuff like POS Danelectros look like custom-shop celebrity builds.
I had a Mondial. I didn't like it very much and sold it in early 2010 after it sat in its case for about four years. I bought it pretty impulsively because it's a gorgeous bass (the white body had mellowed out into a great cream/ivory color), but I'm really more of a passive solidbody type of guy and the Mondial's pretty much the opposite of that.
The top felt fragile and didn't like it when I dug in. Between that and the hollow body, I felt like it was going to break when I played too hard. I think I only gigged with it once. It was kind of fussy.
Even though it was a hollowbody, it was really heavy. The neck was very thick, not very comfortable and divey. It had a cool sliding thumbrest and a rubber bumper that went around the edge of the body (maybe to cover the seam where the two halves of the body were put together?).
Even though it's a hollowbody, the bass is not "semi-acoustic." You need to plug it in to hear it in any performance or recording situation.
It's a beautiful bass but it wasn't really the bass for me.
Ryan.
The top felt fragile and didn't like it when I dug in. Between that and the hollow body, I felt like it was going to break when I played too hard. I think I only gigged with it once. It was kind of fussy.
Even though it was a hollowbody, it was really heavy. The neck was very thick, not very comfortable and divey. It had a cool sliding thumbrest and a rubber bumper that went around the edge of the body (maybe to cover the seam where the two halves of the body were put together?).
Even though it's a hollowbody, the bass is not "semi-acoustic." You need to plug it in to hear it in any performance or recording situation.
It's a beautiful bass but it wasn't really the bass for me.
Ryan.
I believe that the structual integrity of the Mondial amazing, strong and is second to none while being entirely horrible and the worst design ever.
If you do not agree with the above statement, I hope that you get very angry and want to punch me in the face because I'm totally a jerk.
I won't ignore you because I deserve the abuse.
If you do not agree with the above statement, I hope that you get very angry and want to punch me in the face because I'm totally a jerk.
I won't ignore you because I deserve the abuse.
scotch
It's not rocket science!
- Nov 12, 2006
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- Please see Profile for Endorsement disclosures
Wow. Ignoring the tirade above...
One of my best friends & colleagues, Chris Donohue, became an Italia endorser after playing Buddy Miller's Mondial. Buddy seems to love his (check Buddy's bio, he doesn't play crap) & Chris feels confident playing his Italias with the likes of Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello, etc...
I played 3 different Italias that Chris has about a month ago & I was blown away overall! I was expecting more of a 'novelty' instrument based on the construction, vibe, aesthetics, etc... I was dead wrong (with one caveat noted below).
I played a Rimini (no longer offered, I believe) - sort of a Ric' 300 series - it was killer.
I played a Maranello - sort of a glitzy Les Paul bass. I fell in love with it & will definitely be purchasing.
Amazing tone, solid and weighty! It actually sounded better than the actual 'Paul basses I've tried recently!
I also tried out the Mondial with piezo bridge. I thought this was going to be my fave. No beans. The Wilkinson neck humbucker is frickin' awesome, but the piezo was unusably squawky and weak sounding. I was pretty dissapointed with the "acoustic" touted-tone.
So,... the Italias are definitely pro-worthy! However, I think you'll be disappointed with the piezo pups. If you're looking for an acoustic vibe, you should honestly look elsewhere in my opinion.
One of my best friends & colleagues, Chris Donohue, became an Italia endorser after playing Buddy Miller's Mondial. Buddy seems to love his (check Buddy's bio, he doesn't play crap) & Chris feels confident playing his Italias with the likes of Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello, etc...
I played 3 different Italias that Chris has about a month ago & I was blown away overall! I was expecting more of a 'novelty' instrument based on the construction, vibe, aesthetics, etc... I was dead wrong (with one caveat noted below).
I played a Rimini (no longer offered, I believe) - sort of a Ric' 300 series - it was killer.
I played a Maranello - sort of a glitzy Les Paul bass. I fell in love with it & will definitely be purchasing.
Amazing tone, solid and weighty! It actually sounded better than the actual 'Paul basses I've tried recently!I also tried out the Mondial with piezo bridge. I thought this was going to be my fave. No beans. The Wilkinson neck humbucker is frickin' awesome, but the piezo was unusably squawky and weak sounding. I was pretty dissapointed with the "acoustic" touted-tone.
So,... the Italias are definitely pro-worthy! However, I think you'll be disappointed with the piezo pups. If you're looking for an acoustic vibe, you should honestly look elsewhere in my opinion.
