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Just got my Pedulla back - OMG!

Kitsapbass

Kitsapbass

What key is this?
May 26, 2005
3,049
2,110
55
Bremerton, WA
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#1
Earlier this year I had surgery on my knee following a workplace accident. With being out of commission for a week originally, I decided to scan the classified section to find a project for me to complete, to help pass the time. I ended up finding a Pedulla Thunderbolt 6 string for really cheap (http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/pedulla-thunderbass-project-6-$375-shipped-906488/), figuring both the bass (and I) would be back on our feet.

I got the bass about a week after I closed the deal (which was a few days before my surgery), really looking forward to getting busy with it. Opening the case, I knew I was over my head. The pickups were unwired, and the paint (BTW - totally my own fault, the seller disclosed everything - I just over-estimated what I could get done) was as he described - not good.

I heard of a local guy (very local it turns out - his shop is less than a mile away as the crow flies) who had built guitars for Todd Rundgren and Jesse Gress. Seemed really nice, had a good head on his shoulders and was really excited to get started on my project - so I told him I'd get it to him when I started to recuperate - within a week. Wrong - I woke up from surgery being told I couldn't put any weight whatsoever on that leg for 6 weeks: I had no cartilage in that knee, so they drilled holes in my femur and ibia-tibial plateau to fill with HGH and stem cells to grow some) but I was out of commission for at least 2 months.

Anyways, I finally got the call I was waiting for yesterday: My Pedulla was done! Incredibly to be honest, one of the best basses I've played. Here's some pics:
 

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#4
I ended up having to change out the pickups (apparently whoever did the original modification - not the person I bought it from got stripper all over the pickups). Instead of Bartolini P4's I ended up going with Seymour Duncan Basslines but am still using the original Bartolini Thunderguts electronics - Tone for days with it. Also, I ended up getting a clear nitro lacquer shot onto it, but the nice thing is how the clear nitro shows off the grain but doesn't completely kill the resonance; reminding me of my Warwick FNA 5 string!
 

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#5
And two of the headstock, revealing the only regret I have: No Pedulla decal. It didn't have one before, but it still doesn't. Oh well. Anyways, the guy who did it is Perry Morelli @ Morelli guitars. Incredible work. Right now he's building a bass for Kasim Sultan, go check out his site. Heck of a nice guy, heck of a luthier as well!
 

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#6
dezuiri said:
Man, that looks like some really wide string spacing, especially for a 6. What's the measurement at the bridge, and does it make the neck feel any wider? I love wider spacing, but I've never played something wide on anything more than a 5 string.

But it looks amazing, congrats!
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I have no idea - I just got it back yesterday. It doesn't feel excessively wide, either at the bridge or the neck though. The hardest thing to get used to is this is my first 6 string, so I'm not 100% too sure what to do with the C. I need to figure it out though, I'm using it tomorrow night at the gig!
 
#12
joebar said:
yes i remember that thread well; i almost beat you to it.
sure turned out nice.
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Did turn out VERY nice! I love projects that pull high end basses back from the edge of the precipice. There is no shame in hiring some of the work done. When I pulled my high mileage Ken Smith out of the fire, I cleaned the mung off and changed the worn out tuners myself, but the local luthier was needed to level the huge ruts out of the frets. Even so that $300 + repairs Smith was an incredible bargain and is to this day an incredible bass and I'm sure kitsapbass's Predulla will be likewise!
 
#14
bassbenj said:
Did turn out VERY nice! I love projects that pull high end basses back from the edge of the precipice. There is no shame in hiring some of the work done. When I pulled my high mileage Ken Smith out of the fire, I cleaned the mung off and changed the worn out tuners myself, but the local luthier was needed to level the huge ruts out of the frets. Even so that $300 + repairs Smith was an incredible bargain and is to this day an incredible bass and I'm sure kitsapbass's Predulla will be likewise!
Click to expand...

Well, my thought was basically even if it cost a little bit to fix, I'm still getting one heck of a player for dirt cheap!
 

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