Kiesel Vader - If you own one please help.

[two fingers]

About every 10 or 15 days I swing back by the Kiesel site to check out the Vader. I owned a couple of headless basses years ago. I also owned a couple of Carvin basses. Something about the Vader keeps calling out to me.

A couple of questions....

1) Can you describe the "feel" of the bass? Can you compare it to any regular "off-the-rack" bass? Have you owned a Carvin LB series bass? How does it feel compared to that?

2) I want it to have its own personality. But I also have to be honest with myself. I need some "traditional" tones from my basses as well. No, I don't need it to sound like a P bass or a Jazz. But I want it to get warm and round if needed.

3) Electronics. The pickups on my old Carvin basses were outstanding. But the preamp was "meh". I always played them in passive mode. Do you like the preamps in these?

4) Tell me anything you want me to know about these basses.

Thanks!

 

[Sid the Kid]

I have experience with the radiused single coil pickups and the preamp. Really, really good. You won’t have to upgrade unless you have a very specific tone in mind. Does traditional tones well. Very versatile mid sweep control.

 

[Prof.Dr.Metz]

I'm with you on that Two Fingers, been considering getting one myself.

 

[two fingers]

I have experience with the radiused single coil pickups and the preamp. Really, really good. You won’t have to upgrade unless you have a very specific tone in mind. Does traditional tones well. Very versatile mid sweep control.

I had a mid sweep on an Ibanez BTB years ago. It really does help you find that sweet spot between warmth and cutting through a mix.

 

[Sid the Kid]

I'm with you on that Two Fingers, been considering getting one myself.

If you fellas hurry up and order you can get some really nice upgrades for free. Free Chambered body with purchase of a top, free candy finish on figured maple tops, free black magic metallic or metallic lambo orange. They will even do a free blood splatter finish if it is your thing, that’s like a $600 option.

 

[Sid the Kid]

This mid sweep is probably better than an Ibanez, I have always found their preamps to be their weak spot. You can easily sculpt your entire tone using just the mid control. At full cut when you cycle through the mid sweep it sounds like a dang wah effect.

 

[DrDAV14]

I have 2 short scales, and sold another. 1 has active the other is passive. The active bass has a painted neck where as the passive is tongue oiled. I much prefer the tongue oil over the painted. Coming from 15yrs of touring and a playing Steinberger XM2 and Status Kingbass, the Vader is incredible. Balance upper fret access, weight, feel, and diversity in sounds. The headless, "dinky" comments only last until I'm playing. I'm a fan to say the least.

 

[nonohmic]

I still have massive GAS for a 30" Vader.

 

[nonohmic]

About every 10 or 15 days I swing back by the Kiesel site to check out the Vader. I owned a couple of headless basses years ago. I also owned a couple of Carvin basses. Something about the Vader keeps calling out to me.

A couple of questions....

1) Can you describe the "feel" of the bass? Can you compare it to any regular "off-the-rack" bass? Have you owned a Carvin LB series bass? How does it feel compared to that?

2) I want it to have its own personality. But I also have to be honest with myself. I need some "traditional" tones from my basses as well. No, I don't need it to sound like a P bass or a Jazz. But I want it to get warm and round if needed.

3) Electronics. The pickups on my old Carvin basses were outstanding. But the preamp was "meh". I always played them in passive mode. Do you like the preamps in these?

4) Tell me anything you want me to know about these basses.

Thanks!
View attachment 4040270 View attachment 4040271

You going 34 or 30?

 

[two fingers]

You going 34 or 30?

34 for my big hands

 

[songwriter21]

I have 2 short scales, and sold another. 1 has active the other is passive. The active bass has a painted neck where as the passive is tongue oiled. I much prefer the tongue oil over the painted. Coming from 15yrs of touring and a playing Steinberger XM2 and Status Kingbass, the Vader is incredible. Balance upper fret access, weight, feel, and diversity in sounds. The headless, "dinky" comments only last until I'm playing. I'm a fan to say the least.
View attachment 4042442 View attachment 4042447

Is that blue one their Royal Blue color (one with stock pickups and pre)?

 

[Camaro69]

About every 10 or 15 days I swing back by the Kiesel site to check out the Vader. I owned a couple of headless basses years ago. I also owned a couple of Carvin basses. Something about the Vader keeps calling out to me.

A couple of questions....

1) Can you describe the "feel" of the bass? Can you compare it to any regular "off-the-rack" bass? Have you owned a Carvin LB series bass? How does it feel compared to that?

2) I want it to have its own personality. But I also have to be honest with myself. I need some "traditional" tones from my basses as well. No, I don't need it to sound like a P bass or a Jazz. But I want it to get warm and round if needed.

3) Electronics. The pickups on my old Carvin basses were outstanding. But the preamp was "meh". I always played them in passive mode. Do you like the preamps in these?

4) Tell me anything you want me to know about these basses.

Thanks!
View attachment 4040270 View attachment 4040271

Not a headless guy, but that blue one is an eye catcher!

 

[DrDAV14]

Kiesel calls it "Grabber Blue". Yes OEM pickups & EQ. The other bass with the EMG jazz pickups in the group shot is painted in the "Night Burst"
May be interested in selling the Blue one. Looking to add a 30" scale Vader with the single HB p/u similar to the AW5, but in a 4-string version.

 

[songwriter21]

Kiesel calls it "Grabber Blue". Yes OEM pickups & EQ. The other bass with the EMG jazz pickups in the group shot is painted in the "Night Burst"
May be interested in selling the Blue one. Looking to add a 30" scale Vader with the single HB p/u similar to the AW5, but in a 4-string version.

Wow, looks lighter on their site, but very nice. My car is metallic blue, so I dig these hues.

 

[GlassToMouth]

I like the stock Kiesel electronics, but I'm a hypocrite and have replaced the pups and preamps on both with EMG components. But the stock stuff was great. My Vanquish came with humbuckers and my Zeus with singles. I definitely prefer the singles. But the stock preamp is solid. I had no reason to replace the guts other than I LOVE the EMG sound and quiet operation.

The necks are incredible. Smooth, comfortable, setup incredibly low and rock solid stable. Don't make me pick a favorite. I love them both.

At some point, I do want another Zeus multiscale and might leave it with stock single coils.