LEH Guitars Releases their Latest 4-String Bass

[mmbass21]

My LEH. Fantastic instruments. If you like Sadowsky basses but want a thinner, faster neck you should check out LEH. Ellis is a super cool person too.

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Man that is gorgeous. I've been resisting for a long while but hearing about the faster neck has me chomping at the bit now. I love my satin Verdine White but I do prefer a thinner neck and tighter string spacing than 20mm on a 4 string.

 

[detoxxx]

Ellis is a very attentive and meticulous builder. No detail is spared. I absolutely love my L.E.H. and I have another on the way (very excited!). I primarily played Sadowsky basses for the last 15+ years. Ellis built one of those basses and did other work (setup, etc.) and it's always been perfect. The ordering experience and the communication is excellent. I couldn't be more happier with the full experience of owning this instrument. Personally, the sliders are a nice, atypical touch to the design and a guaranteed conversation starter. If you're able to get your hands on one, it's definitely worth checking out for yourself.

 

[calypsocoral302]

LEH Guitars is proud to announce their new flagship bass: the Offset 4-String. This instrument features an offset alder body with a maple burl top, strategic chambering in the body to reduce weight and prevent neck dive, 21 frets, a hand-carved maple neck, a "design patented" 3-knob slider preamp design, Nordstrand Audio NP-4 and Bigman pickups, a custom-wired Nordstrand Audio 3-band preamp, Hipshot and Gotoh hardware, and a Pat Wilkins finish.

Not a novelty: the first thing you'll notice about the LEH 4-String is the unique 3-knob slider preamp. At the root of the system is a 3-band Nordstrand Preamp, modified for boost only with three Bornes faders. "A fader is a more visual way to dial in your eq," notes Lisa Ellis Hahn (the LEH in LEH guitars). "Knobs can be hard to see onstage and it's easy to second guess your settings. With sliders, you can instantly "see" your sound." The bass also features a stepped heel allowing players unfettered, comfortable access to the upper frets.

"This bass has been in my imagination for years," says Hahn. "After playing it and hearing it in the hands of much better players, I've been impressed with its tone and versatility. My favorite thing is the sustain: it doesn't stop. This is partly because of the exaggerated neck-to-body joint, but it's really the sum of all the parts."

The 4-string joins LEH's current crop of 5-string basses, which all use the same slider preamp and offset styling. "I spend a lot of time making sure that the tonality of the woods work together, that the neck joint is tight and perfect, and that all of the boxes are checked off on the fretwork and overall construction," says Hahn. "It doesn't matter how good your bass looks if everything isn't quite right under the hood."

About LEH Guitars: Since 2002, Lisa Ellis Hahn has repaired and built instruments for many of the world's top touring guitar and bass players—as well as thousands of regular players. She has worked at the Sadowsky shop since 2005 and has been the manager/top builder since 2013. She continues to mentor up-and-coming builders and pursue "continuous improvement."

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Huh. Posted in 2019, but this is the first time I'm seeing this!

I think this is a pretty cool idea! I'd probably ask for a dual-soapbar or double-P pickup configuration and a 4-band EQ (assuming a 4th slider can fit). I like the modified Jazzmaster body shape, too!

I agree with the builder's rationale for going with sliders instead of rotary knobs-- good thinking!

 

[mmbass21]

I finally pulled the trigger for a Voyager build! I can't wait!

 

[mmbass21]

It's been a few months since my Voyager landed and it's everything I wanted and more. Not only does it look great it plays even better. Incredibly versatile with all the options I went with!

 

[J. Brooks]

It's been a few months since my Voyager landed and it's everything I wanted and more. Not only does it look great it plays even better. Incredibly versatile with all the options I went with!View attachment 7418899View attachment 7418900View attachment 7418901

How do you like the three band preamp on your voyager? I have a two band that Ellis custom made on mine

 

[mmbass21]

How do you like the three band preamp on your voyager? I have a two band that custom made on mine

So Ellis has developed a new in house preamp that I was given a choice of near the end of the build. Unfortunately I decided to stick with the Nordy 3 band because there were lots of delays on my build and that would've added more additional time. It sounds fantastic but there really isn't much usable eq because it's so hot. The slightest movement is a lot. Curiosity has had me wondering what the new preamp would sound like. I do find the current mid-control necessary for my needs.

 

[J. Brooks]

So Ellis has developed a new in house preamp that I was given a choice of near the end of the build. Unfortunately I decided to stick with the Nordy 3 band because there were lots of delays on my build and that would've added more additional time. It sounds fantastic but there really isn't much usable eq because it's so hot. The slightest movement is a lot. Curiosity has had me wondering what the new preamp would sound like. I do find the current mid-control necessary for my needs.

Isn't there a trim pot inside the control cavity? I'm pretty sure there is on the nordstrand and you can just turn it down so it's quieter when you have it in active mode.

 

[mmbass21]

Isn't there a trim pot inside the control cavity? I'm pretty sure there is on the nordstrand and you can just turn it down so it's quieter when you have it in active mode.

Unfortunately it's not about the active volume as much as moving an eq fader the tiniest bit making a drastic change. It's a very powerful boost circuit and would benefit to be tamed a little.