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Double Bass Lemur Jupiter

#21
I just saw a video from Lemur of the Tosca bass.
I just can't help but draw the parallels to the original Bromberg bass they were doing a couple of years ago.
What's the deal?
 
#22
Hi guys. I'm a 'newbie' here..... but this thread needs to be brought back to life! :ninja:

This past 2 weeks I've been playing the Lemur Jupiter bass. It's strung with all plain guts (efrano, of course) and the trusty ol' Underwood pick up. My main basses before were my '51 Kay and '44 King Moretone. I've got to say, from the 1st note until now, I have completely fallen in love with the Jupiter!

My first gig on it was in a bar playing hot jazz with a quartette. I had planned on playing acoustic, but the room turned out bigger than planned, so I plugged into the bose tower system. The tone and sound was huge! Especially for pluggin' in without any pre-amp from the underwood into the PA.

Since then, there's been many quartette and rockabilly/western swing gigs. Just had a recording session with it last Monday.... and the tone is very exceptional compared to my Kay (which was my main recording/gig bass).

I will write a better review by the end of the month.

Jack Clark, your teacher is spot on. Jerry did design this bass with more Roots music in mind, but this bass sounds great in a jazz setting (even with gut strings)(and.... 'hot' jazz/manouche).

This past Sunday, as a trio, we played the Redwood Bar in Los Angeles. Not the biggest room, but I just ran a mic in front of her and played the crap out of it. It cut through very well on stage against the guitarist and violin. (please keep in mind that my Kay has a very well known reputation as being one of the loudest and sweetest sounding Kays heard). After that, we played an outdoor wedding in Topanga Canyon. It was an acoustic cocktail hour set, but I had wedding guests coming up and commenting on how beautiful the Jupiter sounded and looked. It sounded to me as though it was plugged into a small combo amp. Delicious.

Being a Moretone owner, the scale length didn't bother me at all. I've also played a few Ameri Standards and the Jupiter is close in comparison. It's made way better! The detail and overall look is beautiful.

My 3 favorite thing(s) about the Jupiter, so far:

1. Big robust body= Big full tone + volume
2. The neck/fingerboard plays so nice. The neck reminds me of a Moretone
3. Quality- this bass will be around and last many many years. The wood used is top notch for ply. It seems a ply or two thicker than the older American plys.

This bass is worth every cent of the asking price imo.

Again, I will update my thoughts in another week or two.
 
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#23
KStewart said:
Hi guys. I'm a 'newbie' here..... but this thread needs to be brought back to life! :ninja:

This past 2 weeks I've been playing the Lemur Jupiter bass. It's strung with all plain guts (efrano, of course) and the trusty ol' Underwood pick up. My main basses before were my '51 Kay and '44 King Moretone. I've got to say, from the 1st note until now, I have completely fallen in love with the Jupiter!

My first gig on it was in a bar playing hot jazz with a quartette. I had planned on playing acoustic, but the room turned out bigger than planned, so I plugged into the bose tower system. The tone and sound was huge! Especially for pluggin' in without any pre-amp from the underwood into the PA.

Since then, there's been many quartette and rockabilly/western swing gigs. Just had a recording session with it last Monday.... and the tone is very exceptional compared to my Kay (which was my main recording/gig bass).

I will write a better review by the end of the month.

Jack Clark, your teacher is spot on. Jerry did design this bass with more Roots music in mind, but this bass sounds great in a jazz setting (even with gut strings)(and.... 'hot' jazz/manouche).

This past Sunday, as a trio, we played the Redwood Bar in Los Angeles. Not the biggest room, but I just ran a mic in front of her and played the crap out of it. It cut through very well on stage against the guitarist and violin. (please keep in mind that my Kay has a very well known reputation as being one of the loudest and sweetest sounding Kays heard). After that, we played an outdoor wedding in Topanga Canyon. It was an acoustic cocktail hour set, but I had wedding guests coming up and commenting on how beautiful the Jupiter sounded and looked. It sounded to me as though it was plugged into a small combo amp. Delicious.

Being a Moretone owner, the scale length didn't bother me at all. I've also played a few Ameri Standards and the Jupiter is close in comparison. It's made way better! The detail and overall look is beautiful.

My 3 favorite thing(s) about the Jupiter, so far:

1. Big robust body= Big full tone + volume
2. The neck/fingerboard plays so nice. The neck reminds me of a Moretone
3. Quality- this bass will be around and last many many years. The wood used is top notch for ply. It seems a ply or two thicker than the older American plys.

This bass is worth every cent of the asking price imo.

Again, I will update my thoughts in another week or two.
Click to expand...

Thinking about looking at these, thanks for the post.
 
#24
KStewart said:
Again, I will update my thoughts in another week or two.
Click to expand...

Kevin, thanks a whole lot for revitalizing this thread with such a wealth of thoughtful and useful comments.

I haven't purchased a double bass even yet and I haven't lost my interest in the Jupiter. It has such a big full sound, and I like that it has size but without a larger string scale, since my hands are not the largest. I've always loved the clean lines of the gamba shape, too.

I don't know whether you are formally connected with Lemur in any way, but thanks, also, for taking the time to make the videos about the Jupiter that now are on Lemur's website. And please do update your thoughts on the Jupiter here, as you indicated above. It's great having the views of an experienced pro who is actually gigging with a Jupiter.
 
#25
You're welcome, Mastermold and Jack Clark. (sorry it's taken me so long to check back in.... been busy playing)

Well, I still love it. To me, it is my perfect bass for the type of gigging and playing I do. Been doing a lot of arco these past couple of months on it as well, and even with my gut strings on there, this bass projects and booms. Such a beautiful sounding instrument.

I did send it to the Nashville NAMM show so Lemur could have a Jupiter strung up with gut strings in their booth. It was gone for 2 weeks and I missed it so much. But, I was told that after playing around on it for a while, Dave Roe immediately bought and ordered a Jupiter to play and record with. :bassist:

I hope this isn't shameless (as much as it is embarrassing), but you can hear me and my Jupiter here: Link Removed This was the session I mentioned in my previous post. PLEASE USE HEADPHONES if your computer speakers are not bass friendly. These tracks were recorded live (no over-dubs, punch-ins etc.) into a crappy drum condensor mic, I was playing 10 ft. away from my (thankfully minimalist) drummer. (so it's not a real clean studio sound)

I've been on a gig the past 2 months playing the Westside Story score with it as well (off of the original charts, not the movie score). Arco and pizz only. I get compliments nightly on how good it sounds.... which makes me now believe that it isn't just a 'Roots' music instrument, but a bass with many voices that will sound great in any musical setting. cheers
 
#28
Thanks guys!

I reckon 'Steel Guitar Rag' is the best to listen to for overall tone and sound of the bass. Half pizz, half slap on that song as opposed to the plucking/slapping on the other tunes.

Mastermold, there still might be a Jupiter with steel strings in Lemur...don't know if you are a steel string player or not, but it sounds wicked good with steel strings too. I'm a gut string guy, personally, but with steels strung up on it has even more of a defined, yet boomy, projection acoustically. (I almost strung my jupiter with steels for the theater gig I've been doing..... but I declined when I really thought about all of the work I'd have to do to it for it to be properly set up for steel strings)

Honestly, I couldn't be happier every time it's in my hands and I'm playing it. My Kay bass gets no love anymore. lol
 
#29
Hey folks!

I'm looking into getting one of these and I'm curious about the consistency. Has anyone bought one recently? Are they all up to the same level of quality? Kevin -- if that was your bass at the Nashville NAMM show, I played it and loved it. If I were to order one from Lemur, would I be getting as good of a bass? Would it be safe to order one without having played it?
 
#30
Just got back from the mainland and stopped by Jerry's place (Lemur). As always, the Lemure guys and gals treated me very well and Jeff (their luthier) did a few small repairs on my RN bass which I think was called the Venice. i don't think they make that model anymore and the Tosca is the replacement. Anyway, I was playing some older basses that Jerry wanted me to see and hear and then he put the Jupiter in my hands. It is a very nice, well set up, plywood bass. It played well and sounded very good. I was surprised that it was plywood. The veneers are very good. You have to really look to see that it's plywood construction. I will say that the Jupiter is not my cuppa as I like something with a sound/tone that is a bit more centered; less puffy and thumpy. However, it played very well and for alternative, blues or a 1950'sish jazz sound, this bass is very good at their price point. In addition, Jerry is a quality guy who stands behind his products and his companies work. That has been my experience for quite a few years. Hope this helps.

Best,

Trey
 
#31
For its price, the Jupiter is impressive. I stopped by Jerry's showroom last year when I was passing through Capistrano, and was struck by both its presence and quality of build. To tell you the truth, I was surprised that the memory of playing the Jupiter stuck with me, considering how many wonderful basses he had on display, and the fact that I wasn't in the market for a ply.

It IS an all-ply bass, as Treyzer has pointed out, but authoritative and punchy, as in LOUD. An old-school sound and feel. Being brand-new it didn't have all the mojo of an old American Standard in the same showroom (nor did it feel like a copy of the AS, by the way), but I think a bluegrass/roots/country player would probably find it worth the (relatively modest) investment.

Bobby, if you've already played one and want to order long-distance, I don't think you have to worry any more about quality variation than you would from any other instrument source. All basses are unique, of course, and new ones need breaking in, but I can't imagine there would be a quantum difference.
 
#32
Bobby King said:
Kevin -- if that was your bass at the Nashville NAMM show, I played it and loved it.

If I were to order one from Lemur, would I be getting as good of a bass? Would it be safe to order one without having played it?
Click to expand...

Hi Bobby,

I hope you washed your hands first. :D Seriously, glad you enjoyed playing her.

To answer both of your questions..... Yes.

Keep in mind, please, that I've only played 4 or 5 Jupiters, including my personal. Having said that, all of them were very close to each other in construction and playability. The only characteristic differences I've noticed between them was the coloring of the finish may have been slightly darker or lighter.

Treyzer and Jsn, thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Jupiter as well! I agree Trey, it takes a very close look to finally see that it is, in fact, a plywood bass. I've had a few comments/questions regarding this at gigs. Guys saying how great my carved ("or is that a hybrid?") bass sounded..... to see the look on their faces when they find out it's a ply is priceless to me.
 
#35
I played the Jupiter yeserday...I gotta tell you, it is an AMAZING sounding ply...it sounded more like a carved bass to my ears. Just a joy to play! Jerry and his wife hung around with my family well past closing, which I truly appreciate. They are VERY gracious people, and in love with what they do. I am talking with my wife about getting one today....I REALLY dug it!
 

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