Okay, now that I've had my Marchlewski long enough to be able to talk about it objectively, it's time for a review. I've taken it to 3 band rehearsals and have put in a bunch of hours with it at home. I'm past the "omigawd-I-have-a-new-bass-and-it's-totally-the-shiznit" stage, so hopefully this review will be a lot more objective.
Bottom Line: This bass IS the shiznit. Build quality is top notch, tone is excellent and well suited to most situations. Definitely the situations where I expect to use it. Playability is a strong point. It's very light, and even with a five string headstock and a wide neck, it's not the least bit neck heavy and doesn't dive. It stays put.
I would recommend this bass to anyone who wants a high end vibe without a high end price tag.
Tone: I'll go out on a limb and suggest that it sounds like a souped up J-bass. I owned a Marcus Miller 4 string with a U-Retro pre for a few months. It was the best sounding slap bass that I'd ever owned at that point. I sold it, so I can't A/B it with the Marchlewski, but I'll go so far as to say that I think the Marchlewski sounds better. For those of you that know "Fantastic Voyage" by Lakeside, play the opening run. The part where you thump the G on the E string then pop D on the G string and do a D - C# lift off....sounds awesome and clear as glass on this bass. I ordered maple core and maple board to make this a bright snappy sounding bass and Jacob delivered. My Alembic Series II 5 has a heavy fundamental unless I work to dial it out and dial in the crisp bite that the Marchlewski has naturally. My Hanewinckel 6 has a bite that's similar to the Marchlewski, but it's more pronounced with the Marchlewski. I changed the strings on the Hanewinckel so that they were both wearing the same new strings (Ken Smith Slap Bass). The Hanewinckel makes the best A/B comparison with this bass, so for the most part, it should be my point of comparison. Only thing is, I've yet to use the Hannie 6 with the new band.
Basically, the Hanewinckel does more things well, but the things they both do well, I think the Marchlewski does slightly better. Both basses have Bartolini pre-amps and pickups, but the Marchlewski has an 18v circuit, the Hanewinckel has a 9v. In active mode, with the volume to both pickups cranked, the Marchlewski has more output.
The Hannie can get seriously funky, bright and crisp, but also does a real nice buttery finger funk / jazzy type of tone when I need it. The Marchlewski does funky better. The Hanewinckel does buttery better. The Marchlewski is a more aggressive sound. In a way, I think the Marchlewski sounds like what I would have expected the Hannie to sound like, if it had a maple fretboard.
The one "dislike" I have with the Marchlewski is the difference in output and tone between passive mode and active mode is pretty severe. I'll probably never have it in passive. I almost never have the Hannie in passive mode either, so it's not a big deal to me.
Playability: For the most part, this is a dead heat with the Hannie. I specced the neck of the Marchlewski to be almost exactly like my two Hannies, though maybe a wee bit wider string spacing. The better to thump you my dear. That may contribute to my assessment of the Hannie doing a better buttery fingerstyle. I don't have to work my right hand as hard with the slightly closer spacing on the Hannie, so my fingering is probably better. Likewise, when I thump the Marchlewski, the slightly wider spacing means fewer mistakes with the thumb, and probably better tone as a result.
Intangibles: When my new band members saw the Marchlewski, they were unanimous in the opinion that it was the most beautiful instrument they had ever seen. The next week they saw my Alembic 5 string. Now they're split evenly down the middle. Not bad company to keep.
So what does all this mean?: I have 5 basses; An Alembic 4 fretted, an Alembic 5 fretted, a Hanewinckel 6 fretted, a Hanewinckel 6 fretless, and the Marchlewski. The Alembic 5 is still my primary bass. The Marchlewski and the fretted Hannie will split back up duty, probably depending on gig and set list. In church, I'll probably carry the Alembic and the Hannie fretless. In funky, 70's - '80s r&b situations, it's probably the Alembic and the Marchlewski. In more jazzy type settings, it's probably the Alembic and the Hannie fretted.
Peace,
James
Bottom Line: This bass IS the shiznit. Build quality is top notch, tone is excellent and well suited to most situations. Definitely the situations where I expect to use it. Playability is a strong point. It's very light, and even with a five string headstock and a wide neck, it's not the least bit neck heavy and doesn't dive. It stays put.
I would recommend this bass to anyone who wants a high end vibe without a high end price tag.
Tone: I'll go out on a limb and suggest that it sounds like a souped up J-bass. I owned a Marcus Miller 4 string with a U-Retro pre for a few months. It was the best sounding slap bass that I'd ever owned at that point. I sold it, so I can't A/B it with the Marchlewski, but I'll go so far as to say that I think the Marchlewski sounds better. For those of you that know "Fantastic Voyage" by Lakeside, play the opening run. The part where you thump the G on the E string then pop D on the G string and do a D - C# lift off....sounds awesome and clear as glass on this bass. I ordered maple core and maple board to make this a bright snappy sounding bass and Jacob delivered. My Alembic Series II 5 has a heavy fundamental unless I work to dial it out and dial in the crisp bite that the Marchlewski has naturally. My Hanewinckel 6 has a bite that's similar to the Marchlewski, but it's more pronounced with the Marchlewski. I changed the strings on the Hanewinckel so that they were both wearing the same new strings (Ken Smith Slap Bass). The Hanewinckel makes the best A/B comparison with this bass, so for the most part, it should be my point of comparison. Only thing is, I've yet to use the Hannie 6 with the new band.
Basically, the Hanewinckel does more things well, but the things they both do well, I think the Marchlewski does slightly better. Both basses have Bartolini pre-amps and pickups, but the Marchlewski has an 18v circuit, the Hanewinckel has a 9v. In active mode, with the volume to both pickups cranked, the Marchlewski has more output.
The Hannie can get seriously funky, bright and crisp, but also does a real nice buttery finger funk / jazzy type of tone when I need it. The Marchlewski does funky better. The Hanewinckel does buttery better. The Marchlewski is a more aggressive sound. In a way, I think the Marchlewski sounds like what I would have expected the Hannie to sound like, if it had a maple fretboard.
The one "dislike" I have with the Marchlewski is the difference in output and tone between passive mode and active mode is pretty severe. I'll probably never have it in passive. I almost never have the Hannie in passive mode either, so it's not a big deal to me.
Playability: For the most part, this is a dead heat with the Hannie. I specced the neck of the Marchlewski to be almost exactly like my two Hannies, though maybe a wee bit wider string spacing. The better to thump you my dear. That may contribute to my assessment of the Hannie doing a better buttery fingerstyle. I don't have to work my right hand as hard with the slightly closer spacing on the Hannie, so my fingering is probably better. Likewise, when I thump the Marchlewski, the slightly wider spacing means fewer mistakes with the thumb, and probably better tone as a result.
Intangibles: When my new band members saw the Marchlewski, they were unanimous in the opinion that it was the most beautiful instrument they had ever seen. The next week they saw my Alembic 5 string. Now they're split evenly down the middle. Not bad company to keep.
So what does all this mean?: I have 5 basses; An Alembic 4 fretted, an Alembic 5 fretted, a Hanewinckel 6 fretted, a Hanewinckel 6 fretless, and the Marchlewski. The Alembic 5 is still my primary bass. The Marchlewski and the fretted Hannie will split back up duty, probably depending on gig and set list. In church, I'll probably carry the Alembic and the Hannie fretless. In funky, 70's - '80s r&b situations, it's probably the Alembic and the Marchlewski. In more jazzy type settings, it's probably the Alembic and the Hannie fretted.
Peace,
James
