I'm not a New Bass Day thread kinda guy so I thought I would just post here...
I received my Marco TFL5 about 2 weeks ago...
Short backstory... I met Marco at NAMM Bass Bash a couple years ago and checked out his basses a little, so I knew the quality but I didn't get a chance to actually plug in and do a more in depth evaluation until this past NAMM at his booth.
For the past year, since my daughter was born, I haven't really focused on playing out or even with other people and when Mr. Practicality came by I decided to sell my expensive high end J style bass and looked for something that was "good enough" for what I'm doing now. Long story short, I contacted Marco and I was able to downgrade in price but not in build quality, feel and definitely not in tone.
On to the bass... I'm a J bass guy so that's what I wanted. I've always liked active electronics; though only a certain few work for my ears; but I started to like the idea of passive - on active basses, I tend to find 1 setting that I like and leave it there anyway... I've heard great things about Marco's pickups and YouTube videos support what I've read... So passive it is.
I pretty much got a "stock" bass in terms of custom options... I just specified the finish, black hardware and block inlays.
Specs are: Alder body, Maple neck/fingerboard, Marco pickups, Hipshot hardware.
The bass is an absolute killer. The feel, the shape of the neck and the action, boy, the action is wonderful... It took 2 minutes to feel like home. His standard 34.5" scale is great, the low B is excellent! Very fat but clear at the same time. I DO NOT miss the active electronics - Marco's pickups are a dream - they have a very organic and natural modern J bass tone. The build quality is great. The finish is beautiful topped off by a beautiful maple neck with great flaming. Also, the month and a half build time was something I never dreamed of.
I love this bass! It's a super example of a modern 70's style 5-string J bass. I think Marco's stuff is right up there with the more well known makers, hopefully you get a chance to check him out... He definitely pushes the envelope with his builds, specially with his other models, the non-J bass ones... VD, MV, etc.
Also, for me, a big selling point is the person... Anyone who has interacted with Marco knows what a great guy he is, super funny and great personality. We've had a good time talking on the phone throughout the build time of this bass and again today, even. I appreciate and value our new friendship.
A couple pics for now... Video may come later - I gotta get my chops back up, remember I mentioned I haven't been too focused on playing.
P.S.....
I love this bass so much that I ordered a 2nd soon after - a 24 fret TFL this time, a little bit fancier with a top but still passive w/ Alder body/Maple neck/Rosewood board this time. It wasn't quite a 2 for 1 with my previous high end J bass but pretty darn close... Mr. Practicality approves.
