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Martin Keith Guitars fretless bass build thread

#21
smperry said:
Thanks and congratulations on your Dingwall! I'm surprised you are online and not playing it! It looks *amazing*.
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Thanks! I know your new bass will be just as fantastic (but completely different!). It's been a long wait, and I held true and didn't buy any basses in the meantime! Martin has built a few for you already, hasn't he? You're working quite a collection!

...and just so you don't think I've lost interest already, I just put aside my new baby for a couple of minutes to check out what's shakin' here...
 
#26
Well, I've had this beautiful bass for a little while. :)

I haven't yet posted a review because there was a problem with the pickups - they were noisy for my taste (and I'm a stickler for that). Martin is hooking me up with Citron pickups, but they aren't in it yet.

Another big difference from my initial plans was that Martin missed my request for P/J spacing (it was decided after the initial invoice). So, it's jazz spacing. I was upset for a little while, but it will work out fine. Fretless jazz spacing is tried and true. Bottom line, the bass was so nice, I wasn't about to send it back!

So far - the bass is gorgeous, the piezo is incredible (as good as anything I've ever played), and the playability is off the charts. The neck is the best neck I've ever played, bar none. Perfect profile for me and unbelievably slick. Real review after the pickup change.

Oh yeah, pictures. They're not at all good (I know) but hopefully you get an idea. There's more figuring and depth than conveyed here. The koa, mahogany, and ebony just are all beautiful.

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With the older sibling:

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#27
smperry said:
Well, I've had this beautiful bass for a little while. :)

...Martin is hooking me up with Citron pickups...

Oh yeah, pictures. They're not at all good (I know) but hopefully you get an idea. There's more figuring and depth than conveyed here. The koa, mahogany, and ebony just are all beautiful.

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OMG!:eek: Marsh, that is stunningly beautiful.

I know that the photos don't ever convey what the wood actually looks like. But I think that you did a great job on the photos anyway.

I love how Martin does the neck joint. What is the neck wood? I am loving that mac board. What is the scale?

When I had originally contacted Martin about building a fretless for me he had suggested Harvey's pickups. I didn't question his suggestion at all as the Citron would be perfect.

And of course I absolutely love the body and headstock shape. One of my favorites for sure and so unique. I think that it is a winner.

I'm sure that I'm going to have a few dozen more questions for you as time goes on. :D
 
#28
Hi Jerry,

Thanks for your comments. I'm no photographer, but I tried. I don't know why one side of the koa top looks brighter than the other in these photos...Sometime I'll try to get some in sunlight.

The neck wood is mahogany; I don't know the type. Scale is 34.5". Trust me on this - get the matte finish on the neck. My gloss one is fine, but this one is in a different league. Smoother than oil, sleeker than gloss. I'm happy with the neck joint too.

Happy to talk to you about the bass anytime. I should have more to say in two weeks.

Marshall

Jerry J said:
OMG!:eek: Marsh, that is stunningly beautiful.

I know that the photos don't ever convey what the wood actually looks like. But I think that you did a great job on the photos anyway.

I love how Martin does the neck joint. What is the neck wood? I am loving that mac board. What is the scale?

When I had originally contacted Martin about building a fretless for me he had suggested Harvey's pickups. I didn't question his suggestion at all as the Citron would be perfect.

And of course I absolutely love the body and headstock shape. One of my favorites for sure and so unique. I think that it is a winner.

I'm sure that I'm going to have a few dozen more questions for you as time goes on. :D
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#29
Hey Marshall!

That's a GREAT looking bass and I'm sure it sounds great too with the piezos on board as well as the well thought out wood choices. You have a very nice set going.

Sometimes 'surprises' happen with new and custom basses, and it sometimes means having to roll with things.

Congratulations, my friend! :)
 
#31
elwood said:
Congratulations, looks like you've got another winner :)

I'm interested to know what piezo you have installed since you highly approve of it, but I don't see it listed in the first post.
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I actually don't know anything about the piezo...sorry!

In fairness, I don't have extensive experience with RMC, except on a Godin I played a ways back, and that sounded great too.

The buffer is good though - simple, without as much fine-tuning from knobs, but it works fine...kind of like a P bass the only parallel I can make. There are definitely preamp/buffers that have more going on, but I'm digging this so far.

Marshall
 
#34
smperry said:
Good eye! I dig the knobs too.

Do you have any recordings with your Veillette singlecut by any chance? I've heard some examples of the Citron pickups, but would love to hear more.

M
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Marshall, I assume that you've been to the Veillette site. http://www.veilletteguitars.com/
Then go to the sound samples. At the end there is a sample from Yuji Yajima with just the mag pickup. Of course he is using a hollow body bass which will make a significant difference.
 
#35
Yes, I have checked those out. Yes, mine should sound different with the two pickups, but it's something. I think that one is about as hollowed out as mine, but I could be wrong.

M

Jerry J said:
Marshall, I assume that you've been to the Veillette site. http://www.veilletteguitars.com/
Then go to the sound samples. At the end there is a sample from Yuji Yajima with just the mag pickup. Of course he is using a hollow body bass which will make a significant difference.
Click to expand...
 
#39
Jerry J said:
Marshall, I assume that you've been to the Veillette site. http://www.veilletteguitars.com/
Then go to the sound samples. At the end there is a sample from Yuji Yajima with just the mag pickup. Of course he is using a hollow body bass which will make a significant difference.
Click to expand...

Hey Jerry,

I also found this soundclip:

Noisy, and I have no idea of the tone controls or pickup blend, but it's something.
 

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