Mayones vs maruszczyk

[Ellegiers]

Hi everyone! New member here!
I'm trying to decide between a mayones jabba 5 and a maruszczyk elwood 5. My budget is around 2000€, with that money, I can get a maruszczyk brand new with my own specs or a jabba 5 string Hadrien Feraud style second hand. Anyone have experience with these basses?
I have to say that I'm Left Handed, so go to shops and try instruments ain't a possibility.
Finally, I am looking for quality and versatility.
Hope someone can help out!
I saw an old topic here about the same subject, but didn't give enough answers.

 

[Mik Walker]

Hello, and welcome!

Here is my current Polish contingent.

On the left is a Jabba Custom 5. The other two are Maruszczyks. In the middle is a Human Nature Elwood, on the right is a custom Elwood L5 made to my choice of spec options.

€2000 is around $2200 so yes, you are in the ballpark for a new Elwood 5. For the money the Maruszczyks are great. Fit and finish are very good, there’s a wide range of options you can choose to spec out a bass with your choice of bells and whistles and, frankly not much else is available to that standard for that kind of money.

Custom Mayones are a level or two higher up the pecking order though. They just have that extra refined quality air about them. They feel sleeker, sound more refined and are generally more “professional” feeling. Not knocking the Maruszczyks in any way (hey, I own two of them) and they excel in their area of the market.

If I had to have just one or the other and money was not a factor I would go with Mayones every time. They are built to a higher standard but you do pay for it.

If you really do have a line on a used Mayones Feraud for around €2000 run, don’t walk, and rip the seller’s arm off quick! Even older spec HFs seem to be going for over $3k used. €2k is a steal.

It’s all subjective of course.

Good luck! Let us know what you end up with..