Meazzi Hollywood (referenced) project

[MPU]

Mensura is scale length on those ads.

 

[JIO]

Mensura is scale length on those ads.

Thanks MPU! So both hollow-bodies are the same (short) scale) ...and how have you been?

 

[MPU]

Thanks MPU! So both hollow-bodies are the same (short) scale) ...and how have you been?

Thanks for asking. We have been just fine. Hopefully sometime soon we'll get back to some kind of normal life.

 

[JIO]

Thanks for asking. We have been just fine. Hopefully sometime soon we'll get back to some kind of normal life.

amen brother -

 

[JIO]

So it appears that Jolana did make orange basses -

...and a number of other colours - looks a bit like an Epi T-bird "TV" silver -

a cool metallic (sorta Lake Placid) blue - a "downtown' brown - very '70s (I dig it) ... and Burgundy Mist Metallic?

green - white -

basic black - looks good

a Fiesta red -

Being a "Disco-Bass" ... I'm now thinking a bit or orange "Glitter-Blast" dusted over the Rustic Orange sounds like the ticket. (to Studio 54!)

 

[Retro]

Here's a purple-burst too.....

 

[JIO]

Just for completist reasons - here's the bass the Jolana Disco Bass is based on - the '80s Gibson RD - (there were a few different versions made)

RD Artist -

Recent RD RI - minus sophisticated active electronics and J-esk single-coil pu's instead of Gibson Hum-buckers. Probably sounds more like a Jazz bass than a T-bird.

a couple players who have used the RD -

I guess I've always generally liked the look of an RD - it actually has a lot going for it (especially the more elite Artist model) and it is very "Gibson" overall. But (and you knew a but was coming ) no upper horn for a full-scale bass (like a Gibson T-bird) is just bad design, and I prefer a 4 in-line hs over the traditional Gibson 2X2. So I like the Disco-Bass hs better visually - it goes better with the off-set body shape. I will be replacing the bridge and once I get it I'll determine if I can use a high-mass brass bridge on it (very '80s) which will aid in making the body a bit heavier down south and hopefully help heading-off neck-dive. Note also where the lower strap-peg is - very much off-center toward the E string, which will also help.

If they can work - these are two bridges I like - both are 'standard' Fender spacing (2 1/4" c-E/cG)- so may put the E&G strings too far on the fb edge. Will make the call once the bass in in front of me. Both unfortunately have fixed string-spacing.

This one looks more like the original with oversized saddles.

 

[JIO]

Here's a purple-burst too.....

View attachment 4381806

Plum-burst?

 

[JIO]

Look what arrived just now... good thing I'm chambering it 'cause it's heavy! But - nice grain and it "knuckle clunks" nice! (nice ringing tone)

13lbs/7oz. Granted, much wood will be removed - the slab is 21"x14.5"x2" and the body will be 1.5" thick and will be extensively chambered.

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

Just for completist reasons - here's the bass the Jolana Disco Bass is based on - the '80s Gibson RD - (there were a few different versions made)

View attachment 4381851
RD Artist -
View attachment 4381870
Recent RD RI - minus sophisticated active electronics and J-esk single-coil pu's instead of Gibson Hum-buckers. Probably sounds more like a Jazz bass than a T-bird.
View attachment 4381852


a couple players who have used the RD -
View attachment 4381854 View attachment 4381872

I guess I've always generally liked the look of an RD - it actually has a lot going for it (especially the more elite Artist model) and it is very "Gibson" overall. But (and you knew a but was coming ) no upper horn for a full-scale bass (like a Gibson T-bird) is just bad design, and I prefer a 4 in-line hs over the traditional Gibson 2X2. So I like the Disco-Bass hs better visually - it goes better with the off-set body shape. I will be replacing the bridge and once I get it I'll determine if I can use a high-mass brass bridge on it (very '80s) which will aid in making the body a bit heavier down south and hopefully help heading-off neck-dive. Note also where the lower strap-peg is - very much off-center toward the E string, which will also help.

If they can work - these are two bridges I like - both are 'standard' Fender spacing (2 1/4" c-E/cG)- so may put the E&G strings too far on the fb edge. Will make the call once the bass in in front of me. Both unfortunately have fixed string-spacing.
View attachment 4382040
This one looks more like the original with oversized saddles.
View attachment 4382041

Had a natural Artist like pictured when I lived in Germany. It weighed a ton, it wanted to look at the floor when on a strap, and occasionally the Moog card functioned as it should. I still like them warts and all. They just look cool period.

 

[JIO]

Test finish for the Disco Bass - rustic orange dusted with orange Glitter-Blast. (grey-sky neutral light)

I added Golden Glow GB over the orange GB on the E side (down the middle) ... hard to see in this pic but it does add more glitter distinction. Might be worth incorporating as it's still subtle and orange.

Orange GB only ...

Golden Glow over orange GB - definitely more sparkly. You can see the division more distinctly in this pic. Looks a lot like the pic I posted of the Dano.

 

[JIO]

Had a natural Artist like pictured when I lived in Germany. It weighed a ton, it wanted to look at the floor when on a strap, and occasionally the Moog card functioned as it should. I still like them warts and all. They just look cool period.

Yah, "It weighed a ton" will always be a deal-breaker for me. And as far as the Moog card - I always liked the futuristic looks of the complex Roland G-77 GR but probably wouldn't buy one. It would be fun to experiment with though. My friend Tom plays a more recent Moog guitar/system. It's pretty cool sounding for sure. When we jam, I let him do all the sonic mayhem!

 

[JIO]

Now I'm getting excited!

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Yah, "It weighed a ton" will always be a deal-breaker for me. And as far as the Moog card - I always liked the futuristic looks of the complex Roland G-77 GR but probably wouldn't buy one. It would be fun to experiment with though. My friend Tom plays a more recent Moog guitar/system. It's pretty cool sounding for sure. When we jam, I let him do all the sonic mayhem!

View attachment 4382824 View attachment 4382826

That’s pretty cool. I don’t think I’ve seen that Moog guitar before. Does it interface with Roland GR units or MIDI synthesizers?

 

[JIO]

That’s pretty cool. I don’t think I’ve seen that Moog guitar before. Does it interface with Roland GR units or MIDI synthesizers?

It is a synth-guitar and has a (pedalboard) interface like the Rolland. Not certain about it being Roland - I'll inquire next jam session. His interrelated "pedal board" (loose definition) is extensive. I'll take a pic next time. The other 2 guitarists who join us also have a number of FX boxes so once a jam is in full swing - it's hard to tell who's creating what!

 

[JIO]

A shot in bright sunlight - brings out the glitter. (still, more "active" in person) You can see the line where the GG GB was added (right side) I like it.

 

[JIO]

A nice pale metallic blue-green finish - possibly pale blue originally. Probably the same as what I called the Epi "TV Silver" finish I posted above, but side-by-side the Jolana looks more blue-green. Note Soviet-era 'jack' - must be an early one as most I've seen pics of have a standard jack.

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

Now I'm getting excited!

That's makes more useful noises than I expected! Pleasantly surprised.

 

[JIO]

That's makes more useful noises than I expected! Pleasantly surprised.

That is the sound I want to hear in my head.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

It is a synth-guitar and has a (pedalboard) interface like the Rolland. Not certain about it being Roland - I'll inquire next jam session. His interrelated "pedal board" (loose definition) is extensive. I'll take a pic next time. The other 2 guitarists who join us also have a number of FX boxes so once a jam is in full swing - it's hard to tell who's creating what!

Right on. It’s not a huge deal. The Roland GR units get called MIDI but they use a 13 pin plug that’s different from a MIDI cable although you can “MIDI out” from most of the newer floor units. Kind of a moot point because I’m probably not going to rush out and buy one tomorrow anyway.