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My Lightwave Addiction

Single Coil

Single Coil

Apr 8, 2006
183
414
#1
I have been playing bass for 33 years. In that time I have owned many basses, primarily Fenders and Rics. The bass I have had the longest is my 1998 Carvin B4 which I can't see ever selling.

I have a reasonably full schedule given that I'm also a full time chemistry teacher. I play two services per Sunday twice a month at my church (about 400-500 people each Sunday), I play in an originals band, a cover band, and I play in two local musicals each year.

About five months ago I found myself in possession of an extra P-Bass which I traded for a 2005 fretted Lightwave SL5. As soon as I played it, it was obvious that I liked the tone. There was a problem with the electronics, but I was adamant about keeping this bass. The notes just seemed to jump out.

Long story short, I sent the bass off for repair and in the process ended up acquiring a 2014 Lightwave VL fretless. This is by far the nicest fretless I've ever owned.

I have read some mixed reviews of these basses over the years, but I do not have any reservations about these instruments. They have become my main basses. My Ric 4003, Carvin B4, and fretless Jazz hybrid are feeling neglected I'm sure.

Now I'm thinking of getting a fretted 4 string...

Obligatory pics below.
Lightwave SL5 Fretted.JPG
LightWave VL5 Fretless 2.JPG


And just for the record, I am not being compensated in any way by Willcox Guitars, I just love these things.
 
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#3
BioWeapon said:
A fretted 4? But you've already got one! Just ignore the B string! :D[/QUO
Click to expand...

B string? I thought that was a thumb rest!

In all seriousness, I have some chronic neck pain and one of the other positive things about the Lightwaves is their weight. Both of my fivers weigh less than 8 pounds, but the four strings regularly weigh less than 7 pounds. This is also one of the reasons the Ric is seeing less playtime.
 
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#4
Single Coil said:
B string? I thought that was a thumb rest!

In all seriousness, I have some chronic neck pain and one of the other positive things about the Lightwaves is their weight. Both of my fivers weigh less than 8 pounds, but the four strings regularly weigh less than 7 pounds. This is also one of the reasons the Ric is seeing less playtime.
Click to expand...

I mean, I didn't need any extra GAS but here we are... that's damn light.
 
#8
Ya I have about 185+/- guitars all together and about 150 are basses. I buy and sell so many that I'm not sure what I have many times. However, I keep 5 lightwaves as my go to basses when I play out or have a fly in gig. But ya there could always be a few more in the woodpile that I don't know about.
 

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