• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

N1/2BD - My Miezo 18 Arrived!!!

#21
monsterthompson said:
First the TLDR stuff
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
18" scale 5 string tuned E - C up 1 octave (actually, currently in drop D)
Padauk body. Walnut & padauk "neck-through" top. Ebony board.
17mm spacing
Nordstrand Zen Blades (passive V V T)
Pix below.

I don't recall exactly when and where I found Maurizio Uber Basses, but I somehow started following them on IG, and I knew it was only a matter of time before I caved. I'd been wanting a single cut for a while but hadn't found one I really lusted after. I had also been looking at shorter or half-scale bass (Kala, Wing, Mayones), mostly to accommodate an injury that limits my left hand/arm reach, but also to find something with a different voice from my current, well rounded arsenal. I've been doing a lot of "ambient" work and I wanted something with more of a lyrical voice than a typical bass, including something that could do chords, and wouldn't get muddy with boom when soaked with delays and reverb.

I started getting serious back in January. I paid my deposit and got in line. Mau was great about corresponding. He responded quickly despite being in Malaysia, and also has Sacha in Canada who monitors the IG messages in my daylight hours (also a great and knowledgable guy). We were able to email a few ideas to get started, then progressed to video calls. Mau walked me through the process, showed me his shop and some wood samples on hand, and let me know what to expect through the build. I got regular updates, including pics.

The build would've been done much sooner, but there were some COVID delays. Additionally, I was undecided about which pickups I wanted. The build was well underway when I finally consulted @MDBass and got a suggestion for the Nordy Zen Blades. I followed up with Nodstrand directly and they thought the pickups would work for what I was after. Unfortunately, they had production delays that held up finalizing the build. After plugging in, I have zero regrets about the decision or the wait time.

The bass shipped out from Malaysia last week and just arrived today. DHL was great with updates, and the box arrived with only a few minoR bumps and scratches.

I plugged in and found the sounds I wanted right off the bat. The hand positioning was a different story. It isn't bad, it is just different. I'm not used to playing with the frets so tightly spaced. That said, if I'm clean with my fingering technique there's no buzz, and the action is relatively low. Notes ring out nicely. There's a decent amount of sustain and punch. Each pickup has a distinct voice. My preamp of choice is a Hilbish Sol Invictus and it works wonderfully with the Miezo. I was able to experiment with some fuzz, delay, and reverb, and I'm very happy with the sounds I'm finding. I'll try to get some clips up, but honestly, they might be fairly wet and dirty sounds.

View attachment 4372239

View attachment 4372237

View attachment 4372238

View attachment 4372240
Click to expand...

Just Beautiful…

Congrats ..!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sacha Lévesque, dukeorock, ugly_bassplayer and 2 others
#22
cosmicevan said:
GAS pains...would love to try one out in person. They look so badass and the concept is great.
Click to expand...

It is a horse of a different color. It isn't quite what I expected, but I had no idea what to expect. It doesn't sound like fretting at the 12th fret on a 34" bass. I'm sure the wood choice, fretboard, electronics, and string tension all play in to varying degrees.

I need to give it a shot going just direct and dry, but it works so well with my effects that it will be a while before I try to do that :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: cosmicevan, Felix Lopez, dukeorock and 2 others
#25
Katoosie said:
Please share some recordings if you can. That would be interesting! What is your current tuning? Same as in post #1?
Click to expand...

I will try to get some stuff recorded soon.
I spent some time in both E - C, and a drop D - C tuning (both +1 oct). I like the drop D, and I think everything down a whole step could work well. If I do that, I might try drop tuning so I can get to C. I might not have much time to experiment tonight after work, but I'll get something together shortly.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Felix Lopez and Katoosie
#30
svlilioukalani said:
So I am wondering; what do to do with a bass like this? Is it even a Bass?
Click to expand...

It can be but kinda isn’t. It’s a different animal for sure. It’s not really a guitar. With the loss of the bottom octave, you can’t play certain traditional lines, but there’s plenty of note overlap if your style normally has you up in a higher register. The string size and spacing definitely make it more bass-like than other instruments.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Katoosie, dukeorock and svlilioukalani
#32
monsterthompson said:
It is a horse of a different color. It isn't quite what I expected, but I had no idea what to expect. It doesn't sound like fretting at the 12th fret on a 34" bass. I'm sure the wood choice, fretboard, electronics, and string tension all play in to varying degrees.

I need to give it a shot going just direct and dry, but it works so well with my effects that it will be a while before I try to do that :)
Click to expand...

Twangy? Tinny sounding? Any beef on it? I imagine it has nice clarity which would be ideal for effects. Doesn't seem like a replacement instrument for a mo-town band...but a weird noise set that you are running into a modular setup...DEFINITELY
 
  • Like
Reactions: dukeorock
#33
cosmicevan said:
25572090[/URL], member: 29797"]Twangy? Tinny sounding? Any beef on it? I imagine it has nice clarity which would be ideal for effects. Doesn't seem like a replacement instrument for a mo-town band...but a weird noise set that you are running into a modular setup...DEFINITELY
Click to expand...

Some of it may be expectations. The underlying boom isn’t there, which is actually beneficial for my needs. It’s not twangy or tinny, but it’s lean and mean. There are a few variables to consider. The ebony board is a bright/snappy thing generally. I don’t know what the strings are, but I’d guess they lean towards a SS vibe, and the tension is a tad higher than I’m used to. That could just be the shorter speaking length feel when I try to bend notes (I’ve got weak hands). These pickups are new to me. I like the bridge sound best, and that will inherently be a leaner sound.
 
  • Like
Reactions: cosmicevan and dukeorock
#34
Couldn’t even wait a day to put the first scratch on it. Doh!

I couldn’t figure out how I did it, then as I reached to pick the bass up, I realized my thumb wrapped around the body in the exact spot of the scratch. I must’ve been careless yesterday and dragged my thumbnail along the body doing the same move. Guess it’s mine now :)

B10487E5-6EE4-4BD4-BF3A-BC639C170507.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bob_Ross, Katoosie, JimmyM and 1 other person
#35
monsterthompson said:
Couldn’t even wait a day to put the first scratch on it. Doh!

I couldn’t figure out how I did it, then as I reached to pick the bass up, I realized my thumb wrapped around the body in the exact spot of the scratch. I must’ve been careless yesterday and dragged my thumbnail along the body doing the same move. Guess it’s mine now :)

View attachment 4373081
Click to expand...
Keep'em short!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Felix Lopez and monsterthompson
#36
Katoosie said:
Keep'em short!
Click to expand...

They aren’t buzzard talons. I was just careless. It was bound to happen, so better to have it done.

A buddy just popped by to check it out. It was fun listening to him play. It was easier to detach from thinking about what I was playing relative to what I was hearing, and to just listen to the voice. It was quite good. He was able to play with more speed and dexterity than I could, and it seems to be capable of dealing with faster lines and chording. His two observations worthy of comment were that the fingerboard was flat, and that the strings felt stiff. Otherwise, he was impressed and approved.
 
  • Like
Reactions: cosmicevan, Katoosie and JimmyM
#37
monsterthompson said:
Couldn’t even wait a day to put the first scratch on it. Doh!

I couldn’t figure out how I did it, then as I reached to pick the bass up, I realized my thumb wrapped around the body in the exact spot of the scratch. I must’ve been careless yesterday and dragged my thumbnail along the body doing the same move. Guess it’s mine now :)

View attachment 4373081
Click to expand...
The first one always hurts, but the rest will be easy!
 
  • Like
Reactions: CJL, Felix Lopez, monsterthompson and 1 other person
#39
dukeorock said:
Looking forward to hearing some clips!
Click to expand...

ugly_bassplayer said:
Clips!!!
Click to expand...

Katoosie said:
Please share some recordings if you can. That would be interesting! What is your current tuning? Same as in post #1?
Click to expand...

SirMjac28 said:
can't wait to hear some sound clips.
Click to expand...

A rough idea of what I was trying to get out of this beast.
Miezo in drop D. Dunwich Wizard Fuzz. Hilbish Sol Invictus and Compressimiser. Zoia and OTO BAM for delay and reverb.
 
  • Like
Reactions: gscroggin, SirMjac28, cosmicevan and 8 others
#40
monsterthompson said:
A rough idea of what I was trying to get out of this beast.
Miezo in drop D. Dunwich Wizard Fuzz. Hilbish Sol Invictus and Compressimiser. Zoia and OTO BAM for delay and reverb.
Click to expand...

Sounds fantastic to me!
 
  • Like
Reactions: cosmicevan, Katoosie and monsterthompson

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back