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Nash basses: Relicing aside

SunneyBoy

SunneyBoy

Dec 15, 2005
239
3
45
Johannesburg : South Africa
#1
Hi all

i am intriqued by these basses , i have read a few threads on them but the discussion always tends to go towards the arguement of relicing. i wanna stay away from that arguement on this one! whether or not you agree with buying a brand new bass that looks like a truck drove over it is not what i wanna know!!!!

How do they play ?
How do they sound ? in live and studio situations
how are they built?
(no comments on finish for obvious reasons)
are they correctly priced? for what you get.

and at the end of that day how do they stack up against their competition.

for example; fender reissues;fender relic; lakland jo and bob glaubs, or any other jazz and p bass clones!


lets get into the nitty gritty of why so many bassists and guitarist are swearing by Bill's instruments.

i think that a builder thats getting so much attention deserves a decent thread and analysis on this forum!

+ i am gassing like crazy for one of these !!!!!!!!
 
#2
I'm very close to ordering one and have the same questions. I believe they are made from quality parts (and woods) and the nitro finishes, relicing apart, look very well applied.

A bass made with Warmoth or USA Customs parts will cost you around $1000, with paint and assembly/setup included, so you are paying an extra $500 to $650 for his signature finishing. I don't know if Nash also does his own fretwork, but I would think that the necks come ready-to-go from his source.

One thing that puts me off is that you can't place a custom order, so you have to buy whatever is in stock at a dealer.

For $1650, I would like to choose a couple of the parameter in my bass, no?

What is stopping me from buying one right now is that the dealer that has them in stock does not have a scale, and cannot tell me the weight of the bass. Again, for $1650, I would like to at least know that I'm getting a bass within the weight I want.

All in all, it's a lot of hype because the so-desirable relic nitro finishes. Soundwise, I doubt that it sounds better than an American Jazz.
 
#3
lefty007 said:
All in all, it's a lot of hype because the so-desirable relic nitro finishes. Soundwise, I doubt that it sounds better than an American Jazz.
Click to expand...

Well, he uses fralins or Rio Grande Vintage which I like much better than the '62 reissue custom shops. Also, he builds them, so it would be more comparable to a Fender Custom Shop.

If you want some information about the playability of Nash Guitars, check the guitar websites. He is held in extremely high esteem on those forums. But than again, bass players as a whole play a larger percentage of boutique or non-Fender/ gibson styled instruments.

I love my Nash. It's under 10 pounds, but if you can find a light one, go for it. I'm sure Brian at Lowdown has a scale and they have some BEAUTIES there right now. Mine came set up nicely, with a tight neck pocket and plenty of resonance. A guy who pays that much attention to cosmetics, also assembles them with attention to detail as well.

Strangely, this question wouldn't even come up on guitar player forums because his quality is a forgone conclusion. His ABSURD waitlist is a result of demand from all of the guitar players. Unless you are a real pro, (I mean Pro's Pro) I don't even think you can custom order a Nash anymore.

If you find one under 9 pounds, grab it, install pickups of your choice, (i recommend NJ4SV's) and get a Sadowsky outboard preamp, and you can use it for any situation.
 
#4
lefty007 said:
One thing that puts me off is that you can't place a custom order, so you have to buy whatever is in stock at a dealer.

What is stopping me from buying one right now is that the dealer that has them in stock does not have a scale, and cannot tell me the weight of the bass. Again, for $1650, I would like to at least know that I'm getting a bass within the weight I want.
Click to expand...

just want to make sure its clear. You can custom order Nash basses. If you look in my sold Gallery you will see J's with P necks and a P body with J neck and matching head as well as a J dropped in it to look like a mismatch PJ someone put together in the 60's. Bill did this completely custom for a customer.

As for the weight, I am sorry. My scales are old bath room scales I use for shipping and they are not perfectly accurate. I can only tell you close, not exact.... sorry again.

Thanks
Brian
 
#5
:cool:
I'm also very interested in Nash basses.

Can anyone clear up fact.

I heard Nash does not make his own bodys and necks.
Pickups, are Lollar, Fralin, or Duncan.
Bill relic's, and assembles basses only?
 
#6
I played one at a show, it was terrific. Everybody there dug it alot. The finishes look great and they really do have old-Fender vibe. My only beef with them is that the PU's aren't in the 60's specific locations. More of a 70's location, to fit under the metal covers.
 
#7
Brian Barrett said:
just want to make sure its clear. You can custom order Nash basses. If you look in my sold Gallery you will see J's with P necks and a P body with J neck and matching head as well as a J dropped in it to look like a mismatch PJ someone put together in the 60's. Bill did this completely custom for a customer.

As for the weight, I am sorry. My scales are old bath room scales I use for shipping and they are not perfectly accurate. I can only tell you close, not exact.... sorry again.

Thanks
Brian
Click to expand...

Brian, will he do a 5 ?
 
#9
I have 3 Nashes a 57 P, 64 P and a 64 Jazz. I can't say enough good about them. The finishes are thin and allow the wood to sing like an old bass. The way he finishes the necks gives them and really nice feel. I sold a nice old real 64 P last year and the Nash basses play and sound a lot better. The relicing does make a difference in sound and feel IMHO.
Brian Barrett is the man to see for Nash basses.
Cobbster
 
#10
I dig my Nash P a lot. I've had Fender CS basses and the Nash basses are just as good if not better in terms of sound, construction, and playability. All the tunes on my bands myspace.com page are the Nash P recorded through a Line 6 POD with a decent amount of grit.
 
#12
I believe that Bill does use bodies and necks built by some other manufacturers such as Allparts (lower end prices) and USACustom Guitar. USACG is a fantastic body and neck builder and will do whatever you want so those are top quality woods. I'm sure he is very select on his orders with suppliers. You couldn't beat the quality of USACG products.
 
#13
Brian Barrett said:
just want to make sure its clear. You can custom order Nash basses. . .
Click to expand...

Not trying to start anything here, because is not important, but since were are in the topic and for the sake of accuracy. . .

I recently asked you to give me a price on a Nash with my specs (nothing out of the ordinary) and you told me that Bill said he did not want to take the order because it was a custom and he was concentrating in making batches for dealers, because the great demand. [Sorry I didn't save the e-mail to quote verbatim, but if was something like that...]

And from Nash's Web site:

"Do you (still) take custom orders?

Sorry, at this point guitars are available through dealers or from stock available on this site. I still get emails and calls on this which I am no longer answereing or returning. This is in no way meant to offend anyone, I just cannot keep up and cannot spend the time on explaining this."


BTW, no problem about not being able to get the exact weight. . . I understand. I posted just to tell my experienced. I'm just a bit bummed that getting a Nash has been somewhat difficult for me. ;)
 
#14
lefty007 said:
Not trying to start anything here, because is not important, but since were are in the topic and for the sake of accuracy. . .
Click to expand...

No problem, I was just clearing up the statement as well.

No Bill won't do custom neck profiling and measurements. He will do custom body to neck setups and colors as well as pickups and blocks. But no he does not build custom basses with your neck profile and measurements, but then neither does Sadowsky, Lakland and other's.

I hope that helps answer the custom order quest.

Thanks
Brian
 
#15
Just to clarify, I never mentioned a custom neck profile or measurements. . . I think you got me confused with another customer.

If I remember correctly, I was asking for a left-handed Jazz with Fralin pickups, fretless with lines, lightweight, 3-tone sunburst, medium relic'ing. That was all.



Brian Barrett said:
No problem, I was just clearing up the statement as well.

No Bill won't do custom neck profiling and measurements. He will do custom body to neck setups and colors as well as pickups and blocks. But no he does not build custom basses with your neck profile and measurements, but then neither does Sadowsky, Lakland and other's.

I hope that helps answer the custom order quest.

Thanks
Brian
Click to expand...
 
#16
That easy enough, I see no reason why that would have been a problem if thats all you wanted. Basically like the one on the site only fretless.

Not sure where the confusion came in on either side with that. Lets not clutter TB up with this though, I know I can't answer to much more about this subject before I get in trouble. I'm trying to just respond to questions....... I was wanting to clarify the post earlier that didn't really spec what the issue you had was..... I hope everything is clear.

lefty007 said:
Just to clarify, I never mentioned a custom neck profile or measurements. . . I think you got me confused with another customer.

If I remember correctly, I was asking for a left-handed Jazz with Fralin pickups, fretless with lines, lightweight, 3-tone sunburst, medium relic'ing. That was all.
Click to expand...
 
#17
Bill uses an American supplier of bodies and necks, but they are not Allparts unless it's something only they carry, I think occasionally USCG or Warmoth but not typically. I've played a ton of Nash guitars and basses and I'm glad to see the positive feedback here.

The argument about whether nitro is better than poly ends once you play a broken in Nash guitar, there can be no doubt that the finish has a notable and positive effect on tone and feel.

Great guy great guitars.
 
#19
I'm having one built right now.

I feel a little biased because I'm good friends with the builder, so take my review with a grain of salt, but here it is.

Nash Guitars are killer in every aspect. I have never heard a bass sit so well in a mix, whether it was live or in the studio.

The fretwork is second to none.

Amazing set-ups (for those who have to ship their basses or they are in other parts of the states, you really have to get a feel for how Nash Guitars really does their setups, they're incredible!)

The neck pockets are nice and tight, which leads to them being incredibly resonant. Even unplugged, you get that huge piano like tone.

As for the "parts bass" argument and if the basses are worth what you're paying for. Absolutely. If Bill made his own bodies and necks, you'd probably be paying double the price for the same product. So getting a quality body and neck from a reputable dealer I think makes a whole lot of sense.

In short, I think they're worth every penny, but ultimately, it's really just up to how you like your bass. IMHO, a Nash is the quintessential definition of bass: solid.

Someone's review for an Aguilar DB750 summed it up perfectly, but I'll change it to work with this. "This bass was not made to reinvent the wheel, just reproduce it flawlessly". It's so true!
 
#20
theleveebreaks said:
I'm having one built right now.

I feel a little biased because I'm good friends with the builder, so take my review with a grain of salt, but here it is.

Nash Guitars are killer in every aspect. I have never heard a bass sit so well in a mix, whether it was live or in the studio.

The fretwork is second to none.

Amazing set-ups (for those who have to ship their basses or they are in other parts of the states, you really have to get a feel for how Nash Guitars really does their setups, they're incredible!)

The neck pockets are nice and tight, which leads to them being incredibly resonant. Even unplugged, you get that huge piano like tone.

As for the "parts bass" argument and if the basses are worth what you're paying for. Absolutely. If Bill made his own bodies and necks, you'd probably be paying double the price for the same product. So getting a quality body and neck from a reputable dealer I think makes a whole lot of sense.

In short, I think they're worth every penny, but ultimately, it's really just up to how you like your bass. IMHO, a Nash is the quintessential definition of bass: solid.

Someone's review for an Aguilar DB750 summed it up perfectly, but I'll change it to work with this. "This bass was not made to reinvent the wheel, just reproduce it flawlessly". It's so true!
Click to expand...

We must run in the same circle. Did I see you at Bruces's studio the other night?
 

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