NBD! A Mayones Viking from Poland!

[Shlabotnik]

You have a Rickenbacker - how does it compare? What are the similarities? What are the differences? Does it sound similar?

Good question! The only way they are at all similar is in looks, IMO.

First of all... sound... It doesn't sound anything like a Ric. It's got more of a scooped sound. When you dig in it can sound a bit Wal-ish clicky-twangy (don't read too much into that) and can sound more like a Jazz bass than a P-Bass. I don't know exactly how it sits in a live mix yet as it'll be a few days until I rehearse with it. I'll try to post a video at some point after I get more comfortable with it and not too shy to do so.

I do NOT play at all like this ridiculously skilled person but here's a good video of what the tone sounds like in more of a flat setting.

This guy's model is fan-fretted and it has Aguilar pickups as opposed to the Bartolinis that mine came with. Still, from my experience so far, I think it's still a good representation of the overall sound, even with the Barts. I do find that I can get a nice classic rock tone as well when I put it through my Darkglass Vintage Microtubes pedal... that really thickens it up... so I do think it's pretty versatile if you get intimate with the onboard preamp settings and put it through a pedal or two.

As for playability....

It feels completely different from a Ric. It has 24 frets and a VERY flat radius, which I like. The action is ridiculously low. There's a touch of fret buzz but very little. The neck is thin and not a glossy finish so it's very smooth and quick to move around on. No neck dive. (Though my Ric doesn't have any neck dive either). The pickup locations provide a really comfortable thumb resting place.

It's really just a completely different beast than a Ric. I have an attachment to my 4003S as well, but I've always felt like a Ric is its own instrument. There's a bass guitar. Then there's a Ric. Know what I mean?

 

[Shlabotnik]

Actually… After playing for a few minutes just now… (and playing some Chris Squire parts) really loud… I was able to get a pretty thick and grindy Ric sort of tone out of it. Again… Putting it through the Darkglass pedal with just a touch of drive and increasing the mids a bit on the built-in preamp… That appears to do the trick! Overall, I am impressed with the versatility of sounds I’m getting out of this. I don’t foresee getting any James Jamerson-like P bass tones… also I haven’t got flats on it… But hey… That’s why one has multiple basses!

 

[MVE]

A strange and wonderful land! Depending on whether you take the blue pill or the red pill... The gateway to another mind, perhaps!!! Or maybe it's just for 9v batteries. I aim to find out!!

Yes, I was actually wondering why there appears to be two of them.?.? Is it 18v? If so, why aren’t they just packed together. Is it for balancing to spread the weight out?

 

[Koshchei]

Good question! The only way they are at all similar is in looks, IMO.

First of all... sound... It doesn't sound anything like a Ric. It's got more of a scooped sound. When you dig in it can sound a bit Wal-ish clicky-twangy (don't read too much into that) and can sound more like a Jazz bass than a P-Bass. I don't know exactly how it sits in a live mix yet as it'll be a few days until I rehearse with it. I'll try to post a video at some point after I get more comfortable with it and not too shy to do so.

I do NOT play at all like this ridiculously skilled person but here's a good video of what the tone sounds like in more of a flat setting.

This guy's model is fan-fretted and it has Aguilar pickups as opposed to the Bartolinis that mine came with. Still, from my experience so far, I think it's still a good representation of the overall sound, even with the Barts. I do find that I can get a nice classic rock tone as well when I put it through my Darkglass Vintage Microtubes pedal... that really thickens it up... so I do think it's pretty versatile if you get intimate with the onboard preamp settings and put it through a pedal or two.

As for playability....

It feels completely different from a Ric. It has 24 frets and a VERY flat radius, which I like. The action is ridiculously low. There's a touch of fret buzz but very little. The neck is thin and not a glossy finish so it's very smooth and quick to move around on. No neck dive. (Though my Ric doesn't have any neck dive either). The pickup locations provide a really comfortable thumb resting place.

It's really just a completely different beast than a Ric. I have an attachment to my 4003S as well, but I've always felt like a Ric is its own instrument. There's a bass guitar. Then there's a Ric. Know what I mean?

Sure do - Rics are definitely their own thing. Unfortunately, I'm kinda addicted to that thing at this point. They just sound and play so well - other basses just don't do that thing that makes me like bass - I feel distinctly "meh" when I try anything else.

This one may be a possibility if it can also do the thing You've ignited my GAS, I think.

 

[Shlabotnik]

Yes, I was actually wondering why there appears to be two of them.?.? Is it 18v? If so, why aren’t they just packed together. Is it for balancing to spread the weight out?

Yep, it's 18v but there's a passive switch as well, which is a feature I think is essential on active basses. No idea why they didn't put them together! You might be right about weight distribution. It balances nicely.

 

[sanwin17]

After numerous TB posts nagging everyone to try to get some info on these puppies, I went back to the shop, realized I was in love with it, and took it home before someone else did. It's got everything I want right now (of course that changes by the day), except for free pierogis. I'll get some myself at the market later.

The neck is so smooth with incredibly low action and, while it definitely doesn't have a "vintage" sound, it does offer a lot of variation on what one might call a "modern" sound. (see the 21000 threads on what that even means for clarification! ) It does gat vintage-y though when I push it through my DG vintage microtubes! Sweeeeet..... mmmmm......

I'm looking forward to hearing how it sounds in the room with a live situation this week and also tracking in a recorded mix. Will report back!

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Nice but are they made with cage free eggs?

 

[Shlabotnik]

Nice but are they made with cage free eggs?

Egg Beaters!

 

[Kevin Colt]

really handsome bass. nice lines and finish. i'm not a fan of active electronics but who cares right? still an outstanding instrument.

 

[FunkHead]

really handsome bass. nice lines and finish. i'm not a fan of active electronics but who cares right? still an outstanding instrument.

A flick of a switch and boom. Passive. Mayones basses slay in passive mode.