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NBD - Brubaker Brute - Pics & Audio!!!

phillipkregg

phillipkregg

Jun 8, 2010
3,681
5,824
Nashville, TN
#1
Howdy Ya'll!

I just picked up a Brubaker Brute 2010 model from a fellow TB'er and I just thought I would share it with you guys.

I not only want to show you the bass, but I want to let you hear it too. :D

You can find YouTube vids of the Brute - with FAR better players than I am - but I ran mine through a Boss Micro BR, so hopefully you'll get a little better audio quality than a camcorder mic can do.

Here's what she looks like (phone cam quality):

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]


Ok, next is the audio. There were no effects harmed in the making of this (in other words, it's just the sound of the bass. No EQ or nothin.)

In the 1st Audio Clip:

1) In the beginning you hear is the slap tone with pickups blended, and EQ flat.

2) Then, fingerstyle groove, pickups blended, EQ Flat.

3) Next is Slap tone with the rear MM-style pickup only.

4) Then, fingerstyle with the rear MM-style pickup.

5) Finally, fun with harmonics. :)

Here's the Link: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]


In the 2nd Audio Clip:

This one is a complete improv tune that I like to call "Gratuitous Wanking".

This will give you an idea of what the bass sounds like as a solo instrument.

1) First part is just both pickups blended, EQ Flat

2) Second part switches over to the rear MM-style pickup (very jazz bass like)

3) Then it goes into some slap stuff - pickups blended, no EQ. Warning - Marcus I am NOT.

Here's the link to that: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I had a lot of fun recording with the Brute. It plays like a dream. It really does feel like a bass that costs a couple grand. Super fast neck, and fantastic construction that rivals my Laklands.
 
#4
Thanks guys. :)

I'm looking to up-grade the electronics to maybe either Nordstrand or Delano pickups and preamp. That is really the only weakness of the instrument. Everything else feels like a much more expensive bass

Still trying do decide which would work best.
 
#6
Your playing is a whole lot better than you let on!;) That Brubaker really has a nice sound. I tend to love J/MM basses if they have a coil splitter so I can get that Jazz bass tone when I want it. The Brute seemingly does not need the splitter because with both pickups on it sound pretty jazzlike to my ears. I must also say that the MM pickups sounds very ballsy soloed considering that it is so close to the bridge.

I have been on the fence about Brutes, but I could really see getting one after your clips.:bassist:
 
#8
Dr. Cheese said:
Your playing is a whole lot better than you let on!;) That Brubaker really has a nice sound. I tend to love J/MM basses if they have a coil splitter so I can get that Jazz bass tone when I want it. The Brute seemingly does not need the splitter because with both pickups on it sound pretty jazzlike to my ears. I must also say that the MM pickups sounds very ballsy soloed considering that it is so close to the bridge.

I have been on the fence about Brutes, but I could really see getting one after your clips.:bassist:
Click to expand...

Hey thanks Dr. Cheese! I can't compare with Kevin Walker, Steve Jenkins, or Malcolm Hall, but I do my best - and then edit all the bad stuff out... lol.

When I do the pickup upgrades I may go with a split-coil humbucker option. I know that Nordstrand offers that, but not sure about Delano (but I'd be surprised if they didn't).

It really does have a great neck. It's one of those basses that makes you want to play it - know what I mean? The weight is a little hefty though - right about 10.5 lbs. I'd like to talk to a luthier about routing out a little more under the pickguard to help it lose some weight.

But then again, my other bass is an 8.5 lb jazz bass - so it's all relative.
 
#15
phillipkregg said:
Thank you too Chris - and may I add that I heard the clips you made of your Brubaker and that sounded totally badass! Loved that bass.

The Brute's construction is indeed impressive. I really wasn't expecting the neck to feel so good on it.
Click to expand...

I concur with the rest, very nice vibe and groove.

The neck is addictive. I caught myself over playing quite frequently with my band.

Consider yourself warned...
 
#17
Hey, thanks again for the nice comments everyone!

DougD said:
Nice playing :) I love the second finger-stile grove, it's real funky:) You really should expand that and make it into a song. Where can you buy a new brute? I am planning to make it my next bass purchase.
Click to expand...

Thanks Doug - I appreciate it!

If you are planning on getting a Brute, probably the best thing to do is contact Kevin Brubaker.

SuperTanker was kind enough to put up a link to the website earlier. You can get them new from Kevin for right at $600. I know that he still has a few of the 1st batch available (one has the humbucker like mine, except that it is red).

However, he told me a few weeks ago that he will be getting a new batch in at the end of December. I'm not sure if there are going to be any changes in color, electronics, or other options, but the best thing to do would be to shoot him an email and see what he tells you.

Every once in a while you'll see a used one show up on TB's classifieds too. That's how I got mine. :)
 
#19
phillipkregg said:
Howdy Ya'll!

I just picked up a Brubaker Brute 2010 model from a fellow TB'er and I just thought I would share it with you guys.

I not only want to show you the bass, but I want to let you hear it too. :D

You can find YouTube vids of the Brute - with FAR better players than I am - but I ran mine through a Boss Micro BR, so hopefully you'll get a little better audio quality than a camcorder mic can do.

Here's what she looks like (phone cam quality):

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]


Ok, next is the audio. There were no effects harmed in the making of this (in other words, it's just the sound of the bass. No EQ or nothin.)

In the 1st Audio Clip:

1) In the beginning you hear is the slap tone with pickups blended, and EQ flat.

2) Then, fingerstyle groove, pickups blended, EQ Flat.

3) Next is Slap tone with the rear MM-style pickup only.

4) Then, fingerstyle with the rear MM-style pickup.

5) Finally, fun with harmonics. :)

Here's the Link: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]


In the 2nd Audio Clip:

This one is a complete improv tune that I like to call "Gratuitous Wanking".

This will give you an idea of what the bass sounds like as a solo instrument.

1) First part is just both pickups blended, EQ Flat

2) Second part switches over to the rear MM-style pickup (very jazz bass like)

3) Then it goes into some slap stuff - pickups blended, no EQ. Warning - Marcus I am NOT.

Here's the link to that: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I had a lot of fun recording with the Brute. It plays like a dream. It really does feel like a bass that costs a couple grand. Super fast neck, and fantastic construction that rivals my Laklands.
Click to expand...
You get a very nice tone from your bass. I swapped out my MM pickup and put in a Nordstrand and a coil splitter switch for that pickup to give me a bit more variety of tone. I kept the original neck pickup. You may want to check into that later. But yes, your sound is better than the ones I hear on Youtube. Keep grooving man, you sound good.
 

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