Several recent threads about "how many basses" and "why do you have what you have" got me thinking about the unfilled spots in my herd. One of them is "Long Scale Set Neck", and it's been empty for a long time. Pretty easy spot to fill if you're a righty, but I'm not a righty. However... the Alembic Epic that's been filling the "Active Bass" spot quite nicely for several years, is a long scale set neck. So, it changed spots, and... gee, I guess I need another bass 
. All I need to fill the "Active" spot is one that's a lefty; a 4 string; 34" scale; and active. I was thinking about a Schecter Riot 4 from Sweetwater, when what should show up on eBay, but this flashy thing;
A 2015 left handed Custom Shop Tom Hamilton Signature ASAT Bass. The listing said "one of a kind"; well... maybe yes, maybe no. But, it is the only lefty Signature bass that I've ever seen... Since he's Aerosmith's bassist, I can understand the bling; and so, since it's a long scale lefty active 4 string bass - and it's blue - it's also mine now.
So, I've had it...4 days, now. How is it so far?
- It's surprisingly heavy (9.33 lbs.), considering how small the body is. Sugar Pine is pretty heavy and dense, I guess. It's also a good tone wood...
- It does have a little neck dive - not surprising, given the Telecaster body shape. But, since I also play a Kramer 450B lumie - which dives like a frightened U-boat - it's nothing I can't deal with...
- The custom wound "Hamiltone" MFD pickups are... scary. This thing doesn't just cut thru the mix - it's more like a Tiger tank crashing thru a frickin' wall. If I turned that Fender stack up enough, I could probably kill someone with this thing. You overdrive these pickups at your peril...
- If this neck is the same as the ones on Tom Hamilton's basses? He and I like the same things; I love this neck.
So, overall? I'm liking this thing a LOT. But, there are some nit picks..
- I'd expect a little better nut from G&L's Custom shop. 1st fret action is all over the place. E and A strings are a little too high, but the D and G strings will fret out if you look at them too hard. Not a hard fix, but.. annoying.
- Like every instrument that ever arrived here from some place with humidity, it's got some fret sprout. Again, not hard to fix, and after 30-odd basses/guitars, something I've come to expect.
- And, of course, the strings it came with will have to go away, right away. EXL 170's are not, and never were, my strings of choice...
So... It's little too flashy and bling-y for my taste, but if you're playing with Aerosmith? It fits right in... Color me happy...
. All I need to fill the "Active" spot is one that's a lefty; a 4 string; 34" scale; and active. I was thinking about a Schecter Riot 4 from Sweetwater, when what should show up on eBay, but this flashy thing; A 2015 left handed Custom Shop Tom Hamilton Signature ASAT Bass. The listing said "one of a kind"; well... maybe yes, maybe no. But, it is the only lefty Signature bass that I've ever seen... Since he's Aerosmith's bassist, I can understand the bling; and so, since it's a long scale lefty active 4 string bass - and it's blue - it's also mine now.So, I've had it...4 days, now. How is it so far?
- It's surprisingly heavy (9.33 lbs.), considering how small the body is. Sugar Pine is pretty heavy and dense, I guess. It's also a good tone wood...
- It does have a little neck dive - not surprising, given the Telecaster body shape. But, since I also play a Kramer 450B lumie - which dives like a frightened U-boat - it's nothing I can't deal with...
- The custom wound "Hamiltone" MFD pickups are... scary. This thing doesn't just cut thru the mix - it's more like a Tiger tank crashing thru a frickin' wall. If I turned that Fender stack up enough, I could probably kill someone with this thing. You overdrive these pickups at your peril...
- If this neck is the same as the ones on Tom Hamilton's basses? He and I like the same things; I love this neck.
So, overall? I'm liking this thing a LOT. But, there are some nit picks..
- I'd expect a little better nut from G&L's Custom shop. 1st fret action is all over the place. E and A strings are a little too high, but the D and G strings will fret out if you look at them too hard. Not a hard fix, but.. annoying.
- Like every instrument that ever arrived here from some place with humidity, it's got some fret sprout. Again, not hard to fix, and after 30-odd basses/guitars, something I've come to expect.
- And, of course, the strings it came with will have to go away, right away. EXL 170's are not, and never were, my strings of choice...
So... It's little too flashy and bling-y for my taste, but if you're playing with Aerosmith? It fits right in... Color me happy...
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