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NBD - If you like subtle, understated basses...
- Thread starter Rottie Roo Roo
- Start date
Okay, it looks over the top but how does it play? That's what matters. After the big intro you better give us a gig report.
Bravo! So nice to hear about the bright side of our interactions and have always gotten great advice from @Turnaround so its no surprise he came through with flying colors here and he does Peg and the Talkbass Universe proud!
I can’t see a single thing not to love about this bass. Rock it. Enjoy it. Own it. Dime it.
Somehow gorgeous. And if the need ever arose... Black pick guard for the night and it's the most elegant bass around.
That indeed is a snazzy bass...glad you got it sorted out by another upstanding citizen of TB...Some great parts added to it....Tho i always thought peg bundy to be trashy one night stand, especially the way Al talked to her...haha
Took it to the rehearsal space last night for a 4 hour practice, here are my thoughts.
First of all - It's very, very heavy. I knew that going into this so I'm gonna grin and bear it, but, yeah, I think there's a brick in there somewhere. Hey, it will do wonders for my deltoid muscles! It's a solid, solid slab of mahogany and I'm sure it contributes to a great tone, so I'm more than happy to deal with the extra couple pounds. I would not be surprised if it's well into T-40 territory.
The pickups are in a league of their own. I've had basses that growl, purr, sing, and sizzle, but never a set that lets you do any of these at your discretion. They are definitely mid-heavy, and as Richard was saying, very "Throaty", but they are incredibly versatile and with the right knob config can capture any sound. They have better clarity than any other pickup I've used in the past. And so expressive! I've never had a set of pickups that are so responsive to your play technique, it opens up new doors for expression and help you really play with feeling. They catch everything. I wouldn't say they're as inherently growly or mojo-ey as say, 60's style or "warm and wooly" pickups, but they deliver a super clean super responsive sound that let you go anywhere. I've never felt so much power at my fingertips - you have unlimited options for sound with this set.
It's dead silent when idle. I mean not an ounce of buzz or hum ANYWHERE. You can crank a 500W amp up full blast and you won't be able to tell if you've hit the mute button or not. Richard said the secret was to use gold paint instead of shielding tape and man, did that ever make a difference.
The thing wants to be slapped. I mean, I'm not great at slap bass, but I couldn't believe what my own hands were doing with this bass. The La Bella RX strings have low tension, and the action is dead nuts low, so all of those unpleasant pops and knocks from sloppy technique disappear. The slap tone is SO CLEAN and your hands can just scoot around the fretboard like a puck on an air hockey table. Sadly, in my country band there's not a lot of room for slap, but every chance we got we'd descend into an impromptu slap jam session and my bandmates would be STUNNED. It's like Larry Graham possessed my hands for those couple of minutes.
Notes ring out for days. I've never experienced anything like it. They just don't decay or fade out until you want it to.
In general, this is shockingly good. This is the first time I've felt what it's like to play on a truly professional rig. This is a professional feeling and sounding instrument. Up until now, I hadn't realized the limitations of playing on budget to intermediate tier basses. My mind is blown, the doors have been opened and I feel like I can do anything. I feel like I'm playing with gear in the same league as the pros (OK maybe a bit heavier but still). I truly don't think it can get better than this. It's that good.
Will try to answer the questions in a bit.
First of all - It's very, very heavy. I knew that going into this so I'm gonna grin and bear it, but, yeah, I think there's a brick in there somewhere. Hey, it will do wonders for my deltoid muscles! It's a solid, solid slab of mahogany and I'm sure it contributes to a great tone, so I'm more than happy to deal with the extra couple pounds. I would not be surprised if it's well into T-40 territory.
The pickups are in a league of their own. I've had basses that growl, purr, sing, and sizzle, but never a set that lets you do any of these at your discretion. They are definitely mid-heavy, and as Richard was saying, very "Throaty", but they are incredibly versatile and with the right knob config can capture any sound. They have better clarity than any other pickup I've used in the past. And so expressive! I've never had a set of pickups that are so responsive to your play technique, it opens up new doors for expression and help you really play with feeling. They catch everything. I wouldn't say they're as inherently growly or mojo-ey as say, 60's style or "warm and wooly" pickups, but they deliver a super clean super responsive sound that let you go anywhere. I've never felt so much power at my fingertips - you have unlimited options for sound with this set.
It's dead silent when idle. I mean not an ounce of buzz or hum ANYWHERE. You can crank a 500W amp up full blast and you won't be able to tell if you've hit the mute button or not. Richard said the secret was to use gold paint instead of shielding tape and man, did that ever make a difference.
The thing wants to be slapped. I mean, I'm not great at slap bass, but I couldn't believe what my own hands were doing with this bass. The La Bella RX strings have low tension, and the action is dead nuts low, so all of those unpleasant pops and knocks from sloppy technique disappear. The slap tone is SO CLEAN and your hands can just scoot around the fretboard like a puck on an air hockey table. Sadly, in my country band there's not a lot of room for slap, but every chance we got we'd descend into an impromptu slap jam session and my bandmates would be STUNNED. It's like Larry Graham possessed my hands for those couple of minutes.
Notes ring out for days. I've never experienced anything like it. They just don't decay or fade out until you want it to.
In general, this is shockingly good. This is the first time I've felt what it's like to play on a truly professional rig. This is a professional feeling and sounding instrument. Up until now, I hadn't realized the limitations of playing on budget to intermediate tier basses. My mind is blown, the doors have been opened and I feel like I can do anything. I feel like I'm playing with gear in the same league as the pros (OK maybe a bit heavier but still). I truly don't think it can get better than this. It's that good.
Will try to answer the questions in a bit.
Love the finished matching neck. Reminiscent of the Moon Bass. Very nice bass sir.
I am SOLIDLY in the subtle, understated basses camp. All of my basses are bursts. All with pickguards have tort. I’d never consider buying a bass like that one
Yet I still find that thing HAWT!
Yet I still find that thing HAWT!
It's pretty cool that the bass itself was, originally, made by the kid you jammed with, and you're still working with that instrument, but it got turned into a fantastic instrument by someone who knew what he was doing.
SHE LOOKS LIKE PEGGY ALRIGHT! VERY COOL DESIGN!
I'd like to know how either of those dudes messed up the wiring. blend pots ARE NOT DIFFICULT. Hell, if they can't do that, then do a vol vol tone to get you up and running.... how did they fail so badly?? And shielding interfering with electronics? Um.... bizarre. as long as your pot lugs aren't touching the shielding, only the grounded mounting parts are, then it will just work.
You got a couple real jems there with their electronics skills LoL. But the first kid DID build a very cool instrument, just didn't know how to finish the job. Kudos to him... kudos to the TB member who finished and fixed it all up for you, and KUDOS TO YOU FOR STICKING WITH IT!
SHE LOOKS LIKE PEGGY ALRIGHT! VERY COOL DESIGN!
I'd like to know how either of those dudes messed up the wiring. blend pots ARE NOT DIFFICULT. Hell, if they can't do that, then do a vol vol tone to get you up and running.... how did they fail so badly?? And shielding interfering with electronics? Um.... bizarre. as long as your pot lugs aren't touching the shielding, only the grounded mounting parts are, then it will just work.
You got a couple real jems there with their electronics skills LoL. But the first kid DID build a very cool instrument, just didn't know how to finish the job. Kudos to him... kudos to the TB member who finished and fixed it all up for you, and KUDOS TO YOU FOR STICKING WITH IT!
Thank you to the OP..... this is the kind of thread that makes my day... by the way... the title of the thread... outstanding... I was expecting a 2x4 with strings... not that beauty...
Let me get 2 things straight….
1)
Idiot Luthier #2: “I have brain damage…”
You: “Ok, want to work on my bass?”
2)
The body is mahogany with spalted flame maple top
View attachment 4494294
…and you painted it solid white?Why not just get an alder body or even one of Spalt King’s pine bodies?
Cool bass, though. Very Larry Graham if you lose the leopard skin…
I was seriously considering the DCB J pickups, but I really wish they’d come out with a new, in-depth frickin’ review & full-spectrum demo by now…
I bought a set of them and they didn't really fit my American standard jeans. Fit in the cavities ok but they seems to bind on the pickup screws even though the screws moved freely before installation. I guess they just a bit off from the standard hole spacing.
don't encourage me lol but ya gotta luv the classics and this bass is an instant classic
This kind of histories are what I like to read, it's very nice you ended up having the bass properly done after 2 really bad and discouraging experiences with luthiers, I somehow feel identified with it, I'm in process of upgrading my bass and I've had to go to the end of the earth to find the proper electronic parts, literally.
Also the last time I brought it to a luthier was a very long time ago for a potentiometer change (that I got beforehand) and making a new pickguard, but I got the potentiometer values wrong (the EMGs I have need 25K, I got 250K, I didn't know about pot's values too much at that time). Even tho I asked the luthier if the values are the right ones, he just instaled those pots on it (I even had to solder again a couple of contacts). Also, the pickguard was a bit goofy if you look it close. Obviously this experience is not compared with yours, but I decided to get the poopie done by myself,practicing soldering and propet set up, and luckily I got yo a point where I can set up basses and guitar from friends nicely (and knowing what are my limits of course), and doing some heavy rewiring if needed on them.
Also the last time I brought it to a luthier was a very long time ago for a potentiometer change (that I got beforehand) and making a new pickguard, but I got the potentiometer values wrong (the EMGs I have need 25K, I got 250K, I didn't know about pot's values too much at that time). Even tho I asked the luthier if the values are the right ones, he just instaled those pots on it (I even had to solder again a couple of contacts). Also, the pickguard was a bit goofy if you look it close. Obviously this experience is not compared with yours, but I decided to get the poopie done by myself,practicing soldering and propet set up, and luckily I got yo a point where I can set up basses and guitar from friends nicely (and knowing what are my limits of course), and doing some heavy rewiring if needed on them.
Glad it turned out well when rescued.
The critical reason to use someone who knows what they are doing?
(did you not see any examples of the other luthiers work)
Nice wood pattern but now buried under paint?
Good wood and paint is likely to tip in around $1000 alone?
I wouldnt myself let that loose to anyone with out solid known credentials.
Looking nice now though..
The critical reason to use someone who knows what they are doing?
(did you not see any examples of the other luthiers work)
Nice wood pattern but now buried under paint?
Good wood and paint is likely to tip in around $1000 alone?
I wouldnt myself let that loose to anyone with out solid known credentials.
Looking nice now though..
