Guess I need a "fantastic planet" sticker now, didn't know I wanted that...
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NBD!!! Introducing the 'Shmuke' bass by Ken Bebensee.
- Thread starter pingvuiini
- Start date
Thanks everyone for their kind compliments.
I got home and threw on a fresh set of strings and plugged in. As mentioned, the solid body is thin and light. The nut width is slightly narrower than my 4 string Gold Tone basses, which makes it play fast and comfortable (kind of like comparing a P to a J nut width).
I found that I much preferred the passive sound to the active sound, which is something Ken told me a lot of people have told him lately. So I ended up completely removing the 9v battery which lightened the load even further and I don't have to worry about dying batteries, carrying spares and all that good stuff.
One glitch that did occur was when I tried to use my Saramonic wireless. The transmitter and receivers are a bit large and with the Straplok located where it is on the bass I am not able to fit the wireless unit in the jack. Bummer, but it can easily be fixed by removing the strap portion of the Straplok.
Here is the current collection:
•Tiny Boy (which still drives me crazy. I am hoping to replace soon it with a Kala solid body fretted.
•Gold Tone fretless with Pyramid tapes
•Gold Tone fretless with Road Toad Pahoehoe rubber strings
•KB Baruke bass
•KB Shmuke bass
•Ibanez Mikro (my 'long scale' bass)
I got home and threw on a fresh set of strings and plugged in. As mentioned, the solid body is thin and light. The nut width is slightly narrower than my 4 string Gold Tone basses, which makes it play fast and comfortable (kind of like comparing a P to a J nut width).
I found that I much preferred the passive sound to the active sound, which is something Ken told me a lot of people have told him lately. So I ended up completely removing the 9v battery which lightened the load even further and I don't have to worry about dying batteries, carrying spares and all that good stuff.
One glitch that did occur was when I tried to use my Saramonic wireless. The transmitter and receivers are a bit large and with the Straplok located where it is on the bass I am not able to fit the wireless unit in the jack. Bummer, but it can easily be fixed by removing the strap portion of the Straplok.
Here is the current collection:
•Tiny Boy (which still drives me crazy. I am hoping to replace soon it with a Kala solid body fretted.
•Gold Tone fretless with Pyramid tapes
•Gold Tone fretless with Road Toad Pahoehoe rubber strings
•KB Baruke bass
•KB Shmuke bass
•Ibanez Mikro (my 'long scale' bass)
Yes, standard tuning.
I was fortunate that Max at Pyramid was willing to take on the challenge of making 23" scale left handed tapewound strings. This was after unsuccessfully contacting D'Addario (we have no plans to make them in the future) and LaBella (we can't make the intonation work).
The nice detail photos with moss are what Ken sent me a few days ago. He lives in the foresty outskirts of Nevada City, CA, sort of where California bends.
The 212 Slim combos are a hoot! Are you having Gianfranco custom build it?? That is a great amp and you will have plenty of power for external cabinets.You have excellent taste in instruments… this one and your last one are both super cool. By the way, you were the inspiration for, my currently on order, One1400 AT212 Slim+ combo
beautiful bass man!!!
That's amazing!
For the transmitter issue, get a short 6" or 1' extension cable, M-F, and a strap pouch for it.
For the transmitter issue, get a short 6" or 1' extension cable, M-F, and a strap pouch for it.
What would make strings left-handed or right-handed? (The bass I get.)
Looks groovy -- congrats.
Wow that’s really nice. Thought it was a full size bass first when I saw the picture. Would have loved it even more if it was full size because I am not a big fan of uke basses or other really small basses. But it looks awesome!
The scroll have horn and wood remind me of Carl Thompson.
The scroll have horn and wood remind me of Carl Thompson.
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Exit... Stage Left on an ultra-short left-handed unlined fretless? You are a brave man, indeed!
(In the running for my all-time favorite album. If I had one disc on a desert island, that would be it.)
Gorgeous instrument!
(In the running for my all-time favorite album. If I had one disc on a desert island, that would be it.)
Gorgeous instrument!
Here's a very quick and dirty recording for now. I will try to do more later. Still trying to figure out the tone knob arrangement on the bass.
They have to be wound in the Southern Hemisphere, or the Coriolis forces become unmanageable. There's a place in Australia that does them.
Dunlop makes flush mount straplocks, which would clear that transmitter nicely - you'd only have to change the mount/jack/whatever you call it by the bridge end of the body; your strap and the other one could be left as is.
Yes! I was thinking about that. I checked Sweetwater and they only have gold, but Amazon has black so I'll probably order thru them.
