- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,633
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
well, since i designed the stupid thing back in 1975 
, i figured that i should at least own one of them again (so i bought two, a trans black and a trans red). i just picked the trans black one up locally for what i think was a reasonable price on craigslist. (BTW, i owned the first one ever made from january 1976 to 2001).
first impression:
this new Heritage Classic NJ has a quite a bit smaller, but quite a bit thicker body than the original prototype. even so, it is surprisingly much lighter than the original, weighing in at a reasonable 9lbs 5 oz. (the original was around 10.5-11lbs). it does still have a bit of a neck dive issue, but not as much as the original, and just like i did on the original, i relocated the strap button on the horn as outward as possible. fortunately, the way that i play this bass, my right forearm always rested comfortably on top of the lower bout on these basses, so i don't need to support the neck with my left hand.
the original had a solid maple body and neck (thru) with two rosewood stringers, with an unbound ebony fingerboard and double diamond shaped inlays, but i actually like the look of this one's bound neck with cloud inlays better. the prototype also had two Hi-A (bartolini) pickups and a bridge that was the predecessor to the badass, only it was much more massive and was machined from a block of solid brass and chrome plated. i've noticed that the new red ones have all black hardware, but i've never gone for that look, so i'm glad that the trans black ones have chrome tuners, knobs and bridges, and the trans red one that i bought also has chrome hardware just like the original ( being that i'm a 'traditionalist').
i bought this one with the intention of replacing both of the split p bass pickups and possibly ditching the preamp, but after plugging it in and hearing it, i now have no desire to do it. IMO, the pickups and preamp sound great.
it had a little front bow, so after adjusting the neck and slightly lowering the nut, it is now playing great with low action.
so, overall, i'm actually pretty darn impressed with it, especially for the price. while i was only 23 when i designed it, and my tastes of what a bass should look like may have changed back to preferring a fender or a ric, i still like the way that these look, even if it would look a bit funny if i used it in my current 'classic rock' band. it's kinda like visiting with an old friend.
anyway, sorry for the long post, but as a consolation, here's a pic of it:
, i figured that i should at least own one of them again (so i bought two, a trans black and a trans red). i just picked the trans black one up locally for what i think was a reasonable price on craigslist. (BTW, i owned the first one ever made from january 1976 to 2001).first impression:
this new Heritage Classic NJ has a quite a bit smaller, but quite a bit thicker body than the original prototype. even so, it is surprisingly much lighter than the original, weighing in at a reasonable 9lbs 5 oz. (the original was around 10.5-11lbs). it does still have a bit of a neck dive issue, but not as much as the original, and just like i did on the original, i relocated the strap button on the horn as outward as possible. fortunately, the way that i play this bass, my right forearm always rested comfortably on top of the lower bout on these basses, so i don't need to support the neck with my left hand.
the original had a solid maple body and neck (thru) with two rosewood stringers, with an unbound ebony fingerboard and double diamond shaped inlays, but i actually like the look of this one's bound neck with cloud inlays better. the prototype also had two Hi-A (bartolini) pickups and a bridge that was the predecessor to the badass, only it was much more massive and was machined from a block of solid brass and chrome plated. i've noticed that the new red ones have all black hardware, but i've never gone for that look, so i'm glad that the trans black ones have chrome tuners, knobs and bridges, and the trans red one that i bought also has chrome hardware just like the original ( being that i'm a 'traditionalist').
i bought this one with the intention of replacing both of the split p bass pickups and possibly ditching the preamp, but after plugging it in and hearing it, i now have no desire to do it. IMO, the pickups and preamp sound great.
it had a little front bow, so after adjusting the neck and slightly lowering the nut, it is now playing great with low action.
so, overall, i'm actually pretty darn impressed with it, especially for the price. while i was only 23 when i designed it, and my tastes of what a bass should look like may have changed back to preferring a fender or a ric, i still like the way that these look, even if it would look a bit funny if i used it in my current 'classic rock' band. it's kinda like visiting with an old friend.
anyway, sorry for the long post, but as a consolation, here's a pic of it:
