Oh man, what a whirlwind this has been and what an amazing day it is now.
I first contacted Maurizio in 2015 after seeing his builds here in the luthier's corner and seeing other TBers talk about his instruments. I started working with him on the ideas for a custom bass, and then lost my job suddenly at the end of that year.
Over the past few years, I've worked on getting myself back to a financially comfortable position and have been through everything from to "endless minor inconveniences" to "immense personal hardship." Financial ruin, major surgery, two huge breakups, totaled cars, years of unemployment, you name it.
Finally, around my birthday this year, I came into an extra bit of money and convinced myself that I'd earned a new bass for making it through the past few years - my last purchase being a Dingwall NG-2 at the end of 2014.
Around this same time, Maurizio discounted the price of the Maranello, a Ferrari themed one-off he had built for himself that had been sitting in his shop for a while. A couple of signs presented themselves - number one, Facebook did one of those "on this day..." posts where apparently two years earlier I had told him I really wanted this bass.
I asked him if he would make me a deal, having a number in my head for "this is how much I can afford to spend on a bass, not a penny more. If that's the price, I'll buy it." I sent him a message - he came back with the number I had in my head, exactly. I figured that was enough signs, so I purchased it.
Well, then a few things happened with FedEx, detailed here - Indefinitely Delayed NBD! [Another FedEx Gripe Thread]
But what's most important is that today the Maranello showed up at my doorstep, still in tune after its six week journey around the world.
The attention to detail is astonishing, from the tiny padauk inlays under the headstock and at the neck heel, to the allen wrenches tucked into the control cavity (both held in place by magnets) to the impeccable shielding and the flawless Ferrari California Blue paint.
It is bar none the best sounding and playing bass I own. The tone has unbelievable punch, the sustain is out of this world. Where it really shines is with aggressive playing - even with the EQ flat it snarls and snorts like a screaming Italian supercar, likely as intended. It's making me a better player just being in the same room - and I look forward to many more years of seeing just what it can do.
Thanks for everything, @miziomix - you've really made a masterpiece here.
I first contacted Maurizio in 2015 after seeing his builds here in the luthier's corner and seeing other TBers talk about his instruments. I started working with him on the ideas for a custom bass, and then lost my job suddenly at the end of that year.
Over the past few years, I've worked on getting myself back to a financially comfortable position and have been through everything from to "endless minor inconveniences" to "immense personal hardship." Financial ruin, major surgery, two huge breakups, totaled cars, years of unemployment, you name it.
Finally, around my birthday this year, I came into an extra bit of money and convinced myself that I'd earned a new bass for making it through the past few years - my last purchase being a Dingwall NG-2 at the end of 2014.
Around this same time, Maurizio discounted the price of the Maranello, a Ferrari themed one-off he had built for himself that had been sitting in his shop for a while. A couple of signs presented themselves - number one, Facebook did one of those "on this day..." posts where apparently two years earlier I had told him I really wanted this bass.
I asked him if he would make me a deal, having a number in my head for "this is how much I can afford to spend on a bass, not a penny more. If that's the price, I'll buy it." I sent him a message - he came back with the number I had in my head, exactly. I figured that was enough signs, so I purchased it.
Well, then a few things happened with FedEx, detailed here - Indefinitely Delayed NBD! [Another FedEx Gripe Thread]
But what's most important is that today the Maranello showed up at my doorstep, still in tune after its six week journey around the world.
The attention to detail is astonishing, from the tiny padauk inlays under the headstock and at the neck heel, to the allen wrenches tucked into the control cavity (both held in place by magnets) to the impeccable shielding and the flawless Ferrari California Blue paint.
It is bar none the best sounding and playing bass I own. The tone has unbelievable punch, the sustain is out of this world. Where it really shines is with aggressive playing - even with the EQ flat it snarls and snorts like a screaming Italian supercar, likely as intended. It's making me a better player just being in the same room - and I look forward to many more years of seeing just what it can do.
Thanks for everything, @miziomix - you've really made a masterpiece here.
