- Apr 29, 2003
- 9,083
- 9,807
- Disclosures
- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
I've had this bass for several months now, and have been waiting until I had sufficient real world experience with it before posting a thread about it. I ordered it from Pete Skjold, right as he was rolling out the new models, most of which are refined from his earlier models. The Drakkar is the evolution of the Erskine Whaleback singlecut, and this one features the highly resonant chambered 'catacomb' body style that Damian Erskine has on his current Skjold. I believe the specific chambering method changed a bit between Damians and my bass, but like Damian, I wanted an electric bass that had an acoustic feel to the note envelope and some 'bloom'. I'm happy to say that this bass retains the punch and focus of a solid body bass but very much has the air, depth, and bloom of a resonant acoustic instrument. It also has phenomenal sustain AND punch. Its pretty freaking sweet that it's able to achieve both sides of that coin, IMO. Not an easy task.
This new line of Skjolds is much more rounded and streamlined than his earlier basses (it almost feels like a whaleback that was put in a rock tumbler). I reviewed one of his six string whalebacks about 5 years ago (geez time flies), and this new bass feels considerably more sculpted and comfortable. It took me a minute to get used to the extra thick body, but now it feels like second nature, and the bass feels and plays like a dream.
It has a figured walnut top and back that is slightly enhanced, an obeche (african whitewood) chambered core, a one piece maple bolt on neck, and a pau ferro fingerboard. It has the narrow evo gold frets, and has his integrated playing ramp, with 2 Kent Armstrong dual coils underneath it. It has the Skjold/East preamp which is amazing in that it is super powerful, very quiet, has loads of dynamic range, and has all kinds of ways to customize the 3 band EQ to your taste, or the instrument. Honestly, its about the best onboard preamp i've encountered, and I'm too picky for my own good.
Having gigged the bass a few dozen times, I am always interested to heat what bandmates have to say about how a bass sounds, as they are less encumbered by the details and minutiae than we myopic custom bass ordering weirdo's are. Every time I gig this bass, people always comment on how great it sounds. It is very warm, but super articulate, has this rock bottom firmness, but still breathes with that acoustic 'air' quality, and the upper register soloing is gorgeous. It has that fullness even at the top end of the C string. As I play a lot of textural chording stuff, this was a biggie for me, and Pete was right that this spec was exactly what was needed to support that goal.
I can't seem to find a single flaw, there are no dead spots, and the bass showed up with action so low, I could barely play it, but it didn't buzz AT ALL. The fretwork and attention to detail really takes a back seat to nothing I am aware of, and the aesthetics are perfect for me. I didnt always jive with the earlier Skjolds' square edges and sharper lines, but this bass has just the right amount of roundness and smoothness to its feel.
So all in all, I really couldnt be happier. Having owned a bunch of high end basses, this is the first one I got and thought "i'm not worthy!". It really is ridiculous. here's a few pics for ya! I'll try to get some videos up here as i get a moment or two record them. Let me know if you have any questions, and thanks!
This new line of Skjolds is much more rounded and streamlined than his earlier basses (it almost feels like a whaleback that was put in a rock tumbler). I reviewed one of his six string whalebacks about 5 years ago (geez time flies), and this new bass feels considerably more sculpted and comfortable. It took me a minute to get used to the extra thick body, but now it feels like second nature, and the bass feels and plays like a dream.
It has a figured walnut top and back that is slightly enhanced, an obeche (african whitewood) chambered core, a one piece maple bolt on neck, and a pau ferro fingerboard. It has the narrow evo gold frets, and has his integrated playing ramp, with 2 Kent Armstrong dual coils underneath it. It has the Skjold/East preamp which is amazing in that it is super powerful, very quiet, has loads of dynamic range, and has all kinds of ways to customize the 3 band EQ to your taste, or the instrument. Honestly, its about the best onboard preamp i've encountered, and I'm too picky for my own good.
Having gigged the bass a few dozen times, I am always interested to heat what bandmates have to say about how a bass sounds, as they are less encumbered by the details and minutiae than we myopic custom bass ordering weirdo's are. Every time I gig this bass, people always comment on how great it sounds. It is very warm, but super articulate, has this rock bottom firmness, but still breathes with that acoustic 'air' quality, and the upper register soloing is gorgeous. It has that fullness even at the top end of the C string. As I play a lot of textural chording stuff, this was a biggie for me, and Pete was right that this spec was exactly what was needed to support that goal.
I can't seem to find a single flaw, there are no dead spots, and the bass showed up with action so low, I could barely play it, but it didn't buzz AT ALL. The fretwork and attention to detail really takes a back seat to nothing I am aware of, and the aesthetics are perfect for me. I didnt always jive with the earlier Skjolds' square edges and sharper lines, but this bass has just the right amount of roundness and smoothness to its feel.
So all in all, I really couldnt be happier. Having owned a bunch of high end basses, this is the first one I got and thought "i'm not worthy!". It really is ridiculous. here's a few pics for ya! I'll try to get some videos up here as i get a moment or two record them. Let me know if you have any questions, and thanks!
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