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New Bee Bass

#42
It’s here & it’s scary.

I’m not just saying this, but in reality this is the best bass I’ve ever played. It far exceeds my expectations, which by the way are very high.

Looks:
It looks even better in person. There’s phenomenal attention to detail everywhere you look.

Playability:
The back of the neck is incredibly flat & fast. This combined with the lowest action I’ve ever played makes for a finger or slap heaven. Read: VERY comfortable. So much so, it makes you want to play.

Tone:
With the 3-band EQ, panning knob & 3-way mid-switch, it’s all over. The flexibility is just ridicules. Jaco, dub, jazz, slap, finger…it’s all here in spades. This is truly a one bass does all. Did I forget to mention LOUD?

A very grateful Mark :D
 
#45
Stew, it has the Bart X6 narrow soapbar pick-ups with NTMB183G (3-band passive/active 18 volt preamp).

I've owned Barts before with a 3-band EQ & liked it, but this thing kills!

The difference from my other Bart Pick-ups:
1. Narrow vs. standard soapbars
2. Neck is specially voiced "deep"
3. Bridged is specially voiced "bright"

The difference from my other Bart Preamp:
1. 3-way mid selector
2. Active & Passive

The neck pick-up is also positioned closer to a P-Bass location. This is the first time I’ve ever been able to get a Marcus tone. (as well as the other sounds)

How much of the tone is the pick-up/preamp & how is the wood, construction, single cut-a-way, etc. I don't know.

By the way; it weights only 9 lbs. :eek:
 
#48
Update:

After receiving it yesterday, I played it tonight at rehearsal, while leaving the other 3 basses at home.

It was extremely comfortable, fast & played like butter. Not only was the tone killer, but the B string on this monster is the deepest, tightest, growliest & most focused I’ve ever played. I’ve always had GREAT B strings, but this one takes the cake.

:D
 
#52
It's a beautiful bass. Enjoy it.

I had the opportunity to play a Worker Bee (the double cut version), but was not that impressed with it. The body was very small compared to the neck. I like a little meat on my bass. It did play well though. I also noticed that the Bee Bass logo was wearing off at the head stock, and this bass was only about a year old. It made me wonder about the rest of the construction.

Then again, it was a Worker Bee and you got the Queen Bee. I love the way it looks, and if I heard more good reviews of the QB, I would want to try one in the future. Enjoy it. There's nothing like picking up your new bass for the first time! More reviews please as you break it in.
 
#55
Hey everyone,
As the builder, I thought I'd jump in and say hello. Hey Mark, I wondered when you were going to say something about that B string! Growl and focus... YES!

Obviously my design isn't for everyone, and I never intended it to be. I wanted an instantly recognizable sillouette, and a shape that made me want to pick up the bass and play. I've never been a fan of "cookie cutter" basses, so I seem to have designed one of those "love it or hate it" shapes, which is actually really cool. Yes, the body is definitely compact in relation to the neck. It helps to keep the weight down (I ALWAYS get the comment "this thing is SOOOO light!")and gives the bass a more streamlined feel. Again, not for everyone.

Mark, as to your question about how much of the tone is due to the pickups/electronics, and how much is the bass, I can offer this: First of all Bartolinis are FANTASTIC pickups. They are articulate, accurate, very full range, and always sound good to me. But, they don't growl, and they cant make the bass sound any more focussed than it does acoustically. They will make a tubby, flabby bass sound just that; Tubby and flabby. The flexability you are getting is in the electronics. Although I am a fan of passive electronics, that is one sweet preamp! We were going for the "one bass does all" approach, and I think we nailed it with that pre. To get a better idea of the sound of the bass itself, just switch off the preamp and let us know how it sounds. For an even better idea of the sound of a BEE, check out Stews fretless at NAMM... a single Aero pickup wired directly to the output jack... :D :D :D

Thanks everyone! Just wanted to get into the mix and say "hey".

Fred
BEE
 
#56
Thanks for the explanation Fred.

With the bass in passive mode, there's only volume & panning. Therefore the growl is coming from your incredible wood choices & construction.

Another factor has to be that thin, rock solid neck with a purpleheart fingerboard, 3 graphite support bars & the 9 laminates (rock maple, purpleheart & padouk).

By the way, here's Stews fretless Bee...

Invalid Link Removed
 
#58
I think that the electronics certainly deserve merit (Bartolinis and Aeros are pretty killer), but Fred's just got a gift with luthiery!

thank you for making such a wonderful bass, man!

I practice amplified half the time and acoustically half the time. either way, it sounds unreal!

it plays as beautifully!

from the depths,


Stew
 

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