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New brand!!! Faber

4$$

4$$

Aug 4, 2007
80
63
Ubachsberg, The Netherlands
#1
Hey folks.

Check this out and give your opinion!

Faber Paddle Bass

faber-paddlebass-home.jpg

007.jpg

010.jpg
 
#2
The headstock is interesting, i'm not turned off at all by the body, i'd like to hear some soundclips of it though. If given to me to play, i'd use it live (if it sounded decent).


Quarterly magazine "De Bassist" announces the PaddleBass in their october 2009 edition:

After Aristides there is news about another Dutch luthier building a bass in series: The Faber PaddleBass. Arnoud Faber from Sneek, The Netherlands builds 'pragmatic bassguitars'. The main objectives for the design were functionality, ergonomics and sound.

The body is made of a single piece of mahogany, wich results in a rich sound combined with the two singlecoil pickups. The exact placement is the result of extensive testing and the addition of a series/parallel switch has resulted in a wide and usefull range of sounds. This is further enhanced by a modified tonecontrol in the passive electronics, wich gives extended control over the high frequencies.

The eyecatching design is ergonomically clever, giving the bass exellent balance both in standing and sitting playing positions. The handy ridge on the body was borrowed from the Gibson Thunderbird and can be used as a thumbrest: The strings can be played over the full length of the body very easily. Furthermore, the PaddleBass is an ideal tool for hitting back flying lager in festival tents.

Taking little space and not needing a guitar stand for safe placement is a beautiful extra.

The bass is made to order.

www.arnoudfaber.com
Click to expand...
 
#3
'Furthermore, the PaddleBass is an ideal tool for hitting back flying lager in festival tents. '

Heh!

my first thought was 'ugh' but now i quite like the looks of it, sort of like a cross between a fender and a steinberger. the 'chopped fender' headstock works in a weird way.

...so if those pickups have series/parallel switching, could you get a MM type sound??
 
#5
I think the most interesting part is picture of statue of liberty along with the picture of the Paddle Bass in the about page :D

Kidding aside, the specs are a little vague. Who is making the pickups and specs of the pickups; who is building the neck and if it is a Fender licensed neck that is chopped, radius of the fretboard, other related neck specs; origins of hardware; etc.

While I don't agree most regular basses are hard to play, price is right by all means :)
 
#9
This is an expensive price (850 euros) for what looks like essentially a "parts bass". The neck looks like a modified (sawn off top) Fender-clone with rounded heel and everthing. I think the "elephant ear" tuners are an odd vintage-looking choice on such a modern design. It's got a cheap bent steel Fender type of bridge, passive electronics, simple (generic?) single coils etc. etc.

Kudos to the inventor for trying to do something different but the price ($1,250 US same as the street price for an American Standard Fender Jazz) is a bit much for what you get.
 
#10
I think that you've achieved something really special. It's great to see any bass developed and one that is truly different and unique is a tribute to the creativity of the luthier. Making a bass is an art. Making art into a bass speaks volumes for the developer.

Do I like the style? I'm not sure. It may grow on me. I've considered chopping down my Fender J for years because it's such a huge chunk of xylem. If it sounds good, does anything else matter? Playability should come next and the Paddle looks very comfortable.

From a marketing standpoint, I'm confused by the Statue of Liberty image analogy. We're so brand conscious in the US and the image almost seems to say, "Made in the USA." Am I correct that it is not? On the other hand, there is substance in the concept that anyone should have the "Liberty" to create and market whatever they choose.

Congratulations. I will give strong consideration to buying one. Have your orders been strong so far? I'd be interested in alternate colors and perhaps wood tones.

Oh, and the price is reasonable. I wouldn't expect any individual to manufacture instruments near the price points of Fender. It would be a shame if it was half the price and half the quality. At that point, it wouldn't be worth a second look.
 
#18
I see it and my eyes tell my brain "NO! IT'S AWFUL" but my hands just want to play it... Not sure why. Yeah, it looks like a parts bass but... but... I don't know... It's like an ugly chick. You know she's a complete freak in bed, so you just wanna give it a shot.
 
#20
Hawkeye said:
This is an expensive price (850 euros) for what looks like essentially a "parts bass".

... ... ...

Kudos to the inventor for trying to do something different but the price ($1,250 US same as the street price for an American Standard Fender Jazz) is a bit much for what you get.
Click to expand...


Yea ... but he'll "build it to fit your favorite bridge" and "You can have any type of J-pickups in it you choose."
... now that's custom! :D :D


(Knowing the price ... I wonder what he charges for the "custom" work :rollno:)
 

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