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Official Carl Thompson basses club thread
- Thread starter Aaronbeh
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- carl thompson club
Man... I go back to this post almost daily to drool over it. I love me some good woodworking and something about this design in particular just draws me in.
Yeah, it's a KILLER bass.
I really like the latest CT design. Very polished. Unreal attention to detail.
I'm really impressed how the nut, truss rod cover plate, cavity cover plate, are all wood. Very nice touch that a layer of ebony is placed right under the bridge.
The CT I own is the second I've had the privilege of coming into contact with.
I once played an Octave 8 string fretless a good friend of mine owned about 6 years ago. I remember the fretboard edge being so stealth like, almost razor sharp, it was crazy. Such a ridiculous instrument.
I'd definitely like to try more of Carl's basses, especially a fretless. That may or may not happen.
You should come to NY and visit Carl’s shop.(obviously after the pandemic) Carl always has his 38” fretless there. I played it and it’s ridiculous! He’s the most chill and down to earth guy I’ve ever met.
Be well and stay safe!
Cheers,
Eddie
Oh, you wouldn't believe how much I'd love to do that!
My one and only time visiting NYC was back in 1996. And it was to see all the touristy stuff.
The border is still shut down as of right now. Probably will be for a while.
Man, I miss the U.S.! I used to visit Upstate NY every couple of weeks.
Probably the biggest thing I miss, is the food!
Man, a 38" fretless! That would be so wicked! CT definitely comes across a very humble man that I'd like to meet for sure. Thanks for posting the message Eddie. It's great to conjure excitement in these times.
So much this. My time chatting with Carl is something that I hold in the highest regard. Just sit there and listen. The man has so much wisdom.
You can kind of get a feel for what it's like if you check out some of the vids on Carl (really Dave's) youtube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM9cqp6wsxZgNswjrpXScLA
Dig the little series he made a while ago called Life Beyond the 3rd Fret:
I dunno if y'all follow Carl's instagram, but some beauties in the works. Fingers crossed that mine is in this next batch...but as always, good things come to those who wait and you can't rush magic! Keep swingin!
Cosmicvan, I was going to post the same thing. Be prepared to sit down and listen to stories. I never had a grandfather growing up. But, it’s like listening to a friend’s Grandfather tell stories. Who just so happens to be a legend in his field and salt of the Earth at the same time.
That video pretty much encapsulates what it’s like to meet with Carl. He briefly spoke about his apartment in the video. That is the same “rent controlled” apartment he has been living in for 50+years with his wife. This is someone who loves what he does and money is truly secondary.
Like you Cosmicvan, I hold our conversations in the “highest regard”. Weird to feel about that way after meeting someone only a few times. But it’s a special experience that I value.
I’ve met Vinnie and Joey at Fodera, Roger Sadowsky, Stuart Spector and spoken to a few others on the phone. For the most part, they are all really good guys.(YMMV) Speaking to Carl believe it or not is on a different level.
Do yourself a favor and make the pilgrimage to Union St. in Brooklyn. You won’t regret it.
Sorry for the long post. I don’t want it to sound like a fan boy post. Being the owner of MANY non CT basses, I just liked the fact that I’m not the only one who genuinely enjoyed spending time with a special cat.
Cheers and Keep Swingin! Lol
Eddie
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...that and the instruments are totally the cat’s meow. I know they are a modest crew, but they’ve really figured it out...how to create what we all ultimately seek in life...balance.
After half a year of chatting (since July!) bassballs27 and I made it happen: his beautiful CT is now mine. Numbers 11718 and 62118, built from what is clearly Mahogany from the same plank (that grain is unmistakable), side-by-side for the first time in their lives:
The body on 11718 is my favorite CT aesthetic ever. And I've looked at a lot of images! But the neck on 62118 outshines the neck on 11718. That figured Mahogany is something special. Even the nut is fancier lol.
I only need one 4-string bass (though admittedly these are fairly different animals: active versus passive, double EMG humbuckers vs Kent Armstrong), so I'll be moving it along shortly. Let me know if you're interested and I'll hit you up when I list it.
The body on 11718 is my favorite CT aesthetic ever. And I've looked at a lot of images! But the neck on 62118 outshines the neck on 11718. That figured Mahogany is something special. Even the nut is fancier lol.
I only need one 4-string bass (though admittedly these are fairly different animals: active versus passive, double EMG humbuckers vs Kent Armstrong), so I'll be moving it along shortly. Let me know if you're interested and I'll hit you up when I list it.
A 20 year dream is finally coming true. I just sent my deposit off to Carl today! This is going to be a long wait.
yes...the wait is pretty excruciating. Best to forget about it...put Carl’s number in your phone and one day your phone will ring and the caller Id will say Carl Thompson, and that moment will be glorious! I saved the voice mail I got from Carl when my last bass was ready.
That’s the plan. Ordered a fretted this go around, budgeting to place another order for a fretless in a couple months, reset the wait time clock. Guess I’m a glutton for punishment.
The stuff coming out of the shop lately is simply magnificent too.
@S.O.T.G. Rich fretless in this recent batch is what inspired my order. I was having trouble deciding on a scale length but after seeing that olive topped beauty I started looking back on all the 32” scales. My all-time favorite of Carl’s is the one he built for Allen Duncan through Make-A-Wish. The smaller body style with the full 3D hook scroll is the bee’s knees. Hoping to get one with the hook scroll for the fretted then get a ball scroll like the olive twins for the fretless.
Going to need a full report on the wood selections there Brian - Looks great, congratulations.
This thing is wicked cool, I've started to really look at this and it's special. Brian I'm looking at how carl did the top woods, they angle towards the headstock, there were a couple basses Aaron has on the site from 2010 and 2011( 5 stings), this is something it doesn't appear carl has done for 10 years or so. This is making my top 5 CT's. Dan Armstrong electrics right...?
Kent Armstrong hand-scatter-wound soapbars with Carl’s own passive circuit. The knobs are just volume and tone. The two 3-way switches are as follows. first; pickup selector (neck/neck+bridge/bridge)
Second; Carl’s treat.. (kill switch/full/a capacitor that cuts highs almost like a crossover)
And Joe Kruse deserves just as much credit as Carl or anybody else in that shop, kelvin included, with the design and build.
Oh wow. These days, pictures make me crazy. I gotta think that this batch or one of the next ones is gonna have my bass in it. The stuff coming out of the shop just continues to blow my mind. Congratulations and welcome to the family!!!!
