The bass arrived today, and even though I expected to be blown away it exceeds all of my expectations. Just incredible all around. The wood selections are just over the top good and it plays better than anything I've ever had; the fretwork is impeccable. Even the case is beautiful.
I knew Pete's work was good by reputation, but I've never laid hands on a bass this well constructed. In many ways it holds up to the best in the industry but even compared to Fodera and the like there are some more practical things he does better IMO, right down to the machine screws in inserts for the back cover (why most still use wood screws I can't understand). Some could be considered design decisions (zero fret, for example) but the completed instrument is better as a result of all of the details he has refined over the years. As mentioned by others this partnership is a really fitting one and Pete is really stoked to be building the JP designs.
Although I was pretty familiar with JP's work and the clips available online, I'd never heard one in person so I was not entirely sure what to expect on tone. I am really surprised by the versatility in the end. The pickups are hum-cancelling narrow aperture neos in roughly J positions, so it naturally gets a modern slightly scooped J thing with both pickups even but panning either way is very different. The bridge pickup solo is not thin at all and stands up incredibly well on its own without EQ and the neck pickup is really nice with a slightly fatter P sound. Ultimately though these being custom pickups by Aaron Armstrong they are unique and have their own sound for sure.
This bass is seriously going to inspire me to pick it up more and get my chops back to where they have been when I was playing more. That in itself is a great success for any instrument I think.
A few photos including the awesome Skjold shirt and the bass on a strap:
I knew Pete's work was good by reputation, but I've never laid hands on a bass this well constructed. In many ways it holds up to the best in the industry but even compared to Fodera and the like there are some more practical things he does better IMO, right down to the machine screws in inserts for the back cover (why most still use wood screws I can't understand). Some could be considered design decisions (zero fret, for example) but the completed instrument is better as a result of all of the details he has refined over the years. As mentioned by others this partnership is a really fitting one and Pete is really stoked to be building the JP designs.
Although I was pretty familiar with JP's work and the clips available online, I'd never heard one in person so I was not entirely sure what to expect on tone. I am really surprised by the versatility in the end. The pickups are hum-cancelling narrow aperture neos in roughly J positions, so it naturally gets a modern slightly scooped J thing with both pickups even but panning either way is very different. The bridge pickup solo is not thin at all and stands up incredibly well on its own without EQ and the neck pickup is really nice with a slightly fatter P sound. Ultimately though these being custom pickups by Aaron Armstrong they are unique and have their own sound for sure.
This bass is seriously going to inspire me to pick it up more and get my chops back to where they have been when I was playing more. That in itself is a great success for any instrument I think.
A few photos including the awesome Skjold shirt and the bass on a strap:
