These are the tools and manual that came from Michael Pedulla when the company was running. The wooded handle wrench is for the trussrod. The trussrod wrench can be ordered from a luthier tool company, I am sure.
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Pedulla 4 string back to life
- Thread starter Brian Licinski
- Start date
These are the tools and manual that came from Michael Pedulla when the company was running. The wooded handle wrench is for the trussrod. The trussrod wrench can be ordered from a luthier tool company, I am sure.
The cleanup would be easy enough to do, especially with the strings off. I'd advise ditching the old ones, get new ones you prefer.
I'd ask if you're experienced and comfortable doing a setup and poking around under the hood to deal with the electronic issues. If you are, fine.
If not, find an EXPERIENCED, RELIABLE guitar tech, and have him see to this. Remember the experienced, reliable part. Puh-leeze do NOT take this wonderful bass to some bubba your brother-in-law thinks fixes his own gee-tars. There are no real secret handshake aspects of working on Pedullas, but you need to find the right man to do it, if this is outside your wheelhouse.
I'd ask if you're experienced and comfortable doing a setup and poking around under the hood to deal with the electronic issues. If you are, fine.
If not, find an EXPERIENCED, RELIABLE guitar tech, and have him see to this. Remember the experienced, reliable part. Puh-leeze do NOT take this wonderful bass to some bubba your brother-in-law thinks fixes his own gee-tars. There are no real secret handshake aspects of working on Pedullas, but you need to find the right man to do it, if this is outside your wheelhouse.
I will def not bE doing my own work on this one. I'll mess around with one of the workhorse ones on my wall that i practice with but this one needs to be done right
@Brian Licinski you fell into what is probably close to a $4000 bass. That bass is a jewel, a precious bass that is no longer available. I don't know how old you are, but one of my heroes is Ross Vallory from Journey He played a Pedulla for many years, and it had an absolutely gorgeous growly, midrange thumpy tone. You have a valuable piece of history there.
My advice? Hand carry the bass to a respected luthier/guitar tech. Have them give the bass a total makeover-- completely clean up the bass and repair the electronics. Have the neck and frets cleaned and adjusted. This would be very similar to having an older Rolls Royce getting a makeover. The bass is too valuable not to give it that kind of attention.
I inherited a bass from my brother when he died-- unlike you it was a cheapo imitation. But I treasure it because he played it. Play the bass with great respect and honor your cousin. Sorry for your loss, I can personally relate.
My condolences. Nice bass. Pedulla made many beautiful instruments. Regarding the truss rod tool, I have one lying around here. I'll try and find it today. If I do, you can have if for free. I'll PM you either way.
W A R N I N G
DON'T KNOW IF IT HAS BEEN MENTIONED HERE YET OR NOT BUT IF YOUR BASS IS LIKE THE PEDULLA MVP OR BUZ, THE TRUST ROD WORKS BACKWARDS. RIGHT TO LOOSEN AND LEFT TO TIGHTEN. EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO FIND OUT BEFORE ANYONE TOUCHES IT!!!!
DON'T KNOW IF IT HAS BEEN MENTIONED HERE YET OR NOT BUT IF YOUR BASS IS LIKE THE PEDULLA MVP OR BUZ, THE TRUST ROD WORKS BACKWARDS. RIGHT TO LOOSEN AND LEFT TO TIGHTEN. EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO FIND OUT BEFORE ANYONE TOUCHES IT!!!!
I spent some time with Raptures many years ago (maybe 20 years?). I think a 4-string is pretty unusual; all the ones I played were 5-ers.
String choice is down to personal preference. In my experience Pedulla's own stainless steel strings were a great match. Not sure if you can find any these days. The DR Fat Beams (s.s. round core) were nicely balanced on that bass. GHS Bass Boomers (s.s. hex core) were darker/fuller sounding. Cheap, too.
String choice is down to personal preference. In my experience Pedulla's own stainless steel strings were a great match. Not sure if you can find any these days. The DR Fat Beams (s.s. round core) were nicely balanced on that bass. GHS Bass Boomers (s.s. hex core) were darker/fuller sounding. Cheap, too.
Thank you for the kind words . I already found a highly respected luthier in my area and plan to do exactly what you described. I will bring this back to life and play it very respectfully. That being said I do take the Jay Leno approach to these relics- that is. Play and enjoy the beauty in what you have instead of storing it in a vault.
This x 100! I own a 4 string Rapture, single soap bar. Yes, the truss adjustment is opposite of other manufacturers. Don't ask the rod to do too much when adjusting, I suggest strapping the bass to a solid fixture and "helping the rod" when adjusting.
You can use a harpsichord tuning wrench on the rod and they can be found at most music stores. They aren't a perfect fit, but so far, mine has worked for years.
Can't tell from the pic, but if yours has a mini-switch in the controls section, that is a mid-cut.
Fishheadjoe
+1. They have fantastic necks. Great J-style basses with nice undersized bodies.
Changing the pots is an easy weekend project if you have any confidence with a soldering iron and pick the correct pots. Or just take it to a setup guy in your town, budget a hundred bucks or so, and be ready to get a well set-up very nice boutique bass back.
It has 4 knobs. No switches. I am taking it in and paying a pro. Too risky to mess this one up
I forgot to say sorry for the way it happened you came into owning this Pedulla. I agree the best way to honor and remember is to make that thing speak for its original owner. Best to you.
And good on you for finding and using a professional. Anyone who seriously plays and values their instrument needs one of those guys. Pay what he asks, and if you are respectful and interested, you'd be amazed at the tips and advice someone like that can give you. And take it from me, you can take a thousand pages of internet blabber and not distill it to the advice you can get from someone who's worked on so many for a living and knows where the rubber truly meets the road.
We all started out knowing nothing about our basses, and over time have learned about how to maintain them, even work on them, and congrats on knowing you're at the beginning of that trip. Read the various threads here on the old TB, and you'll find lots of threads from guys like me that at one time or another became Life Members of the 'It Was Working Until I Fixed It' Club. At least I can take some satisfaction in that I became more work for guys like your pro repairman !
And good on you for finding and using a professional. Anyone who seriously plays and values their instrument needs one of those guys. Pay what he asks, and if you are respectful and interested, you'd be amazed at the tips and advice someone like that can give you. And take it from me, you can take a thousand pages of internet blabber and not distill it to the advice you can get from someone who's worked on so many for a living and knows where the rubber truly meets the road.
We all started out knowing nothing about our basses, and over time have learned about how to maintain them, even work on them, and congrats on knowing you're at the beginning of that trip. Read the various threads here on the old TB, and you'll find lots of threads from guys like me that at one time or another became Life Members of the 'It Was Working Until I Fixed It' Club. At least I can take some satisfaction in that I became more work for guys like your pro repairman !
