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Pedulla basses

landry.bass

landry.bass

Jun 14, 2007
796
634
Ontario, Canada
#1
I've been told over and over about Pedulla instruments, but I've never been able to play one. I am in the market for a new high-end bass, but I've been trying to live by the rule of not buying what I've never played. This poses a problem for me because there is no Pedulla dealer within a thousand miles of me, and I've never ever ever seen a used one anywhere. I need an extremely versatile bass, and some local musicians who've toured all over the place have told me that they're some of the best basses around. I need a really versatile bass, anyone know if this is an avenue worth investigating?
 
#8
I love Pedullas, and have owned three (Rapture 5, MVP 6 and Hexabuzz). I will say this: don't buy new if you can help it. They're very high priced, and have low resale value. If you can find a decent deal on a used one, you'll be much better off. And even on the used ones I purchased, when I eventually sold them I lost money on all three. Although that likely says more about me than the basses!

But, to me, they are stellar instruments, and the buzz basses are incredible fretlesses.

Cheers
 
#9
Spinal Tapper said:
I jammed on a used Pedulla fretless Buzz 5 string once at GC. The thing played AMAZING - it was like $1200 or something... it basically played itself.
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I had the same experience about five years ago- just substitute "Atlanta" for "Chicago", and add $300 to the price. I don't think i'll ever be totally satisfied with an unfinished fretless board ever again. An incredible tone.
 
#11
Where do you live? You can find them at Guitar Center or Sam Ash every once in a while (although they're usually not given the TLC that they so deserve at those stores!)

I got lucky, I stumbled on to my Pedulla Rapture J2 fretless through craigslist. Got it for $750....about 1/3 the cost of what it would have been had I bought it new! The finest feeling, looking, and playing bass I've ever had the pleasure of owning!

DSCN1775.jpg
 
#12
gre107 said:
There are some stores that will allow you to return the bass within so many days once it is delivered for a full refund. It's worth checking out.
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+1, this is a great suggestion!

FYI, I never would have bought my Pedulla if I hadn't played it first in the store. This was back in the early 90s, it was a 3-way choice between the Pedulla, a Warwick, and a top-end Ibanez. If I was buying from a catalog, I definitely would have gone with the Ibanez because of the features (fancier woods and more complicated preamp) or the Warwick for the looks. But playing all 3 in the store, it was no contest--the Pedulla had a certain intangible that made me fall for it.
 
#13
I own two Pedullas, they are the only basses I own. I'm looking to get a Rapture 5 so I'll have two fretted 5s and a fretless 4. My current basses: Pedulla Thunderbolt 5, and a Pedulla Series II 4 string (I had it de fretted). I've played everything from hardcore to theater gigs with these two basses (I currently play in rock, funk, and jazz groups with my Pedullas). These basses are chameleons!
 
#14
My first Pedulla story was back in 1991. I always like their shape but could never even consider an MVP at the ripe old age of 17. So this one day I walked into the local shop in PA (George's Music...same mentality as GC) to scout out a new amp to replace my Peavey TNT 150 and out of the corner of my eye I saw this used golden Pedulla MVP 4 sitting there. I was like "whoa!" So I played it and loved it. So darn easy to play it was sick. So I took the only $15 I had in my wallet to hold it until payday...the price tag: $365!! :eek:

When I finally got it home and played it for a few days...I realized it was a lined fretless buzz bass. It played so awesome I didn't even notice.
 
#15
JehuJava said:
My first Pedulla story was back in 1991. I always like their shape but could never even consider an MVP at the ripe old age of 17. So this one day I walked into the local shop in PA (George's Music...same mentality as GC) to scout out a new amp to replace my Peavey TNT 150 and out of the corner of my eye I saw this used golden Pedulla MVP 4 sitting there. I was like "whoa!" So I played it and loved it. So darn easy to play it was sick. So I took the only $15 I had in my wallet to hold it until payday...the price tag: $365!! :eek:

When I finally got it home and played it for a few days...I realized it was a lined fretless buzz bass. It played so awesome I didn't even notice.
Click to expand...

haha, thats an awesome story...and an awesome deal you got! i've never tried to play a fretless but if i do i'd like to get a buzz
 
#17
Every Pedulla I have ever played or owned has been great. You cannot go wrong with one. For some reason the resale value is horrible on Pedullas so I would advise strongly that you get a used one. They pop up often here and on Ebay.
 

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