Fully agree ... throw the worms but the Thunderbass sounds decidedly better than the rapture judging by the videos ...
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If you have a lead on one at a good price, I say go for it!
I've never seen a Pedulla bass that wasn't superbly well made and finished. I've never owned one, but I did have a fretless jazz neck "Diamondkote" finished on the fretboard back in the 80's when they still did the occasional custom job. Thirty years of playing, it still looks great, same finish used on the Buzz Bass necks.
My experience with Pedulla basses is pretty limited. But the one zebrano Thunderbass 5 string I happened to come across at GC years ago left quite a lasting impression. It was one of the most ergonomic and beautiful basses I've ever played. Light, balanced, had a great neck carve and was even very nicely set up (at Guitar Center)! 
Plugged in, it sounded nice, with the full midrange I'd expect from its Bartolini electronics. The tone didn't floor me solo, but I'm sure it would have sat perfectly in a mix.
They did have an MVP five come through that same store too. It was very lightweight and also had a great neck carve, but the setup was slammed to the point where all the notes were completely choked - impossible to judge in such a context. A more typical GC experience...
Plugged in, it sounded nice, with the full midrange I'd expect from its Bartolini electronics. The tone didn't floor me solo, but I'm sure it would have sat perfectly in a mix.They did have an MVP five come through that same store too. It was very lightweight and also had a great neck carve, but the setup was slammed to the point where all the notes were completely choked - impossible to judge in such a context. A more typical GC experience...
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I've had an MVP since the late 80's.
saw them at NAMM when I was a teenager, and I found a guy through the Recycler in L.A. who had one for sale. He was upgrading to the MVP-5.
I knew then that I would never be getting rid of that bass. I don't use it all the time, but when I do, it sounds great, feels great, the best neck in my stable, for sure.
In fact, I just bought a new strap for it and will probably use it this weekend now that I think of it.
saw them at NAMM when I was a teenager, and I found a guy through the Recycler in L.A. who had one for sale. He was upgrading to the MVP-5.
I knew then that I would never be getting rid of that bass. I don't use it all the time, but when I do, it sounds great, feels great, the best neck in my stable, for sure.
In fact, I just bought a new strap for it and will probably use it this weekend now that I think of it.
I had a Rapture 4 with a single soapbar years ago. Extremely well-made bass, but I wasn't that wild about the sound.
- Jan 26, 2014
- 1,525
- 1,946
- Disclosures
- I teach lessons and perform live music in and around San Diego CA. Sometimes I even make money doing it!
There's absolutely no way to guarantee playability or sound sight unseen. You are asking for the impossible. You are the next contestant on the price is right. Is the price right? The consensus on Pedullas: look funny, play well.
I used to own an ET-5 Thunderbass and it was incredibly well built with very good playing ergonomics (although I found the string spacing a bit tight. A few years after I bought mine they seemed to offer a wider spacing option). After a few years I found that the tone was not to my liking so I sold it and bought my first NYC Sadowsky, much better fit for me.
Later
Rob
Later
Rob
Hi I'm just get an used rapture v wit the single p/u, but in not wired well, can you help me wit some pictures of de connections? I can't find anything en the web I get bartolini make that pre-amp just for pedulla. Thanks
Leono, I wish I could say I was your guy on this, but the three Pedulla single PU basses I've had are long gone.
Sorry and hope you can find some help on here!
James
Sorry and hope you can find some help on here!
James
I think I played an MVP once and loved the neck, but the tone put me to sleep. I definitely recall demoing a JJ Rapture and was even more underwhelmed. I'd still like to try out an MVP with soaps though.
Have you tried getting in touch with them via email? Christine (who runs the business for Michael) has been a real delight to work with.
I had a fretless buzz bass for a while. I loved the sound of it. I just couldn't get into feel of it. You might want to put one on a strap and play it standing up for a while before you buy. It takes a bit of getting into. I couldn't get along with it but other people don't mind it.
i have owned three-
-a Rapture V and two Buzzes.
all were excellent. I wish I kept the pentabuzz.
the rapture was well made but a typical active jazz bass-good deal on the used market.
if buying a fretless; the most important part is the condition of the FB-an expensive repair job (ask me how I know).
-a Rapture V and two Buzzes.
all were excellent. I wish I kept the pentabuzz.
the rapture was well made but a typical active jazz bass-good deal on the used market.
if buying a fretless; the most important part is the condition of the FB-an expensive repair job (ask me how I know).
Amazing basses,Ive had 4 raptures ,incredibly underrated ,just be sure the truss rods working if its used .You cant let a pedulla sit for long time with tension on the strings unplayed ,more so than other basses,you'll lose the operation of the truss rod
I recall GCs blowing out new Pedullas maybe 10-15 years ago. I don't know if every store stocked them, but Atlanta and a couple other bigger stores kept several new examples in their high end rooms and eventually cleared them out, maybe when Pedulla started moving back to a smaller operation?
I've been so tempted to get one based on the playing/sounds of both Doug Johns and Ric Fierabracci. But I will never buy one until I can actually play a few myself through my own amps.
In most cases of this sort I discover that it's actually the player that I'm into rather then the instrument they are using. Nothing against Pedulla intended when I say that! I feel pretty sure that I would indeed very much like their instruments.
In most cases of this sort I discover that it's actually the player that I'm into rather then the instrument they are using. Nothing against Pedulla intended when I say that! I feel pretty sure that I would indeed very much like their instruments.
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