I remember first seeing a Pedulla back in either late 70s or early 80s and that's the body style I most associate with the brand. I had a friend with a Buzz 4 string. It was gorgeous.
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To be fair, you are judging a studio multi-track recording of the Thunderbass against a video camera recording of the Rapture. The Rapture with barts is going to sound like a modern Hi-Fi Jazz. A great sound, very popular...if you that is your cup of tea.The outro music on the Rapture video is a studio recording... its a great sounding bass.
Raptures are not as bright as Sadowsky or Lull "Jazz" styles. So, they're never going to bite quite the same way, if you're looking for that kind of metallic performance. That's how Barts sound...you could definitely brighten it up with different pickups if your preference falls more to that sound. None of these three has a "mid" EQ, but it's not necessary for the way they're voiced--just drop the treble and bass, and turn up. Instant mid boost
Now, for me, I have literally not had GAS since liquidating the rest of my basses and assembling these three. I don't mind the way they're voiced at all. In fact, I find that they sit great in mixes, and I don't have to clean up and tame a bunch of stuff that might sound good to me playing in isolation, only to junk up a track and need to be tamed out. I think that's the core ideal of the voicing strategy, actually.
And I also find the Raptures to be good representations of the target vibe...the JJ sounds like a Jazz, and the PJ sounds like a Precision (I should say it sounds a lot like a Precision, but of course it's a PJ, so the neck pickup is a little bit forward of where it would set on a single-pickup Fender). So, I'm pretty happy...between the two fretted sounds and the fretless, one of them works for a given tune.
I have a double gig bag, so I generally take the Penta and JJ on jazz gigs. If I'm doing something where I know the fretless won't be needed, I take both Raptures and see which one sounds good in the room. They have different bass...the JJ is deeper, the PJ is thicker (for lack of a better word). The P/J will also get plenty burpy, if you roll in a lot of the bridge pickup, and of course, sounds like a jazz if you roll out the neck PU entirely. So, it's a way to have both worlds in one axe. Mike has since said the P/J was his favorite incarnation of the Rapture, that it was the most versatile. In my experience, that may actually be true, although I do really like the JJ, and love playing it.
One thing to consider--the necks are THE poopie. You're not going to find a more playable neck. So, if you're looking for brighter and you find a good deal on a Pedulla, a new set of pickups may put you where you want to be tonally, and land you with a crazy-playable neck. The B-string is as tight as has been reported. You won't find a better 34" neck on any bass. It's not tightness, per se. It's the way Mike engineers the neck/body systems to prevent the low-string resonance from flopping around. You can actually SEE the B-string's tightness compared to a five-string Fender. The Fender's B-string will have a huge visible "arc" of resonance, where the Pedulla is not any different than the E-string.
The last thing I'd say is that you can really get low action on all of the Pedulla line. In fact, you will not want to play it as low as you can get it!! That is true with any strings, but if you use taper-wounds, it is even more ridiculous. With tapers, the B-string is insane. You can run it ludicrously low, and never have issues. The necks are extremely thin from front to back (hence the comfort), but the truss rod is a very robust double action design and the neck also contains two steel stiffener bars. So you can use extremely high-tension strings and have the action so low to be effortless.
Obviously, I'm a fan. But I came by it as a product of really enjoying the way they play. All of mine are 19mm spacing, by the way, which makes it super easy to move between them.
This has to be a TB first...
The OP looks for consensus and pretty much finds it...
The OP looks for consensus and pretty much finds it...
Well except for the above. There is absolutely no consensus about looking funny.
Most builders of quality basses basically guarantee playability and sound everytime they send a bass out to their customers, without it, their reputation would be mud.
I think the thunderbass looks great. Come to think of it, it plays great too. Actually it sounds great as well. Hmm... Trifecta of perfection.
- Jan 26, 2014
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- Disclosures
- I teach lessons and perform live music in and around San Diego CA. Sometimes I even make money doing it!
Among my friends there is. The classic Pedulla look with the little ballsack lower horn is funny looking. Doesn't mean I wouldn't take one, since, as I also said, they generally play well.
If pedulla offers a full lifetime, *transferable* guarantee of playability, that's great, good on them. I've been left high and dry by 2 "builders of quality basses" before, so I'd make sure their policies before taking a plunge sight unseen, if the above is true, that certainly mitigates a lot of the risk, doesn't it.
Anyone know off hand what after-market p/u would fit in a Rapture Single Soap Bar bass? I've been mulling a p/u swap for some time. Wanting to get rid of the Bart compression factor and open up the sound of the bass a bit.
Also, would that require a pre-amp change as well?
Fishheadjoe
Also, would that require a pre-amp change as well?
Fishheadjoe
Back in the 90's, my two non-Fender main basses, fretted and fretless, were Thunderbass 5's. I did a lot of gigs with those two. I actually went to the shop to select the top on the Thunderbuzz. That fretless is still kicking around here on TB. I've unsuccessfully tried to buy that bass back from two TB'ers now.
Here are my thoughts.
First, the truss rod is awesome. Best design out there. BUT, it is as different from everyone else's design as driving in NZ is from driving in the US. So, a lot of folks get out there on the wrong side of the road and wreck the poor things through sheer ignorance. So, yes, you have to check them for misuse on a used instrument. And, you actually have to study how they work. Maybe, for all of 15 minutes.
Second, the Bart pickups are perfectly great pickups; but, I have never warmed up at all to the Bart preamps. If I ever did get that fretless back, I'd rip those Bart innards out and replace them with a Pope FlexCore in a heartbeat. But, that's me.
Here are my thoughts.
First, the truss rod is awesome. Best design out there. BUT, it is as different from everyone else's design as driving in NZ is from driving in the US. So, a lot of folks get out there on the wrong side of the road and wreck the poor things through sheer ignorance. So, yes, you have to check them for misuse on a used instrument. And, you actually have to study how they work. Maybe, for all of 15 minutes.
Second, the Bart pickups are perfectly great pickups; but, I have never warmed up at all to the Bart preamps. If I ever did get that fretless back, I'd rip those Bart innards out and replace them with a Pope FlexCore in a heartbeat. But, that's me.
They use Bart BC shaped pickups. You want Bartolini Classic BC5CBC pickups. I have these in my #1 Thunderbolt and love them with coil switching. I think the Raptures come with a standard Bartolini preamp so you should be able to keep that.
I'm still in talks about a possible trade.
The catch is I'm going to trade one of my basses for the pedulla bass. Which means posting my bass and him posting his (as we live on opposite sides of the country).
Can someone point me in the direction of a thread that has tips on doing this safely? Aka so I do not get ripped off?
I'm still waiting for my buddy to dig the one he has out of his closet and sell it to me.
Pedulla are nice, I wish I'd bought an MVP in the early 90's when they could be had for under $800 in mint condition.
Pedulla are nice, I wish I'd bought an MVP in the early 90's when they could be had for under $800 in mint condition.
Just got my 19mm 5-string P/J Rapture in the mail, yesterday. I can't recall ever having this much trouble putting a new instrument down!
The used pricing and simple controls suit me well.
I'm quite liking the sound, especially the neck P pickup. Never muddy, never thin - it even growls nicely in the lower register. (After years of loving/hating Jazz basses, I think I'm finally ready to admit that I'm more of a "P" kind of guy. I've always liked Bartolini, too - YMMV...)
The small body may take a bit of getting used to. The good balance and low weight I got used to immediately!
The low B does seem to be at the head of the pack for 34" instruments I've tried. The 37" low B on my Dingwall definitely is tighter and more authoritative. OTOH the Rapture feels more friendly to play, almost like a medium scale by comparison. I've been through more than my share of limp, near-useless low Bs and this is definitely not one of them.
It's been a long time coming but I think I finally have a true "keeper" 5-string. I really appreciate what Mike has done with this series, going somewhat traditional and no-frills but retaining the modern refinements and quality materials where they matter.
The used pricing and simple controls suit me well.
I'm quite liking the sound, especially the neck P pickup. Never muddy, never thin - it even growls nicely in the lower register. (After years of loving/hating Jazz basses, I think I'm finally ready to admit that I'm more of a "P" kind of guy. I've always liked Bartolini, too - YMMV...)
The small body may take a bit of getting used to. The good balance and low weight I got used to immediately!
The low B does seem to be at the head of the pack for 34" instruments I've tried. The 37" low B on my Dingwall definitely is tighter and more authoritative. OTOH the Rapture feels more friendly to play, almost like a medium scale by comparison. I've been through more than my share of limp, near-useless low Bs and this is definitely not one of them.
It's been a long time coming but I think I finally have a true "keeper" 5-string. I really appreciate what Mike has done with this series, going somewhat traditional and no-frills but retaining the modern refinements and quality materials where they matter.
The "turbo" switch on the Thunderbass my buddy has is take it or leave it. Personally I want it on everything, but I actually like Bart's and want more aggro just like hot sauce. Sparingly, and in good taste, otherwise aggro all the time has no flavor.
Hi, I bought a rapture J2 in good condition, 5 strings , for $650, with a case .
I like the vintage tone variety of it, but I still feel the overall volume could be higher . I'm comparing it to my passive Squier VM jazz( which sounds louder than the fenders I played next to it)
, and even a SUB 4 by Sterling ( different vibe , I'm aware of that ).
It's like this Pedulla is warm but not very strong , I need to crack the amp.
What's your experience with them?
I'm new to these basses.
Laura,
First, congrats for getting an incredible bass at a steal of a price!
Secondly, I'd have a tech check the Bartolini preamp. That sucker should be PUMPING the tone. There's no way a passive bass (other than possibly a G&L) should be substantially louder than a Rapture bass.
Take it to a tech you trust, get it set right and e joy a life time of a great instrument.
Or flip it to me.
James
My 2J Rapture 5 should be here tomorrow. I have wanted one for over 2 decades! Just in time for a gig Saturday. I'm really excited as I played a Thunderbass recently at a pawn shop that I really dug. It was a little too "gigged" for what he wanted, but still an incredible bass. My first experience with a Pedulla was a Pentabuzz back in about 90 or so. I was a new player and found out just how terrible my Dixon P was in comparison. To be fair to the Dixon though, it is still one of my favorite basses, with an amazing neck (as good as any Fender I've played) but nothing compares to a Pedulla in an somewhat affordable price bracket I have.
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I have always loved Pedulla basses. I first got to try one when I was about 18, working at a hotel. A band was setting up one night and they were warming up with 'Birdland'. The guitarist had a purple Soldano stack, the bassist (I think he was called Mike) had an EA stack with a green Spector Euro 5 and a Pentabuzz. I told him his rig sounded great and he let me have a quick whirl on the 'buzz. What a lifechanger, I've still never played a fretless that sounded as good!
I also love the Thunderbass. Mike Pedulla really knows how to do a neck through bass. I note some comments on a previous page about how the Thunderbass doesn't really sound 'special' or distinctive. It is a beautiful sounding instrument but it sounds like Bartolini electronics, which are synonymous with boutique basses due to companies like Tobias, Pedulla, Zon etc. Our ears 'know' that active Bartolini sound like we know a jazz bass or a P bass. It's a lovely sound, but I can see why with a Thunderbass you could close your eyes on a blind test and not pick it out of a line-up. That doesn't mean to me that it's any less of a treasure for that fact. Bartolini are an industry standard because they're good.
I also love the Thunderbass. Mike Pedulla really knows how to do a neck through bass. I note some comments on a previous page about how the Thunderbass doesn't really sound 'special' or distinctive. It is a beautiful sounding instrument but it sounds like Bartolini electronics, which are synonymous with boutique basses due to companies like Tobias, Pedulla, Zon etc. Our ears 'know' that active Bartolini sound like we know a jazz bass or a P bass. It's a lovely sound, but I can see why with a Thunderbass you could close your eyes on a blind test and not pick it out of a line-up. That doesn't mean to me that it's any less of a treasure for that fact. Bartolini are an industry standard because they're good.
I've owned three, all neck throughs. An MVP4 and MPV5 (fretless), and a Thunderbass 5. Two of them required frequent truss rod adjustment. They all sounded and played great. Build and playability were top notch.
