Kent has designed/made some of my favorite pickups. I'm really looking forward to them.
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Kent has designed/made some of my favorite pickups. I'm really looking forward to them.
- Jun 19, 2004
- 4,782
- 83
- 42
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist, Schroeder Cabinets
I wouldn't go a day without a bass....although, with that said, I still haven't gotten my suped up Ibanez sixer back from it's frets getting dressed....I've got a four string but I feel anxious not to have a six string for a couple of days possibly. I'll live though.
....I just put fresh strings on the Ristola before I box it up....man, what a bass!..........my girlfriend teased me that I'd shed a tear or two while packing it up.....I have to prove her wrong.
D, I don't know what you use for strings, but be sure to try Fodera steel strings on your bass. I haven't used steels in years...been using the Fodera nickels, but man...these strings sound sooooo good. They're not as bright as other steel strings that I've tried. They really make my bass sing! I get them from [Invalid or Expired Link Removed].
Hey Andy!
I usually use DR Black Beauties coated strings. I tried some MTD steel strings once on my last 6-string (MTD Z6), and even though my band loved the tone, I ended up going back to my DRsI'm just not a bright-strings kind of guy. I'll definitely try the Foderas, though, and let you know what I think.
Looking forward to Friday!
Hey Andy!
I usually use DR Black Beauties coated strings. I tried some MTD steel strings once on my last 6-string (MTD Z6), and even though my band loved the tone, I ended up going back to my DRsI'm just not a bright-strings kind of guy. I'll definitely try the Foderas, though, and let you know what I think.
Looking forward to Friday!
Yeah, on that particular bass (the one on it's way to you) I just really liked the Fodera steels. I've been using nickel strings for years, but when I tried the steels on the bass they just worked.
Treat her right Dave! Play the hell our of her!!!
Andy, I looked at the Fodera strings on Juststrings, they have a couple different sets to choose from. Which gauge and set do you like, and do you think they'll fit a 35" scale Rstola?
Have you ever tried the Fodera nickels? If so, please let me know what you thought of them as well. I prefer the warmth and flexibility of nickel strings. SS strings feel a little strange to me.
I have a few more days at home, so I plan on hitting a couple of Sunday Jams this weekend to try out my new bass in a live setting. I can't wait!
Thanks, Derwin
Have you ever tried the Fodera nickels? If so, please let me know what you thought of them as well. I prefer the warmth and flexibility of nickel strings. SS strings feel a little strange to me.
I have a few more days at home, so I plan on hitting a couple of Sunday Jams this weekend to try out my new bass in a live setting. I can't wait!
Thanks, Derwin
Andy, I looked at the Fodera strings on Juststrings, they have a couple different sets to choose from. Which gauge and set do you like, and do you think they'll fit a 35" scale Rstola?
Have you ever tried the Fodera nickels? If so, please let me know what you thought of them as well. I prefer the warmth and flexibility of nickel strings. SS strings feel a little strange to me.
I have a few more days at home, so I plan on hitting a couple of Sunday Jams this weekend to try out my new bass in a live setting. I can't wait!
Thanks, Derwin
I use the 28125 set.
...and they should definitely work with a 35" scale length.
Both the nickel and the steel strings from Fodera are fabulous. Again, I used the nickel for a long time and loved them. The steel worked on the last bass so well that I just kept using them. They feel less abrasive on my fingers than other steel strings that I've used.
- Jun 19, 2004
- 4,782
- 83
- 42
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist, Schroeder Cabinets
Hey folks,
Got the Ristola 6er yesterday, but I was waiting to open it because it's awfully cold in those UPS trucks...
Here are my thoughts:
Lifting it out of the bag, I knew immediately that I would love the neck. It's thin & wide and feels like my classical guitars. At first I thought the seller had loosened the strings prior to shipping because the action was way down, which worried me, until I plucked one, and I realized it wasn't tuned down... the action was simply that good!
The fit & finish is spectacular. The whole bass is very "tightly" built and the workmanship is top-notch. I would put this bass up there with along with Fodera, Ritter, etc in terms of build quality.
Likes:
- The neck feels smaller than it is because it's relatively thin, which is important to me, especially on a six-string bass.
- The electronics are great. I've heard good things about Delano pickups, and I'm glad to say they're all true. These are some of the most transparent pickups I've tried. I'm a big fan of MusicMan style humbuckers for their aggression and punch, but this bass can be surprisingly punchy on its own. I think it's the ash body, because it sounds the same way unplugged. The ability to run the pickups in either series or parallel by flicking a switch (one for each pickup; they're dual coils) is fantastic. You can get a nice, fat, thicker tone, then flick the switch and get a very pretty melodic tone with high-end that cuts through better. The preamp is an Aggie OBP-3 and is quite versatile, and sounds good with these pickups.
- The whole bass is just masterfully put together. I don't know a better way to say it. Brian Ristola knows what he's doing when it comes to building basses. I bought this bass second-hand and I've never talked to the builder, so I can't comment on customer service or anything like that, but man, what an instrument. It took weeks for my MTD 6-string to "disappear" while I was playing it. By that I mean, for me to go to that place where I'm just playing the music and I'm not really thinking about or aware of the instrument itself; my attention just dissolves into what I'm playing. It only took a few hours for that to happen with this Ristola, which is quite a feat for a six-string neck, if you're primarily a five-string player!
- I really like the way this bass looks. I'm a big fan of translucent red finishes, which is what my MTD Artist and my #1 Strat are, and my old MTD 6 was as well, but this natural gloss over flamed maple looks really nice. It doesn't look too fancy (spalted top, wood pickup covers, single cutaway etc) to take to a club date, and it doesn't look too wild to take to church gigs or sessions. I like the flamed maple overlay on the headstock and the black hardware looks great against the natural wood. It has some black stripe around the edge. I'm not sure what kind of wood that layer is, but it's really classy-looking. A gloss finish was important to me when bass shopping, because I like to use a Dragonfly practice amp (which uses suction cups to attach to the bass) when I'm practicing and warming up at shows, which doesn't work very well at all on an oil finish.
Dislikes:
- This isn't a build issue, but I need to reset the intonation (24th fret on the B string sounds an entire semitone sharp at present!), and I'm sure that is just because of adjusting to the cold and then back again to room temperature in shipping. The D string (itself) seems to be a bit dead; I don't know if it was just a dud or what, but I will probably change them sooner rather than later. Also, I forgot how much steel strings wear on your fingertips... I've been using DR coated strings and am a bit spoiled by them. After three or four hours of playing, your fingertips get a bit raw with these steel strings, although I've very happy with the tone of them. These are Fodera steel strings, which the seller recommended; I will probably buy a few sets to keep around for recording, and just use the DR coated ones for playing live. There is some fret wear that's causing some buzz etc, but again, not a build issue; it's a second-hand instrument and I was aware of this prior to purchase, so I'm not too worried about it. As far as the instrument itself...
- The B string (of the bass I mean, not the string itself) would definitely benefit from being a longer scale. It sounds fine plugged in, but unplugged, you can definitely tell this is a 34"-scale instrument. It doesn't have the same depth and sustain as the other strings, although it still sounds very good. I'm short (5'5", 165 cm) and my hands are not very big, so it's a trade-off I've chosen, even using classical guitar technique for longer reach. A shorter scale also helps a bit with neck dive, which leads me to the next thing...
- The instrument does have some neck dive, but I say that about every bass I've ever played (except my 14-pound modified Line6 Variax). It's a 6-string so I did expect some dive and I can't really complain. My technique is weird and causes diveI play with the bass nearly vertical by most bassists' standards, at about a 60-degree angle upand every bass tries to level out when you tilt it up like that on a strap, even with wide/suede ones. The dive is mitigated some by the Hipshot Ultralite tuners and the fact that the upper strap horn extends to the 12th fret. The included Dunlop Straplok system also extends the reach of the upper horn about another centimeter beyond that, and also, the butt-end strap button is positioned about south of the E string, rather than right in the middle, which also helps. I am considering installing another strap button somewhere even farther to the side of the bass, but it's a bit unthinkable to drill a hole in this thing!
I will definitely try some different straps, etc first.
Invalid Link Removed
French jazz session bassist Bunny Brunel plays with the same "upright electric" technique that I use... Notice he has a strap button installed on the *top* of the bass. That would fix the dive, but man, I don't know if I can bring myself to do that to this instrument! I'll have to seriously think about it, and of course try some other approaches first.
- The knobs of the Ristola are made of ebony, and while they're really pretty, I prefer knurled knobs, because I often adjust my settings while I'm playing, and if I only have 1 beat of a rest or whatever, I need to be able to just swiftly turn it without worrying about the knob slipping in my fingers. Also, a set of metal knobs will probably help (at least a little, I'm hoping) with the neck divethere are 5 of them, after all!
- The input jack is recessed and has a "cup" around it, like the old Telecasters. I prefer a metal jack plate, simply because I like using right-angle cables (and already own a bunch of nice ones), which I won't be able to use with this bass. That's just a personal preference thing and not anything wrong with the design or construction, though.
If I were having this bass built from scratch, I think the only things I would change would be to address some neck dive issues (smaller headstock perhaps, longer upper strap horn), the input jack design, and maybe the color to translucent red, like my other instruments. Other than that, I'm thrilled with it.
The seller and I had agreed upon a return policy in case I didn't like the feel of it, which I seriously doubt will be necessary, but I have a gig tomorrow morning, so I'm going to try it out first to be 100% certain. Right now, I'd say I'm 90% in love with it, which is still an "A" in my book, but I need to spend more time with it on a strap to make sure it will work for me. It's a little heavier than my MTD Artist 5, but balances better (and it's also a 6-string!). Overall, it's a great bass. Kudos to Brian; you build an excellent instrument.
I also want to say thank you very much to Andy (emjazz). I wouldn't hesitate to buy from him again. He was easy to communicate with and very upfront with me. Thank you!
I'll check in tomorrow after my gig and let you guys know how it goes and, very likely, to get a Ristola Club number, too
Have a good night, guys
- Mama
Got the Ristola 6er yesterday, but I was waiting to open it because it's awfully cold in those UPS trucks...
Here are my thoughts:
Lifting it out of the bag, I knew immediately that I would love the neck. It's thin & wide and feels like my classical guitars. At first I thought the seller had loosened the strings prior to shipping because the action was way down, which worried me, until I plucked one, and I realized it wasn't tuned down... the action was simply that good!
The fit & finish is spectacular. The whole bass is very "tightly" built and the workmanship is top-notch. I would put this bass up there with along with Fodera, Ritter, etc in terms of build quality.
Likes:
- The neck feels smaller than it is because it's relatively thin, which is important to me, especially on a six-string bass.
- The electronics are great. I've heard good things about Delano pickups, and I'm glad to say they're all true. These are some of the most transparent pickups I've tried. I'm a big fan of MusicMan style humbuckers for their aggression and punch, but this bass can be surprisingly punchy on its own. I think it's the ash body, because it sounds the same way unplugged. The ability to run the pickups in either series or parallel by flicking a switch (one for each pickup; they're dual coils) is fantastic. You can get a nice, fat, thicker tone, then flick the switch and get a very pretty melodic tone with high-end that cuts through better. The preamp is an Aggie OBP-3 and is quite versatile, and sounds good with these pickups.
- The whole bass is just masterfully put together. I don't know a better way to say it. Brian Ristola knows what he's doing when it comes to building basses. I bought this bass second-hand and I've never talked to the builder, so I can't comment on customer service or anything like that, but man, what an instrument. It took weeks for my MTD 6-string to "disappear" while I was playing it. By that I mean, for me to go to that place where I'm just playing the music and I'm not really thinking about or aware of the instrument itself; my attention just dissolves into what I'm playing. It only took a few hours for that to happen with this Ristola, which is quite a feat for a six-string neck, if you're primarily a five-string player!
- I really like the way this bass looks. I'm a big fan of translucent red finishes, which is what my MTD Artist and my #1 Strat are, and my old MTD 6 was as well, but this natural gloss over flamed maple looks really nice. It doesn't look too fancy (spalted top, wood pickup covers, single cutaway etc) to take to a club date, and it doesn't look too wild to take to church gigs or sessions. I like the flamed maple overlay on the headstock and the black hardware looks great against the natural wood. It has some black stripe around the edge. I'm not sure what kind of wood that layer is, but it's really classy-looking. A gloss finish was important to me when bass shopping, because I like to use a Dragonfly practice amp (which uses suction cups to attach to the bass) when I'm practicing and warming up at shows, which doesn't work very well at all on an oil finish.
Dislikes:
- This isn't a build issue, but I need to reset the intonation (24th fret on the B string sounds an entire semitone sharp at present!), and I'm sure that is just because of adjusting to the cold and then back again to room temperature in shipping. The D string (itself) seems to be a bit dead; I don't know if it was just a dud or what, but I will probably change them sooner rather than later. Also, I forgot how much steel strings wear on your fingertips... I've been using DR coated strings and am a bit spoiled by them. After three or four hours of playing, your fingertips get a bit raw with these steel strings, although I've very happy with the tone of them. These are Fodera steel strings, which the seller recommended; I will probably buy a few sets to keep around for recording, and just use the DR coated ones for playing live. There is some fret wear that's causing some buzz etc, but again, not a build issue; it's a second-hand instrument and I was aware of this prior to purchase, so I'm not too worried about it. As far as the instrument itself...
- The B string (of the bass I mean, not the string itself) would definitely benefit from being a longer scale. It sounds fine plugged in, but unplugged, you can definitely tell this is a 34"-scale instrument. It doesn't have the same depth and sustain as the other strings, although it still sounds very good. I'm short (5'5", 165 cm) and my hands are not very big, so it's a trade-off I've chosen, even using classical guitar technique for longer reach. A shorter scale also helps a bit with neck dive, which leads me to the next thing...
- The instrument does have some neck dive, but I say that about every bass I've ever played (except my 14-pound modified Line6 Variax). It's a 6-string so I did expect some dive and I can't really complain. My technique is weird and causes diveI play with the bass nearly vertical by most bassists' standards, at about a 60-degree angle upand every bass tries to level out when you tilt it up like that on a strap, even with wide/suede ones. The dive is mitigated some by the Hipshot Ultralite tuners and the fact that the upper strap horn extends to the 12th fret. The included Dunlop Straplok system also extends the reach of the upper horn about another centimeter beyond that, and also, the butt-end strap button is positioned about south of the E string, rather than right in the middle, which also helps. I am considering installing another strap button somewhere even farther to the side of the bass, but it's a bit unthinkable to drill a hole in this thing!
I will definitely try some different straps, etc first.Invalid Link Removed
French jazz session bassist Bunny Brunel plays with the same "upright electric" technique that I use... Notice he has a strap button installed on the *top* of the bass. That would fix the dive, but man, I don't know if I can bring myself to do that to this instrument! I'll have to seriously think about it, and of course try some other approaches first.
- The knobs of the Ristola are made of ebony, and while they're really pretty, I prefer knurled knobs, because I often adjust my settings while I'm playing, and if I only have 1 beat of a rest or whatever, I need to be able to just swiftly turn it without worrying about the knob slipping in my fingers. Also, a set of metal knobs will probably help (at least a little, I'm hoping) with the neck divethere are 5 of them, after all!
- The input jack is recessed and has a "cup" around it, like the old Telecasters. I prefer a metal jack plate, simply because I like using right-angle cables (and already own a bunch of nice ones), which I won't be able to use with this bass. That's just a personal preference thing and not anything wrong with the design or construction, though.
If I were having this bass built from scratch, I think the only things I would change would be to address some neck dive issues (smaller headstock perhaps, longer upper strap horn), the input jack design, and maybe the color to translucent red, like my other instruments. Other than that, I'm thrilled with it.
The seller and I had agreed upon a return policy in case I didn't like the feel of it, which I seriously doubt will be necessary, but I have a gig tomorrow morning, so I'm going to try it out first to be 100% certain. Right now, I'd say I'm 90% in love with it, which is still an "A" in my book, but I need to spend more time with it on a strap to make sure it will work for me. It's a little heavier than my MTD Artist 5, but balances better (and it's also a 6-string!). Overall, it's a great bass. Kudos to Brian; you build an excellent instrument.
I also want to say thank you very much to Andy (emjazz). I wouldn't hesitate to buy from him again. He was easy to communicate with and very upfront with me. Thank you!
I'll check in tomorrow after my gig and let you guys know how it goes and, very likely, to get a Ristola Club number, too
Have a good night, guys
- Mama
Dave, thanks for such a long writeup. I really appreciate the time that you took to do so. It really is an excellent bass in so many ways. I have a feeling that you'll really enjoy that gig in the morning.
I actually had never noticed any neck dive issues, but considering the angle that you play the bass at, it makes sense that our experiences are different on that one.
I got used to the feel of those steel strings quite quickly. I use a four finger technique and was worried about the feel of the strings catching my fingers and slowing me down. I found out that Janek uses steel strings and I figured I'd give it a go as his tone is a bit more clear than Matt G's. As I said before, they really just worked on that bass for me. I can see why you'd keep some around for recording.....also, if you use coated the strings the frets will wear much less. I think it was my switch to steels that wore the frets down a bit.
As far as the B string goes, the first time you use it live you'll feel a great sense of joy....that B really sounds big live. I hear exactly what you're saying as far as unplugged, but every time I'd play a gig it sounded so good that I didn't worry about it at all. Also, I was going to try a 120 B string. You may want to do that. I'm going to try that on my next bass, which will be a 33" scale length. I've seen that a lot of folks using the shorter scale length basses are using lighter strings. There may be something to that.
I hear you on the knobs. Those were put on recently when I changed the preamp out from an ACG and just grabbed whatever Brian had lying around that looked good on the bass. My suggestion if you keep the bass, is to contact Brian about having some wooden knobs made for it. David King is making them for Brian. David makes them out of ebony and will use flamed maple caps to match the bass....the kicker is that he knurles the sides. I would suggest that you ask for indicator dots on the tops though as the one's I've seen haven't had them.
On....and on the input jack, I've talked to Brian about that. He feels that it's a much more reliable and longer lasting jack than what others use, so it's what he prefers. I like a top mounted jack though so that'll be on my next bass. I hear you on that one.
One thing that I will repeat that you said, Brian is one hell of a builder. I feel thankful to know him and to have been able to have gotten to play so many of his basses.
Anyhow, thanks for the report. Let me know if she's staying in your neck of the woods.
I actually had never noticed any neck dive issues, but considering the angle that you play the bass at, it makes sense that our experiences are different on that one.
I got used to the feel of those steel strings quite quickly. I use a four finger technique and was worried about the feel of the strings catching my fingers and slowing me down. I found out that Janek uses steel strings and I figured I'd give it a go as his tone is a bit more clear than Matt G's. As I said before, they really just worked on that bass for me. I can see why you'd keep some around for recording.....also, if you use coated the strings the frets will wear much less. I think it was my switch to steels that wore the frets down a bit.
As far as the B string goes, the first time you use it live you'll feel a great sense of joy....that B really sounds big live. I hear exactly what you're saying as far as unplugged, but every time I'd play a gig it sounded so good that I didn't worry about it at all. Also, I was going to try a 120 B string. You may want to do that. I'm going to try that on my next bass, which will be a 33" scale length. I've seen that a lot of folks using the shorter scale length basses are using lighter strings. There may be something to that.
I hear you on the knobs. Those were put on recently when I changed the preamp out from an ACG and just grabbed whatever Brian had lying around that looked good on the bass. My suggestion if you keep the bass, is to contact Brian about having some wooden knobs made for it. David King is making them for Brian. David makes them out of ebony and will use flamed maple caps to match the bass....the kicker is that he knurles the sides. I would suggest that you ask for indicator dots on the tops though as the one's I've seen haven't had them.
On....and on the input jack, I've talked to Brian about that. He feels that it's a much more reliable and longer lasting jack than what others use, so it's what he prefers. I like a top mounted jack though so that'll be on my next bass. I hear you on that one.
One thing that I will repeat that you said, Brian is one hell of a builder. I feel thankful to know him and to have been able to have gotten to play so many of his basses.
Anyhow, thanks for the report. Let me know if she's staying in your neck of the woods.
Hi Dave,
once again congrats on your new Ristola. Like emjazz posted, get with Brian on the issues you've noticed. His service is the best I've encountered and I'm confident he'll help you get things sorted out.
once again congrats on your new Ristola. Like emjazz posted, get with Brian on the issues you've noticed. His service is the best I've encountered and I'm confident he'll help you get things sorted out.
For anyone who doesn't already know, here's the specs on the bass that Brian just built for me:
Alder body
Figured bubinga top
2 Bartolini quad coil pickups
Aguilar OBP-3 preamp
Black Hipshot A-style bridge
Ebony control knobs
35" scale maple/purpleheart neck with inlaid graphite stiffening bars
Birdseye maple fingerboard
Black Hipshot Ultralite tuning gears
Schaller straplocks
Alder body
Figured bubinga top
2 Bartolini quad coil pickups
Aguilar OBP-3 preamp
Black Hipshot A-style bridge
Ebony control knobs
35" scale maple/purpleheart neck with inlaid graphite stiffening bars
Birdseye maple fingerboard
Black Hipshot Ultralite tuning gears
Schaller straplocks
Cool--I'm going to see if I can do something similar. How long did it take? Do you have an email address?
- Jun 19, 2004
- 4,782
- 83
- 42
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist, Schroeder Cabinets
I had a church date this morning and brought the Ristola.
It got mixed reviews from the band; the guitar player said he preferred my MTD, the rest of the band was either neutral or liked it. I should point out that at this gig, we were using a full IEM setup (Axiom 16-channel remotes), and all the instruments sound extremely bright & up-front through it. The way the board is set up, there is no EQ on the monitors, so everything is just direct and way too present.
This particular room (~1000 cap) has some sub-par acoustics that eat a lot of the high-end and tend to rumble, so while the bass sounded clanky and metallic through the in-ears, according to some musicians in the congregation who spoke to me afterward, it sounded *great* in the house. "I can finally hear the bass!" etc. The bass (and vocals, and everything else) is usually a slushy, muffled mess in that room.
I think the guitar player preferred my MTD (Artist 5, stock with single MusicMan-style 'bucker) because I keep it strung with DR coated strings, which are much duller sounding than this Ristola (Delano pickups, Aguilar preamp, and Fodera stainless steel strings). He's also an old-school guy (he plays a Nash relic'ed Tele, and an old '70s [?] Ovation semi-hollowbody electric) and I think he generally prefers the sound of a Fender with flats. Through the in-ears, I agree with him; however, as far as the house sound today, from what the audience and the soundman said, the Ristola is a far superior tone. He also might have had a bit of a predisposition against it because it's a 6-string, LOL. (The regular bassist at this church plays a 4 banger and they already give me grief for playing a 5-string, haha.)
This bass is a few pounds heavier than my MTD, and after a few hours (8 AM to noon), it was starting to weigh down a bit. However, it balances much better than my MTD, which is more important to me than overall weight, considering my goofy technique.
Overall, it's a great bass. It is more suited to styles where clarity, speed, and range are priorities, but worked just fine on a church gig, too. I'd *love* to try this at a funk gig, but I don't have any coming up, haha. I'll have to do something about that...
Anyway, Andy, I'm definitely keeping it! I might not even bother moving the strap button after all; it did dip down a bit on me, but not so much that it was a problem, and definitely not compared to my MTD. This is most likely going to be my new main bass.
I'll take some new pics soon, but can I go ahead and have a number in the meantime?
Best,
It got mixed reviews from the band; the guitar player said he preferred my MTD, the rest of the band was either neutral or liked it. I should point out that at this gig, we were using a full IEM setup (Axiom 16-channel remotes), and all the instruments sound extremely bright & up-front through it. The way the board is set up, there is no EQ on the monitors, so everything is just direct and way too present.
This particular room (~1000 cap) has some sub-par acoustics that eat a lot of the high-end and tend to rumble, so while the bass sounded clanky and metallic through the in-ears, according to some musicians in the congregation who spoke to me afterward, it sounded *great* in the house. "I can finally hear the bass!" etc. The bass (and vocals, and everything else) is usually a slushy, muffled mess in that room.
I think the guitar player preferred my MTD (Artist 5, stock with single MusicMan-style 'bucker) because I keep it strung with DR coated strings, which are much duller sounding than this Ristola (Delano pickups, Aguilar preamp, and Fodera stainless steel strings). He's also an old-school guy (he plays a Nash relic'ed Tele, and an old '70s [?] Ovation semi-hollowbody electric) and I think he generally prefers the sound of a Fender with flats. Through the in-ears, I agree with him; however, as far as the house sound today, from what the audience and the soundman said, the Ristola is a far superior tone. He also might have had a bit of a predisposition against it because it's a 6-string, LOL. (The regular bassist at this church plays a 4 banger and they already give me grief for playing a 5-string, haha.)
This bass is a few pounds heavier than my MTD, and after a few hours (8 AM to noon), it was starting to weigh down a bit. However, it balances much better than my MTD, which is more important to me than overall weight, considering my goofy technique.
Overall, it's a great bass. It is more suited to styles where clarity, speed, and range are priorities, but worked just fine on a church gig, too. I'd *love* to try this at a funk gig, but I don't have any coming up, haha. I'll have to do something about that...
Anyway, Andy, I'm definitely keeping it! I might not even bother moving the strap button after all; it did dip down a bit on me, but not so much that it was a problem, and definitely not compared to my MTD. This is most likely going to be my new main bass.
I'll take some new pics soon, but can I go ahead and have a number in the meantime?
Best,
I had a church date this morning and brought the Ristola.
It got mixed reviews from the band; the guitar player said he preferred my MTD, the rest of the band was either neutral or liked it. I should point out that at this gig, we were using a full IEM setup (Axiom 16-channel remotes), and all the instruments sound extremely bright & up-front through it. The way the board is set up, there is no EQ on the monitors, so everything is just direct and way too present.
This particular room (~1000 cap) has some sub-par acoustics that eat a lot of the high-end and tend to rumble, so while the bass sounded clanky and metallic through the in-ears, according to some musicians in the congregation who spoke to me afterward, it sounded *great* in the house. "I can finally hear the bass!" etc. The bass (and vocals, and everything else) is usually a slushy, muffled mess in that room.
I think the guitar player preferred my MTD (Artist 5, stock with single MusicMan-style 'bucker) because I keep it strung with DR coated strings, which are much duller sounding than this Ristola (Delano pickups, Aguilar preamp, and Fodera stainless steel strings). He's also an old-school guy (he plays a Nash relic'ed Tele, and an old '70s [?] Ovation semi-hollowbody electric) and I think he generally prefers the sound of a Fender with flats. Through the in-ears, I agree with him; however, as far as the house sound today, from what the audience and the soundman said, the Ristola is a far superior tone. He also might have had a bit of a predisposition against it because it's a 6-string, LOL. (The regular bassist at this church plays a 4 banger and they already give me grief for playing a 5-string, haha.)
This bass is a few pounds heavier than my MTD, and after a few hours (8-12), it was starting to weigh down a bit. However, it balances much better than my MTD, which is more important to me than overall weight, considering my goofy technique.
Overall, it's a great bass. It is more suited to styles where clarity, speed, and range are priorities, but worked just fine on a church gig, too. I'd *love* to try this at a funk gig, but I don't have any coming up, haha. I'll have to do something about that...
Anyway, Andy, I'm definitely keeping it! I might not even bother moving the strap button after all; it did dip down a bit on me, but not so much that it was a problem, and definitely not compared to my MTD. This is most likely going to be my new main bass.
I'll take some new pics soon, but can I go ahead and have a number in the meantime?
Best,
Hey Dave. That's great man. Be sure to set it up with your favorite strings and give it another whirl. I'll wait till the end of the week to move the funds to my account. Enjoy it my friend!
Andy.
Hey Nicky. I contacted Jon and he had it done in less than a week. Here's his email: [email protected]
Jon's a great person indeed. If I wasn't so happy with Brian's work then I'd probably go with Jon for a bass. He does great work. I'm heading down to his place soon to have him put a ramp on my Ibanez. Hopefully he'll have one of his newer designed basses to try out. He's made some changes since the last time I was there.
Check out the bridge that David King is making for me:
It still needs some finishing, but it's looking great so far.
This may not end up on my new Ristola, but I'm going to give it a test run on another bass for a few months.
The bridge is WAY more precisely machined than a Hipshot. The parts are all .001" clearence. Hipshot's parts are more like 20 times that. That should make a tonal difference in itself.
Oh, the wood is African blackwood. David says that it's about as hard as aluminum but it sounds more like ceramic when you tap it.
It still needs some finishing, but it's looking great so far.
This may not end up on my new Ristola, but I'm going to give it a test run on another bass for a few months.
The bridge is WAY more precisely machined than a Hipshot. The parts are all .001" clearence. Hipshot's parts are more like 20 times that. That should make a tonal difference in itself.
Oh, the wood is African blackwood. David says that it's about as hard as aluminum but it sounds more like ceramic when you tap it.
