Sei Owner's Club (Part 2)

[sei24bass]

markpoulter5150 - Welcome to those that have been bitten by the SEI bug...once tried never forgotten!

Bubinga is a lovely wood, usually a warm reddy brown colour and sometimes with amazing grain (e.g. quilted bubinga and especially waterfall bubinga). Its basic tone is bright clear and clean, with deep pronounced lows. It does tend to be quite heavy though, so is more often used as a neck or facing wood rather than a body wood (e.g. my SEI 9 string will have a Wenge neck with bubinga stringers). What other woods are you thinking about?

 

[BigRedX]

By Sei Bass has a bubinga body (with sycamore facings) and a bubinga and maple neck.

BTW pics are up on the Sei site (YES!!), but I won't be able to pick it up for another 2 weeks ... :-(

 

[markpoulter5150]

hey thanks well my first bass had a Bubinga body and it sounded great I dont mind the bass being heavy I’m been playing a six string Cort bass for the last 5 years and it weights roughly half a ton and my mate that have played it moaned about the weight but it dont bother me as I’m quite heavy myself lol well I’m looking at Bubinga body maple neck with Bubinga strips in the middle so it will go maple Bubinga maple Bubinga maple Bubinga maple if you get what I’m on about and ebony fret board stainless steel frets Kent Armstrong pickups cant remember what preamp but I want a push pull active passive vol witch will leave me with vol pot, balance pot, passive tone, and I really dont know what top to have but I would like it to be a light colour wood sorry for spelling whoever reads this

 

[BigRedX]

I'm sure that Martin will be able to guide you in the areas where you're not so certain about what you want.

When I was sorting out the specifications for my bass, I knew which basic Sei shape I wanted, how I wanted the bass to sound and look, but not really anything else. Martin took my ideas and has made them work in a beautiful looking bass.

 

[markpoulter5150]

so you think I've got to a good point where I just been to book a time to see him talk about it and order it?

 

[BigRedX]

I think so. You have some ideas about what you want, and some areas still need sorting out. The great thing is because Sei is based at the Gallery, there's a whole shop full of wonderful basses to try out when you need to get some ideas for the areas you're not certain about. That and Martin's expertise will help you fill in the missing pieces.

 

[markpoulter5150]

thats great thanks for all your help mate I should be able to work out what I can spend in the next month or so so I'll be popping in to the Gallery for a chat is it a good idea to Phone up and book a time to see Martin?

 

[sei24bass]

Sorry, looks like I pitched too low in describing Bubinga. Also looks like I'm a wimp wanting to make my basses light...

BigRedX is right. Sounds like you've got the basic idea of what you want, so it's time for you to have a chat with Martin. Call him and arrange a time to spend a good hour discussing the finer details with him. Then tell us all about it...

BigRedX - Your bass is truly one of the most beautiful fretless basses I've ever seen. Truly gorgeous.

 

[markpoulter5150]

ok will tell all when I book in to see him theres nothink wrong with wanting a light bass if the tone you wants there like jeff berlin with his super light bass then go for it Im into weightlifting so i see a gig as a gym outing all in one ) so the guys that have ordered a bass do I need to look out for anythin for you?

 

[BigRedX]

BigRedX - Your bass is truly one of the most beautiful fretless basses I've ever seen. Truly gorgeous.

Thanks - From the pictures its turned out even better than I'd originally envisaged! Just can't wait to get to play it now. Looks like it's going to be sometime around the 20th now...

 

[matthewfoote]

Thanks - From the pictures its turned out even better than I'd originally envisaged! Just can't wait to get to play it now. Looks like it's going to be sometime around the 20th now...

BigRedX

Just seen the photos of your bass on the Sei site. It is simply stunning! The stain finish works so well and is different as well as beautiful.

Congratulations

Regards

Matthew

 

[Paddy]

Hey guys - hope all are well.

Sei24Bass How's the leg coming on, must be getting you down. AT least when I done my wrist I could get about!. Awesome 8 string btw - I'm totally digging the facings

BigRedX - When you getting your hands on that? That's some finish!!!

Juan_King Yep you can officially lose the '(w)' now You gotta be pleased with that . Do I spy Kent Armstrongs in there - how are they? (Sure you posted the specs but with so much going on I lose the plot as to whose got what!:scowl

Mark - my '91 Wick 5 string was pure Bubinga and pure back breaker! This thing weighted a tonne. It's at the Gallery at the moment so check out the weight of that bad boy! Tonewise it's gorgeous - can anyone say Growl . Having said that, my fretted Sei (by design!) outgrowls the Wick and is half the weight. Martin pulled that rabbit out the hat for me.

Philiprst - Sei24bass has posted some wonderful advice there! I'm still grateful to Matthew when he gave me some great advice prior to my first build. FWIW - I see these builds very much as partnerships being Martin and his clients. You need to know what you want out of your bass but allow Martin to guide.

---------

When you guys get to place your orders don't forget to PM me for membership numbers

Any of you guys checked out Tim Bennett out on YouTube? He's an Aussie that I stumbled upon - good stuff. Thanks to him and Mike's loopie vids I got a looper en-route to me for playing with lol. Mike - my bank manager says "Thanks!" - Click here for some looping fun

 

[Paddy]

Up to date membership listing for your delictation

1 - MatthewFoote
2 - RustyChainsaw
3 - 7String
4 - Paddy (That's me that is!)
5 - mapfbadger
6 - bassplayer2106
7 - Thonk
8 - Peik
9 - Howie
10 - Sei24Bass
11 - Fretless Bob
12 - Largo
13 - Not In Use !!
14 - Mike Flynn
15 - Kevin Lindsay
16 - Nick Bassman
17 - Juan_King
18 - MistahBenn
19 - DaveMarks
20 - Melt
21 - BigRedX
22 - DutchWife
23 - SuperSeagulls
24 – Owl
25 – Kcoble
26 – bob_sixer
27 – Bill_e_Bob
28 – J_Bass
29 – DuneyTunes
30 – To Be Re-Allocated
31 – BigMattRansley

 

[BigRedX]

Thanks for all your comments about the looks... I have to say that the colour ideas were unashamedly cribbed from Invalid Link Removed. I just had Martin change the bits I didn't like such as the rather anonymous wood on the back and the neck (that bit of neck visible at the front ruins the whole look for me). The piece that Martin suggested for the fingerboard was pure genius!

I won't be able to get any time off to go and pick up the bass for another 2 weeks... to anticipation is killing me!

 

[sei24bass]

Paddy, how are you and have you moved to Ireland yet? Thanks for the kind comments re the SEI 8 and also enquiring about the ankle, which I think is doing well but will not know for sure until they do an x-ray in about 2.5 weeks time...

Markpoulter5150, I would be interested in hearing if you see a huge wide wenge & bubinga neck with maple coachlines...the SEI 9 neck! I would love to go and see it, but I'm going nowhere at the moment with this broken ankle of mine.

 

[Rusty Chainsaw]

Paddy, how are you and have you moved to Ireland yet? Thanks for the kind comments re the SEI 8 and also enquiring about the ankle, which I think is doing well but will not know for sure until they do an x-ray in about 2.5 weeks time...

Paddy - you're moving to Ireland? I lived there for 8 months or so about a year back, loved it. Beautiful place, nice scenery, great people and plenty to do. Hoping to go back there next year once we've got the US out of our systems.

 

[AidanHampson]

Thanks Paddy, my sig has been duly amended.

I gigged my Sei for the 1st time last night and had a fantastic time with it. 2 things struck me to begin with, the pure easiness to play and the clarity of the tone. I could play things on this bass that I've never been able to play before and rolling the neck p/up on made a huge round sound whilst still not becoming overbearing. Our soundman said that it wasn't actually any louder, but the clarity of tone filled out the bottom end so much that it seemed to stretch much further (if that makes sense?).

As the gig went on into the 2nd hour, I noticed that the weight of the instrument didn't affect me at all, unlike with my previous basses. I did ask Martin to keep the weight down as much as possible and this has been done really well, without any loss of punch or bottom end. The bridge p/up was just as fun to play. With the neck having such a slim playable contour, I found I was able to fly around the neck much more easily and using this p/up brought out the definition really well. I found myself trying to pull off a few Jaco licks and almost succeeding!

I'm really looking forward to using it again, if the Sei can relieve the boredom of playing through the rest of this year's weddings then it's been money well spent!

Aidan

 

[7string]

Blimey, so much going on here !!

Have to say I love BigRedX's Sei. Looks damn fine

Great to hear others are getting the Sei bug as well. I might have been tempted by a Sei Jazz recently, but I bought a James Tyler instead, sight unseen from The Gallery (where else !). Besides, 'Jezebel' might have got somewhat jealous with another Sei in the rack !!

 

[Paddy]

Paddy - you're moving to Ireland?

Been thinking about it for some time now - things have changed slightly here so a move won't be for at least 6 months now.

My Parents, Sister and her kids move there next week. Think I'll be a bit silly not to go as well

 

[sei24bass]

philiprst, have you got to talk with Martin yet? I presume he is back from his holidays at the moment...