Wow man, those Elfin SemiHollow and Hollowbody models look amazing! I think I'll have to put one on my wish list. 
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Show us your Martin Keith Basses
- Thread starter 77stingray
- Start date
So happy to see people discussing Martin's basses. There's no one I'd feel better about giving my money to. Martin's the man!
Yeah, I don't know if they make mine anymore, but it was a custom at the time (around ten years ago).
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Martin has had my acoustic 6 string bass for some time as he had to rework the neck angle/bridge height to alleviate the string tension. This was the first 6 string acoustic bass, and we knew it may need some tweaking along the way to get it right. I also asked for the controls to be hidden a bit as they were a bit in the way (I had asked for the controls not to be on the face of the bass as they were on previous versions). I think this looks amazing!!!!
So I have some great news Martin is installing a Noll preamp, along with new pickups in my Spector bass right now! I am hoping to have it back within a couple weeks.
And I am super excited about ordering an Elfin 4 from him!
I was really surprised on the wait time that he quoted me too!
And I am super excited about ordering an Elfin 4 from him!
I was really surprised on the wait time that he quoted me too!
Martin is a great guy. We have had the opportunity to spend time together over breakfast a couple of times back in 2010 after I got my first Elfin 5 (fretless) from the 2010 NAMM Show (this bass was reviewed in the June 2010 issue of Bass Player). Martin was in town for a convention so made sure to meet up with him. I'd like to get out his way sometime and check out the old Byrdcliffe "Utopian" Society buildings.
I am taking a vacation to Upstate NY this 4th of July week (where I was born and raised) and would love to stop by and meet him, but it's just a little too far away from where I'll be unfortunately.
Maybe one day I could visit the baseball hall of fame and meet Martin in the same trip!
Looks like Martin has some others in progress!
My acoustic bass is ready but it's in upstate and I'm in the city with no car .....H E L P
If you ever make it look me up. I’m 20 minutes from the Byrdcliffe colony, my daughter has danced in the theatre a couple times!
Nice shot of my Elfin 5 from the worship service last weekend
I keep wondering about a 6-string. Any of y'all with a 6er...please post some pics
I keep wondering about a 6-string. Any of y'all with a 6er...please post some pics
Here is the 6 I had for awhile - there is a video around page 6 of this thread. Really amazing sounding bass. DCB’s passive!
It unfortunately ended up being a prototype that will be sent back. Beautiful bass, but now that the bridge has been reworked a few times it's not staying glued down. We've learned a lot, and we're going to simplify. Going with his semi hollow design and probably a single pickup with no piezo.
Me too. He'll know when he gets it back.
No issues other than getting the balance right from string to string is challenging. I think that's had more to do with the bridge lifting this time, though. I feel that I can get by without a piezo myself. I can get basically the same thing by adding low end to a mag pickup. I cut most of the high end from the piezo out anyway.
I believe a lot was learned through this bass, for both of us. In the end I need an instrument that I can rely more on, so the next will be far less complex. The semi hollow design has a center block. That will give us a great deal more stability, with still plenty of air in the sound. In the end it'll give me a great deal more peace of mind.
Not sure if I'd posted this in the past but, if so, here it is again, a detail shot of the binding on my fretted Elfin 5.
I am looking forward to seeing and hearing the new semi-hollow design!
Have you decided what pickup and where will it be placed?
Have you decided what pickup and where will it be placed?
