Show us your Martin Keith Basses

[77stingray]

@smperry my E to F Muckelroy has Delano Times Square pickups. They were designed with solo playing in mind and they have high end “sizzle” super clear. They sound amazing- that being said, I wouldn’t use this bass in a regular band setting where I was just holding down the low end. Maybe with some EQing, but that is not my strong point. This bass is passive with 3 way coil switching.

 

[77stingray]

This one is 33” scale and can get a little ice pickie to the ears in the upper register. Not sure if it is the pickups, the scale length, the tuning or all three. I hope to avoid that with bass I am designing with Martin. I turn down the high mids at the amp and it helps some.

 

[smperry]

I have a feeling that your two solid bodies are roughly in the same area as my current 6 with Aero dual coils (although mine is totally solid in a busy rock band). The hollow or semi hollow construction is likely the ticket.

 

[emjazz]

@smperry Here you are my friend. Super dry and direct. Couldn't mic my cab in the moment...had a bunch of things going on in the house...would have given it a warmer sound. Gave you both unaffected and then with some reverb. My bass is strung with LaBella Low Tension Flats. Hope this helps!

 

[smperry]

Thank you! That will help. It sounds great.

 

[emjazz]

Thank you! That will help. It sounds great.

It's just so incredibly even from top to bottom. I do wish I could get even lighter flats for it. Would love even less tension. A shorter scale would fix that.

 

[smperry]

It's just so incredibly even from top to bottom. I do wish I could get even lighter flats for it. Would love even less tension. A shorter scale would fix that.

Strings are a big part of the equation. Flats are the right call, if I can find something that goes E-F on 32” scale.

 

[emjazz]

Strings are a big part of the equation. Flats are the right call, if I can find something that goes E-F on 32” scale.

Last I spoke to Daniele Camarda (look him up!) he has found a flatwound F from D'Addario.

 

[emjazz]

Just want to say that my semi hollow bass continues to blow me away. It's everything I had hoped for and then some. It responds like a great instruments should. A far greater range dynamically than a solidbody bass. Everything you put into it is returned. It truly is a masterpiece, and I feel incredibly grateful to get to play it. Martin is one of the great builders in the world for sure.

 

[emjazz]

Got word last week from Martin that two semi hollow basses were beginning...my fretless 6 and one from another member here. Very excited to see them both take shape!

Hope you and your families are all staying healthy.

 

[77stingray]

This just in from Martin! Check out that beautiful bridge! Also check out the bass behind this one with the maple leaf, super cool!

 

[emjazz]

View attachment 4192866 This just in from Martin! Check out that beautiful bridge! Also check out the bass behind this one with the maple leaf, super cool!View attachment 4192864View attachment 4192865

You are in for the treat of your life. Once you play the semi hollow there's no going back.

 

[emjazz]

My pickups from Nordstrand get to Martin today. Our basses are being built together so mine is about there as well. In perfect Martin fashion he's come up with a new bridge design specifically for his fretless basses. I love that guy. What a pro.

Congrats, A!!

 

[bholder]

worthy!

 

[emjazz]

Here's a video that I was part of last week. I recorded the music with my Martin Keith semi hollow 6 string.

 

[JES]

Here's a video that I was part of last week. I recorded the music with my Martin Keith semi hollow 6 string.

really nice composition, @emjazz !

 

[emjazz]

really nice composition, @emjazz !

Thank you so much!

 

[fishdreams]

How did I miss this thread all this time? My fretless and fretted 4string semis. A 6 string solid is on order since this weekend.

 

[fishdreams]

2 aspects of Martin's basses I really like are that the necks are super stiff (which is great with these changing NY humidities and temperature when you like low setups) and that you can take the bass apart and back together in 5 minutes. I could take it on 100% stress-free business travel (body in suitcase, neck with me in cabin). I made a record in the Bay Area with some great local musicians that way.
This is the fretless with some generous use of the ehx pitchfork.

 

[emjazz]

2 aspects of Martin's basses I really like are that the necks are super stiff (which is great with these changing NY humidities and temperature when you like low setups) and that you can take the bass apart and back together in 5 minutes. I could take it on 100% stress-free business travel (body in suitcase, neck with me in cabin). I made a record in the Bay Area with some great local musicians that way.
This is the fretless with some generous use of the ehx pitchfork.

This is great, Jochem!!!