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Show us your Martin Keith Basses

#561
Got the deposit sent off to Martin for the acoustic 5-string, and got him some measurements from my wide-necked Bordwell 5 to get the neck dimensions finalized. Also heard back from Adrian at Nordstrand with some more information about the Zen Blade. Not positive if that one will work for this application or not, but I'm sure we'll be able to work something out.

Very exciting!
 
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#562
mikezimmerman said:
Got the deposit sent off to Martin for the acoustic 5-string, and got him some measurements from my wide-necked Bordwell 5 to get the neck dimensions finalized. Also heard back from Adrian at Nordstrand with some more information about the Zen Blade. Not positive if that one will work for this application or not, but I'm sure we'll be able to work something out.

Very exciting!
Click to expand...
REALLY excited to see this come to life!!
 
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#563
mikezimmerman said:
Got the deposit sent off to Martin for the acoustic 5-string, and got him some measurements from my wide-necked Bordwell 5 to get the neck dimensions finalized. Also heard back from Adrian at Nordstrand with some more information about the Zen Blade. Not positive if that one will work for this application or not, but I'm sure we'll be able to work something out.

Very exciting!
Click to expand...

Very cool! I love the Zen Blades in my Bordwell 4-string. I think the Zen Blade will work well in your Martin Keith 5.
 
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#565
emjazz said:
Any progress on the headless?

I inquired with Martin about a simple headless 6 string today. Will see how it shakes out!

I hope everyone is doing well!!
Click to expand...

I'm waiting to see more update photos. Last I spoke with Martin (about 5 weeks ago), he was getting ready to work on on cutting fret slots and gluing on the fretboard. This would be followed by fret installation, sanding, and then working on the finish...it's got to be very close now! As soon as I get photos, I'll be sure to post them here.

That's awesome that you have inquired about a 6-string headless! Any details to share?
 
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#566
TapyTap said:
I'm waiting to see more update photos. Last I spoke with Martin (about 5 weeks ago), he was getting ready to work on on cutting fret slots and gluing on the fretboard. This would be followed by fret installation, sanding, and then working on the finish...it's got to be very close now! As soon as I get photos, I'll be sure to post them here.

That's awesome that you have inquired about a 6-string headless! Any details to share?
Click to expand...
It would be super simple. A one piece alder body, maple neck, pau ferro board, two pickups with maybe pau ferro covers, and passive. I want something with a big open sound, and the convenience of the headless design. Have thought about a top, or maybe just a stain on the alder....we'll see!

Really excited to see how yours turns out!
 
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#567
emjazz said:
It would be super simple. A one piece alder body, maple neck, pau ferro board, two pickups with maybe pau ferro covers, and passive. I want something with a big open sound, and the convenience of the headless design. Have thought about a top, or maybe just a stain on the alder....we'll see!

Really excited to see how yours turns out!
Click to expand...

That sounds very nice to me! 33" scale? What pickups are you considering?
 
#568
TapyTap said:
That sounds very nice to me! 33" scale? What pickups are you considering?
Click to expand...
Trying to figure out the pickups. I usually use the BigRig pickups (with a custom narrow aperture bridge BR), but may try something different. I was seeing if I could get a P pickup, but in line and not staggered, and in a soapbar...no go. Would love a Bartolini dual or quad coil, but I don't want to use a preamp, and those sound better with a preamp. There's a bass that I sold long ago that was great for anything at all. I'm trying to get a compact version of something like that...it had Bart dual coils wired in series and a Nordstrand preamp. Trying to avoid a preamp, though. I may have to suck it up and go with a normal P in the neck, with maybe a narrow BigRig in the bridge....I just hate how a giant 6 string P pickup looks. Shallow, I know. Would prefer to stick with soapbars.
 
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#571
emjazz said:
Trying to figure out the pickups. I usually use the BigRig pickups (with a custom narrow aperture bridge BR), but may try something different. I was seeing if I could get a P pickup, but in line and not staggered, and in a soapbar...no go. Would love a Bartolini dual or quad coil, but I don't want to use a preamp, and those sound better with a preamp. There's a bass that I sold long ago that was great for anything at all. I'm trying to get a compact version of something like that...it had Bart dual coils wired in series and a Nordstrand preamp. Trying to avoid a preamp, though. I may have to suck it up and go with a normal P in the neck, with maybe a narrow BigRig in the bridge....I just hate how a giant 6 string P pickup looks. Shallow, I know. Would prefer to stick with soapbars.
Click to expand...

I wish that I knew pickups better than I do to offer a suggestion. I'm not a fan of onboard preamps. Yeah, I get what you are saying about the big P pickup look. :D

emjazz said:
Here's the bass that I used to have, from my friend Brian Ristola. I remember struggling with the amp at the gig, so I'm using more bridge pickup on this. GREAT bass that is making a TBer super happy, and that makes me happy...but it's time to have a more traditional e. bass with me again.
Click to expand...


That tone worked well for that piece. Nice playing too!
 
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#572
emjazz said:
Trying to figure out the pickups. I usually use the BigRig pickups (with a custom narrow aperture bridge BR), but may try something different. I was seeing if I could get a P pickup, but in line and not staggered, and in a soapbar...no go. Would love a Bartolini dual or quad coil, but I don't want to use a preamp, and those sound better with a preamp. There's a bass that I sold long ago that was great for anything at all. I'm trying to get a compact version of something like that...it had Bart dual coils wired in series and a Nordstrand preamp. Trying to avoid a preamp, though. I may have to suck it up and go with a normal P in the neck, with maybe a narrow BigRig in the bridge....I just hate how a giant 6 string P pickup looks. Shallow, I know. Would prefer to stick with soapbars.
Click to expand...

What about Carey's Big Split pickup, as a 6? https://nordstrandaudio.com/products/big-split-5
I haven't spent a lot of time with a bass with that pickup, but that sounds like what you're looking for.
 
#577
TapyTap said:
I wonder if they can make that for 16.5mm spacing?
Click to expand...

emjazz said:
I actually have a Big Split bridge pickup that I took out of my bass. I've never tried one in the neck position though.
Click to expand...

In my experience with Carey and company, I'd bet they can do it for 16.5mm...but maybe it's not what emjazz wants.
 
#580
emjazz said:
I already have a 16.5mm bridge pickup of that. They can do it. I think I've gotten so used to pickups in series that the Big Split was a bit underwhelming for me.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Now I know! I tend to find myself using series over parallel almost all of the time regardless of pickups.

I am also realizing more and more that I am a two pickup player. I love the simplicity of a single pickup instrument, but I just can't get the tone I am usually after with only one pickup...not yet at least!
 
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