Yes, absolutely stellar and very tempting if it was fretted!
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Show us your Martin Keith Basses
- Thread starter 77stingray
- Start date
Yes, absolutely stellar and very tempting if it was fretted!
Had a hang with my good friend Jochem here in Brooklyn last night. He has a small collection of MK basses, so I was able to spend some time checking them out. His amazing semi hollow fretless is with Martin getting a pickup change, so my friend has the fretless at the moment that Martin has for sale (my friend may buy it, or order a similar one). The fretless is gorgeous. Tons of mwah. I don't personally love piezos, but even just a touch gives the bass a bigger bloom in the low end. Really nice. I suspect with tapewounds or flats I'd love the piezo. Incredible bass.
Now...Jochem's fretted 6 string is another story for me. I had never played it plugged in, but a quick try once made me think it just felt too big for my tastes, with a wider spacing at both the bridge and the nut than I'm used to. It also has a single Delano Xtender pickup, so I figured all around it wasn't a bass that would interest me. I couldn't have been more wrong. It's an insanely versatile bass, with active/passive and a two band pre. I'm extremely impressed by the pickup. What an amazing pickup. One of the few pickups that I liked all three sounds from (single/parallel/series), but in series with the preamp engaged, it brings me back to everything that I love about the e. bass sounds of the 90's, but more clear and natural. I was hooked! One of those basses that you play and can't stop thinking about, and because it felt so amazing to play, and because it sounded so unbelievably great, I adjusted to the wider spacing immediately. No issues at all.
I know that I gush about Martin's work a great deal, but it's only because I had been through soooo many basses in my life and career. I know that part of that is my just growing older and having more experience, but it's also because Martin's work just does it for me on every level. I woke up still thinking about that 6 string, and it made me even more excited about my upcoming headless 6.
Now...Jochem's fretted 6 string is another story for me. I had never played it plugged in, but a quick try once made me think it just felt too big for my tastes, with a wider spacing at both the bridge and the nut than I'm used to. It also has a single Delano Xtender pickup, so I figured all around it wasn't a bass that would interest me. I couldn't have been more wrong. It's an insanely versatile bass, with active/passive and a two band pre. I'm extremely impressed by the pickup. What an amazing pickup. One of the few pickups that I liked all three sounds from (single/parallel/series), but in series with the preamp engaged, it brings me back to everything that I love about the e. bass sounds of the 90's, but more clear and natural. I was hooked! One of those basses that you play and can't stop thinking about, and because it felt so amazing to play, and because it sounded so unbelievably great, I adjusted to the wider spacing immediately. No issues at all.
I know that I gush about Martin's work a great deal, but it's only because I had been through soooo many basses in my life and career. I know that part of that is my just growing older and having more experience, but it's also because Martin's work just does it for me on every level. I woke up still thinking about that 6 string, and it made me even more excited about my upcoming headless 6.
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My buddy @fishdreams and I had a wonderful visit with Martin tonight. I was so happy to get some time with friends, to get a little work done on my semi hollow, and to see what Martin is working on. Really exciting stuff!
Hey all! I can finally share with you a record that I made entirely with my Martin Keith semi hollow bass!
Thank you so much for buying the record!!Congrats, and I really like this track! Just purchased the album
Mike!! Thank you, man. I really hope you enjoy it!
I've been rehearsing with a songwriter thing in NYC. It's been a total blast, but I've been spoiled by my MK basses on everything else that I play. If money wasn't an issue then I'd have a bass from Martin to cover everything and anything that I come across. How's everyone getting on with their MK basses?
Got a question from Martin about what strings I want on mine, so I think things are nearing the end!
Now that I’ve been playing my two (second hand) MK basses for a few years, I’ve decided to take the plunge on something brand new with Martin. We just started talking about it a few weeks ago, so I’ll share the specs once we firm things up. I’ve owned lots of nice custom/non-mass produced instruments over the years, but never anything where I was involved at the genesis, so I’m pretty excited at the prospect.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone
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Oh man, what great news! Martin is the very best to work with, and there's nothing like playing an instrument each day that you've dreamt up and had made for yourself. It's a really special thing. Congrats!!Now that I’ve been playing my two (second hand) MK basses for a few years, I’ve decided to take the plunge on something brand new with Martin. We just started talking about it a few weeks ago, so I’ll share the specs once we firm things up. I’ve owned lots of nice custom/non-mass produced instruments over the years, but never anything where I was involved at the genesis, so I’m pretty excited at the prospect.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone
Now that I’ve been playing my two (second hand) MK basses for a few years, I’ve decided to take the plunge on something brand new with Martin. We just started talking about it a few weeks ago, so I’ll share the specs once we firm things up. I’ve owned lots of nice custom/non-mass produced instruments over the years, but never anything where I was involved at the genesis, so I’m pretty excited at the prospect.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone
I'm looking forward to hearing the details!
I just bought the album. Sounds beautiful.
I'm playing mine a lot still, especially my headless.
Planning to order a six string next year, for a milestone birthday I've got coming up.
Thank you for buying the record my friend!!
My headless hasn't really been started yet. I told Martin to focus on his other builds first, but I'm REALLY looking forward to it when it comes around. Good thing about these is once they're in the world, we get to play them for the rest of our lives. Well worth the wait!
Martin mentioned trying to figure out another headpiece solution as the nut width I use is more narrow than the others should handle comfortably.
I did get to see my top wood that he'll use, a really subtle and beautiful piece of Mango...something he hasn't used before.
@mikezimmerman Hey Mike! Just found a pic of the inside of your soon to be new bass! From what I remember the braces inside came from wood from a very old train trestle.
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