Cool! Sadly, I am still waiting on UPS to complete delivery, but with any luck it should be here today...
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Show us your Martin Keith Basses
- Thread starter 77stingray
- Start date
- Apr 29, 2003
- 9,078
- 9,800
- Disclosures
- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
Oof...sorry my man. Maybe see if you can pick it up from their hub tomorrow? I've done that myself before...and, they somehow missed me today, so are trying again tomorrow.
I remember having to get pretty upset before they let me do that...unfortunately
...and, they somehow missed me today, so are trying again tomorrow.
I think I speak for everyone when I say
Package just arrived, seemingly intact, but with single-digit temps outside, I need to give it a while to acclimate before I actually open it...
Ok, I could only wait a couple of hours, but it was fine, and the bass is spectacular!
The flamed mahogany bindings remind me a little of snakewood, and they are great at pulling the whole look of the bass together.
The neck is perfect, and feels even better than the Bordwells it was modeled after! I wasn’t sure how the composite neck construction would affect the feel, but it does have a stiffness and solidness that I wasn’t expecting.
I like how the shaft of the neck is satin but the facings and bindings are gloss, and Martin found a really lovely piece of Macassar ebony for the fretboard.
The acoustic volume is certainly enough for practice, though it’s not nearly so loud as my Martin. Plugged in, it definitely has that acoustic quality to it!
The flamed mahogany bindings remind me a little of snakewood, and they are great at pulling the whole look of the bass together.
The neck is perfect, and feels even better than the Bordwells it was modeled after! I wasn’t sure how the composite neck construction would affect the feel, but it does have a stiffness and solidness that I wasn’t expecting.
I like how the shaft of the neck is satin but the facings and bindings are gloss, and Martin found a really lovely piece of Macassar ebony for the fretboard.
The acoustic volume is certainly enough for practice, though it’s not nearly so loud as my Martin. Plugged in, it definitely has that acoustic quality to it!
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Not unlike that on my Yamamotos. Here are some detail shots of the MS-12 for comparison.
Nice! I have to admit, I'm digging the armrest. I've never had an acoustic before that had one...
They really are a help in the comfort department.
My other Yamamoto (Talus VS-12) has three bevels (arm, chest, and leg). Both also have the Manzer Wedge™, particular useful on the MS-12 as it makes the jumbo body not seem so large.
Oh my heart! Seeing the bass brings back so many great memories. The body of that bass when it was a six was played at the Montreal Jazz festival for it's first gig ever. Man...I'm beyond happy to see it back to life!! Yeah, Mike!!!
Those were never meant to be played acoustically, but I agree that it's great for practicing.
Mike, how's the Zen Blade in that bass?
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The Zen Blade is very balanced in that position, and I'm really liking it with just a touch of piezo to give it some "air".
My fiancé and I took a drive yesterday and got to spend a few hours with Martin in person. What a wonderful experience! Besides really enjoying his company and discovering that he's even nicer in person, I learned a ton. We've been talking about a few different builds for a bit, but we've narrowed it down now. Once I lock it in (hopefully very soon) I'll post the details here.
He had so many nice things to say about so many of you here as existing customers. I saw a few things in progress, including an amazing 6 string with a holly top. I'd seen holly before online, but it always looked yellowish. This was much whiter, almost ivory, and looked so elegant. It didn't have a coat of anything on it yet though. Regardless it helped push me in a direction with my build.
Punch line; if you ever get the opportunity to meet Martin in person, do it! The added bonus was we got to check out the little downtown of Woodstock afterward, which was fun.
He had so many nice things to say about so many of you here as existing customers. I saw a few things in progress, including an amazing 6 string with a holly top. I'd seen holly before online, but it always looked yellowish. This was much whiter, almost ivory, and looked so elegant. It didn't have a coat of anything on it yet though. Regardless it helped push me in a direction with my build.
Punch line; if you ever get the opportunity to meet Martin in person, do it! The added bonus was we got to check out the little downtown of Woodstock afterward, which was fun.
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Martin is genuinely one of the kindest people around. So happy you could meet!
- Apr 29, 2003
- 9,078
- 9,800
- Disclosures
- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
She'll be comin round the mountain..... (bridge is just a mock up so far)
Can’t wait to see how it looks all finished up with a antique violin stain over that Spruce!
Can’t wait to see how it looks all finished up with a antique violin stain over that Spruce!
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