Show us your Martin Keith Basses

[J.Wolf]

It really is. I feel lucky to have them

 

[emjazz]

I'm an entirely blue collar player, especially compared to you and Mr. Keith, so I wouldn't put on airs with a semi-hollow* (this is just how my brain works). But I'll be drooling over them, for sure!


*On my wish list: a headless solidbody

Martin’s building in batches these days, and I know the headless batch is coming up in fall/winter!

 

[77stingray]

Would love to hear some video or audio

 

[Jeff Scott]

it does thick but acoustic-y uprighty quarter notes, it does singing high melodic tones, it does growly burpy bridge pickup tones.... Just insane....

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How can you tell with all those pedals in-line?

Is that a Micro POG I see hiding in the back, there? That was a really cool/fun pedal to use (when I had one a few years ago).

 

[J.Wolf]

That’s a standard pog. Cool pedal, rare that it gets used but I like to use it real subtly.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I always used both the processed and bypassed outputs to different channels; the upper octave was just barely mixed in to enhance certain things, occasionally.

 

[emjazz]

Good LORD!

 

[TapyTap]

Nice looking 6-string!

 

[JES]

Just a quick report from upstate New York. I spent a month in the Catskills and got to visit Martin's shop multiple times as the Space Guitar (see upthread) needed a bit of work. While there I got to lay hands on @emjazz's bass since it was in the shop and talk a lot with Martin. I am only more impressed with his craft, depth of knowledge, and sensibility as a luthier. And he appears to be busier than ever. Lots of bodies under construction.

He's also a damn fine bassist, as we caught a couple gigs he was playing (also see upthread for pictures from the first one). Absolutely thrilled that I came to him with my bizarre build idea. It started out as a prototype and is now a lifetime instrument. And as he said, it involved lots of his tricks: fanned fret, headless, thin body.

 

[emjazz]

Just a quick report from upstate New York. I spent a month in the Catskills and got to visit Martin's shop multiple times as the Space Guitar (see upthread) needed a bit of work. While there I got to lay hands on @emjazz's bass since it was in the shop and talk a lot with Martin. I am only more impressed with his craft, depth of knowledge, and sensibility as a luthier. And he appears to be busier than ever. Lots of bodies under construction.

He's also a damn fine bassist, as we caught a couple gigs he was playing (also see upthread for pictures from the first one). Absolutely thrilled that I came to him with my bizarre build idea. It started out as a prototype and is now a lifetime instrument. And as he said, it involved lots of his tricks: fanned fret, headless, thin body.

I was texting with Martin last night. He has more orders than he’s ever had at one time, and nothing could make me happier. So glad to see more people getting hip to his work, and of course that means they get to interact with a stellar human being as well. Grateful to have him as a friend.

Man…glad you’ve gotten to enjoy the Catskills…what a gorgeous area!!

 

[gscroggin]

Good LORD!
View attachment 5145612

Yeah that’s the holly bass I saw on his wall months ago when I visited. Pics don’t do it justice, something with the natural lighting I think. It looked less yellow and more ivory white. If you can hardly believe it, it’s more amazing in person.

 

[77stingray]

Amazing!

 

[J.Wolf]

Some more glamour shots of this spectacular bass… played a few gigs with it this weekend. It purrs, it sings, it growls.

 

[Aram]

Gorgeous! Did he switch from Gotoh to Hipshot tuners?

 

[emjazz]

I personally prefer the Hipshot by a large margin. I asked for them for my last bass. The Gotohs feel too loose to me.

 

[J.Wolf]

Not sure but these are Hipshots. I also greatly prefer them.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Not sure but these are Hipshots. I also greatly prefer them.

Yes, those are Hipshots.

 

[Fuzzbass]

I just finalized an order for a doublecut headless. It'll be painted blue, not as sexy as the gorgeous natural ones that most of you play, but I'm excited about it.

 

[smperry]

I just finalized an order for a doublecut headless. It'll be painted blue, not as sexy as the gorgeous natural ones that most of you play, but I'm excited about it.

I'm excited about that! 5 string? pickup configuration?

 

[smperry]

I personally prefer the Hipshot by a large margin. I asked for them for my last bass. The Gotohs feel too loose to me.

I prefer the smoothness of the Gotohs, but don't mind Hipshots at all. My red bass has Hipshots, and my others, Gotohs.