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Show us your Martin Keith Basses

#141
Allison,

Being over 6’1” and on the higher side of ~225, I thought that the smaller body might be an issue with my “rounder” midsection. (Read that as I was more than a bit worried...)

I shouldn’t have. Martin builds basses that fit the masses. Not quite “skinny jeans”, but it fits me well. :)

John
 
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#143
Ricky Caboverde said:
Thanks @jharms80439! That's a great looking Elfin (love that fretboard) with crazy range...that of a 7-string?! :jawdrop:
Click to expand...

Yep, 1/2 step shy of a 7 on both ends (in a 5 string package)!

In 5ths, (7)R345789 runs lie under the left hand, 2nds, 6ths, 10ths & 13ths are one shift. I found 5ths easier as I “age”, but really started on a 6 in 4ths ~30 years ago and can still mostly play both, but any new material is 5ths only.

Mainly played 4s & 6s, & a few 7s for a while too. Never really was comfy on a 5 and had never owned one before this one. Found it almost impossible to get a good high B for a 5ths tuned 6. Hence why I went with a 5.

Found that a 6 in 4ths really aggravated my left wrist tendinitis. Short shifts in 5ths doesn’t. It’s even more comfy on a 4 with the range of a 5(+).

Fretless is where 5ths really shines though. I’m chatting with a Martin on a semi-hollow fretless build now. Just need to finish paying for this one before I commission the new build.

I’m heading towards a quarter sawn or flame Maple neck, understated but still figured Maple back & sides, and either spruce or redwood top, all with a medium-dark violin finish. I just need to decide whether it’ll be a 4 or a 5, I’m leaning towards a 4 though.

Also, unsure it I’ll go with an Elfin or Elfin Plus body size for a bit more acoustic tone. Frankly I need to spend some time listening to Allison’s (77stingray’s) YouTube recording with headphones. While that one is a true hollow and mine will be a semi, I think I’ll get a bit more of the acoustic tone with the bigger body - and a semi-hollow without all of the acoustic instrument hassles that go with living in Colorado and the HUGE humidity swings and the maintenance a true acoustic comes with.

FWIW, my upright is still a ply too. Terrific tone and great durability.

John
 
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#144
jharms80439 said:
Fretless is where 5ths really shines though. I’m chatting with a Martin on a semi-hollow fretless build now. Just need to finish paying for this one before I commission the new build. John
Click to expand...

Nice! I've followed the "Fifths only" thread for a while as I've been curious about a 4-string in 5ths so I could play some Bach cello pieces with the intended fingerings, for the most part. Also, I really love the feel of a 4-string neck; but I always want the low-B and G, so I kept coming back to 5-string.

I might be wrong, but I think @77stingray has a semi-hollow Elfin, while @emjazz has a true ABG Elfin. Not sure what body sizes either of the are, but both are absolutely stunning basses for sure!

I know you're thinking of a semi-hollow, but there is a fantastic fretless 5-string Elfin ABG at Music Go Round (and Reverb/eBay...actually, there are 2 on eBay), for whatever that's worth.
 
#145
Ricky,

Yep, saw that one (the 5 string hollowbody) on eBay & Reverb. Bit pricy though.

Problem for me is one of durability. I live in the CO mountains where wild humidity swings are the norm. Well that and I’m not the most diligent with the care and feeding of true acoustic instruments.

Plus, that one is a 5 and I’m REALLY leaning towards a 4 with an unlined ebony fingerboard. :)

I sold my NS CR4M recently (also strung in 5ths). It was my playing out in the winter upright bass. With the short gigs I play (usually lounge & restaurant stuff for only an hour or so with Jazzers, singer-songwriter or covers guitar player friends) hauling both stands (endpin and a K&M stand), bass, amp & pedalboard etc., bringing a bass guitar was a LOT easier.

The problem lies in the tone. Upright tone is a toughy in a a BG solid-body package. My particular fretless can get close with the right strings and a bit of Reverb. I think a semi-hollow will help quite a bit...

Now if I could find an Ibanez Artcore 4 (or perhaps a Turner Renaissance, Godin Ultra, etc.) in a fretless and for REALLY cheap, it’d be much less expensive test before I plunk down a big chunk of cash for another awesome MK bass. But then again I’m a big sucker for truly awesome sounding/playing basses.

John
 
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#146
This is from Martin regarding chambering v. hollow body instruments in the challenging CO environment (as I was asking him about both):

“I understand the concerns about climate - the fully Hollowbody basses are, indeed, a bit more like their big brethren in terms of care and feeding.

For challenging climates or demanding work schedules, chambered or semi-hollow basses are often preferable, and can offer much of the character of the fully hollow instrument, without the fragility of a genuine big box of air.

Please note that I differentiate "chambered" and "semi-hollow", and consider them both to be potential options in this case.

"Chambered", to me anyway, refers to a solidbody instrument which has been routed to reduce weight and add some internal airspace. These generally sound closer to solidbodies, but there will be a bit of "air" present in the sound that is reminiscent of an acoustic. This can be further accentuated with choices such as a wooden bridge and/or piezo pickup.

"Semi-hollow" is my term for an instrument that is built more like an acoustic (bent sides, and an "assembled" body construction) but with some amount of solid interior, usually in the form of a center block. The classic example of such an instrument is the Gibson ES-335.

To date, I haven't built a semi-hollow version of my Hollowbody instrument, but I'm dying to do so as I think it would really have a lot to say.”

^THIS is why Martin Keith is a terrific, class act, (insert appropriate adjective here), and why I’m ordering my bass from him...

John
 
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#147
Thanks for posting this John - according to this my fretless and the fanned fret in the video above are both chambered. My fretless has the wood bridge, piezo & magnetic and black nylon strings. The fanned fret had a regular metal bridge, roundwound nickel strings, and magnetic pickups. Two very different sounding basses. The fretless is definitely closer to that upright sound than the fanned fret.
 
#149
Looks like there are 2 fretless hollowbodies available that are used. The music zoo is in the US (black) and the reverb (violin Brown) is in Tokyo and a bit cheaper.

It does sound like the semi-hollow prototype would be perfect for your climate situation John. I can’t wait to see what that one sounds like. I hope to get one one day. Just bass rich and money poor at the moment!
 
#150
77stingray said:
Looks like there are 2 fretless hollowbodies available that are used. The music zoo is in the US (black) and the reverb (violin Brown) is in Tokyo and a bit cheaper.

It does sound like the semi-hollow prototype would be perfect for your climate situation John. I can’t wait to see what that one sounds like. I hope to get one one day. Just bass rich and money poor at the moment!
Click to expand...

Me too! :)

John
 
#156
Oh.... I like this post. Here is my Elfin 5 Plus. It’s got a pretty interesting electronics setup going on right now.

It starts with a 16 Position Stellartone ToneStyler with a 4-Way Dingwall Pickup Switch and a straight up on/off volume toggle switch (I need to find a black washer and nut for the switch). The volume is in my hands. Lol. I love this bass.

I’ve been thinking about installing Nordstrand Big Splits....
494C02DC-7F96-4BBD-9963-B327648509C4.jpeg
753AB0F6-5451-4707-B5FE-5E9AB5047D0B.jpeg
 
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#160
I am no longer playing 4 strings and I prefer 30-33” scale. If anyone has a medium scale MK I would certainly entertain a trade!

For Sale - Martin Keith Elfin 4

Feel free to ask Martin about the bass and the repair he did on it if you are interested (see sale thread). Rest assured the money from the sale will go back to Martin LOL. Either want a 32” 5 string version of this, or maybe I will go in for the semi-hollow prototype. Has anyone put a deposit down on that yet?
 
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