Single Cut Basses Love or Hate?

[Passinwind]

The only single-cut basses I've seen that appeal to me (visually) are the Contra series by Marleaux...

View attachment 4993583

I always had to restrain myself from trying one of those when I was working in a directly adjacent NAMM booth.

 

[rabidwolverine]

Love my Warwick Thumb Single Cut. You would think because it’s a Warwick it could be heavy and awkward, but this thing balances so nicely. I think it’s a very successful evolution of the thumb design.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Another second for the Stradi Symphony!
Or most anything made by Marek Dabek.
Pure understated elegance!

 

[totalnoob]

Wishbass Lobes. 4, 5 & 6. View attachment 4994162

I like that style of headstock. But could you please post a higher resolution image? That's almost a thumbnail.

 

[boombloom]

I like that style of headstock. But could you please post a higher resolution image? That's almost a thumbnail.

I’m away from home. That’s all I’ve got right now. Search EBay for Wishbass to see what he’s got right now.

 

[Frank Kreber]

I understand that the look of the Singlecut basses is not to everybodys delight. I don t understand some statements that deny the influence of the body on the sound. I like to think of an interview with Roger Sadowsky- an experienced luthier that is not suspicious of following every trend when creating his basses- he said clearly that he can hear a difference, that the extended contact between neck and body offers a vertain amount of evenness and tone across the fretboard and shapes the mids in a special way.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I get it now.

I played one for a good while. It's like the difference between a neck through and a bolt on. More even and compressed (?) or consistent. I thought the "hump" would get in the way of my fretting hand but no.

I would take one if gifted to me.

 

[Mojo34]

The Marleaux Contra earlier in this thread is so beautiful it's amazing. I personally think it's the most exceptional bass on the market, though I have not played one and don't know if I could justify the price. The Marleaux Mbass model has the top piece but it's not as long as others I've seen. It's the number 1 on my GAS list right now.

 

[dabbler]

I have a budget one (Brice), it's not a main player, but it's stable, and sounds OK.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I have a budget one (Brice), it's not a main player, but it's stable, and sounds OK.

View attachment 5080073 View attachment 5080074

That dabbler, I thought so.

 

[micguy]

My issue with single cuts is I need light basses - basses are inherently heavy things, and it takes a lot of attention to detail to make one that works well, balances, and is light. You need mass back by the bridge and a long upper horn for the thing to balance. The last thing you need to do, however, is add unnecessary mass to the upper horn area past what is need for decent strength there - it doesn't help balance, it's pure dead weight.

Yes, they look different. But I wouldn't play one if you gave it to me.

 

[B-Mac]

Single cut LP style I’m fine with.
Single cut whale-head style I’m not so fine with.