I just had this conversation with mike about two weeks ago when I ordered my new bass. Fralin does not make the 5er P pup. You are exactly right. That's the sellers "bad" for sure.
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The Mike Lull Club Part 2
- Thread starter Bryan R. Tyler
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I'm getting my first Mike Lull bass, a V5 this morning. I'm curious if any of you would recommend getting a preamp installed in this bass and which one would it be? I would like to be able to keep the option of running in passive mode at times.
Or should i leave it alone?
Or should i leave it alone?
These passive Lulls are good as they are. I think, an outboard preamp will do the trick if you prefer to juice things up a little.
Definitely see what you think after playing it for a bit. Another variable is that, without extensive retrofit (i.e. the expense of routing) you may be limited to a pre that will go into the existing control cavity.
That said... I love the Bartolini pre's in Mike's basses. The NTBT, by default, will allow you complete passive functionality w/ tone control. The NTMB three-band can be wired that way, but you're looking at some extra effort and an additional stacked knob configuration. If the inherent tone of the bass is a little short on upper mids, I'd also consider one of the Aguilar pre's - either the OBP-1 or OBP-3. Certainly other options out there, and obviously it comes down to what you want out of the instrument. Good luck...
I have a V5 with an Audere JZ3 preamp installed. It required no bodywork modifications and to my ears, the original tone has been preserved when set flat. The Audere gives me more tonal options, but the downside is that there is no passive override.
Anybody know what the Fralins in your Lull are wound to? % over/under? Or does mike use the "stock" pups?
It likely won't be cheap - figure around $600. Far less expensive to get an outboard preamp if you want that functionality. I also hate to start hacking a bass, especially if I like it a lot. Never know how it might end up.
Like Jerry said though, Bart 3-band is a sweet setup and you have a ton of flexibility. Having a mid cut/boost with different freqs can make all the difference in certain rooms or with certain groups/mixes.
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Currently a Lull virgin, but ever since playing an MV4 at BassNW last summer (on a trip) I can't get the feel of that bass out of my head. Sounds like a very core group of loyalists here on TB, much like the folks on the LOG board. I'll hang out for a while, and see what I'm missing, maybe join you all one day.
Currently a Lull virgin, but ever since playing an MV4 at BassNW last summer (on a trip) I can't get the feel of that bass out of my head. Sounds like a very core group of loyalists here on TB, much like the folks on the LOG board. I'll hang out for a while, and see what I'm missing, maybe join you all one day.
I've always liked the guys at BassNW. They like their Lulls there too. Makes sense seeing that they are only 15ish minutes from Mike's shop. Both are "gotta hang out there" places when in Seattle. I love that city.
Anybody out there in Lull land have a list of available colors/finishes for the M4V?
So far, in the retail channel, I can see Natural/Maple, SunBurst/RW, CAR/RW
Which is pretty much the ones on the site as well.
I will put in a call to HQ, but just wondering if anyone else has anything different than those three, such as:
Trans-white
Tobacco burst
Trans-blue
Trans-blond
Trans-brown/Rootbeer
Just something to show off that wonderful wood, not too interested in solid colors (not that there's anything wrong with that, just not my preference)
So far, in the retail channel, I can see Natural/Maple, SunBurst/RW, CAR/RW
Which is pretty much the ones on the site as well.
I will put in a call to HQ, but just wondering if anyone else has anything different than those three, such as:
Trans-white
Tobacco burst
Trans-blue
Trans-blond
Trans-brown/Rootbeer
Just something to show off that wonderful wood, not too interested in solid colors (not that there's anything wrong with that, just not my preference)
There is a trans/brown in the classifieds right now so i'm assuming he can do that color
If you can imagine it, it can be done. One of my favorites is a trans blue burst...but if we're talking ash/maple, the natural finish w/ pearl guard is in the pantheon as well. The sky really is the limit, though.
.... and there goes the surprise.
When/if I order a custom bass from Mike it will be Ash/Maple, finished trans white with all black hardware.
Nice. I'm guilty of spending too much time thinking about the finish on my next Lull. Certainly no complaints with the look of my candy apple orange/black hardware beast. Speaking of which, I hope to have some new pics of it soon...it's currently sitting in Mike's shop, awaiting a P pickup.
Been said a whole bunch, but worth repeating from my perspective. Mike's craftsmanship is absolutely top-notch. I'm a big, big fan of his instruments. He totally captures the Fender-that-could vibe, and can take that to the nth degree with options. (Although he continually denies my dreams of an M6V, which might allow me to sell just about every other bass I own.
) Nothing scientific here, but my local dealer sells quite a number of Mike's offerings, and each one seems to be incredible. There are a lot of instruments where I find myself being really choosy, but with Lulls they all seem to sound terrific.
I'm with you Jerry. We need to team up on Mike and make that M6V a reality. I love my MTD but it would probably end up with a for sale sign if he does.
Thanks to all the input. I called them, and true to your word, they can make any finish you happen you want.
Getting exactly what you want is a feeling I'm not quite used to in bass-dom, so I will have to get my head around that.
Getting exactly what you want is a feeling I'm not quite used to in bass-dom, so I will have to get my head around that.
Hellooooo, I'm with you on that one, I can definitely picture it. I would think you would go RW with that? Tort or white pearl guard?
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