The Mike Lull Club Part 3

[nostatic]

And the PJ5 was Kai_Ski's and it fits just like a well-worn glove

I was the original owner and sold it to Kai. That is a sweet bass. I also was very close to buying the P4 that you picked up. If you decide to sell it, let me know.

wrt chambering, it becomes somewhat of a semantic issue. I think there are tonal implications as well as weight, and I actually welcome both. My YYD is chambered and I love the tone (and sub 9-lb weight for a walnut body):

 

[willsellout]

In what way(s)?

The best playing basses I've had in my hands had a gradual taper of the frets down the fretboard, not completely level frets. This is why I haven't played a PLEK'd bass that really spoke to me. They play great, much better than a bass that isn't PLEK'd though.

What's that?

5 string with a 1 3/4 neck and stainless mandolin fretwire. He's an assembler,not a custom builder, so I can see why he can't do the neck, but the fretwire shouldn't have been an issue.

 

[vates]

Over the last two years, I've been able to play quite a few high end basses. And while non of them were hard to play, the easiest have been my two Lulls.

And those are the only two that have been PLEK'd. Maybe it's just a coincidence but I've attributed it to the PLEK.

I had two pre-PLEK Lulls and both played as nice as my PLEK'd one. I think the PLEK machine is mostly a time-saving device for Mike not that he can not achieve such quality on his own.

 

[LeonD]

So maybe it's a Mike thing then.

 

[pauliebass]

The best playing basses I've had in my hands had a gradual taper of the frets down the fretboard, not completely level frets. This is why I haven't played a PLEK'd bass that really spoke to me. They play great, much better than a bass that isn't PLEK'd though.

The PLEK can do a gradual taper quite easily. Mike programs in a slight taper at the end of the fretboard so there can be a bit of relief in the neck and the strings can still sit quite low... If that's your thing. It's not a hit "go" machine, there are a ton of parameters. Even when the computer "passes" a bass, Mike runs it through again.

 

[willsellout]

The PLEK can do a gradual taper quite easily. Mike programs in a slight taper at the end of the fretboard so there can be a bit of relief in the neck and the strings can still sit quite low... If that's your thing. It's not a hit "go" machine, there are a ton of parameters. Even when the computer "passes" a bass, Mike runs it through again.

I know they can be programmed to do specific things. The operator is just as important as the machine. Still, I haven't been blown away by his basses playability. The basses I've really been impressed by were ones that had a manual fret level and crown completed by luthiers who knew what they were doing.

This isn't a knock against him or his basses. They play great, much better than 95% of the stuff thats out on the market today.

 

[Saluki]

I know they can be programmed to do specific things. The operator is just as important as the machine. Still, I haven't been blown away by his basses playability. The basses I've really been impressed by were ones that had a manual fret level and crown completed by luthiers who knew what they were doing.

This isn't a knock against him or his basses. They play great, much better than 95% of the stuff thats out on the market today.

Wow, not my experience. Have owned several high end bass from many top notch luthiers and my lull is my favorite from a playability standpoint. Fretwork is superb and neck just feels right. Sorry your experience is not the same.

 

[willsellout]

Wow, not my experience. Have owned several high end bass from many top notch luthiers and my lull is my favorite from a playability standpoint. Fretwork is superb and neck just feels right. Sorry your experience is not the same.

We are mainly speaking about preference here. So whats great for you, might not be for someone else. same goes for me. Most people don't play like I do or have the setup I do. Different strokes. I'd love to own one of his newer basses...they are lightyears above what he was doing just a few years ago. In fact I have my eye on the JT-5 still. It was put together very well and you can't deny the hugeness of those pickups.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

Wow, not my experience. Have owned several high end bass from many top notch luthiers and my lull is my favorite from a playability standpoint. Fretwork is superb and neck just feels right. Sorry your experience is not the same.

+1. I bought my M5V from a retailer before Mike had the Plek at his shop. I was instantly amazed by how great the neck's finish felt, and how nicely the bass played when I first received it.

A few years later, I sent the bass to him for a pickups swap and Mike Plekked my bass while it was at his shop. When I got it back, it played and felt even better than did originally, which I didn't think was possible.

Many years have gone by, and although I spend the majority of my time playing a 6 string bass, I still have either a Lull P5 or a PJ5 on my wish list.

 

[js1]

I had two pre-PLEK Lulls and both played as nice as my PLEK'd one. I think the PLEK machine is mostly a time-saving device for Mike not that he can not achieve such quality on his own.

I had my pre-Plek Lull pleked by Mike. It was better, worth the money to me.

Had a chance to chat with him about it (and see the machine in action). He believes that he gets better results with it. One thing that he mentioned is that the frets must be glued in and stable to use the machine. Apparently a number of production basses that are Plek'ed have frets that are press fit only.

 

[pauliebass]

^ The frets can go flying off the neck if not glued down right. Mike told me he sent some frets flying off of a Parker guitar when he first got the machine. Nobody was hurt though.

 

[Vic]

^ The frets can go flying off the neck if not glued down right. Mike told me he sent some frets flying off of a Parker guitar when he first got the machine. Nobody was hurt though.

I'm not sure the machine will run without the plexiglass cage door closed.

 

[pauliebass]

^ true

 

[59_Strat]

For future reference, what's the best vehicle to sell a high end bass? I've got my NAMM show Mike Lull T4 listed on eBay now, but I sure hate messing with eBay. I just don't seem to have much luck with CL and TGP.

 

[macribas]

For future reference, what's the best vehicle to sell a high end bass? I've got my NAMM show Mike Lull T4 listed on eBay now, but I sure hate messing with eBay. I just don't seem to have much luck with CL and TGP.

The classifieds section right here on this site.

 

[mstott25]

Still, I haven't been blown away by his basses playability.

We are mainly speaking about preference here... I'd love to own one of his newer basses...they are lightyears above what he was doing just a few years ago.

I got to play this one today. It was a great bass all around. Mike has stepped up his game over the past few years.

You seem to be claiming personal preference here, avoiding substantive criticism while claiming Mike has somehow gotten better at building basses recently.

Mike Lull has been doing this for over 30 years. I get that his basses might not be your thing and I have no doubt that you've played a few of his basses you didn't like for one reason or another. But Mike Lull started repairing guitars for professional musicians before Ronald Reagan was President. Before Joe Montana played a game in the NFL and before anybody knew who Luke Skywalker was, Mike was leveling frets.

You expect us to believe he has recently stepped up his game? Like Bill Cosby recently got comfortable with his stand-up or Stephen Hawking finally figured out math?

 

[prd004]

My Lull is almost 10 years old, it holds its own with his new ones believe me. I wouldn't trade it for anything

 

[Vic]

For future reference, what's the best vehicle to sell a high end bass? I've got my NAMM show Mike Lull T4 listed on eBay now, but I sure hate messing with eBay. I just don't seem to have much luck with CL and TGP.

I echo macribas regarding the classified section here, but you'll have to become a supporting member to use it. FYI.

 

[basswalker2004]

The classifieds section right here on this site.

+1

 

[TBird1958]

You seem to be claiming personal preference here, avoiding substantive criticism while claiming Mike has somehow gotten better at building basses recently.

Mike Lull has been doing this for over 30 years. I get that his basses might not be your thing and I have no doubt that you've played a few of his basses you didn't like for one reason or another. But Mike Lull started repairing guitars for professional musicians before Ronald Reagan was President. Before Joe Montana played a game in the NFL and before anybody knew who Luke Skywalker was, Mike was leveling frets.

You expect us to believe he has recently stepped up his game? Like Bill Cosby recently got comfortable with his stand-up or Stephen Hawking finally figured out math?

Just a big plus one.

I first met Mike back in 1975 when he was working at a Bellevue, Wa shop called Bandstand East - before he went out on his own. In '76, just before he did, I bought my first good bass from him an NOS 4001 Rick. Over the years he's done all the work on my many Thunderbirds (several of which were complete wrecks when I bought them) and I own the first production T-4 - It's a stellar bass.
Mike is the man!