The Mike Lull Club Part 4

[crucislancer]

Is that on a Mike Lull bass?

I saw a bridge like that on an Indonesian Peavey Cirrus a while back. Don't know what brand, Gotoh, maybe? Definitely a pain to adjust. I was cleaning and setting up this Cirrus for a friend and one of the inserts fell out and bounced to a cranny under my desk. I was afraid that it was lost forever in that Black Hole along with my iPod cables and Sharpie pens..... Fortunately, I found it 30 minutes later looking with a flashlight.

Get a Hipshot A style bridge. Or a B style, as I've seen some folks getting lately. Either will be an improvement.

Yeah, it's a 1998 M5 that I got about a month ago. It's a solid bridge, in fact I wouldn't even consider changing it if it wasn't for crazy intonation adjustment.

 

[crucislancer]

That's an ABM locking bridge, from Germany. Not a fan, for the same reasons you mention.

Just looked them up, they have a MK II version that has a more conventional intonation adjustment. I'll be getting a Hipshot A in the future for sure. Curious why the bass came with that bridge, maybe the previous owner liked them, though I can't see why.

I got to gig that bass last night for the first time, and it was fantastic in every way. Really dig the Bartolini preamp, and the bass plays like a dream.

 

[TonyP-]

I was changing strings this morning, and had a closer look at the bridge, and I'm curious what brand this is:

View attachment 4845845

It took a bit to figure out how to adjust the intonation, there is a set screw behind the string rests, loosen those and manually move the saddle. It's a bit of a pain. Anyone seen these bridges before?

Was thinking I may get a Hipshot A bridge to replace it at some point.

I'm pretty sure, that is a Hipshot...and older one and slightly different design.
If its working and you can get the intonation correctly, then I would just leave it...

 

[buldog5151bass]

I was changing strings this morning, and had a closer look at the bridge, and I'm curious what brand this is:

View attachment 4845845

It took a bit to figure out how to adjust the intonation, there is a set screw behind the string rests, loosen those and manually move the saddle. It's a bit of a pain. Anyone seen these bridges before?

Was thinking I may get a Hipshot A bridge to replace it at some point.

Why? It works, if it's Lull you know it's a quality part, and how often do you have to adjust the intonation anyway?

 

[MattLplaysBass]

Swapping a bridge is not difficult, as long as the holes line up (and the finish isn't too marked up underneath/around it), so I wouldn't hesitate to swap it out if it bugs you (and I understand why it would, had a 6 string version on a Modulus and the individual bridge saddles on a Status Graphite, pain in the arse).

 

[crucislancer]

Why? It works, if it's Lull you know it's a quality part, and how often do you have to adjust the intonation anyway?

True on both counts. I'm not settled on the type of strings that I'm going to use on that bass, so there is a possibility that I might be adjusting intonation more often than normal.

 

[crucislancer]

I'm pretty sure, that is a Hipshot...and older one and slightly different design.
If its working and you can get the intonation correctly, then I would just leave it...

That's what I was thinking at first. My experience with Hipshot has been limited to their D tuners over the years, so I had no idea if this was a Hipshot bridge or not. There's no branding on it (even on the bottom, I checked), so I wasn't sure either way.

It's a solid bridge, though. No question on that. In fact, the whole bass is a dream to play and it's top shelf stuff though and though. I'm already thinking ahead to a custom build in the future LOL

 

[GeeBass]

Reaching out again to the Lull group members for help:

Wanted: Mike Lull M5v - with alder body and rosewood fingerboard.

Really hoping to find a 34" scale version - but will also consider a 35" scale.

Must weigh 9 lbs. or less - and be in good condition and playability.

Let me know if you have one for sale, or know of one for sale somewhere.

Thanks!

 

[bdgotoh]

Reaching out again to the Lull group members for help:

Wanted: Mike Lull M5v - with alder body and rosewood fingerboard.

Really hoping to find a 34" scale version - but will also consider a 35" scale.

Must weigh 9 lbs. or less - and be in good condition and playability.

Let me know if you have one for sale, or know of one for sale somewhere.

Thanks!

Not quite to your specs but pretty close.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[GeeBass]

Not quite to your specs but pretty close.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Thanks so much for keeping me in mind! If this bass had J-style pickups instead of humbuckers, I would've bought it.

Still searching for an alder/rosewood M5v (or V5) - preferably 34" scale - if anyone in the Lull Club has one that they would consider selling.
I could possibly also have a bunch of interesting trade bait to offer - both 4 and 5 string - if that is more appealing than a straight sale.
PM me and we can discuss.

Thanks!

 

[bass12]

I had the pleasure of stopping by the Mike Lull shop the other day while on a visit to Washington. What a treat! Spencer and his brother (whose name escapes me at the moment) were as welcoming and enthusiastic as can be. My girlfriend and I had a blast, hanging out and talking with Spencer as I noodled around on a couple of basses in the showroom. We then received a detailed tour of the shop and got to see some of the gorgeous necks and bodies awaiting assembly (I never thought a trans pink finish could look so appealing).

I'd heard nothing but good things about the Lull shop and the people behind the basses, and I was not disappointed in the least. As I said to Spencer, I've been playing my M5V for a little over ten years and the honeymoon is still going strong. If you get the chance to visit the shop, do. Spencer and his brother are an absolute class act. Also, if you get the chance to play Spencer's personal M5V, don't. You'll only want to leave with it.

 

[tb-player]

I had the pleasure of stopping by the Mike Lull shop the other day while on a visit to Washington. What a treat! Spencer and his brother (whose name escapes me at the moment) were as welcoming and enthusiastic as can be. My girlfriend and I had a blast, hanging out and talking with Spencer as I noodled around on a couple of basses in the showroom. We then received a detailed tour of the shop and got to see some of the gorgeous necks and bodies awaiting assembly (I never thought a trans pink finish could look so appealing).

I'd heard nothing but good things about the Lull shop and the people behind the basses, and I was not disappointed in the least. As I said to Spencer, I've been playing my M5V for a little over ten years and the honeymoon is still going strong. If you get the chance to visit the shop, do. Spencer and his brother are an absolute class act. Also, if you get the chance to play Spencer's personal M5V, don't. You'll only want to leave with it.

Did you play that beautiful burgundy 4-string with the t-birds? Spencer sent me a text about that one bc he knew I'd love it. Thank god my gear fund is depleted.

 

[bass12]

Did you play that beautiful burgundy 4-string with the t-birds? Spencer sent me a text about that one bc he knew I'd love it. Thank god my gear fund is depleted.

No, I stuck to the fives. My one disappointment was that there weren't more basses in stock to try out. The visit was well worth it nonetheless.

 

[Gougedeye]

Spencer and his brother

Preston is Spence's Brother. Great guys and a class act!

 

[bdgotoh]

From 1984-1987 I had a wonderful classic American bass with amazing tone I absolutely loved. I lost it to a fire and found another that sounded just as good and played it for another 10 years. Eventually the neck problems on that bass bugged me and I sold it assuming I could find one with a better neck and the same tone. Unfortunately I was never able to find one that sounded right, even though I bought a bunch of them over many years.

For a very long time I've been wanting that awesome tone in a bass that felt as good as it sounded, I never liked the ergonomics. I approached Mike about it roughly 10 years ago and he understood the desire, but wasn't confident about finding the right pickups to get it done. Since then I've tested many different pickups trying to find a set that sounded right but had standard Fender string spacing. Early in 2021 I discovered Stonewall pickups. I use the stock neck pickup and a custom underwound bridge pickup.
Store

These pickups in a custom Lull with special pickup locations give me the closest I've ever come to the tone of that bass I loved. The black V4 has become my favorite Lull, it's the one I reach for all the time. I decided to order another so I could try out some different wiring schemes, and also to see if the first one was luck. I picked the second one up last week and it sounds just as good. I'll figure out how to post sound clips someday but I'm still early in that process.

Many thanks to the Lull folks for building such amazing instruments and to Scott at Stonewall pickups - these two basses are literally my dream come true!

 

[Holdsg]

so cool

 

[tb-player]

I know a lot of guys here like D'Addario ProSteel strings. I gave them a try and just don't like the feel, so I'm going back to nickels.

I have 2 sets (1 new / 1 opened) that are available if anyone wants them. The B strings are super-long scale while the E-G strings are long-scale. One set is unopened and the other was installed on my 35" scale Lull M5 for about 5 minutes. I'm selling them both shipped for the price of one set. If anyone would like to snag them, they're in the classifieds.

 

[Geri O]

I know a lot of guys here like D'Addario ProSteel strings. I gave them a try and just don't like the feel, so I'm going back to nickels.

I have 2 sets (1 new / 1 opened) that are available if anyone wants them. The B strings are super-long scale while the E-G strings are long-scale. One set is unopened and the other was installed on my 35" scale Lull M5 for about 5 minutes. I'm selling them both shipped for the price of one set. If anyone would like to snag them, they're in the classifieds.

I like the Nickels well enough, but I was kinda looking for something else (that little human fault that makes us spend a lot of money, doncha know….).

So for several months, I used Pro Steels and I did like them. Stocked up on the 4-string sets and the extra-long B string to go with them.

But still, after a few months….…

So I tried the NYXLs.

And I think….I can say I've settled on the NYXLs. I ordered 2 sets from FretNation, put them on both Lulls and I really do love their tone and their feel. They are just….different. And in a really good way. And these things seem to be lasting a lot longer, not going dull or flat in the usual 5-6 weeks. I've had these sets on both Lulls for over 8 weeks now and they are still sounding 98% as new. I didn't order the extra-long B string, just running the regular long B string in the top of the bridge. And it sounds just fine.

You might try a set of those to see what you think. They are more expensive than the nickels or Pro steels, but if they last twice as long, hey, it's a win there as well…

(I use the 50-70-85-105-135 in the nickels and pro steels, but for some weird reason, the medium gauge NYXLs 5-string set comes with a 130 for the B string. So I ordered the 4-string sets in mediums and 135 singles. This is working well for me at the moment. I may try the 130 later and may even see if there's extra-long singles in those gauges. Later on….)

 

[Holdsg]

NYXL are my favorite roundwound string. which is saying a lot, because I generally stick to flats.

 

[tb-player]

I like the Nickels well enough, but I was kinda looking for something else (that little human fault that makes us spend a lot of money, doncha know….).

So for several months, I used Pro Steels and I did like them. Stocked up on the 4-string sets and the extra-long B string to go with them.

But still, after a few months….…

So I tried the NYXLs.

And I think….I can say I've settled on the NYXLs. I ordered 2 sets from FretNation, put them on both Lulls and I really do love their tone and their feel. They are just….different. And in a really good way. And these things seem to be lasting a lot longer, not going dull or flat in the usual 5-6 weeks. I've had these sets on both Lulls for over 8 weeks now and they are still sounding 98% as new. I didn't order the extra-long B string, just running the regular long B string in the top of the bridge. And it sounds just fine.

You might try a set of those to see what you think. They are more expensive than the nickels or Pro steels, but if they last twice as long, hey, it's a win there as well…

(I use the 50-70-85-105-135 in the nickels and pro steels, but for some weird reason, the medium gauge NYXLs 5-string set comes with a 130 for the B string. So I ordered the 4-string sets in mediums and 135 singles. This is working well for me at the moment. I may try the 130 later and may even see if there's extra-long singles in those gauges. Later on….)

Yeah, I never seem to settle on strings. I think I've tried them all... lol. The crazy thing is, the ProSteels sound amazing on the Lull M5. It's more of a tactile thing for me. I just really prefer the feel of nickel. I did try NYXLs once and really liked them. For me though, I really like the thru-body B-string, so that limits my choices. EXL170s and LaBella RX Nickels both fit the bill pretty well. I'll definitely revisit the NYXLs though.