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The Mike Lull Club Part 4

#462
basswave said:
I though about that and I was on the fence...I actually like that model as well, but it came down to the following specifically for this bass.

-I didn't really want a figured maple top (although I'm sure I could have opted out)
-Don't need the extra higher frets
-From the esthetic point of view I wanted trans finish with a solid color pickgaurd.

Who knows what the future brings...:bassist:
Click to expand...
Fair points. I'm sure you're right about the top opt out. But if the aesthetics bug you and you don't need the upper frets, makes sense. I currently have the M5V, but I had an M5 in the past and it was (also) a fantastic bass. Mine was also the older style with the really odd looking lower horn (like Beller's). The more current ones have the same cutout depth, but he shortened the horn so it looks a little nicer.

The one I had...
lull_m5.jpg


Newer, for comparison...
26bd78a26fb7abe205342ac0ed690002.jpg
 
#466
So I took the neck off my left handed M5V for the first time to do a truss rod adjustment and found a cool little easter egg:

Neck%2520heel%25201.jpg


Hard to see but under the marker it says 'Paul Frazier'. a quick google search reveals that he is David Byrne's bassist:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

So this neck must have originally been for him but for whatever reason was not used and put into stock.



As an aside, I also noticed another hole in between the heel mounting screw holes. Anyone know what this might have been for?

Neck%2520heel%25202.jpg
 
#471
Is it common for my passive Lull P and passive Lull Jazz to have different output levels when all pickup volumes are on full? They're both 4 string, and both have the standard Lindy Fralin versions of their respected pickups. The P bass seems to have a noticeable hotter output than the Jazz. It doesn't bother me, I'm just curious if that's common.
 
#472
Vic said:
Fair points. I'm sure you're right about the top opt out. But if the aesthetics bug you and you don't need the upper frets, makes sense. I currently have the M5V, but I had an M5 in the past and it was (also) a fantastic bass. Mine was also the older style with the really odd looking lower horn (like Beller's). The more current ones have the same cutout depth, but he shortened the horn so it looks a little nicer.
Click to expand...

Very nice...I'm in agreement with the shorter horn but both basses are very, very nice.

Vic and/or anyone else who has/had both the M5V and M5. Did you notice a difference in tone with the maple top.

Thanks in advance
 
#473
Killens84 said:
Is it common for my passive Lull P and passive Lull Jazz to have different output levels when all pickup volumes are on full? They're both 4 string, and both have the standard Lindy Fralin versions of their respected pickups. The P bass seems to have a noticeable hotter output than the Jazz. It doesn't bother me, I'm just curious if that's common.
Click to expand...

I find it common that P basses in general have more output than J's.

My P's are some of the loudest basses I own, much more output that most of my actives as well. My L2K is the only bass with more output.
 
#475
Can anybody give me some idea of what an M4V feels like in comparison to a "regular" J bass? I'm considering adding an M4V to my stable, I REALLY like the specs on paper. I just want to make sure that it all translates to what I want in the end. I am unable to play one before I buy unless I happen to find one locally, which is doubtful.

I dig the smaller body, 12" radius, contoured heel, and active preamp.
Are the necks a satin or gloss finish?
How is the neck profile compared to a Fender or Lakland JO?
Is the smaller body that much smaller?
Different preamps & pickups aside, does it sound like a normal J?
 
#476
I'll give this a try, others can chime in too:

First It's very much a Jazz bass, plays, sounds, feels, like a jazz bass.

I dig the smaller body, 12" radius, contoured heel, and active preamp.
Are the necks a satin or gloss finish? satin, only gets glossy after playing for a long time
How is the neck profile compared to a Fender or Lakland JO? comparable with the Lakland, not anything like the baseball bat Fender
Is the smaller body that much smaller? Not really, but I like everything from Spectors (small) to P-basses (big) bodies. I think what's more important to me is how a bass balances, and Mike's always seem to balance well to me
Different preamps & pickups aside, does it sound like a normal J? Yes, other than it won't hum like a normal passive J (a plus in my book), the M4V pickups are vintage sounding, its not a "jazz bass on steroids" kind of bass, but it gives you some tonal options that a passive bass won't. Again, I prefer other pickups and electronic packages that Mike offers (TC4, for example), but the M4V is a very competent jazz bass, and its no wonder it's Mikes biggest seller.
 
#479
basswave said:
Vic and/or anyone else who has/had both the M5V and M5. Did you notice a difference in tone with the maple top.
Click to expand...
I didn't have them at the same time, but I can't imagine it not affecting the sound. I'd think the harder surface for the bridge to mount on should brighten up the sound a bit.
 
#480
Vic said:
I didn't have them at the same time, but I can't imagine it not affecting the sound. I'd think the harder surface for the bridge to mount on should brighten up the sound a bit.
Click to expand...

That makes sense...
I was always under the assumption that a light cap like a 1/8" wouldn't do to much but 1/4" would (You can really hear the difference in the 1/4" tops between say Bubinga and Maple on a Modulus Q5)
 

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