The Mike Lull Club

[JRB]

Guys, does anyone know average waiting time for Lulls?
Could not find this info at Mike's web-site

Well you can always call, and they pickup the phone most of the time during business hours. But when I ordered my first Lull 2 years ago they said 8 to 12 weeks and it came in 6 weeks. When I got my second Lull 10 months ago they said the same thing 8 to 12 weeks and I think it came in 10 or 11 weeks. But things change with wait times so I would check with them to make sure.

Peace,

Jonathan

 

[B.C.]

Guys, does anyone know average waiting time for Lulls?
Could not find this info at Mike's web-site

Took me about 3 months.

 

[Beskyd]

Thank you very much for info, guys
That's twice less then for Alleva or Sadowsky

 

[B.C.]

Thank you very much for info, guys
That's twice less then for Alleva or Sadowsky

In MHO just as good. Quality wise that is. I love Sadowskys and can't say one is better than the other because they are two different beasts. That being said, my Lull will be my #1 for a very long time.

 

[Basso Gruvitas]

Yo Lull-abies,
I am working a deal to take possession of a Modern 5. So I guess I'm new to the fold.
The Modern 5 is the older body style. I'm excited and a bit hesitant at the same time.

I have never played a Lull but have long admired the spotless reputation Lull basses have had for playability, tone, and application. Also, if Randy Jackson plays one, that's GOT to mean something!

I guess I should read this thread top-to-bottom but am wondering if you guys have any input for me once I get the bass. I play all styles but heavily favor urban gospel, R n B, and jazz.

Thanks all!

 

[Basso Gruvitas]

Edbutler,
How do you like that Lull P5?

 

[edbutler3]

Edbutler,
How do you like that Lull P5?

It's a great bass. The playability is excellent -- I actually raised the action on mine a bit so I could "dig in" a little harder, but if you like low action, you can set it very low with no fret buzz. It has a great passive P-bass tone that works well for finger-style, slap, or pick playing. The sound is more focused and "cutting" than on my active 6-string. With the passive tone control fully open it is raw and aggressive, but you can turn the tone down and get a more mellow, old-school vibe. And there's no noise (buzz or hum) at all from the pickup -- it's completely silent.

It's also nice to have an instrument with the classic Fender look -- I love the boutique "coffee table" basses as much as anybody, but they can look out of place for certain gigs!

The one challenge that I personally have with this bass (and this would not affect everyone) is that my playing style is pretty aggressive and "heavy handed", and I find myself smacking the strings into the pickup's pole pieces occasionally. This happens to me with all P-style basses, so I expected that I would have to work through this. I'm working on modifying my technique and trying to build more awareness of where I'm picking to avoid being directly over the pickup when I'm picking especially hard. I also lowered the pickup as far as it would go, which helped a bit. But that's all irrelevant if you have a lighter picking style, or if you are planning to get a Jazz instead of a P.

 

[Basso Gruvitas]

Ed,
Thanks. Your comments are pretty consistent with what I've heard about Lull's basses - great playability, so I am really looking forward to my first time on a Lull.

 

[B.C.]

Yo Lull-abies,
I am working a deal to take possession of a Modern 5. So I guess I'm new to the fold.
The Modern 5 is the older body style. I'm excited and a bit hesitant at the same time.

I have never played a Lull but have long admired the spotless reputation Lull basses have had for playability, tone, and application. Also, if Randy Jackson plays one, that's GOT to mean something!

I guess I should read this thread top-to-bottom but am wondering if you guys have any input for me once I get the bass. I play all styles but heavily favor urban gospel, R n B, and jazz.

Thanks all!

I understand man. I ordered my Lull without ever playing(or seeing one in person for that matter) but you absolutly will not be dissapointed.

I think the modern is going to cover you needs just fine

 

[Basso Gruvitas]

I understand man. I ordered my Lull without ever playing(or seeing one in person for that matter) but you absolutly will not be dissapointed.

I think the modern is going to cover you needs just fine

It's hard to find a jazz tone AND get 24 frets AND have the instrument be 35" scale. That's a big part of why I'm looking forward to getting the Modern 5 - it should cover MANY needs.

Can anybody make a comparison between the older Lull's (older Modern 5 body style) and the newer ones? Any differences in mass, feel, playability, etc.?

 

[YCBass]

Yo Lull-abies,
I am working a deal to take possession of a Modern 5. So I guess I'm new to the fold.
The Modern 5 is the older body style. I'm excited and a bit hesitant at the same time.

I have never played a Lull but have long admired the spotless reputation Lull basses have had for playability, tone, and application. Also, if Randy Jackson plays one, that's GOT to mean something!

I guess I should read this thread top-to-bottom but am wondering if you guys have any input for me once I get the bass. I play all styles but heavily favor urban gospel, R n B, and jazz.

Thanks all!

Just to provide even more support - you will love it, I can almost guarantee it! I bought my M5V without ever playing or even seeing a Lull in person but the specs were enough to draw me to it as it has the specs of my dream J bass, it was a rough start for me because it took me a second to dial in my set up but now that I got it, it is simply a dream.

Enjoy the M5, and please tell us about it once you get it... and be sure to post pics!

And just to add, I actually prefer the older M5's to the new one... I like the shape of it better with the extended cutaway on the lower horn. But I'd take one of the new ones in a heartbeat.

 

[Basso Gruvitas]

Hey all,
I got the Modern 5 last night and spent several hours with it; changing strings, tweaking the set-up, fiddling with the electronics. I love it!! The feel is so natural - very comfortable and fast. I have a couple high frets but that's easily remedied.

I wanted to ask you guys about pickups though. It came with Bart single coils which I don't care for. Who has retrofitted their Lulls with other pickups? What did you choose and why? I am thinking about Duncan Quarter Pounders because they have a huge sound and I love the look of the big magnets....but not sure if they will retrofit in there.


Here's some pics! You may have seen it for sale here.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Hey all,
I got the Modern 5 last night and spent several hours with it; changing strings, tweaking the set-up, fiddling with the electronics. I love it!! The feel is so natural - very comfortable and fast. I have a couple high frets but that's easily remedied.

I wanted to ask you guys about pickups though. It came with Bart single coils which I don't care for. Who has retrofitted their Lulls with other pickups? What did you choose and why? I am thinking about Duncan Quarter Pounders because they have a huge sound and I love the look of the big magnets....but not sure if they will retrofit in there.


Here's some pics! You may have seen it for sale here.

If you like the big magnets, go with Delanos. My Lull has the SD Basslines with a Bart pre (all stock)...no complaints. The Nordstrands are also remarkable.

Riis

 

[Basso Gruvitas]

If you like the big magnets, go with Delanos. My Lull has the SD Basslines with a Bart pre (all stock)...no complaints. The Nordstrands are also remarkable.

Riis

One of the previous owners dropped in a Sadowsky preamp in,which is fun. I have the Bart preamp if I wanted to drop it in.

I don't know anything about Delanos. Carey said the Nordstrands would need to be a custom spacing. "Custom" = $

 

[Ian Perge]

I wanted to ask you guys about pickups though. It came with Bart single coils which I don't care for. Who has retrofitted their Lulls with other pickups? What did you choose and why? I am thinking about Duncan Quarter Pounders because they have a huge sound and I love the look of the big magnets....but not sure if they will retrofit in there.

My Modern 5 has a set of Aero 5's Standards in it from Mike's shop. I called when I first bought her to get the general down-low, and they'd said it was an "experiment" and that they had only used Aeros for a run of 4-5. My Modern 4 has Fralins and I've played other Modern 5's with their custom Basslines, and I'd list my best>least (even the "bad" had great tone) as the Aeros, Fralins, and Basslines. I've found that to my ears they have a slightly stronger lower-midrange and slightly muted ultra-highs.

 

[B.C.]

One of the previous owners dropped in a Sadowsky preamp in,which is fun. I have the Bart preamp if I wanted to drop it in.

I don't know anything about Delanos. Carey said the Nordstrands would need to be a custom spacing. "Custom" = $

Hm, I would be interested in hearing the Sad. pre in a Lull.

Custom spacing for the Big splits but what about the standard J sized Nordies?

 

[TimothyGroovy]

My Modern 5 got the Nordy hum-can PUs + Bart pre combo! which sound great to me!!

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

My Modern 4 has Fralins and I've played other Modern 5's with their custom Basslines, and I'd list my best>least (even the "bad" had great tone) as the Aeros, Fralins, and Basslines. I've found that to my ears they have a slightly stronger lower-midrange and slightly muted ultra-highs.

Hi Ian, long time!
I didn't know that you have one of the few Lull 'prototypes' with Aero pickups . After reading a really great review on them in BP mag, I thought strongly about getting a set for my Jazz, -maybe I will sometime down the road. I find stronger low mids work better for me, especially in my present band.

I don't have any experiences with Fralins, but my M5V originally had Basslines single coils. I really liked their tone, IMO they have a nice vintagey sound. The Basslines worked really well when I played in rock trios, but once I started playing in my new 5 piece band, I found they sounded a bit too aggressive, especially in the high end.

I asked Mike which J-style pickup he recommended that had an emphasis in the low mids, and had a smoother sound than my Duncan's. He suggested Bartolini 59CBJD's. I went ahead and had a set of them put into my M5V and I'm very happy with the results. Your description of your Aero's could also describe the Bartolini's. Stronger low mids and slightly muted ultra highs.

Take care, -Art

 

[Ian Perge]

Arthur!

If you ever find yourself with either a "reason" or simply "the desire" to replace the pickups, I recommend the Aeros so very highly. By your description it sounds as if you and I are on the same page about J-pups: although I find the Basslines very nice, I'm with you on the "aggressive high end"... and I've the bassist who typically is asked to turn it down a touch. Between that and the increased low-mids that I also think they improved on I simply "got lucky" in purchasing one of the few Aero-builds on the used market! (Roger Gee told me they built 3 or 4 - can you drop me a PM and fill me in on way Lull didn't offer them as an option? I can understand cost being a factor with them)

Btw, I'm not sure I'd equate Aeros that close to Bartolinis. Yes, they do have the muted highs and strong low-mids that stereotypical Barts do, but in that large amount of middle range the Aeros have what I term "Reigned-In Aggression"... add a touch of OD/DS and dig in a touch (fingerstyle or pickstyle) and you'll get a nicely complex midrange from them. Then again, I'm not a fan of Barts in general so it very well could be my history with them coming out.

I'd also say to try and get out and play a Fralin-equipped Jazz: extremely nice as well, almost a combination between the Basslines and Aeros with a vintage sound that can be pushed into "GeddyLand" with the application of some of overdrive much like the Aeros. Certainly a high-end sound for a mid-to-lower-end price. Also, if you're ever in the area of course the invitation's open for you to drop by for a "Tasting Course" of my collection.

It's been a while and there's been a vast amount of change-over on my part, so I just wanted you to know I'm this close to finishing my task I set out to do about two years ago: replaced my large amounts of "Decent, Quality Basses" with a much smaller amount of "High Quality Keepers. I have the last of the "DQBs" listed for sale and have traded upward for my two Lulls, my 5-string Fretted and Fretless Spector ReBop 5 DLX FM and 4-string older, non-DLX ReBop (no flame maple top, no Crown Inlays)... although I'll be soon taking a new photo and listing the 4-string as I've upgraded my four-string to a ReBop 5 DLX EX "ZeBop". After she arrives I'll be outfitting them with Nordstrand Big Singles and Aguilar OBP-1s, and then between my Spectors and Lulls I'll think my tone will be so punchy my pickups will need to be tested for Steroids.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

It's been a while and there's been a vast amount of change-over on my part, so I just wanted you to know I'm this close to finishing my task I set out to do about two years ago: replaced my large amounts of "Decent, Quality Basses" with a much smaller amount of "High Quality Keepers.

Ian,
I'm doing something similar with my collection as well. I'm having a custom 6-string being built at this time and I'm selling a couple of my basses that I never play to pay for it. I have a couple of basses that have a lot of sentimental value that I'll never sell, and my daughters have called dibs on a couple others. I've decided to sell the remaining basses that never get played to buy something really nice.