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The Mike Lull Club

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Getting ready to leave for a gig but I'll leave with thought for now:

I've found that Fender specs don't always translate well when dealing with all instruments. First thing I would do is drop a tad more relief into the FB, maybe 1/12-1/8 of a turn. I'm kinda concerned as the relief is exactly the same when measured at both reference points (15th and 21st frets). Recheck using both methods and get back to me. I'll check the thread when I get home this AM.

We'll fix this thing yet!

Riis

Okay I didn't make my self clear. I readjusted the neck after fretting at the 15th fret to make the 8th fret 12/1000's. When fretting at the 21st fret the 8th fret reads about 19/1000's. I used the Fender bass specs because the only specs I got from the shop regarding relief were "about 1/8", and regarding the string height, "adjust 'em a little bit at a time". I certainly appreciate your help with this bass. And in regards to your gig tonight, since I'm not sure what kind of gig it is , I don't know whether to say "break a leg", or "tear 'em a new one!" GOOD LUCK!!!
 
Um......before you give up on your bass, you might want to send your bass to Mike Lull and he will take care of it. He stands by his product and I can assure you he does not make crappy instruments. Every Lull bass i've owned has had great action and playability and was easily adjustable. Might be time to call in the pro's. Good luck!
 
Okay I didn't make my self clear. I readjusted the neck after fretting at the 15th fret to make the 8th fret 12/1000's. When fretting at the 21st fret the 8th fret reads about 19/1000's. I used the Fender bass specs because the only specs I got from the shop regarding relief were "about 1/8", and regarding the string height, "adjust 'em a little bit at a time". I certainly appreciate your help with this bass. And in regards to your gig tonight, since I'm not sure what kind of gig it is , I don't know whether to say "break a leg", or "tear 'em a new one!" GOOD LUCK!!!

It was the South Norfolk Moose Lodge so none of the above admonishments apply! Thanks just the same.

Okay, the measurements make a little more sense now. Did the buzz improve at all? If not or "a little", here's what I'd do:

Set your relief so the gap is about the thickness of 1-2 business cards at the 9th fret while fretting the 1st and 21st frets. I know, its rather unscientific but I can't always find my feeler gauges but I always have my wallet. Given the severity of the problem (and your resulting frustration!), I'd go with 2 business cards. Sidenote: bass necks can be strange agents. I've had more than a few that, when setting minimal relief, actually arched backwards in the area of the 1st - 5th frets. This will cause "back buzz" between the fretted note and nut. Couple that with a poorly cut nut (unlikely with a Lull) and you've got a heck of a problem. Which leads me to....

Check your nut slots. Fret each string at the 2nd fret and check for a gap between the string and 1st fret. You should be able to slide 3 pieces of paper within the gap. You can also "tap test" for tolerance by striking the string directly above the 1st fret. You should get a distinctive "ping" on each string.

Keep in mind that a perfectly straight neck is undesirable and can very well result in the symptoms you've described. Disclaimer: a handful of bassists will tout the benefits of a zero-relief setup but I've never been able to make it work....so there.

Good night. The $87.50 I just made goes to the wife for groceries.

Riis
 
I'm surprised you're having these issues. I bought a bass from Mike's friend, played it for a year and took it to a set up. My tech was amazed at how good it was done, just tweaked it. AFTER A YEAR IN MICHIGAN. Didn't say the same about my Lakland (which probably didn't have its last set up by Lakland). Lull is truly a master at this stuff.
 
In situations like your's, I usually throw the rule book out the window. Glad to hear the project is coming along although I'm just a little concerned about the E string slot (no clearance). Nobody is immune to these problems; here's what I'm working on at the moment:

*Frozen hex nut / truss rod on an expensive 5 banger.

*Filing the B slot my Bossa's brass nut.

*Ammending 4 slots (super glue / baking powder) on another fiver.

Keep us up to date!

Riis
 
Hello Fellow Mike Lull Owners:
I'd like in.
I just picked up a used M4V #640:hyper:
Natural Swamp Ash
Maple Neck
Fralin Jazz pups
Pearlized PG
Bartolini 2 band Preamp
This is a beauty.
Plays like butta'.
 

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Here's my P5 in Lake Placid Blue. Picked it up from Blueberry Hill Bass. I have it strung with a set of Sadowsky flats. She has a swamp ash body, one of the best birdseye maple fingerboards I've seen, and a custom Duncan P pickup. She sounds like a P bass should with all the throaty authority you would expect.

mikelull0001.jpg


mikelull0002.jpg


Can I get a number?
 
Hello Fellow Mike Lull Owners:
I'd like in.
I just picked up a used M4V #640:hyper:
Natural Swamp Ash
Maple Neck
Fralin Jazz pups
Pearlized PG
Bartolini 2 band Preamp
This is a beauty.
Plays like butta'.

Here's my P5 in Lake Placid Blue. Picked it up from Blueberry Hill Bass. I have it strung with a set of Sadowsky flats. She has a swamp ash body, one of the best birdseye maple fingerboards I've seen, and a custom Duncan P pickup. She sounds like a P bass should with all the throaty authority you would expect.

http://s634.photobucket.com/albums/uu70/sneha1965/Mike%20Lull%20P5/?action=view&current=mikelull0002.jpg

http://s634.photobucket.com/albums/uu70/sneha1965/Mike%20Lull%20P5/?action=view&current=mikelull0001.jpg

Can I get a number?

Nice basses fellaz! Welcome to the club.
 
I'm quite happy to report that due to my good friend and Lull endorser Bryan Beller being up in Cleveland last weekend as part of a local & fantastic "Monsters of Bass" show (set up and featuring this month's "Bass Player" article boy and killer funk-meister Doug Johns as well as Walter Barnes of the Tony Pulizzi Trio) as part of a scattering of live dates to support his amazing second release "Thanks In Advance", I'm now one of the few people to have played a fretless Mike Lull Modern 5 as Mike has produced only 4-5 of "non-speedbump" basses and will be writing up a review of said bass. I'd like to give Mike or Roger Gee up at the shop a call first for some technical background info first before I do so, but I plan to have it up before the week's end.

I'll give you a hint at the tone of the review, however: it is, in fact, the bee's knees, and very well might have jumped to the top of the list of basses I'd like to obtain in the near future. Yes, it's that nice a fretless of the "SuperJazz" persuasion. :D

MikeLullFretless.jpg
 
I'm quite happy to report that due to my good friend and Lull endorser Bryan Beller being up in Cleveland last weekend as part of a local & fantastic "Monsters of Bass" show (set up and featuring this month's "Bass Player" article boy and killer funk-meister Doug Johns as well as Walter Barnes of the Tony Pulizzi Trio) as part of a scattering of live dates to support his amazing second release "Thanks In Advance", I'm now one of the few people to have played a fretless Mike Lull Modern 5 as Mike has produced only 4-5 of "non-speedbump" basses and will be writing up a review of said bass. I'd like to give Mike or Roger Gee up at the shop a call first for some technical background info first before I do so, but I plan to have it up before the week's end.

I'll give you a hint at the tone of the review, however: it is, in fact, the bee's knees, and very well might have jumped to the top of the list of basses I'd like to obtain in the near future. Yes, it's that nice a fretless of the "SuperJazz" persuasion. :D

MikeLullFretless.jpg

A fretless M4XL is on my list... I just don't think I can handle a 5 string fretless much less a 35" 5 string fretless - as I learned with my former Yamaha TRB5-IIF.

Looking forward to your review Ian!
 
Hi all,

A friend recommended that I check out Mike Lull's basses because I've been checking out getting a Sadowsky PJ. He said that the quality was just as good or better in the Lull bass. I went to the website and looked around but didn't see a color chart or anything like that. Is there a list of colors you can order somewhere or do I need to call the shop?
 
Hi all,

A friend recommended that I check out Mike Lull's basses because I've been checking out getting a Sadowsky PJ. He said that the quality was just as good or better in the Lull bass. I went to the website and looked around but didn't see a color chart or anything like that. Is there a list of colors you can order somewhere or do I need to call the shop?
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

:)
 
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