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"The Official Marleaux Bass Club"

#181
xkomo said:
Ok, now lets hear your opinions... How about adding two switches on my Consats (fretted & fretless) for series/single/parallel pickup switching???
Click to expand...

Which pickups do you have? My Consat has the Haussel Bassbars and I don't have any switching options. But, for me, it is perfectly fine as is. My Votan has the Delano Xtender pickups with the switches and I would not have it any other way. It gives me tons of tonal options on that bass. I recently played a MBass that had the Delano XTender pickups in it and did also have the switches. It was heaven on earth. Awesome bass...
 
#183
I have an MBass 2012 model, with Delano "times-square" pick ups and the Marleaux V2 electronics. I use the coil tap options all the time. What's amazing to me is the non-intuitive nature of some of the combinations of different split settings used together. You really have to just not be afraid to experiment.
 
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#184
Vic said:
I have an MBass 2012 model, with Delano "times-square" pick ups and the Marleaux V2 electronics. I use the coil tap options all the time. What's amazing to me is the non-intuitive nature of some of the combinations of different split settings used together. You really have to just not be afraid to experiment.
Click to expand...

Totally agree..Even thought mine are the Delano "oval" pickups. I have found that some of the combinations are really good. I quite often find myself playing the bridge pickup in the humbucker/series position and the neck pickup in single coil. I really like it...I have the v2 electronics as well. My Consat has the Programable EQ...and that's just lots of fun!!!! :)
 
#185
rodneyat said:
My Consat has the Programable EQ...
Click to expand...
Didn't know about this... apparently been around for a while... had to look it up... it does look really cool!

control is the 3-way switch, which toggles between program mode, store mode, and selected frequency mode. With the switch in the middle position, frequencies can be selected by turning the EQ controls to desired EQ points. The bass control selects 100Hz, 160Hz, or 250Hz; the midrange 400Hz, 700Hz, or 1.2kHz; and the treble 2.5kHz, 4kHz, or 6.5kHz. (Leaving the knobs in the center detent position selects 160Hz, 700Hz, or 4kHz.) Once you've dialed in the frequencies, you place the 3-way switch in the "Up" or third position and hold it two seconds to store the frequency centers. Move the switch to the "Down" or first position and the EQ points can then be cut or boosted by 14dB.​
 
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#187
I wanna join now. I just got a Marleaux Custom Mbass 6 string with the round Delano pickups, and it is providing some very unique tones. On top of that, it is constructed with beautiful woods, which makes it even better.
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#190
Yeah! That 6er mbass is SICK!
My fretted has the delano SBC HE/S and my fretless a pair of Bartolinis (Gerald's standard choice on that model). The programmable eq is really expensive, I don't it worths to pay 500 euros to install it. But the series/single/parallel switches would be great. An other "issue" for the older consats is that they use pickups with uncommom shape (both the Delanos and the Barts) so you have no choice to replace them with something else. What a pitty!
 
#191
Don't have a Marleaux yet, but I may very soon. I am on the verge of purchasing or ordering a Contra 5.

Has anyone here played one? Gerald currently has a beautiful Contra 5 in his shop that is located about a 5-6 hour drive from where I live. Before going there to play it, I thought I'd pick the brains of my fellow TBer's and perhaps save myself the drive. I'm already sold on the sound of this instrument from the excellent samples on the Marleaux, and if I can be convinced that the feel and playability meet my needs I may just buy the one he has or order one without playing it.

So these questions are for anyone who has happened to play a Contra 5 or 6, keeping in mind of course that these things are inherently subjective.

What is the feel of the neck? I like a wide flat shallow neck. By shallow I mean distance from the fretboard face to the back of the neck. Something on the order of 19-20 mm at the 1st fret and 21-22 mm at the 12th. Gerald tells me the one he has in stock has a 12" radius. That's about right for me. 19 mm string spacing at the bridge.

Does the instrument balance well? No neck dive, I assume? At a total weight of around four kg this is a pretty light bass.

Does it lay comfortably against the body? I'm thinking here of the violin-shaped upper bout.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 
#192
I haven't played the Contra, but I have played nearly every other model, and I can tell that every Bass that Gerald makes plays like butter, and have all been very balanced. When he designs his basses he consider's all of aspects of what makes an Instrument sound, and play well. So, I would expect this bass to be just as amazing as all his other designs. Best,
 
#193
The standard Marleax bass neck tends to be a little more rounded and slightly thick back to front. They are comfortable but I would not call them flat and wide. I have owned 4 Marleuaxs ( M bass, 2 Consats, and a Votan) and they have all had a similair neck profile, more p than J
 
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#194
Bumping this thread as it has not been at the top in a while. I had a chance to spend some time with Gerald at the NAMM show last week. He had some killer basses. There was an MBass with an Ebony top that I was SOOOO tempted to buy. Played a Contra and Diva for the first time. Wow, if I were a fretless player I would have a Diva.

On a related note. I am actually selling one of my Marleaux basses. If you are interested, check it out here: For Sale/Trade - Marleaux Votan Deluxe
Killer bass, just trying to slim down what I have a bit...before my wife shoots me. :)
 
#198
You have chosen wisely!

What do I think of my Marleaux Consat 5? Well, I think I love everything about it..

1.The articulation of each and every note is amazing.
2. Plays like absolute butter.
3. Even and consistent tone across the fingerboard.
4. Has a great Low B
5. Amazing pickups and EQ. I can go from thunderous low dub tone, to slap happy funk tone, or to a great solo tone with a twist of a knob.
6. Sounds great in passive mode as well, to get those more traditional P and J tones.
7. Great Looking.
8. Gerald is awesome.
9. Has gotten me some : ).
10. Never have had any technical issues.

Which Model are you thinking of ordering NV?

Best,
MB
 
#200
So deposit is paid, and Gerald has confirmed that work will start on it soon. We decided to go with a maple body (I don't own any other maple basses, so should be a nice addition to my modest collection) and he's going to show me the quilted maple tops he has available so I can choose the one I want. I think the custom build experience is going to be pretty awesome!
 
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