The Official MARUSZCZYK CLUB!

[mmbass21]

Are you using a short scale set or just cutting down a long one?
I know La Bella make short and medium scale sets of most of their strings in 4, 5 and 6 string sets, but they can be hard to come by...

Cheers,
Eude

I actually emailed Adrian about what strings he knows of to use for a 32" Elwood L I have coming and this was his response.

"I use standard long scale strings, the one problem is the B string, it is too thick.

I unwind the last winding so that it fits in the tuner, of course only up to the saddle."

Not sure how I feel about that, I'm inquiring about some Galli strings since they sell different lengths but have to buy them direct and they're in Italy. If anyone here watches Andy Irvine he puts them on all of his basses.

 

[NinjaPyrate]

If you don’t specify perfect balance and no neck dive then it’s a great probability that you will receive a bass that neck dives!

From Maruszczyk? I haven't heard that complaint/assumption before. Is it common? Single experience?

 

[NinjaPyrate]

I actually emailed Adrian about what strings he knows of to use for a 32" Elwood L I have coming and this was his response.

Did you see this post? There is another somewhere that specifically lists available 32" sets.
Available Short Scale Sets

 

[eude]

Short scale 5-string sets. Thanks to the internet they are not at all hard to come by - but there were only 5 different flatwound and nylon sets to choose from (3 from LaBella). There were a few other options that were harder to get - but not if you ordered 6 sets and waited 6-8 weeks.

I'd love to try the Gold Flats. I play 31.5" 6 string basses, but a medium scale 6er set doesn't seem to be an option.
Perhaps I should email and see if they would make some?

Eude

 

[eude]

I actually emailed Adrian about what strings he knows of to use for a 32" Elwood L I have coming and this was his response.

"I use standard long scale strings, the one problem is the B string, it is too thick.

I unwind the last winding so that it fits in the tuner, of course only up to the saddle."

Not sure how I feel about that, I'm inquiring about some Galli strings since they sell different lengths but have to buy them direct and they're in Italy. If anyone here watches Andy Irvine he puts them on all of his basses.

Where are you?
I currently have custom sets wound by Newtone Strings here in the UK and they're fantastic. Not all that expensive either, much cheaper than the Galli ones.

Eude

 

[BassmanM]

From Maruszczyk? I haven't heard that complaint/assumption before. Is it common? Single experience?

Single experience or a (bad) joke. Otherwise, this shows us how the internet can quickly generate rumors and take influence on a builder's reputation.

 

[NinjaPyrate]

Single experience or a (bad) joke. Otherwise, this shows us how the internet can quickly generate rumors and take influence on a builder's reputation.

As an artisan I have experienced this. A single internet post with bad information can be read by thousands of people through the years and rumors can be pretty detrimental to one's business.

 

[gln1955]

If you don’t specify perfect balance and no neck dive then it’s a great probability that you will receive a bass that neck dives!

The hundreds of M owners on here would call BS on this.

 

[NinjaPyrate]

If you don’t specify perfect balance and no neck dive then it’s a great probability that you will receive a bass that neck dives!

The hundreds of M owners on here would call BS on this.

I didn't realize that makers do not strive for perfect unless you request it. I'm also curious if this advice is specifically regarding Maruszczyk or if it is intended to apply to other makes as well.

 

[eude]

I didn't realize that makers do not strive for perfect unless you request it. I'm also curious if this advice is specifically regarding Maruszczyk or if it is intended to apply to other makes as well.

There will always be compromises depending on spec and design, in any bass.
Fender basses, simply don't balance as well as more modern, evolved designs, so if you want a copy of one made, it won't balance much better unless you consider and adjust other aspects. If you want to stay true to Leo's designs, don't expect a perfectly balanced instrument.

Adrian makes basses for happy customers all over the world, if there are to be any compromises as a result of a customer's choices, as far as I'm aware he's always been very up front about them. Options like lightweight tuners, carbon rods etcs are all there for the taking, so if you don't spec them and your neck moves a bit, much like a Fender, or it's a little bit neck heavy, again like a Fender, that's the customer's bad, no?

Eude

 

[NinjaPyrate]

There will always be compromises depending on spec and design, in any bass.
Fender basses, simply don't balance as well as more modern, evolved designs, so if you want a copy of one made, it won't balance much better unless you consider and adjust other aspects. If you want to stay true to Leo's designs, don't expect a perfectly balanced instrument.

Adrian makes basses for happy customers all over the world, if there are to be any compromises as a result of a customer's choices, as far as I'm aware he's always been very up front about them. Options like lightweight tuners, carbon rods etcs are all there for the taking, so if you don't spec them and your neck moves a bit, much like a Fender, or it's a little bit neck heavy, again like a Fender, that's the customer's bad, no?

Eude

Adrian talked me out of a few special requests and it was much appreciated.

 

[Hank Scorpio]

Where are you?
I currently have custom sets wound by Newtone Strings here in the UK and they're fantastic. Not all that expensive either, much cheaper than the Galli ones.

Eude

Newtone Strings are my go-to for my short scale. I play my Mustang half a step down, and drop C# for a few songs, and I get a custom NPS set in .50/.70/.90/.112. The tension is perfect for me, firm enough to play fast with a pick with zero floppiness.

The fact it's under £35 for a custom short scale set is fantastic. I put a set on in December, and I've just ordered another set, because we'll be recording soon. Think there's at least a few more gigs left in them.

 

[mmbass21]

Did you see this post? There is another somewhere that specifically lists available 32" sets.
Available Short Scale Sets

Never saw it and thank you for sharing. I've bookmarked that now so I can reference it.

@eude 'm in the US, never heard of Newtones but I will now look into them, thank you!

 

[jschulman]

Not dissing anyone here, but the Frog was a great choice! I wouldn't trade mine for anything.

Zero regrets here. My Frog is outstanding. It does everything I want a bass to do, and plenty I didn't even know I wanted.

I just had it set up with TI Jazz Flats and somehow it's even better. Easily the best sounding and most playable instrument I've ever owned.

 

[NinjaPyrate]

Zero regrets here. My Frog is outstanding. It does everything I want a bass to do, and plenty I didn't even know I wanted.

I just had it set up with TI Jazz Flats and somehow it's even better. Easily the best sounding and most playable instrument I've ever owned.

I kind of wish I would have ordered a 32" instead of a 30" Cazpar just so I could still use TI Jazz Flats.

 

[Bartrinsic]

I doubt that.

For a partial or full custom build definitely specify what is most important to you, since their may be room to maneuver--I've found it especially helpful to add what is less important, and of course to listen to explanations from the builder about what they can and cannot do. Mr_O'B may get a slightly heavier bass, perhaps a slightly thicker body near the butt end. One could ask 'please add some weight to the body to ensure balance with the neck--I can handle up to x.xkg easily'. What is less helpful is to write 'I want a bass that is < 7 lbs, has no neck dive and has the biggest B string ever heard'. We have to make choices. I have basses with some neck dive--I'm fine with a little but not a lot. My headless frog has a little butt dive, but not a lot.

 

[BassmanM]

For a partial or full custom build definitely specify what is most important to you, since their may be room to maneuver--I've found it especially helpful to add what is less important, and of course to listen to explanations from the builder about what they can and cannot do. Mr_O'B may get a slightly heavier bass, perhaps a slightly thicker body near the butt end. One could ask 'please add some weight to the body to ensure balance with the neck--I can handle up to x.xkg easily'. What is less helpful is to write 'I want a bass that is < 7 lbs, has no neck dive and has the biggest B string ever heard'. We have to make choices. I have basses with some neck dive--I'm fine with a little but not a lot. My headless frog has a little butt dive, but not a lot.

Agreed. But Mr OB makes it look as though you will definitely receive a bass with neck dive if you do not specifically say you don't want it. And that, in all sincerity, is not true.

 

[NinjaPyrate]

For a partial or full custom build definitely specify what is most important to you, since their may be room to maneuver--I've found it especially helpful to add what is less important, and of course to listen to explanations from the builder about what they can and cannot do. Mr_O'B may get a slightly heavier bass, perhaps a slightly thicker body near the butt end. One could ask 'please add some weight to the body to ensure balance with the neck--I can handle up to x.xkg easily'. What is less helpful is to write 'I want a bass that is < 7 lbs, has no neck dive and has the biggest B string ever heard'. We have to make choices. I have basses with some neck dive--I'm fine with a little but not a lot. My headless frog has a little butt dive, but not a lot.

Now I want to specify that all of my basses have butt dive (I don't think I've heard that term ). For me the more vertical the better.

 

[Mr_O'B]

The hundreds of M owners on here would call BS on this.

I call what you just said total BS!

Dude, I didn’t say every Maruszczyk built neckdives!

When I requested a bass with proper balance, I was told by “Adrian” (I have the email) that he couldn’t guarantee that my bass would have proper balance and not neckdive.

I restated my request multiple times and they built me a bass that has Perfect balance!


Maruszczyk has also been building a lot of bass less than 8 lbs. Many TB members want extremely lightweight basses, but I don’t. I also requested that they not build me an ultra lightweight bass. My bass weighs about 8.5 lbs. which I am happy with!

 

[Mr_O'B]

I didn't realize that makers do not strive for perfect unless you request it. I'm also curious if this advice is specifically regarding Maruszczyk or if it is intended to apply to other makes as well.

It’s not just Marusczcsk! Imo, you never know if a bass will balance when you don’t lay hands on the bass before buying.