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The Official MARUSZCZYK CLUB!
- Thread starter ulasengin
- Start date
Ah okay, since this is the Maruszczyk owners thread, I was interpreting your comments as you having firsthand experience with Maruszczyk not some other builder.
Just as a data point about the Delano Xtender pickups, I have them with passive electronics and a three way switch for each on my fretless Cazpar. I don't use the single coil setting much so far, but I find a lot of useable tones with both the series and parallel modes. With my bass and amp, the parallel is definitely not too thin. Neck pickup in parallel is particularly nice, retaining a good bit of warmth while adding articulation when compared to series. Who knows, I might like the zen blades even better, but I'm very happy with the Xtenders, and definitely find the switching to be useful for my bass, amp, and playing style.
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That’s good info, I think they’re really cool was set on getting them and also liked what I heard in many demo videos… I also really like the Delanos in my Frog, different pickups but great tone. Optimally, I wish I could have played them both and compared before making the decision but didn’t have the chance. Another factor is that it’s also going to come down to the combo with the electronics and the piezo combo as well.
I think both are excellent choices, and I’m sure I’ll order another bass in the future with those pickups too because they’re just too cool
And by the way, your fretless looks really nice too!!
Thanks! I'm really looking forward to seeing how your new bass turns out!
I didn't take it negatively either. The fact that you should already have some knowledge of tonewoods and different pickup configurations and their effect on the sound when putting together a custom bass applies to every configurator from every manufacturer. If you have no previous knowledge, you should then seek advice.
Yep, there are known entities and combinations and even things like pre amps and pickups might not be harmonious so adding in wood combos plus build is quite a variable.
If you get to see and try an example..from any builder..that gives you a reference.
Buying online, and from an online builder is a leap of faith.
What is interesting with a few specs Ive configured from a few builders is how the price escalates...which is fine as upgrades cost...but spending $1500 on a punt is different from $2500.
Threads like this are useful but what is acceptable to one may not be to another. It is difficult to gauge and personally I think it is hard to get a very good top spec bass for less that $2k and closer to $3k even direct new from factory.
Its a quandary, imv.
If you get to see and try an example..from any builder..that gives you a reference.
Buying online, and from an online builder is a leap of faith.
What is interesting with a few specs Ive configured from a few builders is how the price escalates...which is fine as upgrades cost...but spending $1500 on a punt is different from $2500.
Threads like this are useful but what is acceptable to one may not be to another. It is difficult to gauge and personally I think it is hard to get a very good top spec bass for less that $2k and closer to $3k even direct new from factory.
Its a quandary, imv.
I must be lucky, I ordered 3 differnt Maruszcyks, all differnt in types of wood, necks, pickups, and preamps......somehow they all sound phenomenal. I will admit I changed the pickups out of one of my basses, but that was due to preference.
I just made my deposit for my 4th Maruszczyk (and it's once again a frog 6-string, it seems like I have a strong preference 
).
This time it'll be:
A turquoise alder/quilted maple body
A maple neck and fingerboard
Delano HE/M2-EB bridge pickup (positioned slightly more towards the neck), JSBC neck pickup (positioned slightly more towards the bridge)
Passive electronics, with a 4 way Rotary switch for the bridge pickup (front SC, back SC, series HB, parallel HB)
Now the waiting begins
).This time it'll be:
A turquoise alder/quilted maple body
A maple neck and fingerboard
Delano HE/M2-EB bridge pickup (positioned slightly more towards the neck), JSBC neck pickup (positioned slightly more towards the bridge)
Passive electronics, with a 4 way Rotary switch for the bridge pickup (front SC, back SC, series HB, parallel HB)
Now the waiting begins
I'm kicking around the idea of ordering another Frog. If I do, it will be almost identical to the one I already have, but five strings instead of four strings. A matching set.
But first, I have to finish paying for the Adamovic I ordered.
But first, I have to finish paying for the Adamovic I ordered.
Hi all. I have drooled over Maruszczyk basses for a long time and think I am going to get serious about starting to think about beginning the process.
I am sure this is covered someplace in the 285 pages of this thread but looking for everyone’s current experiences. I am comfortable with the process with Marus but I don’t understand VAT and customs. I am in the US. Would I pay VAT? Would I pay shipping? If so how much does that run based on recent craziness? What is the deal with customs? Is there a fee?
thanks in advance for helping someone who would very much like to join the club!
I am sure this is covered someplace in the 285 pages of this thread but looking for everyone’s current experiences. I am comfortable with the process with Marus but I don’t understand VAT and customs. I am in the US. Would I pay VAT? Would I pay shipping? If so how much does that run based on recent craziness? What is the deal with customs? Is there a fee?
thanks in advance for helping someone who would very much like to join the club!
The VAT only applies to European shipments, not shipments to the US. You can deduct 19% from the listed pricing on Adrians listings, but keep in mind the Fedex costs have soared as of recently, and now Adrian charges a portion of the shipping for the basses. Most recenlty it wasa flat $100, it may be more now....not sure. As far as the customs fees from Fedex, this can range from $0 to $75 depending on the invoiced price after the initial build deposit. It really isnt that bad.
Most recently it seems more people are getting slighly better deals by going through an authorised US dealer, this may remove some of the added costs for shipping and customs fees. YMMV
Looks great! I have the rotaries on a Cazpar and like them. How did you convey the pickup locations? I was asked for my upcoming my build to provide my specific measurement from 12th fret to desired center of pickup. Same for you?I just made my deposit for my 4th Maruszczyk (and it's once again a frog 6-string, it seems like I have a strong preference
This time it'll be:
A turquoise alder/quilted maple body
A maple neck and fingerboard
Delano HE/M2-EB bridge pickup (positioned slightly more towards the neck), JSBC neck pickup (positioned slightly more towards the bridge)
Passive electronics, with a 4 way Rotary switch for the bridge pickup (front SC, back SC, series HB, parallel HB)
Now the waiting begins
I measured from the 12th fret tot the center of the pickup as well (34,5cm and 29cm in my case).
I mainly wanted a 4-knob look, and passive electronics, so they 4-way rotary seemed like a good plan, as well as adding some extra versatility.
I just worked with Randy Riley at Bass Spotlight (highly recommend doing this), after we finished the details of the config it was a flat price with all fees/taxes/customs included and it was slightly less than the configurator price. You can find him on Facebook.
I just threw down a deposit on my first fretless after working with Randy at Bass Spotlight to iron out some off-configurator details. I was going for ergonomics similar to the Ibanez Gary Willis sig, but with 32" scale. So I spec'd out a Mensinger Pike, not a common model on this thread, maybe because a) it's not in the configurator and b) it's a fairly familiar (Ibbyish) body style. I went alder with a selected Wenge top, ebony board with ghost lines, 14" radius and 17" spacing, wood cover BC48 pickup a bit closer to the neck, with a matching Wenge ramp. I don't have the photoshop skills of a few around here or I'd have mocked something up!
@mkr1 I wonder if it will look something like this?Congrats!
Send me a pic and I’ll mock it up for you
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