The Official MARUSZCZYK CLUB!

[xbud]

I bought my Elwood 5 30” from the in stock page with Delano single coils, and figured I’d end up swapping them out. Turns out they’re great and have no reason to change them.

The Delanos are fantastic pickups, I have 4 different types in my current line up, all of them have thier own charecteristics that make them unique, and they are all keepers. The way they respond to small on board eq adjustments is icing on the cake. I prefer them over the other brands.

 

[Inara]

Finally got to use my fretless 5 string Mensinger Cazpar short scale for a show yesterday evening. It was a large outdoor show for Pride. I was super pleased with the bass. I have the oval Delano Extender humbuckers on this bass with passive vol-blend-tone, and settled on the blend favoring the bridge pickup, about a quarter of the way past the mid position, with both pickups in series mode (I have the three position switches for each pickup). It was a great, bitey tone, but thick, and I loved the way it responded to changes in plucking hand position. Fast 16th note stuff was very clear and aggressive when I plucked over the bridge pickup, and I could warm things up for the expressive stuff by plucking over the neck pickup. It was so comfortable to play, also. Anyway, I couldn't be happier. I have two more shows this week, one at a dive bar I haven't played before and one in a basement club in a long, narrow room, so I'm going to get a good idea of how it interacts with my amps in different situations.

 

[Ralph Manak]

Received the standard image we all know and love. Elwood L is 32" scale, flame ash top over walnut body, Macassar ebony board, Delano pickups, passive VBT.

(Apparently someone liked my spec enough that they made another—if this appeals, a similar bass is in the store: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]).

 

[TK4261]

Received the standard image we all know and love. Elwood L is 32" scale, flame ash top over walnut body, Macassar ebony board, Delano pickups, passive VBT.

(Apparently someone liked my spec enough that they made another—if this appeals, a similar bass is in the store: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]).

View attachment 4711757

Ohhhhh...That's Purdy!

 

[who]

vol-vol-blend

Is this a typo and you actually meant vol-tone-blend? If not, what made you decide on that configuration?

 

[Inara]

Is this a typo and you actually meant vol-tone-blend? If not, what made you decide on that configuration?

Typo. Funny, I was just fixing it when you replied lol

 

[PotsdamBass8]

Received the standard image we all know and love. Elwood L is 32" scale, flame ash top over walnut body, Macassar ebony board, Delano pickups, passive VBT.

(Apparently someone liked my spec enough that they made another—if this appeals, a similar bass is in the store: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]).

View attachment 4711757

Looks great! I wonder if the one on the FS page accidentally got a wrong spec and they just built yours again?

 

[Ralph Manak]

Looks great! I wonder if the one on the FS page accidentally got a wrong spec and they just built yours again?

Thanks. I'm not wondering about that.

 

[Recover9720]

Does anyone know how heavy the walnut body is? Especially with the frog? I like its beauty and tone but I found many people avoid it because of its weight.

 

[Barticus]

Does anyone know how heavy the walnut body is? Especially with the frog? I like its beauty and tone but I found many people avoid it because of its weight.

If you’re seriously considering it then reach out to Adrian directly.

Yes Walnut is heavy and yes the Frog body is large, however it is thin. If you’re trying to keep the weight within a target range, then ask Adrian if it’s possible. (e.g. - under 9lbs, etc)

 

[Recover9720]

If you’re seriously considering it then reach out to Adrian directly.

Yes Walnut is heavy and yes the Frog body is large, however it is thin. If you’re trying to keep the weight within a target range, then ask Adrian if it’s possible. (e.g. - under 9lbs, etc)

thank you barticus. I might have to contact Adrian about the weight issue.. or rethink the body wood.

 

[Barticus]

NBD!

FedEx said it would be here Thursday and it arrived this morning

Is it possible to bond with a new bass in the first 5 minutes of playing for the first time? ABSOLUTELY when it is designed “for you”!

View attachment 4706768 View attachment 4706769 View attachment 4706772

The Luminlay side dots glow nicely.
View attachment 4706784

Super happy with this one, it is just as expected… plays amazing sounds fantastic and it’s the perfect size as it is a petite version of my Frog.
View attachment 4706790

The bass played really well at rehearsal last week.

I definitely need to swap out the stock strings, they are way too heavy and the E/B strings are not tapered. So while I have the action at an acceptable level they’re just wonky and uncomfortable to play.

I’m putting some nice new nickel hybrids on today (.40-125).

 

[BaileyMan]

I'm getting ready to order an Elwood L, 5 string, fretless, 32" scale.

Swamp Ash, with Walnut burl top and matching headstock. I'm thinking about going with Delano pickups and preamp, but am wondering if folks have different recommendations for pups / pre for a fretless tone that can sing. I like versatile too.

From the configurator...

 

[Barticus]

I'm getting ready to order an Elwood L, 5 string, fretless, 32" scale.

Swamp Ash, with Walnut burl top and matching headstock. I'm thinking about going with Delano pickups and preamp, but am wondering if folks have different recommendations for pups / pre for a fretless tone that can sing. I like versatile too.

From the configurator...
View attachment 4713017

Delano's are awesome pickups. I added Piezo bridge saddles to mine with mag pickups. I just heard today that pickups have finally arrived and should be shipping soon so can't tell you what they sound like quite yet.

 

[BaileyMan]

Delano's are awesome pickups. I added Piezo bridge saddles to mine with mag pickups. I just heard today that pickups have finally arrived and should be shipping soon so can't tell you what they sound like quite yet.

Yeah. I like the Delanos I have in my Warmoth fretless. Aguilars are also great, from what I hear.

Maybe having the Aguilar set up would give me a little variety.

 

[BlueTalon]

I'm getting ready to order an Elwood L, 5 string, fretless, 32" scale.

Swamp Ash, with Walnut burl top and matching headstock. I'm thinking about going with Delano pickups and preamp, but am wondering if folks have different recommendations for pups / pre for a fretless tone that can sing. I like versatile too.

I have Delano JC 4 HE/M2 pickups and the Maruszczyk Toneformer 3MS/TP preamp on my Frog. It's not fretless, so I can't comment specifically on that, but I am very happy with my sound and with my Frog's tonal flexibility.

If that helps.

 

[BaileyMan]

I think I'm sold on the Aguilar pups and pre.


The Toneformer sounds good too.


It's not exactly apples to apples, but both are 5ers and both are 32".

I love that they've got videos of so many of their different combos of basses.

 

[Barticus]

Yeah. I like the Delanos I have in my Warmoth fretless. Aguilars are also great, from what I hear.

Maybe having the Aguilar set up would give me a little variety.

I have the Aguilar DCBs and the OBP3 preamp in that new Cazpar I just received and it is fantastic. I have that same preamp and pickup set up in two other basses and I really love the tone. When you flip to passive there’s no increase in volume so it’s super transparent. I’d highly recommend having him do a dual treble/tone pot as well with fretless so if you do go passive you have a nice tone pot there to play with. I have that on almost all of my basses too and really like it.

 

[BaileyMan]

I have the Aguilar DCBs and the OBP3 preamp in that new Cazpar I just received and it is fantastic. I have that same preamp and pickup set up in two other basses and I really love the tone. When you flip to passive there’s no increase in volume so it’s super transparent. I’d highly recommend having him do a dual treble/tone pot as well with fretless so if you do go passive you have a nice tone pot there to play with. I have that on almost all of my basses too and really like it.

It is nice to have that passive tone knob. I've got a John East pre that's got that option. The passive tone works in active mode too and I find i like to roll off the tone just a bit when active.

 

[Bartrinsic]

I think I'm sold on the Aguilar pups and pre.


The Toneformer sounds good too.


It's not exactly apples to apples, but both are 5ers and both are 32".

I love that they've got videos of so many of their different combos of basses.

You might not find a sound sample, but I'd consider these for a fretless:
Bridge: MC 5 FE/EB
Neck:
MC 5 HE/S-L EB (DELANO MC 5 HE/S-L EB)

I've installed a blend like this on a Warwick Corvette $$. The ceramic magnet pickup in the bridge is full-range like the DCB, but I like the Delano SBC tones when blending in the neck, or with neck soloed--the SBCs (i.e. HE/S) have a subtle burp than works well for 'stand-up'-like tones.