The Official MARUSZCZYK CLUB!

[swartzfeger]

Not sure about the wood inlays, but when you find out let please us know.

All, Randy got back to me re: wood inlays for the fingerboard:

"Yes.... wood inlays on a contrasting wood is possible. This option is custom priced on wood as you suspected. Any woods listed on the fingerboard options are fair game."

 

[BlueTalon]

Here are some pictures of the beautiful Warwick Bubinga basses I have owned and one I still own. I think TKs selection of Bubinga top is a good one.

Wenge neck and fb?

Yes, Wenge in my experience is one of the best both for necks and finger boards. They’re very stable, don’t require much truss adjustment if ever and feel really good to play on.

I have a Wenge fingerboard on my 5 string Frog and absolutely love it.

My Warmoth jazz, the one currently in my avatar, has a bubinga neck with a wenge fretboard. I reeeeeally like that combination. It would still be my main player, except:
1. it weighs 11.5 pounds with strap & wireless transmitter, and
2. Maruszczyk Frog

 

[Shibata]

I gave this to my wife to put away for Christmas a couple of weeks ago when it arrived. I took it out and played with it for a bit before putting it away. The action was super low and it played amazing. Today when I opened it the action is super high. I guess it settled in while it was sitting. Off to the setup shop it will go.

 

[Gougedeye]

Well, I got an update from Adrien. He says, it will be sprayed and finished the first week of January. So, end of January for delivery. Fingers crossed.

 

[swartzfeger]

All, for those w/ a headless Maruszcayk (or any brand really) that doesn't use double ball ends... how does the string get anchored at the end by the nut? Do you use some sort of hex/allen key to tighten it down and then snip the end? I'm guessing you pull the string through as tight as possible, lower the 'peg' at the nut, tune, and then snip?

I'd prefer a double ball end system and be done with it, but it seems like DBE strings in 5 string/high C are rare and the same with 6 string DBE.

It might be easier/cheaper to just go with regular strings and learn the whole how to string a headless vs hunting down double ball ends every few month.

 

[Barticus]

All, for those w/ a headless Maruszcayk (or any brand really) that doesn't use double ball ends... how does the string get anchored at the end by the nut? Do you use some sort of hex/allen key to tighten it down and then snip the end? I'm guessing you pull the string through as tight as possible, lower the 'peg' at the nut, tune, and then snip?

I'd prefer a double ball end system and be done with it, but it seems like DBE strings in 5 string/high C are rare and the same with 6 string DBE.

It might be easier/cheaper to just go with regular strings and learn the whole how to string a headless vs hunting down double ball ends every few month.

Yes the string pulls through the headpiece and then there are grub screws to tighten the strings down. And some allow for double ball ends.

This is a Frog

Cazpar

My Status

One of my custom builds

 

[Danger McLovin]

The excitement is definitely building now.
My bass was posted by Adrian with FedEx Air Express Post in Germany.

- Adrian posted my bass in Germany on Monday the 19th of December.
- it was in Belgium on Tuesday the 20th
- Dubai on Wednesday the 21st
- Singapore on Thursday the 22nd
- and in Australia on Friday the 23rd

it has been in my state since Friday.
About 700km away from where I live.
it's journey has been holted by the 4 day Christmas weekend. it's journey will resume again on Wednesday the 28th of December,
which is the next business day in Australia.

 

[spade2you]

I gave this to my wife to put away for Christmas a couple of weeks ago when it arrived. I took it out and played with it for a bit before putting it away. The action was super low and it played amazing. Today when I opened it the action is super high. I guess it settled in while it was sitting. Off to the setup shop it will go.

Very likely your humidity is low and the fretboard shrank a bit. Humidify and it should go back to where it was.

 

[AudioTaper]

Off to the setup shop it will go.
View attachment 4913550

Just send it my way, I'll set it up for free and give it a decade long break-in period for you.
That's a really cool color

 

[swartzfeger]

I gave this to my wife to put away for Christmas a couple of weeks ago when it arrived. I took it out and played with it for a bit before putting it away. The action was super low and it played amazing. Today when I opened it the action is super high. I guess it settled in while it was sitting. Off to the setup shop it will go.

Yeah mine is getting pretty high too (low humidity here). Going to take it in. I should probably consider long-term humidifying solution.

Yes the string pulls through the headpiece and then there are grub screws to tighten the strings down. And some allow for double ball ends.

Incredibly helpful Bart, thank you... how easy do you find the non-DBE string change to be? Seems like it would still be way easier than the old school tuning peg. My mind was set on a double ball end but 6 string and high C 5 seems like it would be a PITA.

Also, does anyone know the string gauge of Elwoods? I emailed Randy and he asked me the color of the yarn on the end of my string. My strings are yarn-less, so he's stumped.

For reference I think my Elwood was built a 2+ years ago so Adrian may have changed strings since then, or these may be a "one time" thing.

 

[Barticus]

Yeah mine is getting pretty high too (low humidity here). Going to take it in. I should probably consider long-term humidifying solution.



Incredibly helpful Bart, thank you... how easy do you find the non-DBE string change to be? Seems like it would still be way easier than the old school tuning peg. My mind was set on a double ball end but 6 string and high C 5 seems like it would be a PITA.

Also, does anyone know the string gauge of Elwoods? I emailed Randy and he asked me the color of the yarn on the end of my string. My strings are yarn-less, so he's stumped.

For reference I think my Elwood was built a 2+ years ago so Adrian may have changed strings since then, or these may be a "one time" thing.

Changing strings on a headless takes only a fraction of the time compared to normal strings.

 

[Barticus]

Y’all should really learn to make minor adjustments/setup on your own.. it’s not that tough to adjust the truss and saddles to set the action as you desire vs handing off your bass and money to someone for a 5min adjustment. This is part of owning and playing basses/guitars, etc.

EDIT: I should say it’s about the same level of effort of putting air in your car tires, or just checking the oil level or putting windshield wiper fluid in. Hopefully it doesn’t need to go to the shop for those simple things.

 

[Barticus]

The excitement is definitely building now.
My bass was posted by Adrian with FedEx Air Express Post in Germany.

- Adrian posted my bass in Germany on Monday the 19th of December.
- it was in Belgium on Tuesday the 20th
- Dubai on Wednesday the 21st
- Singapore on Thursday the 22nd
- and in Australia on Friday the 23rd

it has been in my state since Friday.
About 700km away from where I live.
it's journey has been holted by the 4 day Christmas weekend. it's journey will resume again on Wednesday the 28th of December,
which is the next business day in Australia.

This is exciting, can’t wait for your NBD post on that “Flying V Beast”

 

[TK4261]

I live here in Las Vegas and when I moved here from California a few years ago I quickly learned that I had to have a room humidifier where I keep my Basses. I had no issues in California with needing to adjust my necks but here in Vagas with almost barely any noticeable humidity it is a must to have a Humidifier. I have been using this one from Amazon for a year now and it is working great so far. I keep the humidity in my music room at constant 35-40%

https://www.amazon.com/LEVOIT-Humidifiers-Ultrasonic-Vaporizer-Essential/dp/B08HS45N13/ref=sr_1_11?crid=3ACYNOJ7UT1N1&keywords=room+humidifier+for+bedroom&qid=1672075139&sprefix=Room+humidi,aps,193&sr=8-11&ufe=app_do:amzn1.fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-9bc0-4513d670b6bc&th=1

 

[swartzfeger]

Y’all should really learn to make minor adjustments/setup on your own.. it’s not that tough to adjust the truss and saddles to set the action as you desire vs handing off your bass and money to someone for a 5min adjustment. This is part of owning and playing basses/guitars, etc.

EDIT: I should say it’s about the same level of effort of putting air in your car tires, or just checking the oil level or putting windshield wiper fluid in. Hopefully it doesn’t need to go to the shop for those simple things.

You're not wrong, I do need to bite the bullet. Part of the reason I want to take it in is I'm getting a weird overtone/resonance after every note... I noticed it once my practice amp (Fender Rumble) arrived, and it happens through the speaker or headphones. Tried it active and passive, same thing -- weird resonance. I don't remember hearing it through my interface/DAW so I need to test a little more. If it sounds clean in Logic, then I'm just chalking it up to the Fender being garbage. But it sounds like there's something fundamental wonkery going on so I was going to get it looked at.

But yeah, basic action/intonation I need to dive into that. In fact I was already looking at videos, and since I'm trialing SBL I looked at their setup videos. All of their course content is super super solid but the bass setup video is pretty agonizing. Chris May, luthier of Overwater, has a 3 video course and it's painful to watch. Lovely guy, but I don't think he's cut out for video instruction.

If anyone has any youtube bass setup recommendations I'm all ears.

 

[swartzfeger]

I live here in Las Vegas and when I moved here from California a few years ago I quickly learned that I had to have a room humidifier where I keep my Basses. I had no issues in California with needing to adjust my necks but here in Vagas with almost barely any noticeable humidity it is a must to have a Humidifier. I have been using this one from Amazon for a year now and it is working great so far. I keep the humidity in my music room at constant 35-40%

https://www.amazon.com/LEVOIT-Humidifiers-Ultrasonic-Vaporizer-Essential/dp/B08HS45N13/ref=sr_1_11?crid=3ACYNOJ7UT1N1&keywords=room+humidifier+for+bedroom&qid=1672075139&sprefix=Room+humidi,aps,193&sr=8-11&ufe=app_do:amzn1.fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-9bc0-4513d670b6bc&th=1

It has a diffuser built-in so this will be an easy sell for the girlfriend. Will probably buy two.

 

[J_Bass]

You're not wrong, I do need to bite the bullet. Part of the reason I want to take it in is I'm getting a weird overtone/resonance after every note... I noticed it once my practice amp (Fender Rumble) arrived, and it happens through the speaker or headphones. Tried it active and passive, same thing -- weird resonance. I don't remember hearing it through my interface/DAW so I need to test a little more. If it sounds clean in Logic, then I'm just chalking it up to the Fender being garbage. But it sounds like there's something fundamental wonkery going on so I was going to get it looked at.

But yeah, basic action/intonation I need to dive into that. In fact I was already looking at videos, and since I'm trialing SBL I looked at their setup videos. All of their course content is super super solid but the bass setup video is pretty agonizing. Chris May, luthier of Overwater, has a 3 video course and it's painful to watch. Lovely guy, but I don't think he's cut out for video instruction.

If anyone has any youtube bass setup recommendations I'm all ears.

Are the pickups too high?

 

[swartzfeger]

Are the pickups too high?

I will check this -- I need to get an engineer's ruler so I can accurately measure these things and not spitball it.

 

[twangcat]

If anyone has any youtube bass setup recommendations I'm all ears.

Here's a setup tutorial from Roger Sadowsky. It includes recommendations for pickup heights. There is a pdf file of the same information by him online as well. Enjoy!
Roger Setup Instructions – Sadowsky Guitars

 

[swartzfeger]

EDIT: I should say it’s about the same level of effort of putting air in your car tires, or just checking the oil level or putting windshield wiper fluid in. Hopefully it doesn’t need to go to the shop for those simple things.

I didn't take it poorly and appreciate the sentiment/kick in the butt I mean, really, unless you're Geddy Lee or a AAA touring guy with his very own tech, you gotta be able to do your own work. Janek Gwizdala, Damian Erskine etc, all these monster players are taking care of their own gear on the road.

My schedule has been/will be full for awhile and sometimes it's just easier to take it in. I may still do it this one time. But $200 is a lot of dough and can buy a nice pedal. Will probably head to Home Depot this friday and make a weekend of it.

Here's a setup tutorial from Roger Sadowsky. It includes recommendations for pickup heights. There is a pdf file of the same information by him online as well. Enjoy!
Roger Setup Instructions – Sadowsky Guitars

Thanks Twang!