The Official MARUSZCZYK CLUB!

[MrClassicMetal]

Also the standard bridge on my Jake has no adjustment screw. It's a PITA to set intonation. Not getting a Hipshot bridge is my only regret with this bass.

I feel you man. Yesterday I finally got rid of that standard bridge and installed a Hipshot Vintage.

 

[carlosjrf]

Beautiful Frog. The only downside is its likely to supplant your other basses, both past and future. A few notes on your previous posts:
1) You like rosewood fretboards: get a rosewood fretboard. Make the cosmetics work somehow
2) Body vs. electronics budget. Spend on the body and neck. Electronics and hardware are easier to replace later. e.g. standard jazz routes mean you'll have lots of pickup options.
3) If you like active preamps, consider a 5 knob, no-switch configuration, which can accommodate many good aftermarket preamp options (or 5 knob, 1 switch). If that's passive, rock on, so is my Jazzus.
4) Monorail bridges. BlueTalon pointed out the lack of an adjustment screw (Ibanez monorail bridges are the one's I can think of that have them). It's important but not a show stopper for me. On the WSC monorails, I've learned to loosen the string a whole note or so, then lift the string and slide the bridge with my fingers. Since I can perform that operation reliably and with good precision, I don't miss the screws too much. ETS might increase the wait time. I like that bridge (also no spring) but I wouldn't wait for it.
5) IMHO. If that's an ash body, I'd consider a top, e.g. spalted maple. See 2).

Appreciate all the recommendations.
- Regarding the bridge, I think im probably staying with the monorail since I dont usually mess with that much and i take it to my trusted tech anyway.
- For the electronics, yeah that has me kind of stumped. I play passive and the only active bass i liked is a stingray. Thought of getting active electronics only because it’s easier to have them in now instead of figuring out what to do later. Which one? Not sure. Right now in between Nord obp-2 sk and maruszyzcyk toneformer 3ms/tps only because it has the passive tone near the blend. Other than those not really sure where to go. Going to give the 5 knob a thought. Or save the money and go passive. At least I settled on the Aguilars.
- Body, yes its ash. I would go alder, but the only colors I like are the transparent Brandy Breath and Black. Ash grain adds great detail to the transparent color. Going natural is another option with ash. Not fully convinced on any of the solids. Keeping the monorail bridge will give me the option of a wood top. More if I go with passive electronics, if i ever make my mind about it. I actually like the quilted maple on ash and walnut veneer, or wenge on alder, both natural. Or could go quilted maple on alder if painted. (See photos)

Appreciate all the advice. So many options.

 

[Bartrinsic]

Appreciate all the recommendations.
- Regarding the bridge, I think im probably staying with the monorail since I dont usually mess with that much and i take it to my trusted tech anyway.
- For the electronics, yeah that has me kind of stumped. I play passive and the only active bass i liked is a stingray. Thought of getting active electronics only because it’s easier to have them in now instead of figuring out what to do later. Which one? Not sure. Right now in between Nord obp-2 sk and maruszyzcyk toneformer 3ms/tps only because it has the passive tone near the blend. Other than those not really sure where to go. Going to give the 5 knob a thought. Or save the money and go passive. At least I settled on the Aguilars.
- Body, yes its ash. I would go alder, but the only colors I like are the transparent Brandy Breath and Black. Ash grain adds great detail to the transparent color. Going natural is another option with ash. Not fully convinced on any of the solids. Keeping the monorail bridge will give me the option of a wood top. More if I go with passive electronics, if i ever make my mind about it. I actually like the quilted maple on ash and walnut veneer, or wenge on alder, both natural. Or could go quilted maple on alder if painted. (See photos)

Appreciate all the advice. So many options.

I've never regretted ordering a bass passive. If I really need EQ I can use one pedal or any preamp within reach. Also, if you change your mind, more holes can be drilled. You could save a little by dropping the matching headstock, depending on how the neck wood looks on top. I'd put the money toward a top/body wood combination. Using swamp ash helps with weight and blends well with heavier tone woods, so I like maple/ash, maple/walnut/ash, wenge/ash, wenge/walnut/ash or Quilted Ash/Alder or Quilted Ash/Mahogany like:

 

[carlosjrf]

I've never regretted ordering a bass passive. If I really need EQ I can use one pedal or any preamp within reach. Also, if you change your mind, more holes can be drilled. You could save a little by dropping the matching headstock, depending on how the neck wood looks on top. I'd put the money toward a top/body wood combination. Using swamp ash helps with weight and blends well with heavier tone woods, so I like maple/ash, maple/walnut/ash, wenge/ash, wenge/walnut/ash or Quilted Ash/Alder or Quilted Ash/Mahogany like:View attachment 4958708

Awesome. Yeah it makes sense. By the way, how does the body of the jazzus compare to a typical jazz bass? Jazzus is another option but Im not sure how it will feel. Also is difficult to visualize how it will look for real.

 

[BlueTalon]

Right now in between Nord obp-2 sk and maruszyzcyk toneformer 3ms/tps only because it has the passive tone near the blend.

I love my Maruszczyk Toneformer 3MS/TP. I went with that rather than the TPS version because I'd rather have five regular knobs than three regular knobs and a stacked knob. But that's just my preference. But the electronics are the same, and they work great for me.

One data point for you.

Awesome. Yeah it makes sense. By the way, how does the body of the jazzus compare to a typical jazz bass? Jazzus is another option but Im not sure how it will feel. Also is difficult to visualize how it will look for real.

It can be tricky.

 

[Bartrinsic]

Awesome. Yeah it makes sense. By the way, how does the body of the jazzus compare to a typical jazz bass? Jazzus is another option but Im not sure how it will feel. Also is difficult to visualize how it will look for real.

It will look somewhat different on the couch. For me, 2 for 2, the couch shot blows away the configurator estimate. I'd be curious if anyone liked their configurator estimate better than their couch shot.
The 22 fret Jazzus is a little slimmer all around than a Fender Jazz, so it feels like a Jazz Jr. but it sounds like a Jazz Monster. Everyone needs a Frog and a Jazzus--isn't is obvious? Seriously, since the necks/fretboards are very similar on both, it is very easy to switch between them. I ordered the Frog first. That's how I'd do it over.

 

[BlackWolf]

Order placed!

Specs:

• alder body, wenge top and matte finish;
• hard rock maple (3-piece) neck, matte finish, 38mm nut width with carbon rods;
• katalox fingerboard, super blue 2mm side dots with ring and 14” fingerboard radius;
• matching headstock, matte finish and silver logo, black nut;
• Nordstrand Zen Blade 4 pickups, passive with 2 switches for serial/single coil/parallel;
• black hardware, 19mm bridge spacing;
• ETS knobs, Hipshot A-Style (aluminium) bridge and Hipshot Ultralite Y-style 3/8 tuners.

@BlueTalon I asked for a stainless steel zero fret, this is what Adrian said: “I must check this exactly because the stainless steel fret wire is lower than the other one. Maybe I can buy something.”

We’ll see.

 

[Bartrinsic]

Order placed!

View attachment 4959331
View attachment 4959333

@BlueTalon I asked for a stainless steel zero fret, this is what Adrian said: “I must check this exactly because the stainless steel fret wire is lower than the other one. Maybe I can buy something.”

We’ll see.

Another gorgeous Wenge top. Oh the things I don't have! Be sure to post some good photos. The lighting for the couch shot might not do full justice.

 

[2ndBassGuitar]

Order placed!

View attachment 4959331
View attachment 4959333

@BlueTalon I asked for a stainless steel zero fret, this is what Adrian said: “I must check this exactly because the stainless steel fret wire is lower than the other one. Maybe I can buy something.”

We’ll see.

Nice looking bass. Curious why you didn’t choose the 1/2 Hipshot Tuners?

 

[Bartrinsic]

Nice looking bass. Curious why you didn’t choose the 1/2 Hipshot Tuners?

See #7903 for the 1/2". I wanted the Jazzus to handle flats easily if needed---I haven't tested that yet.

 

[swartzfeger]

Order placed!

Congrats wolf! Definitely post pics, as I don't think I've seen any Wenge top Maruszczyks posted.

 

[BlackWolf]

Another gorgeous Wenge top. Oh the things I don't have! Be sure to post some good photos. The lighting for the couch shot might not do full justice.

Thanks, I will for sure!

Nice looking bass. Curious why you didn’t choose the 1/2 Hipshot Tuners?

See #7903 for the 1/2". I wanted the Jazzus to handle flats easily if needed---I haven't tested that yet.

Thanks @2ndBassGuitar. Bartrinsic’s answer is spot on, that’s why I didn’t order the 1/2 Ultralite Tuners.

Congrats wolf! Definitely post pics, as I don't think I've seen any Wenge top Maruszczyks posted.

Thank you! Actually I found his “big brother” in this club.
The Official MARUSZCZYK CLUB!

 

[TK4261]

Have been out of town... this looks great, TK! Now that you've had it for a few, how does she play and sound? How's the quality/fit-n-finish?

Thank you! Been playing it everyday for a few hours a day and I could not be happier with it. Action is perfect for me, nice and low and I cannot stress enough how massive the double P config sounds with the Aguilar preamp running 18v.
Fit-n-Finish are also top notch. I am glad that I chose Ebony for the fretboard. Randy said that Adrian put the little warranty exempt notice on Ebony boards due to only a couple of people that had their Ebony boards in extreme weather differences and did not take care of the FB by conditioning and cleaning it. Randy said He has not had any issues with the Ebony boards that he has ordered for his customers over the years.

 

[scott sinner]

I'm on my last decision point in the configurator for another Frog.

Pickups

What is going to get me an aggressive growly tone? (without undue noise)

Thoughts? Opinions?

 

[PotsdamBass8]

Appreciate all the recommendations.
- Regarding the bridge, I think im probably staying with the monorail since I dont usually mess with that much and i take it to my trusted tech anyway.
- For the electronics, yeah that has me kind of stumped. I play passive and the only active bass i liked is a stingray. Thought of getting active electronics only because it’s easier to have them in now instead of figuring out what to do later. Which one? Not sure. Right now in between Nord obp-2 sk and maruszyzcyk toneformer 3ms/tps only because it has the passive tone near the blend. Other than those not really sure where to go. Going to give the 5 knob a thought. Or save the money and go passive. At least I settled on the Aguilars.
- Body, yes its ash. I would go alder, but the only colors I like are the transparent Brandy Breath and Black. Ash grain adds great detail to the transparent color. Going natural is another option with ash. Not fully convinced on any of the solids. Keeping the monorail bridge will give me the option of a wood top. More if I go with passive electronics, if i ever make my mind about it. I actually like the quilted maple on ash and walnut veneer, or wenge on alder, both natural. Or could go quilted maple on alder if painted. (See photos)

Appreciate all the advice. So many options.

I don’t know if it’s an option to have it shipped to Adrian, but I really like the Audere in mine. It’s a very neutral sounding preamp set flat but has tons of flexibility.

 

[BlueTalon]

I'm on my last decision point in the configurator for another Frog.

Pickups

What is going to get me an aggressive growly tone? (without undue noise)

Thoughts? Opinions?

On my Frog, I went with Delano JC 4 HE/M2, because I wanted two things -- a pickup with a high probability of having a good tone that I would love, and no exposed pole pieces. What I got was a pickup that is fully capable of delivering both a clean tone and growl. I find them very expressive and responsive. But it's easier to get them to do clean than it is to get them to do growl, so they might not be the best fit for you. Nevertheless, I heartily recommend them, and I'd happily use them again in a future build.

 

[scott sinner]

On my Frog, I went with Delano JC 4 HE/M2, because I wanted two things -- a pickup with a high probability of having a good tone that I would love, and no exposed pole pieces. What I got was a pickup that is fully capable of delivering both a clean tone and growl. I find them very expressive and responsive. But it's easier to get them to do clean than it is to get them to do growl, so they might not be the best fit for you. Nevertheless, I heartily recommend them, and I'd happily use them again in a future build.

Appreciate your insight.

 

[gigetto]

This thread is more busy than many many competitor thread....

 

[Barticus]

This thread is more busy than many many competitor thread....

It is busier and a good community with many helpful members willing to share their knowledge. One of my favorites for sure!

 

[gln1955]

Maruszczyk just needs to offer a gold foil pickup.