Gorgeous, but I'm freaking out that its out in the snow lol!
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The official "Show your basses" thread part 19!
- Thread starter smperry
- Start date
Gorgeous, but I'm freaking out that its out in the snow lol!
It's a little bit of a stretch but nothing crazy. Mind you, I started on a 5er, moved to a 6 and came down to a 4 string. It's a really cozy bass.
It's a magnificent specimen that you have there! I am curious about the strings though; Optima Unique and Black Beauties?
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Exactly those strings. Can't hear the difference between the 2 sets, both are coated stainless steel.
MTD 535 from Michael Tobias Design.
This electric bass might have the best tone of any bass I have ever touched. It sounds as close to perfect as I can imagine. Both pickups are at least "usable for something" all through the blend knob, and it is easy to get the right sound in all kinds of different circumstances. Whew! Very tough to put down, with old strings, new strings (!!!), any amp or just a DI. I've played a lot of basses, and this one is at least in the top five best sounding instruments!
A three-piece maple neck, tilt-back headstock on a scarf joint, maple board with a 35" scale, two piece avodire body, Bartolini electronics, and Hipshot hardware. Avodire is an African hardwood, from the same family as mahogany.
Eight pounds ten ounces, very respectable for a 35" scale five string. It sounds great, all over the board.
It doesn't play the best, due to a little twist in the neck, but a few weeks of judicious tweaking of the truss rod and bridge has the action at a little over 4/64" on the G and a little more over 5/64" on the B. It will stand up to hard plucking without buzzing at this point, so that is actually not too bad, by my standards. I used to adjust to the lowest height without buzzing under moderate plucking (4/64" to less-than-5/64"), but I was giving up too much tone that way. I'm adjusting less than 1/64" higher these days, to a height where I can pluck hard without getting any buzzing, but more importantly the string can ring free, it can sing. Medium height action is worth the compromise for me, because I am most concerned with getting the best sound.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,603
- 222,065
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Dang that is purty, especially captured "in the wild", as it were.
I particularly like the alternating string colors too.
Here’s an updated family photo. The jag is new this year. Otherwise I made it almost 2 years without buying something new!
That is certainly a nice collection.
L-R BC Rich Platnum Warlock, FalCar Custom Bass, BC Rich NJ Bich
L-R Squier Affinity PJ bass, Squier Affinity Jass Bass
Both basses are currently at the luthier's shop getting new pickups (GZR's for the PJ & Bartolini's in the Jazz), hardware, nuts (tusq).
I became friends with Marty Bell. I got lucky when I had him do the gold, the silver, and the blue flames over a period of about 18 months. He says he is trying to slow down and posted on some of his media that he was going to retire. Unfortunately, he then became swamped with requests. He is a great guy and I wish him the best.-Sparkle Plenty! (For those who remember Dick Tracy...)
Not yet in my grubby hands but will be Sunday'ish ...
Finally filled the J gap in my arsenal.
Finally filled the J gap in my arsenal.
Totally dig the paint
Thanks! Yes, I really fell for this color. I also dig the dark night, but it only comes with a maple board. I love maple boards but that spot is being filled by my something else. So this one had to have a RW board. Cheers!
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Beautiful coloring, with nice subtle shading...
