• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

The Pedulla Club!

It may have made some rounds but it finally has a home. With this addition there are no tones on bass I can't cover. Pedulla necks maybe the best I ever played.

I believe I used to own that bass, and its an awesome one! As a metal player, the exotic tops didn't quite fit the genre (and I am fortunate enough to already have several other t-basses :bassist:)
 
I think mine is "freak of nature" light. Most I've seen seem to be in the 9 - 10 lbs range. I'll put it on a scale later today.

Even though it's light, it has nice tone. Warmer than I remember but my strings could have a lot to do with that. I do think it's going to need it's neck recoated though. Some of the "fret" markers are raising up. Per Pedulla's FAQ, the fix is a recoat.

Maybe, unless you can work some of your fretless, setup magic, Fred.

There's only so much I can do with a setup. Those fret markers are definitely cause some issues. Best to make an appointment with Michael and have it done. I'd go for the ride with you over there as I need to have my input jack looked at.
 
I've been a Pedulla fan for decades, was first attracted to them in the late 1970s when I saw a few of the original models around Boston, but really fell in love with them when I was working at a music store that was a Pedulla dealer in the mid-1980s. Always wanted a Buzz in my arsenal, and every one I've played has only reinforced that GAS.

But I haven't really been paying attention to what Mike's done with the company in the past ~20 years or so, so I was really surprised when I checked out the current website and saw that he's offering these optional sideline markers on the fretless fingerboards:
Invalid Link Removed

Anyone have a Buzz with the Sideline Marker Option? Would love to see more pics. Thanks.
 
Does anyone have a Buzz or Pentabuzz under 9 lbs? I'm just wondering if it's possible to get a relatively lightweight one. My MVP6 is quite heavy.
My MVP5 is at 9.6 lbs... if I swapped the tuners for Hipshot Ultralights and swapped the behemoth of a bridge that's on there for a Hipshot A-Style Bridge, I would imagine it would be in the high 8 lbs range.

Speaking of bridges...

I noticed that some pictures of Pedullas I see have them with the "standard" roller-bridge like the one on mine, and others have Hipshot A-Style Bridges on them.

Is there a specific reason for this or is it just a supply thing?
 
My MVP5 is at 9.6 lbs... if I swapped the tuners for Hipshot Ultralights and swapped the behemoth of a bridge that's on there for a Hipshot A-Style Bridge, I would imagine it would be in the high 8 lbs range.

Speaking of bridges...

I noticed that some pictures of Pedullas I see have them with the "standard" roller-bridge like the one on mine, and others have Hipshot A-Style Bridges on them.

Is there a specific reason for this or is it just a supply thing?

He noted on the website that he can no longer get that bridge from his supplier.
 
Can anyone who has a Hipshot A Style bridge with 19mm spacing on their Pedulla tell me if their bridge is exactly 0.75" (19.05 mm) spacing or if it's closer to 0.728" (18.4912 mm) spacing?

Thanks!
 
Hi Guys,

I have a lefty MVP5 and I have a lefty 1987 Buzz on the way.

Can I have a number?

Mark
 

Attachments

  • P1000452.jpg
    P1000452.jpg
    116 KB · Views: 67
  • '87 Pedulla Buzz.jpg
    '87 Pedulla Buzz.jpg
    39.5 KB · Views: 81
I have these 2 lefties, an MVP 5 and a Buzz. Both are older basses. The MVP is a 1996 and the Buzz is a 1987. Both had/have 3 knob control setups.

When I got the MVP 5 the previous owner had taken out the older, extremely beat up Bart soapbars and the accompanying mystery preamp and replaced them with Aguilar DCB1s and I added an Aguilar OBP-3 and made it into kind of a standard 4 pot 1 switch layout. The Buzz has EMG P/Js in it with 3 pots. I'm thinking of switching both basses to all Bartolini.

Pedulla's prices for their proprietary version of the NTMB and their Bartolini pickups are quite high. $425 for the preamp (which apparently includes installation) vs $170 fully pre-wired (4.7 A/P) from Best Bass Gear. I can handle the installation myself so I don't want to pay for something I don't need. The pickup prices are also quite high at $150 each vs $175 for a set of P/Js for example, again, from Best Bass Gear.

Basically, it's twice as much for his "proprietary" versions of the NTMB and whatever Bartolini pickups you want to get: soapbar or P/J.

Does anybody have any thoughts or comments or experience in regards to the off the shelf versions of each of these components from Bartolini vs Pedulla's proprietary version?

Obviously the mid options alone are far more powerful with a 3 position mid frequency select switch and a boost/cut for the mid; as well as an active/passive push/pull volume.

Thanks in advance.
 
Cool! Crabby and I texted back and forth about it a week or so ago. He's a good guy.

my best friend of 34 years and a great guy and one of the most knowledgable people you will ever meet when it comes to gear

PS-if you ever want to sell it, give him first crack because these are hard to come by and he lusts after one because I have a pentabuzz
 
I have these 2 lefties, an MVP 5 and a Buzz. Both are older basses. The MVP is a 1996 and the Buzz is a 1987. Both had/have 3 knob control setups.

When I got the MVP 5 the previous owner had taken out the older, extremely beat up Bart soapbars and the accompanying mystery preamp and replaced them with Aguilar DCB1s and I added an Aguilar OBP-3 and made it into kind of a standard 4 pot 1 switch layout. The Buzz has EMG P/Js in it with 3 pots. I'm thinking of switching both basses to all Bartolini.

Pedulla's prices for their proprietary version of the NTMB and their Bartolini pickups are quite high. $425 for the preamp (which apparently includes installation) vs $170 fully pre-wired (4.7 A/P) from Best Bass Gear. I can handle the installation myself so I don't want to pay for something I don't need. The pickup prices are also quite high at $150 each vs $175 for a set of P/Js for example, again, from Best Bass Gear.

Basically, it's twice as much for his "proprietary" versions of the NTMB and whatever Bartolini pickups you want to get: soapbar or P/J.

Does anybody have any thoughts or comments or experience in regards to the off the shelf versions of each of these components from Bartolini vs Pedulla's proprietary version?

Obviously the mid options alone are far more powerful with a 3 position mid frequency select switch and a boost/cut for the mid; as well as an active/passive push/pull volume.

Thanks in advance.

Besides the shipping and all the extras of getting it to the U.S., I would say just buy a Bart NTMB preamp and the regular bart pickups and have someone local install it (or do it yourself if you're handy).
 
Besides the shipping and all the extras of getting it to the U.S., I would say just buy a Bart NTMB preamp and the regular bart pickups and have someone local install it (or do it yourself if you're handy).

No probs to install it myself. I'm just curious as to how much "better" the proprietary Pedulla versions sound and if anybody has had any experience with this. In an interview with Michael Pedulla he states that he went through many prototypes with Bill and Pat before settling on the exact versions that he now uses. Then he suggests that any deviation from that will change the character of the bass.

Well, these 2 basses are already different from stock so I have to think that I will be getting a lot closer with off the shelf Bart parts, but again, the question remains: how close?
 
I would say very close. Since your basses are older, the pickups that were in it when it was made were most likely stock barts. If you think you could hear the difference or if you're just looking for justification to send it to Pedulla, then go ahead. It's your bass.
 
I would say very close. Since your basses are older, the pickups that were in it when it was made were most likely stock barts. If you think you could hear the difference or if you're just looking for justification to send it to Pedulla, then go ahead. It's your bass.

No sir, not trying to justify emptying my wallet. Your point is well taken and I'm sure you're right. Really just opening the floor for discussion and opinions... all welcome.

I know that I couldn't hear the difference because I don't have the option of doing the comparison. Both basses aren't stock.
 

Latest posts