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The Pedulla Club!

#2,381

Used Thunderbasses: Am I the only one that’s noticed that on ebay you mainly see only cocobolo and zebrawood, and occasionally a quilt maple or bubinga top? Pedulla’s website lists other “exotic” top options as flame maple, red heart quilted maple, maple burl, arbutis burl and redwood burl, but I’ve never seen any of those come up for sale. I did see one with a flame maple top at a local Guitar Center a number of years ago, but I don’t believe I’ve seen one since.

Anyone have any idea why the “overload” on cocobolo and zebrawood and not much else?

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt


Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club
Big Cabs Club #23
Pedulla Club #45


 
#2,382
WayneP said:
Used Thunderbasses: Am I the only one that’s noticed that on ebay you mainly see only cocobolo and zebrawood, and occasionally a quilt maple or bubinga top? Pedulla’s website lists other “exotic” top options as flame maple, red heart quilted maple, maple burl, arbutis burl and redwood burl, but I’ve never seen any of those come up for sale. I did see one with a flame maple top at a local Guitar Center a number of years ago, but I don’t believe I’ve seen one since.

Anyone have any idea why the “overload” on cocobolo and zebrawood and not much else?

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club
Big Cabs Club #23
Pedulla Club #45
Click to expand...
Most of those woods were added in recent years after the Nuance was introduced, so there may not be many out there.
 
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#2,385
...or perhaps the Zebrawood is the bestest....

ImageUploadedByTalkBass1401030651.846889.jpg
 
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#2,386
Sorry. This brings back childhood flashback memories of my grandmother's best friend had a old 50's house down in Miami that the entire living room and kitchen was done in really nice zebra wood plank panelling. That house was beautiful. (He was a Cadillac dealer).

How many bass tops could be made from that house. Oh my!
 
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#2,387
I just picked up this beautiful Pentabuzz in the TB classifieds at an amazing price. The previous owner babied this thing...it is practically like new.
Arctic night - what an amazing color. It's like a very dark teal. This is my first fretless. I'm already in love!
To the club-numbers giver - please give me a number! :D
Now, time to take some lessons...

IMG_1741.jpg
 
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#2,389
Worldeeeter said:
I just picked up this beautiful Pentabuzz in the TB classifieds at an amazing price. The previous owner babied this thing...it is practically like new.
Arctic night - what an amazing color. It's like a very dark teal. This is my first fretless. I'm already in love!
To the club-numbers giver - please give me a number! :D
Now, time to take some lessons...

View attachment 429324
Click to expand...
Congrats ! I'm very partial to THAT color!
 
#2,390
AudioDwebe said:
...or perhaps the Zebrawood is the bestest....
Click to expand...

Worldeeeter said:
I just picked up this beautiful Pentabuzz in the TB classifieds at an amazing price. The previous owner babied this thing...it is practically like new.
Arctic night - what an amazing color. It's like a very dark teal. This is my first fretless. I'm already in love!
To the club-numbers giver - please give me a number! :D
Now, time to take some lessons...
Click to expand...
Not sure how these two got past me – sorry guys! Let’s welcome or two new members, folks!

I know what you mean about that Zebrawood, Dwebe! Used to be I thought it was downright ugly, but it’s really grown on me to the point that I think they’re stunning! I’ll have to pick one up at some point. Then it’ll be a “showdown” between that one and the Cocobolo I currently have – one of them will have to go!

World, I know what you mean about fretless lessons! I got a Shechter fretless late last year as a “starter” and wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to figure it out. This video helped me a lot. To my amazement I was able to get it down pretty good within a few hours!

See below for your numbers, guys!


Updated list:
1. p0k
2. kobass
3. michael case
4. Tom7
5. Lonnybass
6. westrock
7. bgartist
8. robwren
9. kojak
10. mikekim
11. Rick Auricchio
12. hiderebirth
13. nalapit13
14. jmorbita
15. jmcgliss
16. Munjibunga
17. coreyfyfe
18. lamonica78
19. krrt
20. BlacksHole
21. rockdoc11
22. Chebass88
23. BigRedX
24. Thunderchief
25. steve4765630
26. BadJazz
27. cetera
28. kaputsport
29. swpyne
30. Kawai-chang
31. kdog
32. Russell Bergum
33. mburd
34. Soulfishing13
35. zoomduck
36. Fawkes007
37. pondscum29
38. NL5
39. Mike - NJ
40. eshears
41. Eminor3rd
42. wallybill
43. chrisp2u
44. Chunk-O-Funk
45. WayneP
46. rhs1856
47. rb1
48. robisbass
49. ZachB
50. baconeater
51. Pedulla?
52. JensWest
53. Bushwood
54. p5string
55. timmbass
56. pbass6811
57. pjmuck
58. pedulla-2007
59. Pedulla-Player
60. Envincibal
61. genocide roach
62. JEDI BASS
63. mightog
64. Jamie Bishop
65. trujo777
66. MoBeach
67. Asomodai
68. dangorange
69. blueacid4l
70. Maclu
71. jmjam -
72. daahoud
73. hensonbass
74. JazzyLambert
75. Flaked Beans
76. jelpo
77. comno
78. Fishheadjoe
79. mc2ny
80. churchplayer
81. seungkoo
82. Vakmere
83. chimaera1982
84. mindwell
85. anthomp
86. melodicly
87. ClassicJazz
88. LarkinLondon
89. ZiggyDude
90. rusackas
91. rodneyat
92. silvertripper
93. 88Sound
94. MasterMonkeyMan
95. jacobw82
96. tombowlus
97. bassthunder100
98.ghiadub
99. bass4worship
100. surfdog
101. chepo06
102. Dan Knowlton
103. TylerE
104. Tony CC
105. CelinderMotoMan
106. NYCBass
107. Pedullabill
108. foundation
109. Mi5a
110. Musicmaster75
111. MVPBASS
112. c-ba55
113. BassGreaser
114. 4to5to6
115. GBassNorth
116. Khui
117. francios
118. seamus bass
119. RandyMolson
120. Sir CussFreq
121. lpjiang
122. thibo62
123. nickmcknnn
124. newamsterdam
125. apener
126. fretless guy
127. mtb777
128. MisterWraith
129. BostonJazz72
130. BrandonA119
131. JeX
132. PazzoBasso
133. pert-urb
134. Randall
135. evilgus
136. INTP
137. scubaduba
138. Freddels
139. Oubabass
140. Where July
141. rolorockbass
142. esa372
143. selassie1
144. joebar
145. BenTitusMusic
146. Dwight
147. Sid Fang
148. Thumpy Fenda 5
149. deitzel
150. Dougazbass
151. amerbs38
152. emurga
153. rockiezz
154. fabinosto
155. Modulus1906
156. rocoop53
157. socialleper
158. 7777777
159. g-bro
160. dayer2bme
161. fabinosta
162. gegznes
163. tkhNote
164. BottomThumper
165. Folmeister
166. CTC564
167. TheShape101
168. Marial
169. Hot Pocket
170. Suatie
171. LatimerFripp
172. NightDonkey
173. Baird6869
174. Mexibass
175. Crowella
176. Dan Horboychuk
177. Sgroh87
178. LexD
179. stefandisgust
180. LeonD
181. EddieJackson
182. ric426
183. inthebasscleff
184. dataxguy
185. Addison
186. markcv
187. RLK
188. N03L
189. Templar
190. pmad bass
191. Caustic Crunch
192. hyperdoc
193. robthebassplaye
194. DampSneaker
195. AGH
196. WilsonMusic
197. hyoshim
198. AudioDwebe
199. Worldeeeter


Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club
Big Cabs Club #23
Pedulla Club #45
 
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#2,391
I picked up a second Thunderbass on ebay several weeks ago, a 2007 model that I’m having converted to fretless . The first thing I noticed when I got it was the sharp edges of the frets when I ran my hand up and down the neck! Not on top of the fretboard, but on the sides where the frets press down into the wood. When I took it to my luthier he was as stunned as I was: ”They didn’t dress the frets!” We both wondered in bewilderment, how does a $5000 hand-made bass get out the door in this condition??

And the case: with the bass in it, the lid won’t close. It sits up a full 1-3/8” down at the bottom of the bass! There is a gap with my other Thunderbass’s case too, but not as bad – an inch. I can understand the benefits of the bass being held tightly in the case, but 1-3/8”? It’s so bad the lid visibly flexes when you force it down to latch. I’m afraid it’s going to rip out the hinges or something!

Between the problem with the electronics in my first Thunderbass and the frets and case with this second one, I can’t help but wonder about Pedulla quality control issues. I did a search for “pedulla bass quality” and turned up this thread.

Be interested to hear some of your comments.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt


Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club
Big Cabs Club #23
a 2007 model that I’m having converted to fretless
 
#2,392
WayneP said:
Not sure how these two got past me – sorry guys! Let’s welcome or two new members, folks!

I know what you mean about that Zebrawood, Dwebe! Used to be I thought it was downright ugly, but it’s really grown on me to the point that I think they’re stunning! I’ll have to pick one up at some point. Then it’ll be a “showdown” between that one and the Cocobolo I currently have – one of them will have to go!

World, I know what you mean about fretless lessons! I got a Shechter fretless late last year as a “starter” and wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to figure it out. This video helped me a lot. To my amazement I was able to get it down pretty good within a few hours!

See below for your numbers, guys!

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club
Big Cabs Club #23
Pedulla Club #45
Click to expand...

Thanks - I'll take all the help I can get!
 
#2,393
ell, I got my “new” defretted bubinga Thunderbass back from my luthier, and it does sound nice.

More on that in a minute, but he was able to shed some light on the sharp-edged fret situation that I mentioned in Post #387. He said it looks like the bass had been refretted! There were some tell-tale chips under the frets, and he could tell that the frets were different than what’s on my cocobolo Thunderbass – they were wider. I asked why would someone do such a thing on a relatively new bass, and he said the wider frets would sound better with slap-styled playing. But for some reason they didn’t finish the job, as evidenced by the sharp tool-cut edges never being dressed. All pretty curious and mysterious! It appears like all this probably happened while the bass was pretty new and it was put away and never played again, because lemme tell ya, this baby is absolutely pristine. None of the subtle pitting you get on the gold-plated tuners from normal handling. Even the brass hinges and latches on the case look brand new. Whatever the back story is, it’s a “win-win” for me!

As far as the sound, I love it! I thought I’d start with the Pedulla stings that come stock on the Buzz basses. Talk about depth and warmth for days - so much so that about the only way you can get a good “mwah” happening is to pan to the bridge pickup and roll the bass knob back. Do that and it “mwah’s” like crazy. With the bass control flat and the pan pot straight up it doesn’t get a lot of “mwah,” but it’s still an awesome rich tone that * just * sounds * great! By comparison my 4-string Schecter “starter” fretless, while definitely getting some great “mwah,” sounds “nasally” and sterile.

And it looks great too! You just don’t see a lot of bubinga Pedullas. My luthier recommended using wood for the lines instead of the common white styrene plastic. He wanted to use ebony, but I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to see the lines. I’m a fretless noob, I need the lines! So he used maple instead, and stained them a dark brown that matches the bubinga. The result is a subtle effect: The lines are there, but they don’t jump out at you like white plastic or unstained maple would.

Here are a couple of pics, including a neck close-up.



Bubinga fretless resized color corrected no dots.jpg


neck detail cropped no dots.jpg


Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt


Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club
Big Cabs Club #23
Pedulla Club #45
 
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#2,394
Dang that be really nice and yes that treatment of the fret fillers is subtle and easy on the eyes. It might be an issue playing in a dark club maybe but you wanna play with your ears anyway. Yes I still look too and can't be as animated as I'd like sometimes but hey.

Beautiful bass. Really nice top!
 
#2,395
hi you Pedulla fans. I just got my first pedulla its an 89 MVP4 (I've wanted one since I wasw a teenager). Its a great bass. Now Im on the prowl for an MVP5 to compliment it. Ive put my Glock rig up as trade bait on the Sale/trade forum if any of you guys may be interested.
Also, How can I join the club?
 
#2,398

Marial said:
Btw, my Pentabuzz is for sale: Pedulla Club #45

Why? Well, I've finally cottoned to the fact that I'm just a Jazz man, and a Victor Bailey Jazz V somehow finagled its way into my home, so the Pentabuzz has to go.
Click to expand...
So you’re going over to the “dark side,” huh? Hee hee, just kidding! Too bad you could keep the ‘Dulla and add the Jazz to your arsenal, but I understand. :( Shoot, I got a couple I need to think about selling, too!

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt


Administrator, Tobias Club
Administrator, Big Cabs Club #23
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/2009-aaa-vintage-cherry-pedulla-pentabuzz.1080563/
Pedulla Club #45

 

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