I purchased my first Pedulla a few months ago: '87 MVP, it's a killer bass. I'm not a fan of gold hardware, so I swapped it out for black. Can I get a number, please?
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Hi, Can I get a number please? I just picked up this used Pentabuzz from a fellow TB'er:
SOLD - Pedulla Pentabuzz 5 String Fretless Bass (1990)
SOLD - Pedulla Pentabuzz 5 String Fretless Bass (1990)
Hello guys, this is Pentabuzz #9858. It has a AAA flame maple top, Arctic Midnight color, and 17.5mm string spacing. I purchased it brand new from Pedulla late last year, courtesy of Grasshopper at Bass Central. Michael was kind enough to speak with me on the phone several times about some questions I had. I was a bit starstruck when I picked up the phone and heard "Hi this is Mike Pedulla!" Interesting guy. Very nice, and very protective of his products and their reputation. Owning a Pedulla is a dream come true, and this is the last and greatest of my "dream" basses. The difference between this bass and my other basses is similar to the difference between VHS and Blu-Ray. It's like high definition bass tone. It's 3-D whereas my others are 2-D. It is Pavarotti making a guest appearance at a college choir concert. My other basses are not cheap or low quality by any means, but the sound of the Pentabuzz is on an entirely higher level. It has access to a whole world of deeper, more powerful lows that I didn't know bass guitars could produce. And of course the singing fretless sound is glorious and encourages the most obnoxious playing 
The thing that surprised me most was how raunchy it can get, especially the low notes. I mentioned in another thread that there was never a bass that looked so polite and sounded so nasty. The old Pedulla slogan of "punch it and it growls" is substantially accurate. However, that sound is very dependent on the setup, and this bass is extremely sensitive to even the smallest neck movement. As you guys already know, you really do need some buzz to get the right sound, and the bass has required frequent, tiny truss rod adjustments in order to maintain that perfect sweet spot. Luckily, the truss rod works wonderfully and almost instantly, and I've found that after a few months it doesn't need to be adjusted quite as often.
Shortcomings include a slightly weak D on the G string, which Michael warned me could happen. It isn't a dead spot by any means, but it doesn't sing out as much as the other notes. I've been able to ameliorate the issue to a certain extent by adjusting the setup, but it's one of those things I'll have to try to correct through technique for the most part. It's also both heavy and neck heavy, and seems easier to play while sitting down. That said, I discovered that if I adjust the strap so that the bass is hanging way high up, like Mark Egan for example, it somehow doesn't neck dive anymore. Kind of a big deal actually. The whole design makes a lot more sense in that position because your plucking hand is in the perfect spot and the upper register is easily accessible. It lets you get around the mid to upper fingerboard with some serious facility. However, it also makes for a bit of a stretch down to the first couple frets, and I've got long arms.
All in all, it's a magnificent instrument. For me, there's never a honeymoon phase with a new bass. Instead, I usually find myself obsessing over the flaws at first. As time goes on, I get used to them and learn to appreciate the bass's strengths more. Lately I've definitely begun to "click" with the Pentabuzz, and I'm relaxing and enjoying it more. I'm sure my love for it will only continue to grow I'm very proud to be the owner of this bass, and if it's alright with you guys I'd like to request membership in this club please! 
*Note: I've made edits to this post here and there as I continue to learn about this bass, in order to help anyone considering buying one.
The thing that surprised me most was how raunchy it can get, especially the low notes. I mentioned in another thread that there was never a bass that looked so polite and sounded so nasty. The old Pedulla slogan of "punch it and it growls" is substantially accurate. However, that sound is very dependent on the setup, and this bass is extremely sensitive to even the smallest neck movement. As you guys already know, you really do need some buzz to get the right sound, and the bass has required frequent, tiny truss rod adjustments in order to maintain that perfect sweet spot. Luckily, the truss rod works wonderfully and almost instantly, and I've found that after a few months it doesn't need to be adjusted quite as often.Shortcomings include a slightly weak D on the G string, which Michael warned me could happen. It isn't a dead spot by any means, but it doesn't sing out as much as the other notes. I've been able to ameliorate the issue to a certain extent by adjusting the setup, but it's one of those things I'll have to try to correct through technique for the most part. It's also both heavy and neck heavy, and seems easier to play while sitting down. That said, I discovered that if I adjust the strap so that the bass is hanging way high up, like Mark Egan for example, it somehow doesn't neck dive anymore. Kind of a big deal actually. The whole design makes a lot more sense in that position because your plucking hand is in the perfect spot and the upper register is easily accessible. It lets you get around the mid to upper fingerboard with some serious facility. However, it also makes for a bit of a stretch down to the first couple frets, and I've got long arms.
All in all, it's a magnificent instrument. For me, there's never a honeymoon phase with a new bass. Instead, I usually find myself obsessing over the flaws at first. As time goes on, I get used to them and learn to appreciate the bass's strengths more. Lately I've definitely begun to "click" with the Pentabuzz, and I'm relaxing and enjoying it more. I'm sure my love for it will only continue to grow
I'm very proud to be the owner of this bass, and if it's alright with you guys I'd like to request membership in this club please! *Note: I've made edits to this post here and there as I continue to learn about this bass, in order to help anyone considering buying one.
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By the way, quick question for you guys. On a new Pentabuzz like mine in the post above, when the midrange switch is in the up position, is that flat or cut? I know down is a mid boost, but I wasn't sure if up was flat or scooped. I just know it's "less mids than up" haha. You'd think I'd be sure of that by now...
I believe it's boost and flat (or regular . . . I guess).
Thanks! That's what I was thinking. I love having the option of switching between mid flat + higher volume and mid boost + lower volume. It's tempting to keep that boost engaged all the time, but there are some GREAT tones available with it off as well, if you just use the volume to make up the difference. I've used this bass on a few recording sessions and loud jams, and I'm very thrilled with it. Never was such a polite looking instrument capable of such supremely nasty sounds.
Hey all,
Has anyone played or heard a buzz bass with the dual soapbars? Thoughts and opinions?
Thanks.
Has anyone played or heard a buzz bass with the dual soapbars? Thoughts and opinions?
Thanks.
If it's a hexabuzz, then they'll only have dual HB's. There's a youtube clip of someone playing one so you can get an idea of how it sounds.
Hi,
I just recently bought a Rapture 2J 5 string via ebay.
It is a well used instrument, born in 1996. Still in a very nice shape.
The previous owner has replaced the Bartolini pickups with some EMGs.
The playability is very nice, and the tone really both has a rich, deep bottom, and also a nice bite to it.
This is my first experience with a Pedulla, and so far I don't regret my "blind" purchase.
I'm quite surprised by it's light veight, and really like the 34" scale (my previous MTD 5-string was 35").
I hope to join the Pedulla club!
Is there a vacant number for me?
LOTS of questions can you help?
I am looking at a 91 Buzz Peacock Blue gorgeous going for super cheap ($1 grand): my pro bassist buddy went to check it out at my trusted music store that has it....according to him the previous owner seems to have switched out the pan pot and the neck is a little bowed, but nothing a tweak of the truss rod won't fix; says it's GORGEOUS TO PLAY and to hurry up and buy it. I will play it myself in a few days as the shop is holding it for me.
Anyone have comments on Pedulla Buzzes around this time?
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The low price also has to do with Pedullas not being played by a trendy bassist here (in Japan), and also (and real big) the shop not having the truss rod tool to tweak the neck, which my friend says makes it a steal among steals....
Hi, have any of you Pedulla owners tried swapping Master Volume-Blend for Volume-Volume controls?
Through the years, various highly-opinionated players have played or listened to my passive PJ series II. One of the opinions I've heard several times is that, as a general guideline, switching a passive bass from blend pot to volume-volume can "open up the sound" or "give more usable range of tones" or "make the mids/highs more present".
I'm wondering if there is any truth to this opinion, that swapping the pots would be a good "mod" for my passive PJ Series 2. Have any of you experimented and noticed a difference with vol-vol vs. master-blend on a Bartolini equipped Pedulla?
Through the years, various highly-opinionated players have played or listened to my passive PJ series II. One of the opinions I've heard several times is that, as a general guideline, switching a passive bass from blend pot to volume-volume can "open up the sound" or "give more usable range of tones" or "make the mids/highs more present".
I'm wondering if there is any truth to this opinion, that swapping the pots would be a good "mod" for my passive PJ Series 2. Have any of you experimented and noticed a difference with vol-vol vs. master-blend on a Bartolini equipped Pedulla?
- Apr 3, 2003
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I am, in general, a fan of vol/vol for precisely these reasons, but I have not modified either of my Pedullas on this account. Not necessarily a bad idea, though.
The impact of switching from a blend control to two volume controls would depend upon a number of variables. It is unlikely to make a significant difference in tone in instruments with active pickups because the buffers in the pickups will not be affected by resistive loading. However, it may make a difference with passive pickups used with passive controls, depending on the taper and resistance of the potentiometers employed. Generally speaking, a 1M or 500k pot will sound brighter than a 250k. Blend potentiometers also come with different values and tapers, so the impact of switching to volume/volume will vary. Personally, I prefer a blend control as it gives me greater utility for techniques like volume swells and I like being able to find the "sweet spot" with one knob.
Another factor to consider is that the stock Bartolini pickups on Pedullas tend to have a somewhat darker, lower midrange focused sound. So, switching to brighter, more open-sounding, pickups is another solution. I installed a Q-tuner BL-5 in my Rapture 5 and it sounds much more open in the upper midrange and treble than the original Bartolini C-type humbucker.
She's 24 years old and still plays and sounds pretty awesome!
