The Pedulla Club!

[naetog]

Perhaps subjective, but in my view, Pedullas are held back somewhat by their pickups/electronics. While some may like the warm, rolled-off in the highs sound which is characteristic of Bartolini, IMO it fails to adequately reproduce the nice acoustic tone of these fine instruments. Thus, I think it is worthwhile to consider upgrading the pickups/electronics to something more open sounding.

I agree.

The pickups are fine, it's just the eq that I have issue with.

For a long time I put EMG preamps in my basses because I like the mid sweep. Then I found an Audere and a Mike Pope eq I like better.

Even the 3 band Bartolini eq is more useful to me, but I'm an admitted midrange user and abuser, so YMMV'

 

[Mushroo]

While we're on the topic of their service, has anyone ever had their Pedulla refinished? How did it turn out? Pros and cons of having it done by Pedulla vs someone else?

My Pedulla is showing some wear and tear as it approaches 30 years old and I don't like the "reliced" look on this style of instrument. (Looks okay on a Fender style.)

 

[bgartist]

I think its just the soapbar pickups and preamps in the Thunderbolt/Thunderbasses and MVP/Buzzes that are proprietary. I swapped the pickups and pre in my Rapture jazz at different times with no problem. I, too, found out that you had to swap all of the electronics in my Thunderbolts because they were dark sounding. The humbucking pickups and preamps in the newer Pedullas are very different. They are much more open and lively. My recent Nuance sounds great and I would not ever think of changing the electronics.

 

[Pedullist]

While we're on the topic of their service, has anyone ever had their Pedulla refinished? How did it turn out? Pros and cons of having it done by Pedulla vs someone else?

My Pedulla is showing some wear and tear as it approaches 30 years old and I don't like the "reliced" look on this style of instrument. (Looks okay on a Fender style.)

Somewhere in this thread you'll find pics from someone who did it. It looks absolutely amazing.

 

[Pedullist]

Just a nice pic of an order by Bass Collection Japan a while ago

 

[IronLung1986]

Just a nice pic of an order by Bass Collection Japan a while ago

View attachment 3147652

Good lord. I just had a heart palpitation.

Perhaps subjective, but in my view, Pedullas are held back somewhat by their pickups/electronics. While some may like the warm, rolled-off in the highs sound which is characteristic of Bartolini, IMO it fails to adequately reproduce the nice acoustic tone of these fine instruments. Thus, I think it is worthwhile to consider upgrading the pickups/electronics to something more open sounding.

Mine's a 2015 P/J buzz and I actually like the stock stuff quite a bit. Seems like there's enough high end there, and at a nice frequency too. It's very high, rather than the "high high mids" that a lot of preamps seem to have. I like that air sound.

I also don't mind having the mid switch instead of a knob. I just keep it off. I turn the bass knob down too, and turn the volume up to compensate. It gives a more natural midrange sound than boosting the mids. I normally boost the treble a bit too.

 

[TolerancEJ]

Just a nice pic of an order by Bass Collection Japan a while ago

View attachment 3147652

Stunning!

 

[IronLung1986]

I just love that candy look on the buzzes. Lately you've got so many of the high end builders doing satin or matte or bare wood. I love the heavy finish with high gloss, even on the back of the neck. Can't quite understand why folks are so into the ashy unfinished necks these days.

 

[japhy4529]

Decent price on a used Buzz that's supposedly in "Great Condition." Of course GC being who they are, listed the bass as a Pentabuzz...

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Pedullist]

I just love that candy look on the buzzes. Lately you've got so many of the high end builders doing satin or matte or bare wood. I love the heavy finish with high gloss, even on the back of the neck. Can't quite understand why folks are so into the ashy unfinished necks these days.

Me too. I love high gloss finish on the back of the neck. I don't sweat a lot, and Mike does magnificent finishes so it always feels great.

 

[Sbassman Scratch]

Good lord. I just had a heart palpitation.



Mine's a 2015 P/J buzz and I actually like the stock stuff quite a bit. Seems like there's enough high end there, and at a nice frequency too. It's very high, rather than the "high high mids" that a lot of preamps seem to have. I like that air sound.

I also don't mind having the mid switch instead of a knob. I just keep it off. I turn the bass knob down too, and turn the volume up to compensate. It gives a more natural midrange sound than boosting the mids. I normally boost the treble a bit too.

I'm amazed at the range of tones possible on this bass. You just gave me a few ideas. I've been rolling the high mids off at the amp, which seems like a contradiction with the mid-boost kicked in, but it's a different cut. A knob for mids on the bass would drive me nuts, let the amp handle it.

And that finished neck is super fast. Dunno what's different, but it's not like others I've played.

 

[12bass]

Above it was suggested that recent Pedullas have brighter/more open sounding electronics than older instruments. Can anyone else confirm this?

 

[Sbassman Scratch]

While we're on the topic of their service, has anyone ever had their Pedulla refinished? How did it turn out? Pros and cons of having it done by Pedulla vs someone else?

My Pedulla is showing some wear and tear as it approaches 30 years old and I don't like the "reliced" look on this style of instrument. (Looks okay on a Fender style.)

Is that 30 years od round wounds? What's the board like?

 

[Mushroo]

Is that 30 years od round wounds? What's the board like?

Board is unfinished maple, might need a fret job.

I was referring to having the body refinished, should have been more specific.

Browsed through the thread and saw a couple of nice examples. I might go for it!

 

[Pedullist]

Above it was suggested that recent Pedullas have brighter/more open sounding electronics than older instruments. Can anyone else confirm this?

Although I have 7 Pedulla's now, they are all very different. It's very hard to compare the electronics. I have Thunderbass with modern electronics and soapbars, and MVP '92 with 'old' electronics and soapbars. They sound very different, but the body is different, the woods are different, etc. The MVP sounds more polite. The Thunderbass is brutal compared to it. For one thing: the new ones are LOUDER.

 

[TolerancEJ]

Hey, this just popped up on my Reverb feed & thought I'd inform Pedulla enthusiasts. I have no affiliation with the seller. This is a Leftie MVP 6 in Trans Blue for $999. However, the description says there's a lengthwise split in the headstock. They claim it is non-structural.

Pedulla MVP-6 Trans Blue | Rockin' Robin Guitars and Music

I have been actively seeking either a Hexabuzz or MVP6 for awhile, but this is a Leftie and I am not familiar whether the lengthwise crack in the headstock might be a precursor to serious problems later.

 

[Sbassman Scratch]

I just love that candy look on the buzzes. Lately you've got so many of the high end builders doing satin or matte or bare wood. I love the heavy finish with high gloss, even on the back of the neck. Can't quite understand why folks are so into the ashy unfinished necks these days.

Some one should do a term paper on or get a grant to study trends in guitar colors. I have a Fender 51 RI that reflects it's time like a cartoon: saddle shoes, rockets, "blonde" furniture. For years, and to this day, many popular colors still reflect the colors of 1950s cars.

The finishes these days reflect the trend for "natural" and "organic" anything, whether it comes from nature or not (Lord! I've heard bass guitar sounds described as "organic". Sure, all natural wood, wire and magnates!). Besides, if you pay permium all-natural dollars for those expensive top woods, you want them to show. With exceptions, of course.

And why build a bass as unique as a Pentabuzz then color it up like a '55 T-bird rag top?

 

[IronLung1986]

Some one should do a term paper on or get a grant to study trends in guitar colors. I have a Fender 51 RI that reflects it's time like a cartoon: saddle shoes, rockets, "blonde" furniture. For years, and to this day, many popular colors still reflect the colors of 1950s cars.

The finishes these days reflect the trend for "natural" and "organic" anything, whether it comes from nature or not (Lord! I've heard bass guitar sounds described as "organic". Sure, all natural wood, wire and magnates!). Besides, if you pay permium all-natural dollars for those expensive top woods, you want them to show. With exceptions, of course.

And why build a bass as unique as a Pentabuzz then color it up like a '55 T-bird rag top?

I actually would love an MVP4 in flat white, or some other pastel/automotive color. I think Pentabuzzes lend themselves to the more elegant look currently in production, but an MVP4 is meant to be punched and punch back.

 

[TolerancEJ]

My personal preference of Pedulla’s finish options are

1) Emerald Green
2) Purple
3) Any variation of Cherry, Amber, Sunburst, Caramel
4) Blue, Arctic Night, Green-Blue, Peacock Blue, Charcoal
5) Others

 

[IronLung1986]

I've noticed that there can be quite a bit of variation within the same color too. My Arctic Night is definitely the middle of the night, whereas some look more like Arctic Early Evening.