The Pedulla Club!

[bassJapan]

I got to play that buzz and MPV, those are absolutely killer, as I'm sure the Rapture's are. That buzz especially, a total classic (I'm biased toward buzz basses). Pepper is quite the gear (and coffee) aficionado, you won't be disappointed!

Very grateful for your comment!! These babies are some of the best that ever was for sure. Sad to have to find a new home for them but it’s what I have to do.

 

[coolhang]

I'm with you on the D'Addarios. I tried the famous GHS pressure wounds and couldn't stand them. It was a while ago. What I remember was not liking the tension or feel and the lack of definition. IMO and YMMV of course. Tried so many others I can't remember and always come back to the EXLs, the light guage 220s now.
The only alternatives I've found are the TI jazz rounds. The tension is low, the guage light and the winding is noticably finer except on the B, so there is less noise and less wear on the board. Fortunately I have 2 Buzzs and the TIs are staying on no.2. But do a little reading because the cummunity is pretty divided on them.

DR Sunbeams sound great on my PentaBuzz 5-string fretless bass and are recommended/endorsed by Tony Franklin -
(Read back of string package)

https://www.drstrings.com/sunbeams-bass

 

[winston]

I bought a 2011 case queen Rapture 4. I think the strings were the originals. I tried to restring it with Ernie Ball Cobalt 2734s. I snapped two E (100) strings where the taper starts to wind onto the tuner. I use these same strings on a ThunderBass and a ThunderBolt. It seems that the bridge to tuner is a quarter inch less on the Rapture than the Thunders, so the taper bends and snaps. I had a set of Fender 7250s that went on fine. I am disappointed.

I like the Cobalts because the string volumes are fairly well balanced and they play well on my other Pedullas.

Have any of you had problems with Raptures and the E string?

Any advice on strings, specifically for Rapture 4's?

Thank you!!

I have a single HB 4 and a JJ5 Rapture, and owned a 3-knob ThunderBolt 6 at one point.
More than any other bass in my 40 years of playing, Pedullas sound great with any brand or type of string!
The 5 and 6 strings play well with any low B, and not just in the lower frets.

I've never had a problem with breakage on any Pedulla, and at least the GHS & DR flats have part of the full wound string around the post.
I've avoided Cobalts due to reports of breakage & corrosion.
No problems with EB Group Flats I've moved around to different basses with varied headstock/tuner configs.

Pedulla Steel and Nickel tapered rounds
TI Jazz Flats & Rounds
D'Addario XL Nickel, ProSteel, SloWound, Chrome Flatwounds
DR FatBeams, Pure Blues & Legend Flats
LaBella Tapered Steels & Low Tension Flats
Dunlop Flats
Dean Markley Nickel Rounds
GHS Precision Flats
Ernie Ball Nickel Rounds & Group Flats

On the 4 my faves are ProSteels, TI Flats & Dunlop Flats.
On the 5, the Pedulla Steels were remarkable but are no longer available, D'Addario XLs are a great match to this bass.
Chromes worked really well in university jazz band.

If you like the originals look for some taperwound steel strings, that was their factory string for fretted basses.

 

[Suntory]

Why didn't Michael V. Pedulla sell the brand off to an up-and-coming luthier/business person or a corporation like Gibson that has a few other companies that produce guitars? It's a shame to see Pedulla gone. There wasn't an unattractive bass in the lineup.

 

[Artman]

Why didn't Michael V. Pedulla sell the brand off to an up-and-coming luthier/business person or a corporation like Gibson that has a few other companies that produce guitars? It's a shame to see Pedulla gone. There wasn't an unattractive bass in the lineup.

Because he refuses to have his name placed onto an inferior product.

 

[Mikeyfretbuzz]

Why didn't Michael V. Pedulla sell the brand off to an up-and-coming luthier/business person or a corporation like Gibson that has a few other companies that produce guitars? It's a shame to see Pedulla gone. There wasn't an unattractive bass in the lineup.

Integrity… Because he didn’t want to on our faces to get rich. Chidulla basses wouldn’t be something to look forward to.

Also, if an up and coming luthier has talent they should either make their own bass design with their own name or brand logo on it or work for a company that’s still in business

If MVP himself didn’t build the basses to any degree then there’s no authenticity to the product

 

[winston]

It sounds like Mike Pedulla didn't like "going big" in the early '00s when they had a Rapture 5 or two in every GC in California.
Pedulla had the Series II at some point, built by same team but cost savings from bolt-on necks, solid finishes and simpler electronics.
I'm glad he got back to building before retiring.
Mike had some great recipes, no one has highlighted the incredible "more everything" tone of maple the way his basses do!
OK...Stuart Spector.

 

[Suntory]

Isn't that wild? How did that even happen, a super humid climate, was it rattle canned?

 

[BargeOn]

View attachment 7323640

Isn't that wild? How did that even happen, a super humid climate, was it rattle canned?

Gig it!!

 

[winston]

There's some degree of peeling on pretty much every solid-color Pedulla I've seen, including my CAR Rapture 4.
Hasn't expanded since I got it in 2006, but paint is peeling around the bridge and the neck plate on mine.

And judging by the switch/LED on that blue MVP, looks like an early-'80s that's been played a lot!

 

[Tnavis]

I'll start asking this question here (and apologies if it's been asked before).

I'm the proud owner of a 2003 Pentabuzz with fretlines, and while the fingerboard is still in decent shape, I have noticed that some of the fretlines have started to lift slightly. It isn't currently affecting the playability, but I'm guessing over the next few years it will start to be an issue. Where do I send it for refinishing at this point?

 

[BargeOn]

I'll start asking this question here (and apologies if it's been asked before).

I'm the proud owner of a 2003 Pentabuzz with fretlines, and while the fingerboard is still in decent shape, I have noticed that some of the fretlines have started to lift slightly. It isn't currently affecting the playability, but I'm guessing over the next few years it will start to be an issue. Where do I send it for refinishing at this p

Two I've seen favorably reviewed here are:
H.G. Thor HG Thor Epoxy Fretless
Pat Wilkins Wilkins RoadTested Bass Guitars WRTPJ5

I haven't used either myself. Yet.

Where on the gretboard are those raised lines? I may have a similar problem.

 

[Tnavis]

Where on the gretboard are those raised lines? I may have a similar problem.

It's not all of the fretlines, but if I run my fingernail down the fingerboard I can feel slight bumps.

 

[Oddextreme]

Great store (Atomic Music)

Seems like Maryland likes the Pedulla's!

 

[dangomez66]

Fausto Reyes Painting out in Norco, California if you dont mind shipping. Bass must be disassembled first. I've gotten several basses refinished, including Pedulla Buzz basses.

I'll start asking this question here (and apologies if it's been asked before).

I'm the proud owner of a 2003 Pentabuzz with fretlines, and while the fingerboard is still in decent shape, I have noticed that some of the fretlines have started to lift slightly. It isn't currently affecting the playability, but I'm guessing over the next few years it will start to be an issue. Where do I send it for refinishing at this point?

 

[jtg]

Don't these necks have a proprietary polyester finish? I wonder if a less invasive treatment might be wise to try first.

 

[BargeOn]

Any well known British fretless Pedulla players? I can't think of any off-hand.

 

[12bass]

Pedulla Thunderbass refret:

 

[villis]

it is normal to have so many wires in my Thunderbolt's cavity?

 

[Dyerseve14]

Hi guys and gals, Happy New Year in advance!
I am just about to list my MVP Signature for sale. Located in Germany and prefer to sell within EU, international shipping is also possible though...