Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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 free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Not many ~30 year old basses look that nice. I bought my teal finish RB5 in 1995. Still plays and sounds great.
Thank you! I’ve seen pictures of teal Raptures and I think it’s a lovely finish.
Yes, I agree it sounds, plays and feels great. And it was “only” the entry level in the line…
Michael Pedulla was definitely one the best; it’s kind of sad he’s not in the business anymore (though I understand his choice, after more than fourty years of true dedication).
I never had the chance to try any of the superior models, but I bet they are all terrific.
Not sure I'd say that other models are superior so much as different designs, voices, some with more features, nicer woods, hardware, etc... All Pedullas were made in the same shop to a high standard. The Rapture was initially a lower priced model, but over the years escalated to almost match the higher end basses.
Congrats on the nice find! I’ve always said, if I ever got a gig in a country band, I’d want a Rapture instead of the typical Fender. See below for your number, and consider adding us to your signature!
Updated list:
(For numbers 1-199, see Post 4488.)
200. punchdrunk
201. bmallory
202. drumsnbass
203. Aquarianfuture
204. Boba Fretless
205. mildewman
206. mhartman29
207. OldSchool50
208. thopper
209. Folmeister
210. Kim Jong Funk
211. Merlino
212. Fresh Eddie
213. Twarpie
214. Lovep
215. FlyingFinn
216. japhy4529
217. IronLung1986
218. olnost
219. Jeff Sarsippius
220. roccobasstorius
221. climber
222. mking
223. brookes
224. DanielleMeyer
225. RobLindberg
226. guszkl
227. srbbass
228. laslen
229. Pedullist
230. guitarflinger
231. gegznes
232. naetog
233. Selta
234. Element Zero
235. ThunderR
236. SpcMnk
237. Beatfarm615
238. Jefenator
239. India_Sierra
240. CTBassGuy
241. Marcus Holbrook
242. Gusdfunk
243. 600 Ohms
244. Inara
245. kpsta
246. Mastodon2
247. flamfork
248. mbluto
249. Mamoru
250. Green Knight
251. Philly Watts
252. blmartin2215
253. Daniel Immel
254. Artman
255. TheHoneyBear
256. 59jazz
257. Dr. Cheese
258. MHT75
259. c0nsilience
260. Bassman06
261. Tomppp
262. Shedua511
263. Ash Mo
264. njtarantini
265. ChrisRS
266. crabbybassman
267. pbass888
268.bmoriarty
269. David1957
270. Swipter
271. Dale Sevrey
272. Basspaws
273. Bad Bob
274. villis
275. Reviresco
276. Consul
277. Bassistcool
278. souper
279. SteveBassJr
280. Rich-Cincy Kid
281. graphics1988
282. BassPraiser777
283. ErikP.Bass
284. Eric Ryan
285. RyanOh
286. Jeffrey A-Bomb
287. Tatu5000
288. Dyerseve 14
289. 289. Kmrumedy
290. dangomez66
291. Glenn Walker
292. Stranger Danger
293. Dark Architect
294. and7601
Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt
Ecclesia: Unique Arrangements of Hymns, P&W Standards, and Original Tunes
Make Your Own Cables: A How-To Guide
Administrator, Official Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Official Heartfield Club #36
Administrator, Official Tobias Club #133
Administrator, Official Pre-Gibson Tobias Owners Club
Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Rig: Stage and FOH Friendly
My Basses
Thank you, Wayne!
I'll add the tread to my signature (I have to figure out how to do that, it's the forst time for me=
.
I would love to be added as well. Currently playing a 4 string MVP... she's my baby
Attachments
Beautiful! That’s some serious quilt! See below for your number.I would love to be added as well. Currently playing a 4 string MVP... she's my baby
Updated list:
(For numbers 1-199, see Post 4488.)
200. punchdrunk
201. bmallory
202. drumsnbass
203. Aquarianfuture
204. Boba Fretless
205. mildewman
206. mhartman29
207. OldSchool50
208. thopper
209. Folmeister
210. Kim Jong Funk
211. Merlino
212. Fresh Eddie
213. Twarpie
214. Lovep
215. FlyingFinn
216. japhy4529
217. IronLung1986
218. olnost
219. Jeff Sarsippius
220. roccobasstorius
221. climber
222. mking
223. brookes
224. DanielleMeyer
225. RobLindberg
226. guszkl
227. srbbass
228. laslen
229. Pedullist
230. guitarflinger
231. gegznes
232. naetog
233. Selta
234. Element Zero
235. ThunderR
236. SpcMnk
237. Beatfarm615
238. Jefenator
239. India_Sierra
240. CTBassGuy
241. Marcus Holbrook
242. Gusdfunk
243. 600 Ohms
244. Inara
245. kpsta
246. Mastodon2
247. flamfork
248. mbluto
249. Mamoru
250. Green Knight
251. Philly Watts
252. blmartin2215
253. Daniel Immel
254. Artman
255. TheHoneyBear
256. 59jazz
257. Dr. Cheese
258. MHT75
259. c0nsilience
260. Bassman06
261. Tomppp
262. Shedua511
263. Ash Mo
264. njtarantini
265. ChrisRS
266. crabbybassman
267. pbass888
268.bmoriarty
269. David1957
270. Swipter
271. Dale Sevrey
272. Basspaws
273. Bad Bob
274. villis
275. Reviresco
276. Consul
277. Bassistcool
278. souper
279. SteveBassJr
280. Rich-Cincy Kid
281. graphics1988
282. BassPraiser777
283. ErikP.Bass
284. Eric Ryan
285. RyanOh
286. Jeffrey A-Bomb
287. Tatu5000
288. Dyerseve 14
289. 289. Kmrumedy
290. dangomez66
291. Glenn Walker
292. Stranger Danger
293. Dark Architect
294. and7601
295. Bluebassman47
Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt
Ecclesia: Unique Arrangements of Hymns, P&W Standards, and Original Tunes
Make Your Own Cables: A How-To Guide
Administrator, Official Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Official Heartfield Club #36
Administrator, Official Tobias Club #133
Administrator, Official Pre-Gibson Tobias Owners Club
Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Rig: Stage and FOH Friendly
My Basses
Please add me to the club. I've had a Pedulla Buzz bass since 1986 and this week I took possession of a mint 1993 Thunderbolt 5 fretless.
Question: the bass came with an almost unplayed set of Pedulla strings and they sound great. The bass was serviced by Mike Pedulla in 2019 including fresh DiamondKote on the fingerboard. It came with the invoice which itemized those new strings as well. With Pedulla shutting down in 2019, what are you roundwound fretless guys using for strings now?
Question: the bass came with an almost unplayed set of Pedulla strings and they sound great. The bass was serviced by Mike Pedulla in 2019 including fresh DiamondKote on the fingerboard. It came with the invoice which itemized those new strings as well. With Pedulla shutting down in 2019, what are you roundwound fretless guys using for strings now?
Last edited:
As someone who has pined for a Pentabuzz ever since I dumb enough to put one back on the rack... how does the fretless Thunderbolt compare with the Buzz?
I bought the T-bolt off Gear Exchange so I didn't have a chance to play it first. I was apprehensive whether or not it would be as nice as the Buzz or disappointing like the new American Professional 2 Fender fretless I got last year. In almost every area it measures up well against the Buzz. It doesn't have quite the sustain or the "mwahh" of the Buzz but it's close enough. That may be a factor of it having a bolt-on neck and/or because it uses a pair of J-type Bartolinis rather than the PJ-like layout on the Buzz.
String spacing seems about the same as the Buzz, meaning that it's got a narrower neck than most 5s. I've got both fretted Fodera and Spector 5s for comparison. I think the T-bolt is probably going to retire the Fodera because I don't need two fretted fives and I like the neck ergos and weight of the Spector a little better.
Out of the box, the T-bolt had quite a bit of distortion. I put in a fresh battery but that didn't fix it. I was ready to send the seller a ***? message but it cleared up as I exercised the noisy controls. So it was probably dirty pots. That jibes with what the seller, a consignment seller, told me: that the previous owner was a well-known bass player (he wouldn't name him but I guessed it might be Tim Landers). He had Mike Pedulla go over the bass and refinish the neck before Pedulla shut down in 2019. The bass was essentially unplayed since. That would explain the scratchy pots and not a single scuff on the fingerboard.
Last edited:
Thanks very much for the details! Sounds like you were fortunate to get a "freshly" re-conditioned one, it just needed to brought back out of cold sleep. Tim Landers would certainly know his way around a Pedulla.
I'll start keeping an eye out for a fretless Thunderbolt then. There is something quite special about the Buzz but it sounds like close enough will be just fine.
I'll start keeping an eye out for a fretless Thunderbolt then. There is something quite special about the Buzz but it sounds like close enough will be just fine.
That was just a wild guess on my part. The seller didn't confirm that and in fact didn't just redact his name from that 2019 Pedulla repair receipt. He cut it out with a razor blade! I only know two boosters for Pedulla basses. My first guess was Mark Egan but the seller denied it. However he said he was a close friend of Egan. He didn't deny Tim Landers. Mark and Tim both did the Gil Evans gig.
Whatever, it doesn't matter. I just like solving mysteries. I like the bass either way.
Hi guys. For sale is this beautifull Pedulla MVP 4 from 1987. Contact me for more info.
4200€
4200€
For sale is this beautiful Pedulla MVP 4 from 1987. Contact me for more info.
4200€
4200€
I neglected to post a photo of my n/t/m 1993 Thunderbolt 5 fretless
Hey, I wanted to add my new Pentabuzz to the Club Records!
First, big thanks to @dangomez66 who put me in touch with the seller. He had recently gotten a Buzz and, not really being a 5-string player, was ready to pass on the Pentabuzz he had gotten some years ago.
So, a pic. And then some questions!
I'm a bigger fan of the Cherry Burst but even I can admit that the Blue/Green burst is pretty nice.
The bass came strung E-C and while I normally like that stringing, to my ears the notes on the C don't have the nice body and tonality of the same notes on the G. So while I initially thought it might be "easier" to play well in the lower position I think I will prefer getting better at intonation in the higher positions if the reward is a better sounding note. I expect I'll change over to B-G tuning with the next string change.
Speaking of which, the seller was kind enough to include two (!) sets of Pedulla strings. What would be closest available equivalent of the Nickel strings?
I had some questions about the Mid boost/cut switch. After some experimenting I think I have my answers but I wanted to bring it up. So here's a pic of the trim pots to reference:
The trims were initially both set in the middle. And to my ears both switch positions sounded about the same. After messing around, it seems:
- The "upper" trim pot is for the lower position of the switch. And the lower trim pot is for the upper position (of course)
- They are each cut and boost. The trim pots are facing each other but if you set them the same (or as counterparts, if you prefer) they will sound... the same.
- So... it's kind of up to you? They could both be cut. Or boost. In my case I chose the upper switch position as boost and the lower position as cut.
- Extreme setting of boost is a bit much so I gave it a "noticeable" boost. Extreme cut is kinda cool and maybe more useful but again I went with "noticeable".
All that said: how do you all set yours?
I'm also happy to report that the original truss rod tool was in the case and the truss post itself looks in good shape!
So yeah, I'm really pleased to finally have a Pentabuzz to call my own! I find it is both the carrot and the stick haha
First, big thanks to @dangomez66 who put me in touch with the seller. He had recently gotten a Buzz and, not really being a 5-string player, was ready to pass on the Pentabuzz he had gotten some years ago.
So, a pic. And then some questions!
I'm a bigger fan of the Cherry Burst but even I can admit that the Blue/Green burst is pretty nice.
The bass came strung E-C and while I normally like that stringing, to my ears the notes on the C don't have the nice body and tonality of the same notes on the G. So while I initially thought it might be "easier" to play well in the lower position I think I will prefer getting better at intonation in the higher positions if the reward is a better sounding note. I expect I'll change over to B-G tuning with the next string change.
Speaking of which, the seller was kind enough to include two (!) sets of Pedulla strings. What would be closest available equivalent of the Nickel strings?
I had some questions about the Mid boost/cut switch. After some experimenting I think I have my answers but I wanted to bring it up. So here's a pic of the trim pots to reference:
The trims were initially both set in the middle. And to my ears both switch positions sounded about the same. After messing around, it seems:
- The "upper" trim pot is for the lower position of the switch. And the lower trim pot is for the upper position (of course)
- They are each cut and boost. The trim pots are facing each other but if you set them the same (or as counterparts, if you prefer) they will sound... the same.
- So... it's kind of up to you? They could both be cut. Or boost. In my case I chose the upper switch position as boost and the lower position as cut.
- Extreme setting of boost is a bit much so I gave it a "noticeable" boost. Extreme cut is kinda cool and maybe more useful but again I went with "noticeable".
All that said: how do you all set yours?
I'm also happy to report that the original truss rod tool was in the case and the truss post itself looks in good shape!
So yeah, I'm really pleased to finally have a Pentabuzz to call my own! I find it is both the carrot and the stick haha
To chime in on the strings:
They were essentially custom versions of La Bella Hard Rockin’ Steels, with Pedulla-specified gauges and tapered B (and often E/A) strings optimized for Pedulla’s bridge design. These were not identical to any standard La Bella set sold under the La Bella name.
