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The Valenti Megathread Part III

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#461
I like it. Way better.

Just a thought: is necessary (or even advantageous) to state where you source your bodies and necks from? :confused:

I mean, no one else does it, and (before I was educated) my immediate reaction was the "this guy does not build his own basses" type. I actually think is takes something away from the "custom built" thing - it makes one feel that it's "custom assembled" instead.

Also, that other builders also state they source their necks and bodies from the same source does not help in differentiating Nino from the pack so one may equate that all the builders with the same source produce the same quality bass.

I'm not a marketing expert and I know Nino has never hidden the fact that he sources the bodies and necks, but thought I'd throw this out there.

What does everyone else think?
 
#462
LutherHeggs00 said:
I like it. Way better.

Just a thought: is necessary (or even advantageous) to state where you source your bodies and necks from? :confused:

I mean, no one else does it, and (before I was educated) my immediate reaction was the "this guy does not build his own basses" type. I actually think is takes something away from the "custom built" thing - it makes one feel that it's "custom assembled" instead.

Also, that other builders also state they source their necks and bodies from the same source does not help in differentiating Nino from the pack so one may equate that all the builders with the same source produce the same quality bass.

I'm not a marketing expert and I know Nino has never hidden the fact that he sources the bodies and necks, but thought I'd throw this out there.

What does everyone else think?
Click to expand...

I just think Nino's up front and honest about what he builds with and wants his customers to know that he uses quality parts. I also believe that 10 different builders can use the same parts but you'll still have 10 differently built instruments. Nino pays special attention to detail and that would probably set him above many other builders no matter where his parts come from.
 
#463
capnsandwich said:
I just think Nino's up front and honest about what he builds with and wants his customers to know that he uses quality parts. I also believe that 10 different builders can use the same parts but you'll still have 10 differently built instruments. Nino pays special attention to detail and that would probably set him above many other builders no matter where his parts come from.
Click to expand...

To add to this, I've tried the others and personally prefer the basses Nino's made. I can attest to that difference!
 
#464
I've had three or four Valenti's now, and they hold their own against everything else I've played, regardless of pricepoint.

I don't care where he gets his wood bits from, as long as the result stays the same top flight quality they are now;)

Love, love, love this bass!!!:
lpbvalenti1.jpg
 
#465
I just think Nino's up front and honest about what he builds with and wants his customers to know that he uses quality parts. I also believe that 10 different builders can use the same parts but you'll still have 10 differently built instruments. Nino pays special attention to detail and that would probably set him above many other builders no matter where his parts come from.
Click to expand...

I agree wholeheartedly with all your points. My point is just that I think him stating that everything is sourced takes away from the perception of quality of the end product to a certain degree for a potential new-newbie customer. Lull, Sadowsky, et al. do not state where their bodies and necks are sourced from. This is just my personal feeling when I read the site, not a poke at Nino's work.
 
#466
LutherHeggs00 said:
I agree wholeheartedly with all your points. My point is just that I think him stating that everything is sourced takes away from the perception of quality of the end product to a certain degree for a potential new-newbie customer. Lull, Sadowsky, et al. do not state where their bodies and necks are sourced from. This is just my personal feeling when I read the site, not a poke at Nino's work.
Click to expand...

No, I never thought you were poking at his work. You asked for comments so I gave one. I can see your point, however, it is just a point of view. I don't see it that way. It brings me to wonder actually. Where does Lull and Sadowsky get their parts? I know Nino uses some of the same hardware that they do. Do they have the same wood suppliers? Even if they did, though, they're completely different basses, each with it's own flavor.
 
#467
I gigged with #114 this weekend and totally and it rocked.

I'm so digging the new 24 fret model.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#468
#51 got Nordstrand NJ5 pickups this weekend. It used to have Sadowsky HCJ5s in it. Those, along with the swamp ash body and maple board, made it a little clicky and bright - I found myself dialing back the VTC enough to wonder if I was sucking away some of the bass' character.

I've only heard the NJ5s through headphones, hooked up to my Shuttle 9 amp so far, so the jury is out. I'll have it in the studio on Wednesday, so that will be the telling, or at least part of it.
 
#470
Will; I didn't like the Sadowsky HC's...too hi-fi, with big lows and high highs.
I went with Sadowsky single coils, but I like the Nords too.
The Nords seem a little warmer and more vintage, but still have a more mid focus'd punch that, for me, works better than the HC's.
 
#471
BuffaloBass said:
Hmmm, hope they help.

It's funny, a few years ago I asked Nino about 24 fret as if it was a huge deal. Now, the more I progress as a player ( still in sucky class btw), the less that stuff means to me, 18mm 17mm 16.5mm, 20, 22, 24 fret, whatever. Yet, I completely understand that for a custom builder, selection is paramount.
Click to expand...

For fingerstyle, I could care less about string spacing. However, for slap I pretty much need 19mm spacing. At the same time, for fingerstyle I like having 24 frets but for slap they almost get in the way.

I guess it all boils down to me needing 2 basses whenever I play out.
 
#472
capnsandwich said:
I just think Nino's up front and honest about what he builds with and wants his customers to know that he uses quality parts. I also believe that 10 different builders can use the same parts but you'll still have 10 differently built instruments. Nino pays special attention to detail and that would probably set him above many other builders no matter where his parts come from.
Click to expand...

That hits the nail on the head right there.
:cool:
 
#473
IME, Valenti's are much more than "the sum of their parts," and very much on par with anything other high end basses I've played.

Here's a few from the past, and the last one is current:
IMG_1358.jpg

valentipj.jpg



lpbvalenti2.jpg
 
#474
Chef said:
Will; I didn't like the Sadowsky HC's...too hi-fi, with big lows and high highs.
I went with Sadowsky single coils, but I like the Nords too.
The Nords seem a little warmer and more vintage, but still have a more mid focus'd punch that, for me, works better than the HC's.
Click to expand...

In a certain combination of construction variables I think I would like the HC5s just fine - but every lever on this bass was thrown to provide a bright tone. Ash body, maple board, etc. The HC5s made it too raw. I tend to be a guy who plays with a slightly mellower tone, but then I play brightly in style, if that makes sense.

So I did track with it on Wednesday. But, I only used it for one track, which was a very basic reggae track. I rolled to the front pickup, defeated the preamp, and rolled back the VTC a bit. In other words, it was the right tone for the tune but not a tone I would typically use. So the jury is still out. I did hear rough mixes of a couple of the funk tracks I had previously played using that bass with the HC5s. It sounds great, actually, although I can still hear the clickiness. We'll see how the final product sounds. My new Skjold is all over the album too, and it has an entirely different tone approach. It should be an interesting amalgamation.
 
#475
Chef said:
IME, Valenti's are much more than "the sum of their parts," and very much on par with anything other high end basses I've played.

Here's a few from the past, and the last one is current:
Click to expand...

I have always been a fan of that Andy DeWitt Inca Silver bass. Who has it now?

IMO, where Nino sources his parts is overthought. Aside from a very few luthiers who carve every bass from a tree branch, everybody gets their parts somewhere. The materials in Nino's basses are of obvious quality, he assembles them with very much care, and they feel and sound great. Plus, you can get one tricked out just about however you want. Why ask why.
 
#476
BuffaloBass said:
Hmmm, hope they help.

It's funny, a few years ago I asked Nino about 24 fret as if it was a huge deal. Now, the more I progress as a player ( still in sucky class btw), the less that stuff means to me, 18mm 17mm 16.5mm, 20, 22, 24 fret, whatever. Yet, I completely understand that for a custom builder, selection is paramount.
Click to expand...

I've noticed that neither scale length nor string spacing bother me at all from a playability standpoint. I don't really notice. But, I will say that I like the look of a slightly wider neck, all else constant. Looks a little more heavy duty to me, especially on a larger-bodied bass.
 
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