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The Valenti Megathread Part IV

#801
Two gigs last night, more tonight.
I love this bass.
10563146_800891646622308_7693703086774353295_n.jpg
 
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#802
Baird6869 said:
The #28 looks great. Amazing top!

I sent Nino my deposit today and am really looking forward to getting a Valenti. I looked seriously at Nordy, Sadowsky, MBasses and a few others but Nino was able to accommodate my weird specs without any issues. I have owned enough basses over the years to know exactly what neck profile, spacing, scale, etc. I want and Nino was cool with every one of my requests. And at a price that was very reasonable.

Here is the likely final spec..... I think it will be a very unique and killer bass!

S24FJ5
- Swamp Ash Body
- White Burst Finish (natural center to white edge)
- Graphite reinforced Maple neck - 24 frets
- Birdseye Maple board (side dots only)
- Matching painted headstock
-satin finish
-1-7/8" nut
-Asymmetric back profile
-16" fretboard radius
- Nordstrand Big Singles
- Nordstrand 3B preamp
-Centered in 70's locations
- Black HipShot hardware
-B Style Bridge, 19mm
-UltraLite tuning gears
- Dunlop straplocks
Click to expand...
Sounds like it's gonna be fantastic!!
 
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#811
Chef said:
That one was my first Valenti, and my first real "high end bass."
It's pretty special.
Click to expand...
Do you still gig the Sadowsky, Nordy, AC and others often or predominantly the Valentis?

I looked at all of them but Nino was really easy to deal with regarding my little (to me) custom requirements. The little things are important to me but seem to be a pain in the @$$ or nuisance for many other builders. Neck radius, weird finish, no FB dots, non-exposed PU covers, etc.
 
#814
Baird6869 said:
Does Nino send progress pics? Just curious.

I understand builders preferring to actually build basses than spending time taking pictures of unfinished ones, but the odd pic during the build is a cool thing.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure. I haven't received any. Last I heard, my bass had been shipped to get sprayed. That was back on June 22.
 
#815
Baird6869 said:
Do you still gig the Sadowsky, Nordy, AC and others often or predominantly the Valentis?

I looked at all of them but Nino was really easy to deal with regarding my little (to me) custom requirements. The little things are important to me but seem to be a pain in the @$$ or nuisance for many other builders. Neck radius, weird finish, no FB dots, non-exposed PU covers, etc.
Click to expand...

I still gig "The Others," yessir.
That hollow J5 is my all time fave, and I sort of mix the others thru depending on my mood, the gig, the weather and all that.
 
#816
Chef said:
In my grubby little mitts now.
Replaced the dead-ish DA ProSteels with new Dunlop nickels, and we'll see what happens this weeks gigs.
It plays out super fine.

Weighed it last night, and it's just a shade under 8lbs....very nice.

DSC_6421_zps65768bdd.jpg
Click to expand...


Someone asked for more long term impressions on that PJ5 I got recently, so:

I've had several active PJ's. That Inca Silver Valenti, and three Sadowskys.
As I noted earlier, I've come to the conclusion that "active ruins the P-bass thing," at least, for me.
Can't really put my finger on it, but, active mode doesn't really sound like a P-bass anymore, and passive mode in an active P-bass just doesn't ring true, for me. I'm probably crazy; maybe that's just my brain messing with me.

Anyway; I have 5-6 gigs with this now, several of which I took -only- this so I couldn't bail and go to my J-bass comfort zone.
Somewhat to my surprise, I lived thru all of those gig :D and even really liked it some of the time!
I've had a couple of the newer Fender American Standard P5's now, and they're nice enough, really. Pretty much a good Fender P4, with a good B string.
But Nino's attention to detail combined with the fact that the Nordy P pickups are a different thing, that's " a little closer to a J tone than a standard Fender P-tone" make me favor this over a Fender P5.

So. This will be a keeper for a while. We'll see.
It's a great weight, and sure plays out very well. It does what it does really well.
 
#817
Oh!
I can, in fact, come up with one tiny little nit-pick about this bass!
The flat-top knurled control knobs.....they have a tiny little dot indented into the top.
I guess that's intended to be used as a "pointer" or reference point as to where your pots are set.
You totally can't see that on stage.
Or, really, even just sitting around practicing.

That's not how "proper vintage P bass knobs are."
Being a long time Fender P bass player from 1972 until....2000-ish when I finally quit the P-bass thing for the J-bass thing (and the G&L's I also used from 1980-2000-ish) I always just placed the knobs on the pots such that the set screws pointed at me with the pot wide open.
That's a much easier visual reference point than a teeny dimple in the top of a chrome flat top; which really you can never see, unless the bass is on your set-up bench.

So.
I said it.
I'd prefer "true to vintage" knurled flat tops.
 
#818
Chef said:
Oh!
I can, in fact, come up with one tiny little nit-pick about this bass!
The flat-top knurled control knobs.....they have a tiny little dot indented into the top.
I guess that's intended to be used as a "pointer" or reference point as to where your pots are set.
You totally can't see that on stage.
Or, really, even just sitting around practicing.

That's not how "proper vintage P bass knobs are."
Being a long time Fender P bass player from 1972 until....2000-ish when I finally quit the P-bass thing for the J-bass thing (and the G&L's I also used from 1980-2000-ish) I always just placed the knobs on the pots such that the set screws pointed at me with the pot wide open.
That's a much easier visual reference point than a teeny dimple in the top of a chrome flat top; which really you can never see, unless the bass is on your set-up bench.

So.
I said it.
I'd prefer "true to vintage" knurled flat tops.
Click to expand...
Wow. Just wow.;)

Poor Nino must be crushed by your unrelenting bashing of his craft in which he pours his blood sweat and tears and heart into. What's next, you don't like the screws he uses on the bridge?:p

Seriously though, is there a centre point that you can feel? I much prefer pots that have that. Visually, I don't care, but it is nice to click on centre on a gig and easily cut or boost to your favourite settings.
 

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