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The Valenti Megathread Part IV

#941
I did say that.
At least for me, I prefer a P bass to be passive.
I've been thru a bunch of active P and P/J basses; and flipped all of them until this last Sherwood green PJ.
I guess there's one other variable; all the other PJ's I've had have been J body shape. So; factor that in if you want to.
Anyway; that bass, with Dunlop Bright Nickles on it just kills.
 
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#942
Yes, it is true as Nino pointed out that the Nordstrands I had were a PJ set with the J being a split coil. Before I had the switch done, I tried a friend's 4 string with 70's wind Nordstrands and although they did sound nice, they were a bit polite for me; not quite as vintage as I thought they would be. I also listened to as many sound clips as I could before realizing that even though Nordstrand pickups are high quality, they're not for me. I really dig the Aguilar pickups Nino installed. The PJ thing didn't work for me and the 25+ years of J style is more my thing. YMMV
 
#944
Looks like I get to rejoin the club. I was the original owner of number 61, but sold it a while ago due to personal reasons. Just before Christmas, I picked up number 59 - all black "stealth" 4 string Jazz with an ebony fretboard and Sadowsky electronics. When I got it, it was in OK condition - the fretboard had a slight crack in the upper frets, and the neck had a slight backbow. No biggie on any of this, as I was interested in the electronic package, and I love ebony fretboards. I immediately took the bass to David Petillo, who does all of my work to have a look.

Just got the Valenti back from David Petillo today. He filled and fixed the crack in the fretboard, oiled the fretboard for me, cleaned and polished the frets (they are now PERFECT), adjusted sthe slight backbow out of the neck (it is perfectly straight now) installed chrome ultralights with a d tuner, a chrome control plate, I put the pearloid pickguard back on, and decided to keep the black hipshot bridge in place. He went through the electronics, and installed his custom roundwound strings on the bass. He also set it up for my touch. This bass is very powerful - the Sadowsky electronics are really great. The ebony fretboard feels like silk under my fingers. I'll be taking it out for it's first pair of gigs January 10 and 11. As you can tell, I am pretty excited. I have been gigging nothing but passive jazz basses with flats for the last 7 or 8 years, so this will mark a big change!
 
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#945
'55 P5 at work the other night....


10428627_10153093837781535_5176794237184010896_n.jpg
 
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#946
If all goes well with my wife I will be putting in an order for a Valenti within the next couple months.
Among other things I'm looking for the bass to be light. Reading through this thread quite a bit I've seen many basses in the 7.9 - 8.8lb range and am curious how many people are choosing to get chambered bodies?
That's one thing I haven't read a lot about on here and didn't realize it was an option until Nino sent me the pricing sheet.

As of now my specs would be:
VMJ
4 string
alder body
pau ferro neck
PJ

Thanks
 
#947
I didn't know he did chambered bodies.
Before you do that; and I'm not saying you shouldn't; you might go to the Sadowsky megathread, and ask for people opinion on the effect of that on tone.
There are guys like Vic there who have owned enough of both to have thoughts about that.

I can't imagine not being able to hit an 8lb weight with a non-chambered 4 string. Ask Nino specifically about weight goals though.
 
Last edited:
#948
Noahw1,

I didn't know Nino did chambered but before I ordered my swamp ash/maple Jazz 5er, I spent a lot of time looking at the TB classifieds and past builds on Nino's site for points of reference re:weight.

Even his active 5ers with soapbar sized pickups rarely seem to be over 9lbs. Mostly in the 8lb range. I personally wouldn't bother with chambering on a Valenti unless you wanted (and Nino started using) a maple or walnut body or if you are positive you will like how chambering will affect the tone.

YMMV, but 7.0-8.5lbs for a 4 string is lighter than 90% of what else is out there IME.

Good luck and buy the wife some flowers to help her make her mind up!
 
#951
noahw1 said:
If all goes well with my wife I will be putting in an order for a Valenti within the next couple months.
Among other things I'm looking for the bass to be light. Reading through this thread quite a bit I've seen many basses in the 7.9 - 8.8lb range and am curious how many people are choosing to get chambered bodies?
That's one thing I haven't read a lot about on here and didn't realize it was an option until Nino sent me the pricing sheet.

As of now my specs would be:
VMJ
4 string
alder body
pau ferro neck
PJ

Thanks
Click to expand...

I have 2 full size Js from Nino. One is Ash/maple, the other is Alder/Rosewood/ The alder bodied one (full size, remember) is 8.9 lbs. The Ash/Maple one is under 8 lbs.
 
#953
Commreman said:
Looks like I get to rejoin the club. I was the original owner of number 61, but sold it a while ago due to personal reasons. Just before Christmas, I picked up number 59 - all black "stealth" 4 string Jazz with an ebony fretboard and Sadowsky electronics. When I got it, it was in OK condition - the fretboard had a slight crack in the upper frets, and the neck had a slight backbow. No biggie on any of this, as I was interested in the electronic package, and I love ebony fretboards. I immediately took the bass to David Petillo, who does all of my work to have a look.

Just got the Valenti back from David Petillo today. He filled and fixed the crack in the fretboard, oiled the fretboard for me, cleaned and polished the frets (they are now PERFECT), adjusted sthe slight backbow out of the neck (it is perfectly straight now) installed chrome ultralights with a d tuner, a chrome control plate, I put the pearloid pickguard back on, and decided to keep the black hipshot bridge in place. He went through the electronics, and installed his custom roundwound strings on the bass. He also set it up for my touch. This bass is very powerful - the Sadowsky electronics are really great. The ebony fretboard feels like silk under my fingers. I'll be taking it out for it's first pair of gigs January 10 and 11. As you can tell, I am pretty excited. I have been gigging nothing but passive jazz basses with flats for the last 7 or 8 years, so this will mark a big change!
Click to expand...
I remember that bass. I have #51, so mine and yours were cohorts in the shop, or close.

I have fancier and more expensive basses, but if you told me I had to pick one and sell the rest, #51 is probably the one I would keep. It is simply the right bass in the most circumstances. Its neck is a little frisky in weather changes though.
 
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#954
Hi,
Just curious about Valenti......Always liked them, never owned one, or even played one. Saw this one listed as Pre-Owned on the website. I know I have seen this bass on TB here somewhere? Maybe even for sale in the classifieds before. It is #006 and weighs 10.00 lbs......Not a lightweight by any means, but maybe great tone? Can anyone provide a history on this bass? Are the prior owners TB members? Thanks! :eyebrow:
006A.jpg
 
#955
Soooooo..............I got to debut number 59 in three different settings this weekend with three different amps. First was the Clarence Clemons birthday celebration for the Hometown Heroes show last night, then this morning for two praise and worship services, and then this afternoon at the Stone Pony for the Light of day celebration and fundraiser. This bass is a beast. It roars! I am very happy to be back in the club.
 
#956
I got the a-okay from the wife!! I'll be giving Nino a call this week!
At this point I'm thinking
VMJ 4 string PJ
1 1/2" nut
alder body
maple neck with pau ferro board
Nordstrand NPJ4SE
Sadowsky pre

I'm going with the pau ferro for the tight, snappiness but not the sizzle of maple especially with the sadowsky pre.

Any thoughts?
I've played the sadowsky pre but never in a band situation. A sadowsky has always been a dream but I'm tempted to go with a nordy pre but have no experience with them and don't know where I can try one. I don't really feel I need the mid control.

My amp is a Genz Benz Shutle Max 9.0 so I can dial in any mids I may need.

I play hard rock, soul/r&b, singer song writer so am really looking for versatility.
 
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#957
noahw1 said:
I got the a-okay from the wife!! I'll be giving Nino a call this week!
At this point I'm thinking
VMJ 4 string PJ
1 1/2" nut
alder body
maple neck with pau ferro board
Nordstrand NPJ4SE
Sadowsky pre

I'm going with the pau ferro for the tight, snappiness but not the sizzle of maple especially with the sadowsky pre.

Any thoughts?
I've played the sadowsky pre but never in a band situation. A sadowsky has always been a dream but I'm tempted to go with a nordy pre but have no experience with them and don't know where I can try one. I don't really feel I need the mid control.

My amp is a Genz Benz Shutle Max 9.0 so I can dial in any mids I may need.

I play hard rock, soul/r&b, singer song writer so am really looking for versatility.
Click to expand...
Should sound awesome. I've got the Sadowsky preamp in mine. It began with Sadwosky humcancelling J pickups but along the way I changed them to Nordstrand NJ5s. Mine has an ash body and maple board, and as you seem to suspect it was a little too bright with the Sadowskys, just right with the Nordstrands.

Not much to say about the preamp, but I'm not much of a preamp tweaker. It's a boost-only preamp; 99.5% of the time I play that bass with the preamp active but no EQ boost. I have used it a little more extensively in recording than live.

Finally, I played through a Genz Benz Shuttle 9 also for quite a while, and it worked great with the Nino. I'm sure you will enjoy the bass.
 
#959
You guys are likely getting sick of seeing this build, but too bad. :p

Some more pics from Nino as it is just about done....

It weighs in at 7.9lbs including the ebony ramp that is about to be attached in the pic. I can't wait to play this thing.

Before anyone says it, I tend to agree that the bass looks better without the ramp. I have to choose functionality over looks though as I really love playing 5 string basses with ramps. All of my other 5ers have ramps and I am just used to it now.

46994ba7cd4f09df6caa298fe301f2f5_zpsec6ace5b.jpg

4aaa8e99e540cb782cf8af15f6a18d47_zps8084bbe0.jpg
 
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