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.
Traben Chaos Core 5 Review
- Thread starter Major Havoc
- Start date
on the previous page, I did a little overview of the bass addressing things left out in the previous review. I didn't feel a full length review was necessary considering one was already done and the two basses are nearly identical.
I'll be getting one of these very shortly. I've already played a really cheap version which I think was a prototype. It was definitely a Traben Chaos Core 5 but without the fancy electronics. Made in Vietnam, I was a bit shocked when I initially asked at the shop how much it was. They said it was only £189 (this was over the phone). I had to really question him as to whether it was a Chaos Core 5 for this price. He insisted it was.
I went there the next day. Sure enough it was but the reason is was so cheap is that there were no Rockfield pickups or Aguilar pre-amp. I did think about buying it and buying better pickups and pre-amp after but decided against it as all in all I wouldn't have saved any money but incurred a lot more hassle. Still, its not bad for £189 though.
I went there the next day. Sure enough it was but the reason is was so cheap is that there were no Rockfield pickups or Aguilar pre-amp. I did think about buying it and buying better pickups and pre-amp after but decided against it as all in all I wouldn't have saved any money but incurred a lot more hassle. Still, its not bad for £189 though.
I have the Moyer with the Rockfield electronics. I traded the Moyer I had with the Aggie because the RF just sounded better to me. These are great basses and Traben definitely got it right this time.
In a few weeks I'll be able to get it. Traben Chaos Core 4 Whisky Burl. Honestly it's like the best looking bass I've ever seen without being cheesy. Reading all these good things made me drool even more over it... I CANT wait to get it...
I wanna play mostly metal with it so, I really think that I'm going for the good one.
I wanna play mostly metal with it so, I really think that I'm going for the good one.
How wide is the neck on the Chaos? Both the normal Chaos 5 and the Core 5. I ask because I really, really, really, really want one, but I have a problem with my left hand and can't reach very far across the neck. So if someone could just tell me the width at the nut and at the bottom of the neck?
For those wondering how it sounds like, you can check out this vid of a kid playing a disturbed cover with his John Moyer signature bass (it has the same pick ups and electronics as the CC)
So after a couple days of playing with my new chaos core 4, I must say it's amazing.
Out of the box, the action was just fine for me, the pickups definitely needed some adjustment though.. I havent changed the strings yet but I will do in a week (waiting for pay day). The tone on this thing is just amazing. Really thick. I love it. I find the 5 way switch to be somewhat useless for me cause the tonal differences aren't that different lol. So I always keep it in the middle where all coils are used (thickest tone). The neck is pretty slim for me. I've got big hands + its a 4 stringer. I'll maybe set it up for BEAD tuning eventually... I'll be trying out CGCF first next thursday when I buy the new strings. DR Black Beauties are gonna look awesome on this thing.. It feels pretty solid aswell. The price is kinda low I think only because Traben isn't as big as the other brands like Ibanez, Warwick, etc. Those who think that you always pay for what you get can be deceived a lot in this life lol. Cause a lot of big brands try to make money on our backs simply because of their name. Anyways, I'm sold to Traben from now on. And really, I think that all my friends who'll try it will be, too.
The tone is also very versatile with the 3 eq knobs. I bought it for 600$ CAD at the shop, so roughly 535$ USD. I think it was a pretty good deal, considering the amazing instrument.
Oh and the finish is AMAZING. Nice, glossy whiskey burl.
Out of the box, the action was just fine for me, the pickups definitely needed some adjustment though.. I havent changed the strings yet but I will do in a week (waiting for pay day). The tone on this thing is just amazing. Really thick. I love it. I find the 5 way switch to be somewhat useless for me cause the tonal differences aren't that different lol. So I always keep it in the middle where all coils are used (thickest tone). The neck is pretty slim for me. I've got big hands + its a 4 stringer. I'll maybe set it up for BEAD tuning eventually... I'll be trying out CGCF first next thursday when I buy the new strings. DR Black Beauties are gonna look awesome on this thing.. It feels pretty solid aswell. The price is kinda low I think only because Traben isn't as big as the other brands like Ibanez, Warwick, etc. Those who think that you always pay for what you get can be deceived a lot in this life lol. Cause a lot of big brands try to make money on our backs simply because of their name. Anyways, I'm sold to Traben from now on. And really, I think that all my friends who'll try it will be, too.
The tone is also very versatile with the 3 eq knobs. I bought it for 600$ CAD at the shop, so roughly 535$ USD. I think it was a pretty good deal, considering the amazing instrument.
Oh and the finish is AMAZING. Nice, glossy whiskey burl.
I'm going nuts! I just reserved that exact bass, black vapor/maple board, at Guitar Center. They are out of stock right now, and it's 2-4 weeks till they get them in (i'm hoping closer to 2 lol). I've heard from more than one place that Traben is having trouble keeping up with the production of these basses. They didn't expect the amount of demand there is for them. They really have produced a quality instrument here. I'm glad Traben is selling so many, but I just wish Traben could work out their production.
I played one a couple months back at Guitar Center, and fell in love. Too bad i didn't have the money to buy it right then, because they don't even have that floor model anymore. For now I keep reading about it, watching vids, and staring at pics lol. It's driving me nuts! ARGH I WANT IT NOW!
I played one a couple months back at Guitar Center, and fell in love. Too bad i didn't have the money to buy it right then, because they don't even have that floor model anymore. For now I keep reading about it, watching vids, and staring at pics lol. It's driving me nuts! ARGH I WANT IT NOW!
Yeah, good bang for the bucks, you can't go wrong with them for that price range.
I got a Traben Limited 4-strings for 250$ almost brand new....a friend of mine bought this baby new for 450$, after 4 days strung out with the Traben he told me that it's not his thing, and he the tone drop him down, then he want to sell it away. I came by and checked out the Traben, fist thing came to my brain was "the neck fell awesome and the tone when unplug is great", so i thought, terrible sound could comes from the Pre on the Traben, So i bought it from him. Did some crazy mod, cut off the pre, my Traben now comes with Vol/Vol/Tone like a Jazz. I plug it with Aguilar Tone Hammer, and the tone blow me away ^^...awesome.
P/S: sr for my English, cause i'm an asian guy
I got a Traben Limited 4-strings for 250$ almost brand new....a friend of mine bought this baby new for 450$, after 4 days strung out with the Traben he told me that it's not his thing, and he the tone drop him down, then he want to sell it away. I came by and checked out the Traben, fist thing came to my brain was "the neck fell awesome and the tone when unplug is great", so i thought, terrible sound could comes from the Pre on the Traben, So i bought it from him. Did some crazy mod, cut off the pre, my Traben now comes with Vol/Vol/Tone like a Jazz. I plug it with Aguilar Tone Hammer, and the tone blow me away ^^...awesome.
P/S: sr for my English, cause i'm an asian guy
What is this color called? I can't seem to find it online anywhere, just the Whiskey Burl and the Black Vapor...
If anyone is interested, A Sharp Music in Renton, WA has that exact bass in stock. If I remember correctly, it was $749.
Been doing some research on this bass, but can't find anything recent. GC and Sam Ash don't carry, No U.S distributor is listed on the site. And, I called their customer service w/ a few questions and the number was disconnected.
Are these Trabens worth checking out still?
Are these Trabens worth checking out still?
If you're still interested, I'm getting a 2011 model on friday, so I'll post how it is then
Are You sure about stringspacing at bridge ? It seems a little too tight: 5/8' are less than 16mm... this is a very rare size (i know only Yamaha BB5000, and abviously Warwick's adjustable bridges with this size..), I'm thinking about the thinnest 5 strings on market (Music Man for ex) and they are 16.5/17mm
Well, here it is close to 2023 and the Chaos 5 with rockfield pups are still selling for over $600 USED! I’m trading a Squier guitar tomorrow for one and I couldn’t be more excited to finally get to play and own one of these. They just look and sound amazing! Too bad they folded or got acquired by BC Rich, if I’m correct.
