What are the necks like on the new Trabens? I've played the older models but not any of the new ones.
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Traben Club
- Thread starter madbassist666
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well the cores dont have the 5 piece necks but they have a nice feel, i have had a chance to try one and a neo on the same day and the necks felt identical
That's not very specific.
What I'm wondering is if there's something you could compare it to.
I received my Traben Chaos Core 5 string today that I bought new off an Ebay dealer for $575 shipped. There was no case included.
Just for reference, my current 4 string bass is a Roscoe LG-3000. I need a 5 string for the band that I play with occasionally, and I didn't want to spend too much scratch, so I looked into the Chaos Core. Reading this thread helped to make up my mind.
I was pleasantly surprised when I pulled the bass out of the box. Surprised that a sub-$600 bass with an Aguilar OBP-3 preamp looked as good as it did. The finish is very good, I have found no cosmetic flaws as of now, but I haven't gone over it with a fine tooth comb yet. I don't expect to find any.
Obviously, with any new bass, it needs a setup. The B,E, and A strings are buzzing pretty bad on the frets, no big deal. The truss rod adjustment for the neck bow is on the headstock, so you have to remove the coverplate. I removed the plate, and there are 2 truss rods in the bass! I was surprised to see that. I am not a master of setups, but I have done a few of my own. On every one that I have done, the truss rod access was down towards the body of the bass, so I wanted to call Traben support to verify which way I should be turning the Truss Rod(s). I spoke to a tech named Chazz, very helpful. He answered all of my questions, and told me that they use two truss rods on the 5 string model only, just to provide extra strength on the neck. I believe that he said that the 4 string models only have one truss rod. I gave both truss rods a 1/8 turn to tighten them, and I am going to leave it alone until tomorrow. The buzzing has improved slightly, I also raised the action a bit to compensate. After I get the truss rod set properly, I'll adjust the action accordingly, along with the intonation.
The neck on this bass is fairly thick and chunky. I don't have a lot of experience with 5 string basses, aside from playing them in Guitar Center, so I am doing this from memory, but it is thicker than an Ibanez 5 string neck, but not quite as thick as a Warwick Thumb (the newer ones) 5 string, but I would say it is closer to the Thumb. The string spacing is comfortable for me, it seems to be a bit wider than the Ibanez 5 strings, but not as wide as the Squier Deluze Jazz 5 string.
Now, as for the sound- obviously, I am playing on the stock strings at this time, but I plan on changing them out for DR Black Beauties in the near future. I did not change the battery, I am using the one that it shipped with. It sounds really really good through my crappy headphone practice amp. In fact, the only bass that I have owned that sounds better than this one through my practice amp is my Roscoe, but that's in a different league. The 5 coil selector switch has a noticable impact on the tone, and it seems that there are a lot of useable tones in this puppy. Sounds good, I could get a nice aggressive sound (which is what I was looking for). I'm not looking for an aggressive tone for metal, just with a nice bit of growl to it. I'm sure it does a great metal tone as well.
Next, I'll be hooking it up to my rig (Genz Benz GBE1200 and Accugroove Whappo Jr) to test it out, most likely over the weekend. Then, hopefully I'll get it in a full band rehearsal and see how it sounds in the mix.
Overall, I am initially very happy with the bass. Really good looking, ssounds really good, I just really need to get it set up properly and I'm sure it'll sound even better.
My only complaint so far is that it does have neck dive. This doesn't usually bother me when playing with a strap (and I put my strap on this bass- with the included straplocks- NICE!!!- and stood up, I really didn't notice the neck dive), but when sitting down, the dive is there, you have to kind of hold it up with your left hand while playing. Not a big deal and certainly not a deal breaker.
Looks like Traben has done an exceptional job with this bass.
I'll get some pics up as soon as I can.
Scott C
Just for reference, my current 4 string bass is a Roscoe LG-3000. I need a 5 string for the band that I play with occasionally, and I didn't want to spend too much scratch, so I looked into the Chaos Core. Reading this thread helped to make up my mind.
I was pleasantly surprised when I pulled the bass out of the box. Surprised that a sub-$600 bass with an Aguilar OBP-3 preamp looked as good as it did. The finish is very good, I have found no cosmetic flaws as of now, but I haven't gone over it with a fine tooth comb yet. I don't expect to find any.
Obviously, with any new bass, it needs a setup. The B,E, and A strings are buzzing pretty bad on the frets, no big deal. The truss rod adjustment for the neck bow is on the headstock, so you have to remove the coverplate. I removed the plate, and there are 2 truss rods in the bass! I was surprised to see that. I am not a master of setups, but I have done a few of my own. On every one that I have done, the truss rod access was down towards the body of the bass, so I wanted to call Traben support to verify which way I should be turning the Truss Rod(s). I spoke to a tech named Chazz, very helpful. He answered all of my questions, and told me that they use two truss rods on the 5 string model only, just to provide extra strength on the neck. I believe that he said that the 4 string models only have one truss rod. I gave both truss rods a 1/8 turn to tighten them, and I am going to leave it alone until tomorrow. The buzzing has improved slightly, I also raised the action a bit to compensate. After I get the truss rod set properly, I'll adjust the action accordingly, along with the intonation.
The neck on this bass is fairly thick and chunky. I don't have a lot of experience with 5 string basses, aside from playing them in Guitar Center, so I am doing this from memory, but it is thicker than an Ibanez 5 string neck, but not quite as thick as a Warwick Thumb (the newer ones) 5 string, but I would say it is closer to the Thumb. The string spacing is comfortable for me, it seems to be a bit wider than the Ibanez 5 strings, but not as wide as the Squier Deluze Jazz 5 string.
Now, as for the sound- obviously, I am playing on the stock strings at this time, but I plan on changing them out for DR Black Beauties in the near future. I did not change the battery, I am using the one that it shipped with. It sounds really really good through my crappy headphone practice amp. In fact, the only bass that I have owned that sounds better than this one through my practice amp is my Roscoe, but that's in a different league. The 5 coil selector switch has a noticable impact on the tone, and it seems that there are a lot of useable tones in this puppy. Sounds good, I could get a nice aggressive sound (which is what I was looking for). I'm not looking for an aggressive tone for metal, just with a nice bit of growl to it. I'm sure it does a great metal tone as well.
Next, I'll be hooking it up to my rig (Genz Benz GBE1200 and Accugroove Whappo Jr) to test it out, most likely over the weekend. Then, hopefully I'll get it in a full band rehearsal and see how it sounds in the mix.
Overall, I am initially very happy with the bass. Really good looking, ssounds really good, I just really need to get it set up properly and I'm sure it'll sound even better.
My only complaint so far is that it does have neck dive. This doesn't usually bother me when playing with a strap (and I put my strap on this bass- with the included straplocks- NICE!!!- and stood up, I really didn't notice the neck dive), but when sitting down, the dive is there, you have to kind of hold it up with your left hand while playing. Not a big deal and certainly not a deal breaker.
Looks like Traben has done an exceptional job with this bass.
I'll get some pics up as soon as I can.
Scott C
Myself and my 2007 Neo standard 4. Man I love that thing.
As for the new necks, mine personally is really nice. It has a thinner profile than both my Vantage VX795 and my dad's MM Sting Ray, and is almost as comfortable to play as the Sting Ray. It's easy to work your way up the neck, and it doesn't feel awkward to hit the 24th fret at all. At times the long scale can be uncomfortable after a while, but it's a small price to pay, especially considering the "grind" it creates when fitted with Blue Steels and paired with my Trace combo.
As for the new necks, mine personally is really nice. It has a thinner profile than both my Vantage VX795 and my dad's MM Sting Ray, and is almost as comfortable to play as the Sting Ray. It's easy to work your way up the neck, and it doesn't feel awkward to hit the 24th fret at all. At times the long scale can be uncomfortable after a while, but it's a small price to pay, especially considering the "grind" it creates when fitted with Blue Steels and paired with my Trace combo.
Like I said above, I've only used mine through the Trace combo in the picture, but I've gotten some killer tones from the pairing.
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The phoenix is one of my favorite basses. Replaced the stock pups with seymour duncan basslines and it sounds like a dream!
The phoenix is one of my favorite basses. Replaced the stock pups with seymour duncan basslines and it sounds like a dream!
Ok. How do I join?. I just bought a 5 string TRABEN Array limited. no PICS yet. I have been playing a custom built "Cliff Bordwell" fretless for 4 years and now with the Traben I'm having a tough time killing the unwanted harmonics. I thought I was good muter but this bass is giving a tough time. I love the way it feels. The 18mm pitch is very cool to run fast licks. Anyways, even when muting every string I'm still hearing harmonics, specially after I play D on the A string. Will I overcome with time or do I need to hack off part of that big tribal bridge.
Hey all you Traben owners.....!
I'm soon to join your ranks (as I have an Obsession 5 er' on lay-a-way). I have a question......myself and the dealer cannot find a serial number on the bass anywhere....! In fact we can't find one on any of the models in the store....so my question is this does yours have a serial number? If so where is it located? we looked under the bridge, in the control cavity, on the neck, heel, the back of the head, all the usual places and no serial #.....what gives?
anybody else?
I'm soon to join your ranks (as I have an Obsession 5 er' on lay-a-way). I have a question......myself and the dealer cannot find a serial number on the bass anywhere....! In fact we can't find one on any of the models in the store....so my question is this does yours have a serial number? If so where is it located? we looked under the bridge, in the control cavity, on the neck, heel, the back of the head, all the usual places and no serial #.....what gives?
anybody else?
I did they have yet to get back to me......but it is the weekend after all
Got your PM Darth and there is no serial # on the back of the head stock or anywhere else as far as i can tell....is it possible the dealer ended up with some promo models?
Got your PM Darth and there is no serial # on the back of the head stock or anywhere else as far as i can tell....is it possible the dealer ended up with some promo models?
Quiet possible indeed.
I would have expected one even on the promos.
Could be that the Obsession is a limeted edition model.
I would have expected one even on the promos.
Could be that the Obsession is a limeted edition model.
I am not sure if this is the appropriate place to post, but somebody for the love of god (steve vai reference 
), buy my traben array bass, or trade me for a jazz bass body!
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=472082&highlight=traben
), buy my traben array bass, or trade me for a jazz bass body!http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=472082&highlight=traben
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