Ultra modern bass redux

[EmuBass]

I am pretty sure you can play any style of music on the fanned-fret basses. From the physics standpoint it must really make sense to have longer low strings.

Playability is an issue, which strongly depends on two factors:
The length of the longest string compared to the shortest string and the way the frets are "fanned". For the second factor the builder can decide where to position the "regular" (right-angled) fret. I would prefer those basses, where the "regular" fret is in 8th or 9th place. This makes the distance for the higher strings in the low registers even bigger, which can be problematic for players with smaller hands. But it also makes the distance for the higher strings in the high registers comparably longer, which would be nicer for my hands.

The Ibanez has its "regular" fret at the 6th or 7th position (not so good for me). At the Dingwall it looks like the right-angled fret is in the 7th or 8th position, whereas we also have Maruszczyk where it's the 5th or 6th (even worse for me).

Btw: I like the look / shape of the Ding and the Kiesel better ...

 

[Need Gigs]

Would I call a design that was invented 40 years ago and popularized 30 years ago "ultra modern"? Probably not but I'll go with it. I like the idea of fanned frets, there's perfectly good logic behind them, but I can't play one to save my life.

You'd be amazed how quickly you adjust if you commit to playing one for a sustained period of time!

 

[/\/\3phist0]

The Game Changer | Basses | Ernie Ball Music Man

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Combine these with a modern ergonomic body shape, and a headless, fanned frets, carbon fiber neck ; now that's as modern as it gets right now I think

Lightwave pickup system (optical)
Has been around since the early 00's
I owned one, pretty cool.
Strings could be anything, standard strings, non ferrous.
I tried weed whackers which worked! Cool!
It's the Green Brubaker in the pic below.

 

[MAJOR METAL]

The greenburst finish is hot, and only the finish.

 

[A9X]

Lightwave pickup system (optical)

I'd love to try a Willcox, but I think the only way that's going to happen is to buy one.

 

[chris_b]

How do you like the look of these ultra modern basses? But my real question is, what sort of music would one play on these?

I don't see any negatives with modern bass designs. We are only limited by our imagination. Play anything you like on them.

 

[Doug4321]

Interesting about the position of the perpendicular fret. I wrote down the varying scale lengths on five strings for reference:
Dingwall 37-34” (Super J 5 35-32”)
Ibanez SRMS805 35.5-34”, EHB1005MS, EHB1505MS 35-33”
Kiesel 35-33.5" (Vanquish 36-34”)
ESP 37-34”.
Strings that fit? I played a Novax a little in the store, and it didn’t seem too weird or difficult, surprisingly.

I’m not sure how the optical pickup could pick up anything like the natural sound of the strings, but maybe so.

 

[BurningSkies]

If you want to be pedantic, I think only Dingwall is using the Novax fan fret system formula, that is why it is more angled. It was just not arbitrary fanned which I feel is what Ibanez and Kiesel have doen Fanned-Fret® Concept: Novax Guitars: Fanned-Fret®, Multi-Scale Guitars, Basses, Custom-Built Not sure if the patent or licensing expired. did try those Kiesels at the factory showroom. They play nice. A Dingwall feels different

The Novax patent is now 12+ years since expiration.

 

[Doug4321]

I don't see any negatives with modern bass designs. We are only limited by our imagination. Play anything you like on them.

Here’s what you play on these:

 

[BurningSkies]

The Game Changer | Basses | Ernie Ball Music Man

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Combine these with a modern ergonomic body shape, and a headless, fanned frets, carbon fiber neck ; now that's as modern as it gets right now I think

Alas, CF or graphite seems to be fading rather than picking up steam. I'd love a fanned CF replacement neck (Fretted and fretless) but with guys like Moses out of the biz, there's really no good options these days.

Also, 5-pin MIDI on a bass seems like a dinosaur to me right now, while MIDI implementation for outboard synth and effects is starting to pick up some momentum.

 

[JimmyM]

You'd be amazed how quickly you adjust if you commit to playing one for a sustained period of time!

That's what everyone who plays one tells me, but I'm just plain not interested. Standard fret basses do me just fine.

 

[Doug4321]

The Ibanez EHB and Kiesel Zeus (the single cut headless one) body shape and overall look is nearly IDEAL to me. I just wish they made a "deluxe" version that didn't skimp on the details quite as much. That shape and overall aesthetic, but with top notch fit and finishes, better pickups and preamp, etc. The EHB I played at a store was a very cool "middle budget" instrument. I'm just in the market for a long term keeper bass of this type, not one I'll want to upgrade all the time. The Kiesels look awesome, but I keep hearing mixed reviews on the pickups, and I honestly haven't heard a sound clip that's dissuaded my worries about their tonal capabilities.

The Kiesel single coils seem pretty good sounding. What do you think? Here:




Also, in this video, when they switch to the single coils, I think it sounds more better. At about 4:00.