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US Masters club

#121
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#122
Way late to the party, but picked up this import model in a trade. Plays really nice, sounds great and it is incredibly light. And wow the neck is long.

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#124
songwriter21 said:
Found this pretty thing online, and it will be arriving today...not sure of what EP5 model. It's got a lacewood body, and I thiiiiink an EMG preamp.
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That's nice! What color is it? I can't really tell.

If the preamp is all on one board attached to the knobs, it is the EMG B30, which is the original from USM. The tone circuit is on the board with passive volume and blend. I think the B30 was an OEM-only preamp.

Great find.
 
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#125
Versatek6 said:
That's nice! What color is it? I can't really tell.

If the preamp is all on one board attached to the knobs, it is the EMG B30, which is the original from USM. The tone circuit is on the board with passive volume and blend. I think the B30 was an OEM-only preamp.

Great find.
Click to expand...

The color is a green burst over lacewood. I need to get some foam under the pickups, especially the P...makes all the difference in the low-B string's volume compared to the E. I'm not crazy about the preamp, so I'll use external eq, as I have limitless options with my little pedalboard. I do wish that I could totally bypass the pre, but I'll experiment. The battery's a little old, though, wouldn't ya say?

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#126
Versatek6 said:
That's nice! What color is it? I can't really tell.

If the preamp is all on one board attached to the knobs, it is the EMG B30, which is the original from USM. The tone circuit is on the board with passive volume and blend. I think the B30 was an OEM-only preamp.

Great find.
Click to expand...

Also, having looked at the preamp connected to that one "port", is that port EMG's quick-connecter? If so, I will put in a different module to replace the B30, like the one with the mid-sweep stack.

Oh, and the battery is basically still new...8.95 volts! Must've hardly been used the last few years.
 
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#127
So after who knows how many years of previous ownership, the neck on my new (to me) 5'er has an arrow-flat neck, as far as I can tell. Aside from the age, this thing was loved...played, but loved. There are some marks, and some gloss that has dulled from playing, but after how many gigs/recordings, and having Chromes switched out by me to Elixir nickels, the neck has not moved one bit. I need to get a Gibson socket-style wrench for the truss (my Husky tools don't have enough room for the cavity), so hopefully the truss works right just in case of future adjustments.

That, and this bass might be the easiest-playing 35" scale/19mm one that I've ever experienced. The asymmetrical shape is really nice...my guess is 10 or 12" to 16".
 
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#131
Just picked up this very early serial # P5 fretless off of Reverb! Has some of the nicest birdseye maple I've ever seen on the neck, and really thumps with the 18v preamp. Just put in a shim, as the action wasn't as low as I'd like it to be with the saddles pretty much bottomed out. With the shim, it plays like butter and has massive amounts of mwah. Extremely light, around 7.5 pounds. A true unicorn!

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#132
Throwing a feeler out...possible interest in my newly acquired EP52 (green lacewood body/EMGs). I need to get some unexpected surgery, so I could use the money. The seller said it was like new and is not. There are some dings, and then a finish crack at the output jack, but really nice playability. I unfortunately couldn't recoup some funds back, because the sale was from CL, as the seller lamely sold and ran. Thinking $670/shipped if you guys are looking, and the bass comes with an aftermarket hardshell case, as well as new Elixir strings.
 
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#133
songwriter21 said:
Throwing a feeler out...possible interest in my newly acquired EP52 (green lacewood body/EMGs). I need to get some unexpected surgery, so I could use the money. The seller said it was like new and is not. There are some dings, and then a finish crack at the output jack, but really nice playability. I unfortunately couldn't recoup some funds back, because the sale was from CL, as the seller lamely sold and ran. Thinking $670/shipped if you guys are looking, and the bass comes with an aftermarket hardshell case, as well as new Elixir strings.
Click to expand...

Decided to hang on to this one.
 
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#134
Slapped said:
Just picked up this very early serial # P5 fretless off of Reverb! Has some of the nicest birdseye maple I've ever seen on the neck, and really thumps with the 18v preamp. Just put in a shim, as the action wasn't as low as I'd like it to be with the saddles pretty much bottomed out. With the shim, it plays like butter and has massive amounts of mwah. Extremely light, around 7.5 pounds. A true unicorn!

View attachment 4039226
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View attachment 4039224
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I looked at that one. But decided I preferred lined. Congrats!
 
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#135
Slapped said:
Just picked up this very early serial # P5 fretless off of Reverb! Has some of the nicest birdseye maple I've ever seen on the neck, and really thumps with the 18v preamp. Just put in a shim, as the action wasn't as low as I'd like it to be with the saddles pretty much bottomed out. With the shim, it plays like butter and has massive amounts of mwah. Extremely light, around 7.5 pounds. A true unicorn!

View attachment 4039224
Click to expand...

I have never seen a low serial number with the dark logo plate. Mine in that range (B185 - purpleheart ep53) has the gold plate. I'm not sure when they switched over, though.
 
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#137
Versatek6 said:
I'm glad it worked out for you, @songwriter21.

Mostly. :smug:

I was trying to figure out how to fit that into the budget and got the raised eyebrows from the spouse...

Also, sorry to hear about the unexpected surgery. Prayers for a good outcome and fast recovery!
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Thanks for the surgery luck, and I actually did end up selling the bass. The extended reach because of the shorter horn was making my shoulder sore, so it is leaving. That is the same reason as to why I sold a Spector a little while ago, too. Both were really nice, otherwise, so it's a shame.
 
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#138
songwriter21 said:
Thanks for the surgery luck, and I actually did end up selling the bass. The extended reach because of the shorter horn was making my shoulder sore, so it is leaving. That is the same reason as to why I sold a Spector a little while ago, too. Both were really nice, otherwise, so it's a shame.
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I'm sure it went to a good home. Now go look at the Kala U-Basses. If those give you shoulder problems, there's something wrong in the universe. They are really surprising instruments.
 
#139
Versatek6 said:
I'm sure it went to a good home. Now go look at the Kala U-Basses. If those give you shoulder problems, there's something wrong in the universe. They are really surprising instruments.
Click to expand...

It is. The weight isn't an issue, but the horn length stretch. I've tried Kalas...don't get the hype. They feel and play like toys to me.
 

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