Brainstorming ideas about a future Caprice Bass

[GregP]

I was daydreaming today and brainstorming about what I would love to see if they ever decided to bring the Caprice back. Here are some ideas I've been pondering

1. Reverse the position of the neck pickup. Bringing the bass side closer to the bridge would tighten up the bottom end response.
2. Incorporate a buffer preamp while maintaining the traditional tone control. This would give traditional players the benefits of a buffer preamp(no treble loss over long cable runs and no loading between the pickups) while maintaining a more traditional tone circuit(tone knob).
3. Incorporate a volume/pan/tone layout. I think this works better for on the fly adjustments than having to fiddle with two volume knobs.
4. Redesign the modern classic bridge to have a mute kit. I love the lightweight design of the new Modern Classic Bridge...but just wish their was a way we could get a mute kit on it.

I totally took ideas #1 & #2 from Chris May of Overwater basses
#1

All that being said...it is new bass day and I love my new Caprice! I had a black Caprice before and had to sell it because it was a bit too neck heavy to me. That was the ONLY issue I had with it...loved everything else. This model has no neck dive...so I am truly over the moon!

 

[GregP]

And perhaps give it a modern 11" fretboard radius, like the current Stingray Special. Oh and roasted neck

 

[DrMatthewCross]

I'd also add a little bit more output to those pickups.

 

[GregP]

I'd also add a little bit more output to those pickups.

I agree with you Dr. Cross. I'd love the output on the Caprice's neck pickup to be just as powerful and cutting as the neck pickup on the Cutlass Bass. That Cutlass pickup will cut through anything!

Admittedly, I'm a bit of a late convert to the active game. All the times Big Poppa praised it's advantages I really should of listened . It really hit home when I started running my Caprice through the a buffered tuner...everything just started sounded cleaner, crisper, and brighter. It sounded like a much more authentic representation of what was going on with the bass than running it passive and dealing with treble bleed off due to high capacitance pickups with no buffering.

So yea, I'm totally onboard with an active buffer. For me, desiring a single tone knob with an active buffer is more of a psychological thing. If there are bass, mid, and treble knobs I'm just going to be tempted to fiddle with them endlessly instead of focusing on my technique to get the sound I want. In that way, the traditional passive setup forces me to focus on my technique. So combining the active buffer with a single tone knob is truly the best of both worlds for me.

 

[DrMatthewCross]

I used a Barber Linden for a while because of that, and the bass always sounded fantastic.

 

[disssa]

A 5-string version would be nice...

 

[GregP]

Forum design team, I think we got an awesome bass concept

I think maybe the sales weren’t there for two separate passive Basses that shared a lot of similarities. But I think they could combine the best of the cutlass and caprice and bring it back as a new model.

 

[Morrow]

I've been enjoying short scale basses , and mentioned the other day that if a mini "Big Al" ever came out I'd probably be a goner ...

 

[Cory]

I LOVE my Caprice.....completely amazing sounding and playing bass.

I would love to see a 5 string version.

Would also love to see the SSS pickup configuration on a caprice body or an SR body.

 

[johno]

Resurrecting this thread because I keep reaching for my Caprice over the Bongo. If it comes back put the new lightweight tuners on it and reduce the headstock size a bit to improve its balance. I would also take a Stingray body/neck with the Caprice/Cutlass pickup configurations.

And a 5 string might be nice.

 

[bovinehost]

A boy has to dream.

 

[dave1812]

Man, I didn't even realize the Caprice was discontinued! I was just thinking about getting another Bass and my mind went straight to the Caprice.
A 5 String Model would be really cool, if it ever made a comeback.
Did it have a Silent Circuit in it, or were the J-Pickups Hum Cancelling?

 

[GregP]

Man, I didn't even realize the Caprice was discontinued! I was just thinking about getting another Bass and my mind went straight to the Caprice.
A 5 String Model would be really cool, if it ever made a comeback.
Did it have a Silent Circuit in it, or were the J-Pickups Hum Cancelling?

The J pickups are hum canceling

 

[MarcMurder]

I'd love a 5. And as always id stab myself on a live stream for some. Sort of 24 fanned fret

Preferably in pink ��

 

[dave1812]

I'd love a 5. And as always id stab myself on a live stream for some. Sort of 24 fanned fret

Preferably in pink ��

as long as the fanning isn't too wide. i tried a few dingwall basses because i thought it would be more ergonomic, but the fret fanning was to wide for my taste/comfort