OK...I got this bass last week after a lot of work by Zombi (thanks for everything James!!) and I have to say it is without a doubt one of the finest if not THE finest Bass I have ever had in my hands! I have owned a LOT of high end basses including Sadow&ky, Alleva Co%%ollo, Foder@, Tobia$, %oscoe, as well as many Fend$rs, Laklan8s, Warwi&s, etc etc etc...Up until this point I had put an Alleva in the top spot but I have a feeling this one is going to top it once the neck settles in and I can get some gig time on her! The fit and finish rivals anything I have ever seen and it plays like great sex...It really spoke to me as soon as I opened the case and it hasn't stopped since. I have had the chance to play her on 2 gigs and at a taping for an awards show on yesterday. I have to tell you that the hype is true... these are the real deal. It feels and sounds in every way as good as the 79' Ray I lost in a fire back in about 86' or 87' (it is getting harder to remember). It encompasses all the things I find great about all those old Rays but still has the modern appointments I think are necessary on the road today. The Spoked Truss wheel saved my a$$ yesterday as the neck was still settling a bit after coming from Sunny California to the cold dampness of an open tent in the middle of a field Saturday night to a HOT!!!! stuffy green room at the Alabama Theater in Myrtle Beach, SC where we did the show yesterday. All it took was a slight spin of the wheel and I was set!
As far as looks go, this thing is just dead sexy! I have gotten more compliments on the look of THIS bass in the last few days than I have gotten about any bass I have ever had in the entire length of time I have had them! SERIOUSLY! Everybody who sees her tells me how hot she is and they are not wrong. Even though she looks fantastic she has the goods to! It does not have a center detent on the bass and treble controls so I turned it all the way down and asked my sound guy to tell me how much low end he wanted for the direct and he let the pre go wide open and never complained a bit. He could not believe that it was wide open and sounded full and thick but not muddy at all. I turned it down to zero and started over and he told me I could set it anywhere I wanted!! It sounded great no matter where it was and I never lost any definition at all. The treble was the same though I admit I detest CLACK....Even at the highest extreme the 2 Band treble was musical and never got harsh or piercing at all. I wound up with the treble at about 1/4 the way up and the bass about half to 3/4s up and it was just perfect.
Once we started playing Saturday (outside, HUGE Tent, LOW AC availability resulting in only 3 circuits for POWER to run lights backline and PA! I took out one of my QSC 3602s and ran the subs in stereo mode into a single 3602 resulting in a huge decrease in headroom for the low end. I usually have a 3602 running bridged for each cab in the system, 2 tops and 2 subs, everything worked like a charm and the sound guy was happy with the bottom all night!) For my own backline I used a TC Electronic RH450 into a JBL MP415 PA/Wedge Speaker...NOT my typical backline! I ordered and received a TC RS410 but I find it to be WAY to big, bulky, and heavy as he&7! Too much for me to move around so I left it in my Jeep to be shipped back tomorrow! Now you may think what? But let me tell you. I could hear the kick and my bass in my wedge (A JBL VRX915M, A GREAT monitor) and in the MP415 so it was thick and chewy and PUNCHY as HE77!! I told the sound guy to come up and listen to my mix and note how he had the settings on my LS9 so he could save them as a preset for me!!! It was so good that on the second song of the first set I was so into the grove between the drummer and I and the punchy tight bottom that I COMPLETELY SPAZZED out when the song went to the chorus!!!! I was just holding the groove when the guitar player "woke me up" by looking at me and going F#!!! F#!! F#!!! It was funny as he77 and the rest of the guys laughed when I told them what happened at the break. The drummer loved the punchy tone so much that he told me it was the tightest sounding groove he had ever heard on a stage and he told me he would help the sound guy whip my a$$ if I did not keep this bass! Overall VERY strong compliments on the bass AND the tone of the bass which is not always the case...It is FAR easier to make them pretty than it is to make them sound good..this one does both!!
I actually got the bass on Friday and a had a headline gig at a big Club in Myrtle Beach for Cammy week. We had an opening act and a common backline rig of a GK 1001 RB into a SWR 610 cab. The first bass player played really low on stage (which is how I prefer it) and got a lot of his "feel" from the PA (my Nexo rig). We have played this club many times before but I have never felt the punch of my bass like that in the place. A lot of people including a couple of bass players came up and commented on the bass and the sound (while I was still on stage playing!!) It was definitely a hit. The sound guy came up at the end of the show (we played a straight 2.5 hour show with no break) and hugged me and told me if I ever sold this bass he would kick my a$$. He said of all the stuff I have had (I usually show up with a new bass every week or so) THIS was THE BASS! I totally and completely agree! She sounds so fat and warm but is punchy as he77 and has a depth and clarity that is just amazing! Oh did I mention the neck???? I LOVE the neck profile of a vintage Fend&r and this one has that same 7.25" radius and feels absolutely amazing!! The Birdseye Maple is THE NICEST I have ever seen! the pics do not do the bass or the neck justice but the neck is unbelievable! It is finished in Poly but does not feel gummy or sticky at all like they sometimes do! I have enjoyed every single second I have been able to play her and really do not want to play anything else since I have her! I put my SR5 H up for sale and I am going to be getting another Classic with a Rosewood Neck to put flats on and I am set. I told my vocalist (the band owner) that I was sorry but I did not want to play a 5 with this group (I have been playing 5's almost EXCLUSIVELY since I have been with them about the last 6 months or so) and he hugged me and said "man if it sounds like THAT you can play anything you want to play"
I rest my case....
Pics were taken on my new Droid phone as I loaned out my digital camera and do not have it right now... ENJOY!
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LOOK AT THIS FRIGGIN NECK!!!
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LOVE THE MUTES!!!
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SORRY BUT I THINK THE CHROME COVER IS CLASSY!
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Overall I can not find a SINGLE thing about her that I would change...NOT ONE! BP you guys NAILED IT and deserve pats on the butt and BIG bonuses all round! It is very obvious to me that a LOT of thought and attention to detail went into these and the result is amazing! I have to say that I also had a 25th and it was absolutely flawless and amazing as well! THE ONLY reason I sold it was due to the weight and the fact that my producer HAD to have a Stingray for his projects....
He has NOT seen or heard this one...yet! I told him to get a set of Depends ready for the first time we do a session in the next couple of days. He played with James Brown for 16 years right up until his death (he took Maceo Parker's place on Sax when Maceo left due to some health problems) so he KNOWS the funk when he hears it..I already told him he ain't ready....
THANKS SO MUCH FOR MAKING HER FOR ME!!
Peace,
T
EDIT - THE PICS SUCK!! I am sorry! I will get some new ones with my good digital camera as soon as I can get it back! Promise!
As far as looks go, this thing is just dead sexy! I have gotten more compliments on the look of THIS bass in the last few days than I have gotten about any bass I have ever had in the entire length of time I have had them! SERIOUSLY! Everybody who sees her tells me how hot she is and they are not wrong. Even though she looks fantastic she has the goods to! It does not have a center detent on the bass and treble controls so I turned it all the way down and asked my sound guy to tell me how much low end he wanted for the direct and he let the pre go wide open and never complained a bit. He could not believe that it was wide open and sounded full and thick but not muddy at all. I turned it down to zero and started over and he told me I could set it anywhere I wanted!! It sounded great no matter where it was and I never lost any definition at all. The treble was the same though I admit I detest CLACK....Even at the highest extreme the 2 Band treble was musical and never got harsh or piercing at all. I wound up with the treble at about 1/4 the way up and the bass about half to 3/4s up and it was just perfect.
Once we started playing Saturday (outside, HUGE Tent, LOW AC availability resulting in only 3 circuits for POWER to run lights backline and PA! I took out one of my QSC 3602s and ran the subs in stereo mode into a single 3602 resulting in a huge decrease in headroom for the low end. I usually have a 3602 running bridged for each cab in the system, 2 tops and 2 subs, everything worked like a charm and the sound guy was happy with the bottom all night!) For my own backline I used a TC Electronic RH450 into a JBL MP415 PA/Wedge Speaker...NOT my typical backline! I ordered and received a TC RS410 but I find it to be WAY to big, bulky, and heavy as he&7! Too much for me to move around so I left it in my Jeep to be shipped back tomorrow! Now you may think what? But let me tell you. I could hear the kick and my bass in my wedge (A JBL VRX915M, A GREAT monitor) and in the MP415 so it was thick and chewy and PUNCHY as HE77!! I told the sound guy to come up and listen to my mix and note how he had the settings on my LS9 so he could save them as a preset for me!!! It was so good that on the second song of the first set I was so into the grove between the drummer and I and the punchy tight bottom that I COMPLETELY SPAZZED out when the song went to the chorus!!!! I was just holding the groove when the guitar player "woke me up" by looking at me and going F#!!! F#!! F#!!! It was funny as he77 and the rest of the guys laughed when I told them what happened at the break. The drummer loved the punchy tone so much that he told me it was the tightest sounding groove he had ever heard on a stage and he told me he would help the sound guy whip my a$$ if I did not keep this bass! Overall VERY strong compliments on the bass AND the tone of the bass which is not always the case...It is FAR easier to make them pretty than it is to make them sound good..this one does both!!
I actually got the bass on Friday and a had a headline gig at a big Club in Myrtle Beach for Cammy week. We had an opening act and a common backline rig of a GK 1001 RB into a SWR 610 cab. The first bass player played really low on stage (which is how I prefer it) and got a lot of his "feel" from the PA (my Nexo rig). We have played this club many times before but I have never felt the punch of my bass like that in the place. A lot of people including a couple of bass players came up and commented on the bass and the sound (while I was still on stage playing!!) It was definitely a hit. The sound guy came up at the end of the show (we played a straight 2.5 hour show with no break) and hugged me and told me if I ever sold this bass he would kick my a$$. He said of all the stuff I have had (I usually show up with a new bass every week or so) THIS was THE BASS! I totally and completely agree! She sounds so fat and warm but is punchy as he77 and has a depth and clarity that is just amazing! Oh did I mention the neck???? I LOVE the neck profile of a vintage Fend&r and this one has that same 7.25" radius and feels absolutely amazing!! The Birdseye Maple is THE NICEST I have ever seen! the pics do not do the bass or the neck justice but the neck is unbelievable! It is finished in Poly but does not feel gummy or sticky at all like they sometimes do! I have enjoyed every single second I have been able to play her and really do not want to play anything else since I have her! I put my SR5 H up for sale and I am going to be getting another Classic with a Rosewood Neck to put flats on and I am set. I told my vocalist (the band owner) that I was sorry but I did not want to play a 5 with this group (I have been playing 5's almost EXCLUSIVELY since I have been with them about the last 6 months or so) and he hugged me and said "man if it sounds like THAT you can play anything you want to play"
I rest my case....
Pics were taken on my new Droid phone as I loaned out my digital camera and do not have it right now... ENJOY!
LOOK AT THIS FRIGGIN NECK!!!
LOVE THE MUTES!!!
SORRY BUT I THINK THE CHROME COVER IS CLASSY!
Overall I can not find a SINGLE thing about her that I would change...NOT ONE! BP you guys NAILED IT and deserve pats on the butt and BIG bonuses all round! It is very obvious to me that a LOT of thought and attention to detail went into these and the result is amazing! I have to say that I also had a 25th and it was absolutely flawless and amazing as well! THE ONLY reason I sold it was due to the weight and the fact that my producer HAD to have a Stingray for his projects....
He has NOT seen or heard this one...yet! I told him to get a set of Depends ready for the first time we do a session in the next couple of days. He played with James Brown for 16 years right up until his death (he took Maceo Parker's place on Sax when Maceo left due to some health problems) so he KNOWS the funk when he hears it..I already told him he ain't ready....
THANKS SO MUCH FOR MAKING HER FOR ME!!
Peace,
T
EDIT - THE PICS SUCK!! I am sorry! I will get some new ones with my good digital camera as soon as I can get it back! Promise!
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