eubassix

Having looked for one of these Xotic basses for ages, I'm now in possession of two Early & original (rare) model Xotic XB-2C 5-string bass(es) All original XB-series basses featured: 34"-scale, 24-fret, 3-pc. Maple/kingwood neck with brass nut; 1-3/4" at the nut - 3" at F24. String spacing is 9-16-18mm (bridge is infinitely adjustable); 2 Kent Armstrong soapbar pickups with custom Xotic active preamp; Controls: Master Volume, Blend, Master Tone, and 3-band EQ; Hipshot tuners and Kahler fully-adjustable bridge; Built-in Dunlop style strap-locks The XB-2C or "custom" came with an exotic wood top and back, and ebony fingerboard with extra-cool aluminium ring inlays (possibly inspired by Capt. Scarlet & The Mysterons?..) The bass(es) features a bocote top/back with natural (oil/wax) finish & quilt maple top/back with amber-black-burst finish Very wide range of available tones and a very powerful sound. The "B" string is very tight and focused. It's really the best fretted 5'er I've tried - both instruments have exceptional tones (slightly different / woods) and playability. The EQ is superb - hence (possibly) the popularity of the Xotic pedals. Other specs: Neck = 24F Maple/Ebony . Neck Finish = Satin. Fret = Jescar(#6150 type) . Neck Radius = 16R . Nut = Brass . Pickup = Kent Armstrong . EQ = Xotic Bass Preamp (18V) . Tuner = Hip Shot Ultra light . Bridge = Kahler Fixed 5-st /Black . Control = 1-Vol, 1- Master Tone, 1- Balancer (Pan), 3-band EQ + (Rear) 4-mid frequency Switch, Output Gain Control . [Switch] = Vol (push: series, pull: parallel for front pickup) Tone(push: series, pull: parallel for rear pickup). Strap Button = Jim Dunlop X 2 . MSRP (current): $4,200 plus shipping . Hand-made in Los Angeles, USA The new (and current) Xotic company reappeared some years after the original folded :- [url="http://www.xotic.us/guitars/"]http://www.xotic.us/guitars/[/url] (..although it looks like my amber/black 5C on the page link!!). The Xotic pedals (which I've seen here on BC) appear to have survived throughout: any info. on this and the Co. /basses would be greatly appreciated. The basses have changed little, apparently, with the new Co. Adding a few photos but might change them to bigger if I can work-out how to do so. I'm now undecided as to plans for the natural (Bocote) bass: had intended to de-fret, but after talking with Xotic and others it doesn't seem the best idea. So it might soon be available and I'll start another long wait for a fretless (original) example.

Russ - you seem to have 2x feedback(s) ... not sure how you can combine them (?). Anyway, Russ took-the-plunge and recently bought my already much-missed Kinal MK-5 (fretted) bass. Great (sensible and polite and prompt) communication throughout and asked all the right questions. Would be happy to deal again and to recommend to all BC'ers. Hope to meet-up sometime .. maybe at the next Lancs. or Yorks BBash (??).