JohnFitzgerald

I’ve had this 6 string a good number of years now and it continues to be fantastic.

Does anyone else have one of Marko’s lovely creations ?

pictured here with my 4 string  bass with multicoils and filter preamp.

Holy old thread revival Batman !!

I have two of these and they are my pride and joy.

The six string is a solid Shedua body with figuring from something several leagues higher.

The fretless is arguably nicer.

I'll never part with them.

 

If you can use the spline tool in CAD, you can do something like this.
My take on such a bass.

On 11/02/2025 at 17:01, TrevorR said:

So glad I got my Mk 1 back in the early 90s (personal ad in the back of Guitarist) and my Pro2E back in 2001 (randomly turned up in a local guitar shop - both for about 500 quid) before the prices got silly!

That's a crazy thought to have snagged them for that sort of money.

1 hour ago, Russ said:

They look like Herricks to me, with the Lusithand preamp (the knobs are a dead giveaway :D). Herrick make great stuff - all handwound to order - but they're not cheap. 

 

https://www.herrickpickups.com/

You're on the money there. 
Herrick pickups and Lusithand pre.

I had to sell my 1984 Ibanez to pay for the pickups, but I figured if you do this once, do it right.

Having had my £350 Wal in the 80s, I knew I was never getting one of those again, since prices went into the stratosphere.

That's why I had this homage built, which bears a vague resemblance to a Wal, late last year.

With the multi coil pickups and LPF based preamp, it nails that sound.

On 29/01/2025 at 14:43, markorbit said:

Just reminiscing. There were some crackers weren't there. I remember visiting the Bass Centre in Wapping numerous times and seeing Steinbergers, Status's and Wals. I bought a lovely Wal Pro 2E Cherry second-hand for I think... 300 quid.
 

If I had a time machine and some funds I'd go back and get a Status S2000 in black weave preferably with the script font on the brass bridge plate. I love the look of early Status basses. All shiny and new.

We were spoiled.

I had a similar experience with a Wal in The Guitar Store in Glasgow around that time. I paid £350.

I was such a Trace Ellio fan, 30 years ago, and my AH250  / 1518 combination was plenty for any gig I ever did.
Whilst it's a shame that the market values them so poorly nowadays, I'm honestly not surprised.

Since I discovered Markbass around 12 years ago, I'd never want anything bigger or heavier, nor would I want to find the space to store anything bigger.

We should all definitely have what we like 🙂

6 hours ago, Geek99 said:

@JohnFitzgerald could I ask which luthier? 

This was built by MPU who I think is a user on here.

I’m not the original owner, having bought it from the person who originally commissioned it.

Marko (MPU) has boil loads of basses over the years.

On 12/12/2024 at 11:39, Muzz said:

I am on record on here as being (self-confessed) as shallow as a puddle when it comes to looks: for example, I don't care how good Foderas are, I'll never own one, because I can't stand the looks...

You'd hate my Fauxdera then 🙂

I take comfort from the knowledge that this cost me a similar amount to the price of a Squier CV P or J  and came from a pretty well known Finnish Luthier.


 

7 hours ago, Ed_S said:

 

Now you're talking! I had one of those, and I still miss just how very pink it was.

 

I have mine on the basis that everyone needs a P bass of some sort and it's honestly all the P bass that I need.

It's also the same colour as one of these.

If I showed up to a gig with my £50 Westfield P bass, nobody would care or notice the difference.
Provided I play the right notes and respect the song, that's the bit that actually matters.

All the other basses are there because I wanted them and was in the very fortunate position of being able to acquire them.

Also, I'm shallow enough that if I know that there will be audience members there who care about such stuff, and I'm on a nice stage, I'm bringing out the flashy stuff. ( I'm occasionally fortunate enough to get to do that.)

Reading this does take me back to the history behind Trace Elliott, where Soundwave had  originally built PA systems and decided to employ that thinking with a ranger of bass amps.
It's all come full circle and anyone who wants an amp 'voice' does it with a modeller.

I only have one amp these days, a Markbass 802 n 300.
It does all I need and is a one handed lift.

32 minutes ago, Skybone said:

Bonny Bonny Wood.

He did me proud 🙂

3 minutes ago, cocco said:

That's a really good looking bass. How does it sound compared to it's inspiration? I bet it's incredibly versatile with that electronics package.

Honestly,
The electronics are quite intimidating at this early stage. So much flexibility under those four knobs.
I'll need to install the Lusithand calibrated knobs.

I picked this up yesterday after having discussed the build with the luthier around 10 weeks ago.

Walnut / maple / shedua body

Maple / mahogany / cherry neck and board

Herrick multicoil pickups

Lusithand Double NFP

Sandberg bridge.

look close and you’ll see many differences compared to the bass it was inspired by.

31 minutes ago, kodiakblair said:

You did better than me.

 

JG Custom, leather scratchplate so one of the first 50 Wal built.

 

£250 cash and a beat to blazes Gibson SG. Later took £50 for the SG due to being on the bones of ma arse 😃

 

I've no wish to see the early 90's return 🤣 

Aye,
If you've lived through hard times, you NEVER forget it.

14 hours ago, kodiakblair said:

For the love of God don't ask John his Wal story, or mine for that matter 🤣🤣🤣

That's a very simple story.
I sold it for £350 in the early 90s.

18 hours ago, Shaggy said:

Really impressive!   I'd love to have a bespoke custom bass made, sadly unlikely to happen, but on the plus side I've enjoyed having owned many lovely vintage basses (including 3 Wals) before prices went totally bananas 🍌 and out of the reach of the ordinary player 

 

Shouldn't this thread be in "Build diaries" though?

Ahh, that's my mistake.

On 13/12/2024 at 18:00, Paddy777 said:

That’s an awful lot of bass for £800!

I came here to say that.
You couldn't buy a Mex. Jazz for that sort of money.

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