DylanB

Thanks! Yeah I’ve really been coming around to it last few days. The neck dive really isn’t that bad (“dive” is a strong word), and barely there on a strap. Change can be a strange process! The midrange focus is something I was actually aiming for, but when I got it it was different from other instruments I own, and therefore alienating. But I do admit it sounds really good. And yes, it’s gorgeous.

I’m discovering good things in the tone control. I can’t wait to gig this and find out how it sits.

Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream is a particularly joyful example.

Well I don’t know. I think I might just be getting used to the P sound again after a while on Js. It’s definitely more polite in the highs but maybe honk was the wrong word. It’s hard to describe sound with words.

Yep, passive. The P solo sounds huge, to the extent where I think I’m gonna have to be careful about where I deploy it! That could have something to do with it! I feel like maybe I’ve overemphasised the neck dive. It’s not huuuge, just if I hold the neck at 2 o’ clock it wants to be at 2:30.

I actually received this last week, but wanted to live with it for a week or so before coming to any kind of a verdict. I can’t help but compare this to my Carvin SB5000, which cost me less than half what this did (albeit used) but is a very very good bass. The good: Relatively lightweight at 8.5lb - the Carvin is around 10lb, so a significant saving B string seems legit for a 34” Nice slim neck, easy to play Looks fit Very tight neck pocket Fit and finish is brilliant (as it should be at this price) The not so good: A bit of neck dive. Not so noticeable on a strap, but it’s there. The Carvin (after installing Hipshot Ultralites) balances *perfectly*, so maybe I have unreasonable expectations in this area. I understand that this is probably the cost of the lightweight body. It already has Ultralites so nowhere to go there. I can't help but be slightly annoyed as before I placed my order Adrian told me the Elwood Ls balance much better than standard jazz basses. The strings. Ostensibly these shipped with Maruszczyk own-brand nickel strings. The B and E were DOA. This led to an annoying wait while I sourced my preferred DR Nickel Lo-Riders, which of course have cleared this problem right up. It felt like they’d put on an old set which they had lying around, which I can’t imagine they did, but in any case not a great advert for Maruszczyk strings. The sound. This is the most subjective bit. It seems a bit bland and overly mid-focused to me (some might say ‘honky’). Maybe I just need to adjust to the difference from the Carvin, which has quite an open sound. And of course I'm comparing a P to a J, so apples to oranges. Also I haven’t tried it in a live mix yet, so it’s probably a bit early to judge. This might be a case of underwhelming solo, but fantastic in a mix. Certainly playing along with some records seems to point in that direction, it sounds BIG. Ultimately ordering a custom bass is a bit of a roll of the dice but I think I did OK here. Not a 100% roaring success, but maybe I’m being picky.

Sold Chris a strap. My second transaction with him, always a pleasure. Top man, no hassle transaction. 👍

Sold Chris a strap. Hassle free transaction, no issues. Thanks Chris!

Sold Russ a strap. Hassle free transaction, no issues. Thanks Russ!

They have a very good range, they are the best place I have found for strings.

Think it may have been, or a year or two earlier. ‘Sound issues’ would be putting it diplomatically.

Velvet Revolver at Brixton were so loud I couldn’t tell which key some of the songs were in. Just noise.

It’s a 5 with a slim neck. I originally ordered it without rods, but this thread prompted me to add them, so good advice. I guess it’s early enough in the process that I can still get away with making a few changes.

I placed an order earlier this month. Reading back through this thread gives me doubts I didn’t have before. It seems that 2-3 years ago there were several issues with quality (see around page 100 in this thread). One of the theories back then was that this was to do with a move to a new production facility, and also coping with suddenly increasing demand. So has anyone had any issues with more recent orders?

That’s mad. I’ll try and be optimistic and hope the situation improves before mine is shipped. Doesn’t help everyone else though!

In the age of Amazon Prime I’ve forgotten how to wait for things.

It has been 12 days since I ordered this thing. 12 weeks seems like it’s gonna be a really long time! And I’m assuming the border situation will add a few more days/weeks on as some others have experienced. Nevertheless I am excited!

I sold Paul a set of strings. Good communication, no issues. Thanks!