molan Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 I'm over in the States at the moment in an area where the Fender P pretty much rules the roost - Nashville & Memphis, the centre of all things country, home of the blues, where rock 'n' roll began, the source of soul (insert favourite marketing slogan here. . .). However I managed to track down a few pretty crazy basses in Memphis & got to try them out First up was this outrageous Lowenherz - never seen one of these anywhere before! [url="http://www.martinmusicguitar.com/products/bassguitars/products.php?pcid=48281&pid=56731"]http://www.martinmusicguitar.com/products/...1&pid=56731[/url] This bass was described by my, ever sufferin', wife as "so ugly" that she refused to take a picture of me playing it, lol. I found it really hard to play with any sort of fluency as that middle pickup really got in the way. The guy in the shop had no idea what all those flick switches did either, lol. Then I tried a pair of Ritter 5 strings [url="http://www.martinmusicguitar.com/products/bassguitars/products.php?pcid=48281&pid=56031"]http://www.martinmusicguitar.com/products/...1&pid=56031[/url] [url="http://www.martinmusicguitar.com/products/bassguitars/products.php?pcid=48281&pid=56009"]http://www.martinmusicguitar.com/products/...1&pid=56009[/url] These were a whole different world, sounded great and seriously nice to play. The latter of the two was particularly nice and it felt like I could whizz around the fretboard playing stuff on it Oh, I also had a quick blast on this whilst the sales guy was dragging all the 'exotica' out of the storeroom (they don't even display these basses & rely on internet sales for them - all three were owned by the same crazy Chilean guy apparently!). [url="http://www.martinmusicguitar.com/products/bassguitars/products.php?pcid=10068&pid=45538"]http://www.martinmusicguitar.com/products/...8&pid=45538[/url] Felt really nice. . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sawtooth Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 (edited) I've always disliked ostentatious basses. [i]but[/i], I can't stop looking at the vulgar beauty of the Lowenherz ... What's not to like about a 'Golden Lionhead-Sustain-Stringholder'!!! Edit: and somehow, I really hope that gold knob adjusts the 'Lioness'. Edited April 30, 2011 by Sawtooth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grayn Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 [quote name='Sawtooth' post='1215483' date='Apr 30 2011, 06:18 AM']I've always disliked ostentatious basses. [i]but[/i], I can't stop looking at the vulgar beauty of the Lowenherz ... What's not to like about a 'Golden Lionhead-Sustain-Stringholder'!!! Edit: and somehow, I really hope that gold knob adjusts the 'Lioness'.[/quote] It looks like an Alembic, if it were made in Pakistan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 B...............................................LING! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philw Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 [quote name='grayn' post='1215496' date='Apr 30 2011, 07:30 AM']It looks like an Alembic, if it were made in Pakistan.[/quote] Nail on the head. Even the appalling pun in the name "Lowenherz" (spelling of "hertz" of course incorrect) makes me shudder. P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 Its German for Lion Heart. Got nothing to do with Hertz. The switches are for switching each of the six pickup coils. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merello Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 [quote name='Sawtooth' post='1215483' date='Apr 30 2011, 06:18 AM']I've always disliked ostentatious basses. [i]but[/i], I can't stop looking at the vulgar beauty of the Lowenherz ... What's not to like about a 'Golden Lionhead-Sustain-Stringholder'!!! Edit: and somehow, I really hope that gold knob adjusts the 'Lioness'.[/quote] Stick a BadAss II on it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Rich Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 [quote name='BigRedX' post='1215517' date='Apr 30 2011, 08:39 AM']Its German for Lion Heart. Got nothing to do with Hertz. The switches are for switching each of the six pickup coils.[/quote] Doesn't one of the switches turn the fountain on from the lions mouth? Or did I dream it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethFlatlands Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 [quote name='Fat Rich' post='1215561' date='Apr 30 2011, 09:44 AM']Doesn't one of the switches turn the fountain on from the lions mouth? Or did I dream it?[/quote] Yep, another turns on the red LED eyes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplumber Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 [quote name='GarethFlatlands' post='1215576' date='Apr 30 2011, 10:08 AM']Yep, another turns on the red LED eyes.[/quote] LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cairobill Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 I just threw up in my mouth... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watchman Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 I don't know why I quite like it, but I do. The wood's gorgeous. Only the lion head is iffy, and again for me it has a weird charm. I've seen much worse stuff than this, although I can't easily remember where just now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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