TRBboy Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 I know, I know, I should go and try one out...... I've never had the opportunity to try one, but I've always liked the look of them, and there's one I'm kind of smitten with at the moment: http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/OW_INSP_5_CB.html I think it looks incredible! I just wondered if any of you guys who have had experience with these sort of Overwaters could share your experiences of them, and tell me how they play, how the neck feels and what they sound like? Ta! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 Never tried the full OW experience, only the Tanglewaters and I think they were really good. I suspect the full custom basses are pretty special. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozbass Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 I've had quite a few Overwaters, mainly 5s and 6s - all neck through and higher-end instruments. My overriding experience - and the word I'd use to describe them - is 'chunky'. They're generally very well-built and feel solid and reliable. The neck profile is frequently too chunky for me - I prefer very narrow and slender necks (I'm sure that Overwater can do this if you specify). Fittings are very high quality and the basses (IME) play well with the possibility of very low action if desired. Range of possible tones is very broad but the basses don't have a distinctive tone for me - Overwaters can sound like a lot of other basses with judicious tweaking and I suspect that's why a lot of pros and session players use them. They're solid, well-built, reliable, sound like a pro instrument, and if you wish, can look pretty spectacular with exotic top options. Very good pro-level instruments, to me however, they're not the most exciting basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Good build and quality, IMO. I don't find they have the extra precision of a Sei, for example, but I think they are fine instruments. Only talking about the J variants.... wouldn't recognise the others, tbh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 (edited) Go and try one, i think they are fantastic basses and you can't go wrong with them, i'm getting a couple made at the moment and my jazz should be ready by the end of next week i hope, i will put a couple of pics of the build so far below. Go and try them out it may not be for you but you wont know until you give them a go [attachment=137904:photo copy 29.JPG] [attachment=137905:photo copy 30.JPG] Edited November 12, 2013 by Harry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pierreganseman Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 (edited) just don't believe people saying the tanglewood / overwater are as good as the uk one... there's a reason why one is worth 500... and the other one 2500/3000 you can't go wrong with them in the end, what ever people may think of, there's a reason they've been used by full time pro since the 80's Edited June 28, 2013 by pierreganseman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grayn Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 I've had 3 Overwaters, 2x 4-stringers and one fiver. All in the jazz bass style. Really great tone and so playable. Top woods and finishing too. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRBboy Posted June 28, 2013 Author Share Posted June 28, 2013 Thanks for all the responses guys, very helpful! I'm surprised that the necks been described as chunky, I always imagined they would be very slim and modern. I guess the other thing is that I kind of went off 35" scale length. I just think that the bass in my op is gorgeous, and great value for a UK hand built bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRBboy Posted June 28, 2013 Author Share Posted June 28, 2013 Btw, Harry: that bass is looking lovely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 (edited) I played a five string Overwater (it was either a Progress or Perception model) recently when I bought my Markbass combo as the guy selling it had one. Very high quality build and an incredibly low (too low for me) buzz free action (it was tuned down a semitone too!). I found the neck to be very slim from front to back but pretty wide across the fingerboard, the exact opposite of my Spector Euro 5 LX. Played a few other Overwaters over the years & they've all been quality instruments. Edited June 28, 2013 by RhysP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRBboy Posted June 28, 2013 Author Share Posted June 28, 2013 [quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1372448859' post='2125966'] I played a five string Overwater recently when I bought my Markbass combo as the guy selling it had one. Very high quality build and an incredibly low (too low for me) buzz free action (it was tuned down a semitone too!). I found the neck to be very slim from front to back but pretty wide across the fingerboard, the exact opposite of my Spector Euro 5 LX. Played a few other Overwaters over the years & they've all been quality instruments. [/quote] Thanks Rhys, that's interesting. Your description is pretty much how I like my necks, fairly slim front to back but with fairly generous string spacing. Hmmmmm....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mornats Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 [quote name='pierreganseman' timestamp='1372433400' post='2125741'] just don't believe people saying the tanglewood / overwater are as good as the uk one... there's a reason why one is worth 500... and the other one 2500/3000 you can't go wrong with them in the end, what ever people may think of, there's a reason they've been used by full time pro since the 80's [/quote] I've got two of the Tanglewaters and rate them very highly for the money. However I had the pleasure of playing Nigel Clutterbuck's 1980s era Overwater Classic and it's in a different league. Simply beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 [quote name='TRBboy' timestamp='1372447556' post='2125945'] Btw, Harry: that bass is looking lovely! [/quote] Thanks, really looking forward to this one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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