32" Medium Scale Bass Thread

[neepheid]

6 hours ago, Obrienp said:

Ahhhh! I decided to take one for the team and just ordered a Hartwood Satellite from G4M. Couldn’t resist the GAS. I’ve gone for the blue (like the one Bass the World tested). They had a nearly new one for £30 off and I wondered if that was the bass that Bass the World tested. I was tempted, because Gregor said the frets were perfect but I decided to take a risk on this being a Hartwood feature (just jinxed myself) and to get the full 3 year warranty, so ordered a new one. I will let you know what I think of it in due course.

 

I suspect I will end up changing some parts: I can’t resist tinkering with cheap basses. The bridge might not be a straightforward upgrade because it looks like it has only got a mounting screw at each corner, rather than the ubiquitous Fender 5 screw mounting. The pickup might just be swapped for a Tone Rider; possibly a Duke.

 

+1 for the Duke, was sounding great last night in my Fazley Hot Rod.  Also consider the Entwistle PBXN (Modern) if you fancy a brighter, more "modern" sounding pickup with plenty of output.  Just watch out for those super strong magnets - don't pull them apart, slide them apart - the magnets can be stronger than the glue sticking them to the pickup itself...

[BassApprentice]

Another option for all you medium scalers - Gretsch CVT Electromatic.

 

Looks cool for around £500

 

Edited 5 hours ago by BassApprentice

[Obrienp]

2 hours ago, BassApprentice said:

Just for another option for all you medium scalers - Gretsch CVT Electromatic.

 

Looks cool for around £500

 

Nice but quite steep for what is not much more than an extra 2” on a G2220 neck and a modified body shape. Good to have another reasonably priced medium scale around though.

[Obrienp]

Which reminds me, I was going to do a NBD report on the Hartwood Satellite bass. I will get round to it soon, complete with photos but immediate impressions are favourable. The neck is really good for a budget bass: pretty well what Bass the World’s Gregor said. Good fret finishing, nice roast maple neck, heel wheel truss rod adjustment, even the laurel fret board is OK, although a little dry, which was easily fixed with a some lemon oil. I took it to my local luthier for a new bass inspection and he recut the nut, which was too high and did a few tweaks to truss rod and saddles. It plays great now.

 

It balances OK on a strap, although mine are all grippy, so other mileage might be different. Certainly nothing like as bad as say a Squier Jaguar H. The pickup is a bit odd: less output on the bottom string but strong on the two middle strings (low mids centric like Gregor said). Slightly disappointing, so I have ordered a Tone Rider Duke. More to follow, when I have time to do the NBD report.