Gillett Guitars Posted December 2, 2017 Share Posted December 2, 2017 Hi everybody - 'scrumpymike' here, aka Sales & Marketing Manager for Gillett Guitars! As those who attended the first South-West Bass Bash I organised in May already know, Michael Gillett kindly sponsored the event - which is how I got to know him. (For those who weren't there, Gillett design and build the distinctive 'Contour' range of electro-acoustic basses in the UK and are based in the South West near me.) The basses were generally well received at the bash and a few of us (me included) were so blown away that we decided to get one. Since joining GG three weeks ago, I’ve shared my passion for this forum with Michael G and explained why I think we should be actively supporting what is the best online community of bass players in Europe and keeping members up to date with what we’re doing. He’s up for that so we’ve taken a Basschat banner ad, this sponsored Gillet Guitars topic, and are giving members first shot at some ex-demo Contour Slimline basses at a big-discount as a Christmas promo (post with full details to follow). A while back I posted a couple of ‘scrumpymike’ topics about my own Contour bass, which were enthusiastic to the point of being evangelical. Now I’m on the payroll, I’ll be confining my future Gillett content to this sponsored thread — and I’ll try to make it a bit less subjective and more objective / informative. We’re the only company batch-producing luthier-quality bass guitars in the UK so please give us your support if you can. And I don’t just mean your money (though that would be nice). There’s a massive amount of knowledge and experience on this forum and your comments and suggestions will be gratefully and thoughtfully received. So, watch out for the next post with details of the ex-demo offer. In the meantime, here's our website link: http://www.gillettguitars.co.uk/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bay Posted December 2, 2017 Share Posted December 2, 2017 They are gorgeous! What sort of money are they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted December 2, 2017 Share Posted December 2, 2017 Good to see companies supporting the forum - I'm sure their input will be much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillett Guitars Posted December 2, 2017 Author Share Posted December 2, 2017 7 minutes ago, T-Bay said: They are gorgeous! What sort of money are they? Hi T-bay, Glad you like them! The ex-demo Contour S basses are £1700 inc. hardcase (normally £2200). PRICE LIST S 4 — £2200; Standard 4 — £2400; Standard 5 — £2650 (all include hard case) Cheers, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillett Guitars Posted December 2, 2017 Author Share Posted December 2, 2017 9 minutes ago, TheGreek said: Good to see companies supporting the forum - I'm sure their input will be much appreciated. Thanks Mick! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bay Posted December 2, 2017 Share Posted December 2, 2017 (edited) 2 minutes ago, Gillett Guitars said: Hi T-bay, Glad you like them! The ex-demo Contour S basses are £1700 inc. hardcase (normally £2200). PRICE LIST S 4 — £2200; Standard 4 — £2400; Standard 5 — £2650 (all include hard case) Cheers, Mike Out of my price range sadly, but not surprised as having poked around the website they look truly superb. Nice to see a UK maker trying something new as well. Good luck with the project. Edited December 2, 2017 by T-Bay Typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillett Guitars Posted December 2, 2017 Author Share Posted December 2, 2017 OK, so I've been trying to post the spec for the Contour S and I've not been able to submit it - there's obviously a glitch somewhere. Watch this space - we're working on it! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillett Guitars Posted December 2, 2017 Author Share Posted December 2, 2017 (edited) Ex-demo Contour S offer!! We are pleased to offer Basschat members a number of ex-demo Contour S basses (the ones with the 'Slimline' body) at a special price of £1700 (normally £2200) including the mother of all hard-cases. Spec is as follows: KEY FEATURES ● Natural tone-wood ‘sound’ enhanced and sustained by unique body construction and through-stringing system ● Revolutionary ‘feel’ of contoured body brings new levels of comfort & playability ● Gillett signature sculpted ‘look’ BODY S—80mm (3.15 ”) deep, Rosewood NECK Maple - width: at nut = 41mm (1.61”); at 12th fret = 54mm (2.13”) PICK-UP Bareknuckle at neck ELECTRONICS Custom-designed pre-amp with single mixer / single volume controls. The preamp uses a precision op-amp with input configuration selected to match the characteristics of the magnetic pickup. Detailed design ensures optimum balance between low noise and battery consumption. A moderated level of amplification is used to maximise signal-to-noise ratio ensuring standard amplifier compatibility without overloading. Filters and tone control terms optimise the response to the bass guitar frequencies. Active tone controls at the mid setting provide a flat frequency response; counter-clockwise rotation boosts bass and cuts treble; clockwise rotation has the opposite effect. The frequency around which this rotation point occurs has been selected to match the instrument’s acoustics. STRINGS Rotosound Tru Bass RS88EL black-nylon-coated .065”/.075”/.100”/.115”. Specifically designed by James How for Jim Burns’ famous Black Bison in 1962 to emulate the upright bass sound on an electric bass guitar. Magnetic stainless-steel undercovers below the special black-nylon tape ensure the best of all worlds by having a bass that is comfortable to handle, that will work with a conventional amplifier and yet offer a sound so reminiscent of its much larger brother. DR Rare phosphor-bronze .045”/.065”/.085”/.105”. Acoustic bass strings constructed on a round core combining winding techniques developed for DR’s long-lasting Lo-Rider bass strings and DR’s rich, ringing Rare phosphor bronze acoustic guitar strings. HARDWARE Custom bridge with individual string saddles; height-adjustable nut; Hipshot lightweight tuning keys WEIGHT Contour S — 3.75kg / 8.25lbs If you're interested, either pm me or phone me on 07770 946135. I'll post a few pic's of my bass with the hard case. scrumpymike Edited December 4, 2017 by Gillett Guitars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted December 2, 2017 Share Posted December 2, 2017 Great to see Gillett Guitars being represented officially on BassChat. About 6, maybe 7 years ago Michael himself posted on BassChat to discuss the new product line and I just had to reach out to him to talk more. We've stayed in touch as much as possible and I feel honoured that I was able to be instrumental in aiding the design of the original range. Certainly very touched when Michael reached out to me as he did with other bassists who are highly regarded to discuss his basses and what players were looking for in an instrument. In case you missed it on TV, Michael has been on Dragon's Den with his instruments as well which I think was superb! I have a lot of time for Michael, I think he's a really nice guy and I want to see him and his basses progress. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillett Guitars Posted December 2, 2017 Author Share Posted December 2, 2017 2 hours ago, dood said: I have a lot of time for Michael, I think he's a really nice guy and I want to see him and his basses progress. Totally agree! Michael and his basses deserve to succeed, which is why I'm doing this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted December 2, 2017 Share Posted December 2, 2017 23 minutes ago, Gillett Guitars said: Totally agree! Michael and his basses deserve to succeed, which is why I'm doing this. Do say hi from me. I must catch up with my last email with him! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikay Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 Love how the S-Type sounds on the Gillett website demo. Do the ex-demo models on offer come with both mag and piezo pickups or just the mag? Fretted or fretless (or both)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillett Guitars Posted December 4, 2017 Author Share Posted December 4, 2017 1 hour ago, ikay said: Love how the S-Type sounds on the Gillett website demo. Do the ex-demo models on offer come with both mag and piezo pickups or just the mag? Fretted or fretless (or both)? The S design only has the mag pup - new or ex-demo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikay Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 Ah ok, that's not clear from the specs above. Both fretted and fretless on offer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillett Guitars Posted December 4, 2017 Author Share Posted December 4, 2017 11 minutes ago, ikay said: Ah ok, that's not clear from the specs above. Both fretted and fretless on offer? Yes, both currently on offer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillett Guitars Posted December 4, 2017 Author Share Posted December 4, 2017 ... and here's some pic's of my fretted S4 (which was an ex-demo btw): http:// http:// http:// http:// http:// http:// 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillett Guitars Posted December 4, 2017 Author Share Posted December 4, 2017 PS First pic shows truss-rod cover missing as I'd just done a set-up and not put it back. Here's a closer shot of the threaded brass inserts for the cover's machine screws - how's this for attention to detail?! http:// Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petebassist Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 They had one of these in Hobgoblin music in Bristol the last time I was over there a month or two ago, and the build quality is stunning. I didn't get to try one amplified though, and that's where they shine according to the guys there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillett Guitars Posted December 4, 2017 Author Share Posted December 4, 2017 1 hour ago, Gillett Guitars said: The S design only has the mag pup - new or ex-demo. 'Electronics' section of spec posted above now edited to remove reference to bridge piezo (fitted to Standard-bodied Contour only). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted December 5, 2017 Share Posted December 5, 2017 That is a gorgeous piece of woodwork. All the best to you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillett Guitars Posted December 5, 2017 Author Share Posted December 5, 2017 16 minutes ago, uk_lefty said: That is a gorgeous piece of woodwork. All the best to you! Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted December 5, 2017 Share Posted December 5, 2017 Fabulous body design. Very clever. But even if I was in the market, that headstock makes my teeth itch! (Sorry! I know it's very difficult to find something usable and unique these days) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted December 5, 2017 Share Posted December 5, 2017 The arm relief contour and the slim body on these is what would make me change my position on acoustic bass. The YT clip I found is confirmation of the sound quality. If I ever earn owt other than beer money from my playing I am having one of these somewhere down the line. The functional form of this instrument is a thing of beauty. The machine thread inserts are the clincher. Any luthier who incorporates these details is building an instrument to outlast its owner. That makes it a proper investment as an heirloom for my successors on top of it being a highly useable acoustic based instrument. I'd love to support British craftsmanship but my earnings aren't up to that sort of investment right now. I will keep an eye on the range however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted December 5, 2017 Share Posted December 5, 2017 (edited) PS: Excellent headstock. Whilst being unique it has attractive curves that equal one of the big names but it is not ridiculously long. Edited December 5, 2017 by SpondonBassed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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