NBD - Xotic XPJ-1T - Chuck Rainey Signature

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

I've been after one of these for a while and had recently contacted the manufacturer to enquire regarding availability.

Tokyo responded just last week saying that the model had been discontinued and I had all but given up trying to find one.

@AndyTravis came to the rescue after spotting this on eBay - I still don't know why my saved search for it didn't alert me. I think Andy may have beaten eBay's algorithms 😂.

Anyhoo, it arrived late last night and was exactly as described i.e absolutely mint.

Seller said he had played it twice from new. I can see no visible signs that it has been played at all from looking at the frets.

Weighs in at bang on 9lbs and has a custom made tort pick guard on it, which I view as an upgrade on the white one they shipped with. Seller also included the original.

It has a ridiculously low action on it and sounds the business. Convincing P and J sounds plus lots more in between.

 

Pics to follow - I have to delete some apparently.

 

 

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

[Musicman20]

I absolutely love the Xotic basses. Also, their guitar pedals are superb!

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

Just now, Musicman20 said:

I absolutely love the Xotic basses. Also, their guitar pedals are superb!

Yes, so our guitarist informs me. If their basses are anything to go by, I’m sure the pedals are top notch 👍

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

I've just noticed that the scratch plates go over the control knobs which are fixed on the bass. What a great idea that is. I don't think I've ever had a bass with that before.

I also noticed that it has Luminlay front and side dots. Brough it in from the garden after taking the above photos and it was lit up like a Christmas tree.

Given the amount of basses that have passed through Hackenbacker Towers over the years, I'm stunned I've never had these before.

 

 

[ped]

Always liked the look of these. I saw this one on eBay too and was pretty tempted. Really like the wooden covers and the little details. Colour looks great, too - prefer the white plate myself. 

[Misdee]

Looked at one of these basses myself back when they came out but hesitated because I couldn't easily get hold of one in a colour I liked. I wish I had bought one now. Looks like an exceptionally useful bass.

 

Beautifully built,too. Enjoy it.🙂

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

29 minutes ago, ped said:

Always liked the look of these. I saw this one on eBay too and was pretty tempted. Really like the wooden covers and the little details. Colour looks great, too - prefer the white plate myself. 

Having wanted one of these for a while, I was quite accepting of the white plate. I do think it works better against the wooden pick-up covers. I'm preferring the tort at the moment, but having seen the plate is so easy to change, I can pop the white one on whenever.

 

15 minutes ago, Misdee said:

Looked at one of these basses myself back when they came out but hesitated because I couldn't easily get hold of one in a colour I liked. I wish I had bought one now. Looks like an exceptionally useful bass.

Beautifully built,too. Enjoy it.🙂

I have to say I was unaware they came in any other colour. What other finishes were there?

[Misdee]

25 minutes ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

Having wanted one of these for a while, I was quite accepting of the white plate. I do think it works better against the wooden pick-up covers. I'm preferring the tort at the moment, but having seen the plate is so easy to change, I can pop the white one on whenever.

 

I have to say I was unaware they came in any other colour. What other finishes were there?

Well, when they first came out I asked if they could get me one or make me one in another colour and I seem to remember I got a vague and equivocal answer that they might but not right now.

 

Subsequently I have seen these basses in various colours but not described as the Chuck Rainey model, so I think what designates it as a CR signature model is specifically the transparent yellow blonde finish. Otherwise it's a regular XPJ-4 model available in all the usual colours.

[Guest]

5 hours ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

I've just noticed that the scratch plates go over the control knobs which are fixed on the bass. What a great idea that is. I don't think I've ever had a bass with that before.

I also noticed that it has Luminlay front and side dots. Brough it in from the garden after taking the above photos and it was lit up like a Christmas tree.

Given the amount of basses that have passed through Hackenbacker Towers over the years, I'm stunned I've never had these before.

 

 

It is a great idea! The only other bass I’ve seen it on was my Music Man Big Al. Shame more makers don’t do it but I guess it’s cheaper and easier to anchor the pots on the plate than into the cavity?

[jonno1981]

Love the colour. Looks fantastic. 

[merello]

Beautiful.

[Gnermo]

A very beautiful bass, i'd love to have a 4 string Xotic P next to my 5 string XJ.

[Rib13Bass]

Its lovely!! Congrats....What do the mini toggles do?

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

18 minutes ago, Rib13Bass said:

Its lovely!! Congrats....What do the mini toggles do?

One is a mid/treble frequency selector and the other provides 20db of boost.

[DJ '65]

Now that looks ace, congrats!