Lord Hautdesert Posted May 21 Share Posted May 21 (edited) Greetings! I have what appears to a one-off all-graphite Warlord. [EDIT: wooden wings!] would love to know its history. I’ve read up on Pangborn and found a reference to this bass from 1985 when it was in its planning stages. Aside from that, nothing. I quite love it. Anyone see this one before? Edited May 22 by Lord Hautdesert 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted May 21 Share Posted May 21 @Kiwi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted May 21 Share Posted May 21 2 hours ago, Lord Hautdesert said: Greetings! I have what appears to a one-off all-graphite Warlord. I would love to know its history. I’ve read up on Pangborn and found a reference to this bass from 1985 when it was in its planning stages. Aside from that, nothing. I quite love it. Anyone see this one before? Did you buy it from the Bass Gallery recently? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Hautdesert Posted May 21 Author Share Posted May 21 Correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Hautdesert Posted May 22 Author Share Posted May 22 1 hour ago, Kiwi said: Did you buy it from the Bass Gallery recently? That is correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted May 22 Share Posted May 22 2 hours ago, Lord Hautdesert said: That is correct. It was mine. I'm a little confused about why I'm finding out that theyve sold it from you rather than them. But thats not your problem. 😶 I dont know much about it either apart from suspecting it may be one of a batch commissioned by the Bass Centre. The nut is precision width which I read somewhere was a specific request from the Bass Centre. The bass was refinished by Jon Shuker earlier this year after the armour plating cracked due to movement by the body wood. Jon thinks the wings are basswood, I think they might be alder. Either way they're quite light and soft. What reference did you uncover? I'm curious. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc S Posted May 22 Share Posted May 22 If that's from 1985, it's in great condition. I'm not particularly a fan, or someone who dislikes Pangborn's - but I quite like the look of that. Is it fairly lightweight, given that it's made of graphite? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Hautdesert Posted May 22 Author Share Posted May 22 Thank you for the info! I gleaned mine from http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/ashley-pangborn-warlord-mark-king/5054 … it’s a lovely refinish. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NikNik Posted May 22 Share Posted May 22 9 minutes ago, Lord Hautdesert said: Thank you for the info! I gleaned mine from http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/ashley-pangborn-warlord-mark-king/5054 … it’s a lovely refinish. Today I learned of 'graduated fretting'. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Hautdesert Posted May 22 Author Share Posted May 22 I am surprised to find I like the passive tone better! The active one overdrives my amp unless I bypass the amp’s EQ. A little compression is a must. Superb player! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Hautdesert Posted May 22 Author Share Posted May 22 Tempted to put the Alien Audio 6-knob pre in there but I got too much respect for the artist to swap anything out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Hautdesert Posted May 22 Author Share Posted May 22 Oh and yes surprisingly light. When the box came I palmed it with one hand to take it upstairs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Hautdesert Posted May 22 Author Share Posted May 22 I had a Steiny that was dense like a supernova by comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodwind Posted May 22 Share Posted May 22 2 minutes ago, Lord Hautdesert said: I am surprised to find I like the passive tone better! The active one overdrives my amp unless I bypass the amp’s EQ. A little compression is a must. Superb player! In the late 90s My bass teacher had one of these basses and always used it passive. Sounded great! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Hautdesert Posted May 22 Author Share Posted May 22 This is the first time I’ve preferred passive use in any active bass! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted May 22 Share Posted May 22 9 minutes ago, Lord Hautdesert said: I had a Steiny that was dense like a supernova by comparison. For a while I had a Steinberger XL25 - the narrow spacing one and yes it was dense and heavy, even compared to full sized basses. Steinbergers are made from carbon fibre impregnated resin though, not layers like you'll find in most other graphite necked basses. I think the Pangborn might be a carbon wrap but I have nothing other than speculation to base it on. I always liked the Panger's ergonomics and meant to trace the body shape before I took it to the Gallery. But my UK visit this summer was absolutely mental in terms of logistical complications and I didn't get time to see anyone...not even relatives. Any how, it seemed to me that Ashley was trying to make a greatest hits of eighties basses with this one - the pickups are Armstrong and modelled on the GMT pickup Kent Armstrong made for Rob Green originally. The body shape is clearly Alembic influenced but downsized. The electronics seem inspired by Jaydee. The original finish was so thick Tim (who helps Jon and used to be in Dead or Alive) was ready to give up on it. Those horns in the omega shape were literally sanded out of finish, not wood! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted May 22 Share Posted May 22 Here are a couple more mid-refin so you can take a look under the hood, so to speak. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Hautdesert Posted May 22 Author Share Posted May 22 Fascinating! I understand there’s no truss rod; if a wrap, like the Peavey G Bass, would that be possible? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NikNik Posted May 22 Share Posted May 22 23 minutes ago, Lord Hautdesert said: Tempted to put the Alien Audio 6-knob pre in there but I got too much respect for the artist to swap anything out. '80s pre-amps. My Blade B4 is like that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted May 22 Share Posted May 22 37 minutes ago, Lord Hautdesert said: Fascinating! I understand there’s no truss rod; if a wrap, like the Peavey G Bass, would that be possible? Graphite neck construction can be as inconsistent as wooden necks - the fingerboard is still vitally important in how well the bass can be set up. I've had four Musicman Cutlass basses all with necks like bananas and a couple of Modulus Quantum basses, the fretless also had a banana neck while the fretted was so stiff it sounded like glass breaking. All because of the phenolic (aka Bakelite) fingerboards. Contrast that with the OG, my Alembic Series 1 which plays like butter because it's rigid but dampened by the wooden fingerboard. A bit like Leo, they got it right the first time...and then abandoned graphite necks completely around 84 because of QC issues. Geoff Gould supplied them to Alembic and Musicman AND was setting up Modulus at the same time. You've scored a honey of a bass with no issues. Enjoy it. 56 minutes ago, Lord Hautdesert said: Tempted to put the Alien Audio 6-knob pre in there but I got too much respect for the artist to swap anything out. I would recommend looking at the latest East Pro Uni pre, John has tweaked it so there's more of a mid peak available and with a bit of careful twiddling, it's possible to push things into Status Series II territory, if that's your thing. I've installed one in my Status S1 through neck and it does everything it used to but also now the Series II honk. So now I get to channel Graham Edwards and Go West...in the privacy of my office. BTW, I have a hunch this bass is an 86, not 85. @scojack maybe able to shed some light on things too, he used to run a website for Pangborn instruments. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeftyJ Posted May 22 Share Posted May 22 5 hours ago, Kiwi said: Geoff Gould supplied them to Alembic and Musicman AND was setting up Modulus at the same time. Wow, I wouldn't have guessed the Cutlass necks to be made by Modulus. The Alembic and Musicman necks were constructed very differently to Modulus necks, with their woven graphite monocoques rather than the patchwork necks Modulus used on their own basses. Today I learned! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Hautdesert Posted May 22 Author Share Posted May 22 (edited) I also think it is 1986, but in that 1985 article the writer says an all graphite bass is the next step for the brand, so I wonder if that was the plan but wood ended up part of the mix for financial or practical reasons, such as the stiffness or warp in Modulus necks documented at the time. Edited May 22 by Lord Hautdesert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Bassman Posted May 22 Share Posted May 22 That’s one sexy bass, congratulations. Pangborns are as rare as the proverbial rocking horse p… I used the Warlord as inspiration for my custom built Jaydee GA24. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted May 22 Share Posted May 22 7 hours ago, LeftyJ said: Wow, I wouldn't have guessed the Cutlass necks to be made by Modulus. The Alembic and Musicman necks were constructed very differently to Modulus necks, with their woven graphite monocoques rather than the patchwork necks Modulus used on their own basses. Today I learned! Early Cutlass necks were labelled with a reference to Modulus on the back of the headstock. Geoff Gould also made after market necks under the bass-star brand. 7 hours ago, Lord Hautdesert said: I also think it is 1986, but in that 1985 article the writer says an all graphite bass is the next step for the brand, so I wonder if that was the plan but wood ended up part of the mix for financial or practical reasons, such as the stiffness or warp in Modulus necks documented at the time. I read somewhere else that Ashley had issues with the original supplier of graphite necks so switched to another. Also even if the first was made in 85, others could gave followed in 1986. Particularly after Ashley supplied exclusively to the Bass Centre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris2112 Posted May 23 Share Posted May 23 On 22/05/2024 at 04:05, Kiwi said: It was mine. I'm a little confused about why I'm finding out that theyve sold it from you rather than them. But thats not your problem. 😶 The Gallery must be as lax with their communications as they are with updating their website, it's still showing for sale there. OP, that is a super cool bass you have there. All the ingredients are just right to ensure that it should make a great noise. In particular, I really rate Kent Armstrong pickups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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