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NBD - Maruszczyk Jake PJ... Fender / Sandberg / Lakland killer?


wateroftyne
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Hey gang!

For years I've had a hankering for a P with block markers. Maybe with a J pickup. And definitely something just over 8lbs.

I've been looking at [url="http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars_detail.asp?stock=15041013412316"]this Lakland[/url] but I couldn't guarantee the weight, and [url="http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/namm-2011-fender-custom-shop-guitars-and-basses-in-pictures-357852/7"]this CS Precision[/url].... but I'd need to win the lottery.

I was about to give up when I hear about [url="http://www.public-peace.de/"]Maruszczyk / Public Peace[/url] in Germany. They're basses are to order by Messinger Guitars in Poland.

After a lengthy email conversation with Adrian (his comms are excellent), I placed my order for:[list]
[*]Passive P/J with Noiseless vintagey pickups, J pickup more 60s position than 70s
[*]Alder, with suble flame maple top
[*]Rosewood, block'n'bound neck
[*]Light weight (around 8.5lbs)
[*]US Hipshot Ultralite tuners
[*]An early 70's P neck profile (I sent Adrian the measurements of my '71P)
[*]Dark tort guard
[/list]
...and ten weeks later, here we are!



















What a stunner, eh?

First of all... the weight was a bit of a shock. I asked for no more than 8.5lbs-ish, so Adrian recommended chambering the body. As a result, it weighs [b]7.2lbs[/b] :o

I kid you not. It weighs nothing.. and there is ZERO neck dive. Even if you try and make it dive, it doesn't. Going with the Ultralites was a good move. The bridge isnt a standard Maruszczyk - it's a Hipshot B-style. I'll stick my neck out and suggest that they've used it to help it balance. If that's the case, the bridge is a welcome upgrade that must have cost nearly $100 alone.

The pickups are by [url="http://www.haeussel.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=6&Itemid=6&lang=en"]Haussel[/url]. I'd never heard of them, but Adrian recommended them for their vintage noiseless properties. And they're not cheap.

The bass arrived well-packed, with a nice branded gig bag, posh branded leather strap and a bag of tools. A nice touch.

Playing it... I can't tell anything useful until I've gigged it, but I'm plunking away through my practice amp and it sounds lovely. The pickups don't hum, they're high output the P sounds like a P and the J is pokey and well balanced. The neck doesn't feel a million miles away from my P, no discernable dead spot and it plays cleanly right up the neck. There's no string tree, as the headstock is swept back to increase the angle over the nut. There's a zero fret, too.

Here's the truly amazing thing about this bass: The bridge, pickups and tuners alone alone cost hundreds. It's chambered, with a maple cap. Fit and finish are perfect. It's made to my spec. ...and it cost pretty much what I would pay for a Fender MIM or a Lakland Skyline. :o

That's just mind-boggling.

Stuff to mention:[list]
[*]I specified cream binding on the neck, but it's a bit vibrant. If I could choose again, I'd go with white.
[*]The weight is significantly less than my target, but it doesn't seem to affect the tone, so this could be a win.
[*]The Hipshots are the 3/8" version. It's cosmetic, but I prefer the look of the fatter 1/2". Not a biggie.
[/list]
I'll do soundclips when I can, and report back after this weekend's gigs. I'm off to play it again...

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That looks gorgeous! You must be over the moon. And with such a great delivery time and price too.
I've got Häussel pups in a W&T bass and I can't say enough good things about the tone.
Looking forward to hearing the sound-clips

Edited by Roland Rock
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That looks even better than the first picture!
7.2lbs!!! wow!!!
Mine is less fancy than yours, but like you, I'm amazed at the level of workmanship, and the cost... it just doesn't add up. It's not just a lot of bass for the money, it's just a lot of bass, at any price.
Taking it to a gig soon? Mine is out on Friday and Saturday, no doubt! :)

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[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1433368238' post='2790581'] Cheers, folks! I'm totally into it. Here's a run around the different pickup combos... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEsZm13z0YI [/quote]

That's a nice range of tones you have there and at just over 7 lbs, it's a winner.

Nice playing too Michael. Good score.

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[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1433368238' post='2790581']
Cheers, folks!

I'm totally into it. Here's a run around the different pickup combos...

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEsZm13z0YI[/media]
[/quote]That bridge pickup has some real bottom end on it, not the thin nasal honk often associated with bridge J p/ups. Both on together has some real presence; full, powerful and with a nice, deep 'burp'. P alone, does what it says on the tin - as it should. You must be well pleased, I know I would be.

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I gave it a run out at the local open mic last night, and it was fab.

It was pretty low-volume, through a small Markbass combo, but there was lots of growl, lots of tonal variation and no hum from the pickups no matter how they were tweaked. And of course, it's comically light.

Looking forward to giving it a shot through something with a bit more welly :-)

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After a good 9 months or more of barely posting, I have to say that this bass is extremely pretty. I've had a very busy period of moving house (twice) and a new job, and playing a lot more guitar. I'm now finding myself needing to get into how I used to be with bass and this post lured me in. Just out of interest, what 'roughly' do they charge for such a bass? Obviously you don't have to disclose anything, I'm just wondering what ballpark figures they cost.

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[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1433506433' post='2791665']
After a good 9 months or more of barely posting, I have to say that this bass is extremely pretty. I've had a very busy period of moving house (twice) and a new job, and playing a lot more guitar. I'm now finding myself needing to get into how I used to be with bass and this post lured me in. Just out of interest, what 'roughly' do they charge for such a bass? Obviously you don't have to disclose anything, I'm just wondering what ballpark figures they cost.
[/quote]

Yep - I noticed you'd been quiet recently! I hope all's grand.

It was this side of £900 including shipping.

To put in in perspecitive, the far-east production line lower-spec Skyline I linked to in my OP is nearly a grand, and the Fender CS is silly money (and probably more production line, to be honest). Incredible.

I forgot to mention, in the early days of the order, I sent Adrian links to examples of his basses that had the kind of sunburst I prefer, and he nailed it. Amazing attention to detail.

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[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1433508014' post='2791682']
Yep - I noticed you'd been quiet recently! I hope all's grand.

It was this side of £900 including shipping.

To put in in perspecitive, the far-east production line lower-spec Skyline I linked to in my OP is nearly a grand, and the Fender CS is silly money (and probably more production line, to be honest). Incredible.

I forgot to mention, in the early days of the order, I sent Adrian links to examples of his basses that had the kind of sunburst I prefer, and he nailed it. Amazing attention to detail.
[/quote]From what I've now read and heard about these basses and the manufacturer here on BC, I reckon there could well be a good few more appearing in NBD threads, especially with that kind of cost and attention to customer requests.

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He's not a member and I don't have pics, but a friend of mine ordered one after LBGS, and received a few weeks later - a 5-string jazz, kind of '66 aesthetics - dots & binding, lollipop tuners, Hipshot vintage style bridge, Haussel pickups, oly white with painted headstock. A beauty. I'm going to order one later this year too. Had a bass from the same luthiers (under a different brand) in late 90s and it was awesome.

And yours is beautiful, WOT. Very classy.

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I think the only niggling down I have on this, is the burst doesn't carry onto the belly cut (i.e. it's all black), looks strange to my eyes.
But that really is *TRYING* to find an issue with it lol, it wouldn't stop me from buying one.

I wonder how much a different scale length would be be :P

Si

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[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1433508014' post='2791682']


Yep - I noticed you'd been quiet recently! I hope all's grand.

It was this side of £900 including shipping.

To put in in perspecitive, the far-east production line lower-spec Skyline I linked to in my OP is nearly a grand, and the Fender CS is silly money (and probably more production line, to be honest). Incredible.

I forgot to mention, in the early days of the order, I sent Adrian links to examples of his basses that had the kind of sunburst I prefer, and he nailed it. Amazing attention to detail.
[/quote]

Thanks - super busy work wise but barely any time for music. Making a change to this now though. That burst is great!

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