LeftyJ

I've not been able to try a multiscale bass yet, as I've yet to come across a lefty model. I know Ibanez makes the EHB1505MS lefty, and Dingwall has the NG and the Combustion. I'm really not inclined to pay what Dingwall asks for a Chinese-made bass though. It would be the most I've ever spent on ANY instrument, and that includes (used) handmade custom basses, a brand new USA-made Rickenbacker and two (used) Status S2 Classics. The Ibanez is a more sensible option, but I'm keeping my eyes open for a used one I can see the advantages of fanned frets, and every demo I've ever seen of a Dingwall sounded great. I'd love to try one.

Ah, then you probably have one of the Bachbirds. If so, they're actually Czech, not Slovakian. A Dutch bass player (and now also luthier) I know helped create that model IIRC. He was their Dutch distributor for a while, and is a real Gibson nut. He stood at the origin of several other Gibson-inspired models, like an EB-2 semi-hollowbody (which they accidentally turned into a longscale model) and a John Entwistle Fenderbird copy. Edit: he might just be a member here too. Paging @Basvarken

Alphonso Johnson had a signature model, the AJ-10. Just a few were made, and he doesn't own his anymore because he hated the playability of the fretless part. Due to the frets, he couldn't get the action low enough for comfortable fretless playing from the 12th fret up.

I thought of a fretless P when I read the title

Maruszczyk still uses compression truss rods I think.

That's properly silly money It is a rare finish for a lefty I suppose (most lefties I've seen were white), and it's the earliest version with the old style tuners without bushings. But that's crazy! I remember all too well when a fellow lefty I know owned three (!!!) Musicmasters and one Mustang, and sold two of his Musicmasters for between €650 and €900. The cheaper one was a '73 that was (poorly) routed for a Wide Range humbucker, and it took him a while to sell. This was around 2015-2016!

Yes, that price is crazy. I paid €1300 for my S2 Classic 4 in 2017, and I traded a Stingray 5 + €100 for my S2 Classic 5 a few months later. They're a lot more plain than this one (both solid finishes, bolt-on and headless) but still I think the price of that Matrix Series II is quite steep. It is a Matrix Series I, and that pickup configuration appears to be unusual as most that turn up on Google have PJ pickups.

Ha, I had to Google it but found it explained in an old review that's on Statii: apparently the designation "Matrix" was used for the headed bases. There were a Matrix Series I (which includes @LouieM's bass, which is a rare JJ version when most had PJ pickups). Then there's a Matrix Series II, which is essentially a headed version of the Series II, and a Matrix Empathy which is like the Series II but with matching facings on the back of the body and overall more luxurious. The one above is currently for sale at Bass Connection in the Netherlands: https://reverb.com/item/13590017-status-matrix-series-ii-bubinga

Seems accurate enough. The Matrix had a through-neck like this, and the stacked treble/bass control checks out too. There were both PJ and JJ versions.

Fair enough. The Burning Earth Lakland was originally equipped with 6 Chi-Sonic singlecoils, oddly enough with just 5 (hidden) on/off switches. In the picture above it appears to have Bartolini J's, and I can only see one miniswitch. No idea what it does and how the pickups are controlled!

Not quite any power supply. Only one with truly isolated outputs, or you'll just end up shorting the circuit and likely frying the unit.

Yes, that Ernie Ball will do what you want. It's plenty powerful for all three pedals on your board. Since it's powered by an external AC adapter, it probably won't have fully separate outputs. But that won't be a problem with the type of pedals you have, especially if they're all in front of an amp.

My first bass was a MIJ Condor Jazz Bass. It was heavy, 3-tone sunburst, with a maple fingerboard and black block inlays. It was actually very decent, and I wish I never sold it. A few years after selling it I started developing seller's remorse and tried to persuade the guy I sold it to to sell it back to me, but he loved it and used it as his regular gigging bass. I was able to source another one, but it turned out to have a slightly warped neck that was impossible to set up right. I quickly sold it again. I managed to cure my seller's remorse by buying a Fender MIJ 1975 Jazz Bass reissue, that I'll never sell.

Pfff, amateurs.

Out of the three listed, I've only owned a Stingray (5). It was definitely capable to deliver an agressive tone (especially in series mode) but it never quite did it for me for punch and pressure. I have played a Thumb NT5 only once but it left a lasting impression. The punch and attack were phenomenal, in a gnarly and clanky way but with a massive low mid bump that really kicked. Definitely on my wishlist! I have to make do with two Streamer LX's for now, so I could do worse.

I've been having shortscale GAS for the better part of last year, and it's here to stay I'm afraid. So I want one. But I have no use for it. Lefty Mustangs and Musicmasters are very rare to come by and prices have increased a lot, and Fender have no plans to revive them.

Bummer, they seemed cool! I don't think I've ever seen one here in the Netherlands (I don't think they had a dealership here) but I've seen raving reviews.

We all know what the true confederate flag looks like though.

https://reverb.com/item/49057606-aria-sb-600-left-handed-1984-paduak-red A very pretty one too. But as someone on Leftybassist.com pointed out, the pickup appears to be replaced. It's not the usual, radiused Aria Pro II pickup. It looks like a standard EMG DC style soapbar casing. The ad doesn't mention it.

Very pretty (but pretty expensive) Fender MIJ 1975 Jazz Bass reissue in Burnley, Lancashire.

The Energy was available both with a wooden headed neck with graphite rods and with a full carbon headed or headless neck. There's also an Energy Artist with fancy top woods. They came in three different shapes, depending on the year (but don't ask me when they changed them): The "classic" S2 shape A slightly curvier shape with longer upper horn (the S1 shape) And finally a more rounded shape, up to the mid 2000's

You and me both. They made a batch of lefties a couple months ago and I'm really lusting for one.

I had one too and loved it, but I much preferred the active tone. Mine sounded dark and dull when switched to passive. It had the regular Hohner-labelled Select by EMG pickups.

Thx! I posted my question to a Dutch forum as well, and someone asked for a picture of the Board 303 for comparison. I thought I'd post it here as well, so here it is: Most notable differences to me are the trimpot for the preamp gain, and the common ground for both pickups rather than soldering them to separate ground tabs. Could the latter be of influence?