henry norton Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 Some of these look really nice... [url="http://www.blastcult.com/upright-bass.html"]http://www.blastcult.com/upright-bass.html[/url] [url="http://knightstring.com/"]http://knightstring.com/[/url] [url="http://www.duke-bass.de/duke-two-tone"]http://www.duke-bass.de/duke-two-tone[/url] ...but they're coming in at £1.5-2.5k!!!! You can tell they're a world away from a £400 Fleabay Chinese bulk buy, but for that money you could buy a pretty good European hybrid or even a useable fully carved. Obviously these are made in the US (or Germany in the case of the Duke) by enthusiasts who know and understand laminate basses, but are there people out there actually buying these???? If so, let me know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbie Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 (edited) I own a custom made Duke. And I use Blast Cult gear. These people are enormously passionate about making plys that are truly outstanding instruments. High end plywood basses are the only kind of bass you need to play a certain style of music, better still to make a certain kind of sound. Listen to A LOT of music and find the bass sound that makes you jump for joy. If that sound was made on an old Kay or King Moretones or American Standard, you need a high end ply. If you dig the complex sound of a carved bass, whether bowed or pizz, I'd look elsewhere. Hope this helps. Edited October 4, 2013 by Rabbie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbie Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 Sorry, missed out your actual question: there are people out there who buy these aplenty: normally those who play rockabilly, bluegrass, country, roots Americana, some folk, psychobilly etc, trad jazz, swing. Not really on the shopping list of any post-bebop jazzer or especially not found in orchestra pits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alistair Sutcliffe Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 My sort of basses! I'd be buying something like that if i had more disposable income. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted October 4, 2013 Author Share Posted October 4, 2013 Thanks for your answers Rabbie - can I ask why you went for the Duke? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oggiesnr Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 Plywood rocks! Good quality ply is expensive, stable, consistent and responsive. Solid wood is the most temperamental material there is, it warps, moves with heat and humidity and splits. However it can also deliver great acoustic tone BUT if you then fit a piezo pickup or whatever, you lose it fast. For a pure acoustic instrument then solid wood is undoubtably best but for most applications really good ply is probably a good bet. I've played a Duke and "depending which way my bass career goes) it's on the shortlist of next basses. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbie Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 [quote name='henry norton' timestamp='1380918534' post='2232520'] Thanks for your answers Rabbie - can I ask why you went for the Duke? [/quote] The expense of importing a US made bass was the first reason for me contacting Thomas (the guy who invented Dukes basses). I don't remember who told me about him, but at the time he was just in the process of "launching" the Duke. I communicated back and forward with him and we came up with a custom bass which sounded and looked the way I always wanted. Thomas's passion and love for what he does was apparent, so I took the leap of faith. The result is a bass I am in love with and it kicks the bahoochy of any bass I have ever tried before or since. It's even got my name on the wee label inside! Please remember it is a ply: it will never sound like a carved bass orchestral monument, BUT it sounds a trillion dollars to me. With guts and high action it gives you back an almighty muscular thump that just sends me weak at the knees! And to think that a while ago I had a 'weak moment' and toyed with the idea of selling it: that would have been the biggest mistake ever! I recently got myself a Chadwick folding bass for traveling, which is great, but my custom Duke is my pride and joy. Of course I have also been the owner of basses who didn't suit me at all, and one or two happened to be expensive carved ones, so it's really the sound you are after that makes the choice for you. In a nutshell, I went with the Duke because Thomas is a great guy and I was rewarded with a great bass! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatback Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 Really interesting. Didn't know anything about these. That Duke website is cool indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRev Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 Blast Cult basses are pretty special - they're a modern version of the old King basses much beloved of touring rockabiily bands in the 50s and 60s. If you're playing rockabilly, bluegrass or counrty type stuff then a high-end ply is a much better choice than a solid wood bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted October 5, 2013 Author Share Posted October 5, 2013 Thanks for the replies. I totally get why players will pay big money for old Kay and Epiphone (my personal favourites) uprights and their contemporaries - they have a historical value, the kudos and are a world away quality-wise from the low end laminates. So what you all mean is these new high-end laminates are for players who don't want to risk an old laminate on the stage or possibly a player who wants the sound but with custom paint, fittings etc? How about Engelhardt - are these up there with the Blast Cults? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbie Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 [quote name='henry norton' timestamp='1380981662' post='2233084'] How about Engelhardt - are these up there with the Blast Cults? [/quote] They are the modern version of the old Kays. In fact they are the direct descendant although not nearly as sough after because not vintage. Good basses too, lots of great people play one and make a great sound on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keeponehandloose Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 [quote name='TheRev' timestamp='1380974091' post='2232970'] Blast Cult basses are pretty special - they're a modern version of the old King basses much beloved of touring rockabiily bands in the 50s and 60s. If you're playing rockabilly, bluegrass or counrty type stuff then a high-end ply is a much better choice than a solid wood bass. [/quote] dont be fooled by the name , the King company which morphed into Blast Cult had nothing to do with the old King Moretone company which folded many years earlier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbie Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 [quote name='keeponehandloose' timestamp='1381000394' post='2233317'] dont be fooled by the name , the King company which morphed into Blast Cult had nothing to do with the old King Moretone company which folded many years earlier [/quote] Correct! However, Blast Cult is a great young company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubassman Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 There are some beautifully crafted Duke basses in the gallery [url="http://www.duke-bass.de/pics"]http://www.duke-bass.de/pics[/url] Are the backs tone wood or a posh veneered 'look alike' ply ? Either way some real eye candy ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbie Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 All ply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted October 6, 2013 Author Share Posted October 6, 2013 [quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1381034771' post='2233559'] There are some beautifully crafted Duke basses in the gallery [url="http://www.duke-bass.de/pics"]http://www.duke-bass.de/pics[/url] [/quote] Yeah the 2 tone honey/white and the fade on the 'peacemaker' - some really nice looking stuff. Again a world away from 'any colour so long as it's reddish brown cheapo's. [quote name='Rabbie' timestamp='1380989008' post='2233169'] They are the modern version of the old Kays. In fact they are the direct descendant although not nearly as sough after because not vintage. Good basses too, lots of great people play one and make a great sound on them. [/quote] Yeah I heard they use some of the original Kay tooling for the laminated parts but the necks are a bit different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keeponehandloose Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 the only Englehart Ive played had a totally different feel to my Kay , really strange considering its all the same jigs/ tools used to make both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted October 6, 2013 Author Share Posted October 6, 2013 [quote name='keeponehandloose' timestamp='1381075469' post='2234049'] the only Englehart Ive played had a totally different feel to my Kay , really strange considering its all the same jigs/ tools used to make both. [/quote] Well the neck's the main point of contact - I suppose it'll have a greater influence on the general feel than anything else... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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