BassBod Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 My main bass ( <- ) is a Bravewood, but with a Wesley Steed neck. Best Jazz I've owned, very light, very resonant and has fantastic (Voodoo) pickups. I could never work with a bass worth £5k but this does everything a "real" one would do. Unfortunately, that includes microphonic single coil pickups..but I can happily live with that. The relic work is done so well I don't even think about it, and I don't have to be careful with it, beyond the usual common sense stuff. I have a Bravewood neck on another J bass, and its my favourite in terms of sound and feel - but it has too much stiffness built in, and doesn't ever give enough to play cleanly around the 3rd to 5th fret, even with the rod undone. Can be remedied by some careful spot fret work, but I have it set up with flats and a medium action so it works ok. There are other UK makers (as above) who can make you a superb Fender type bass - talk to a few and see what you think of their attitude. You do place a lot of trust when ordering you bass, so keep your eyes open. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanovw Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 I am really not a fan of road worn basses but this is my main bass now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bh2 Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 That jazz looks very cool... super! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noisyjon Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 [quote name='sblueplanet' timestamp='1390224597' post='2342740'] ...Any hoo....anyone else got a review, opinion on a Bravewood bass they have played? [/quote] I have one. The unknown element is that you are dealing with a one man band and things can go wrong. I got a bass that developed a truss rod failure. There was someone else on here that had Bravewood Jazz bass with out of line tuners/headstock. Where I'm going with this is that there [i]could [/i]be discrepancies that you only find out once you have the instrument in your hands and from personal experience he is not a nice man when it comes to after sales support and I cannot recommend him on the strength of it. Jon Shuker may be your man... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 I have bought 2 bravewoods. A '57 P bass that is based on Stings and an un reliced '63 P bass in Daphne blue. The '57 is fast becoming my number 1. (the '63 is my wife's and it is her number 1) If I needed another Fender style guitar I would order another Bravewood without hesitation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblueplanet Posted January 21, 2014 Author Share Posted January 21, 2014 Thanks for the responses. A lot to consider. That black jazz above with matching headstock belonging to deanovw looks killer btw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanovw Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 Thanks. It is. [quote name='sblueplanet' timestamp='1390305285' post='2343722'] Thanks for the responses. A lot to consider. That black jazz above with matching headstock belonging to deanovw looks killer btw. [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steviebee74 Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 I've got a 63 "S Type" from Bravewood and its my main guitar. I've gigged exclusively with it since buying it in February this year. If you're into the whole relic thing, they're amazing and cost a lot less than the Fender CS "Heavy Relic" equivalents. Unfortunately, I can't speak for Bravewood's basses as I've never played one but the "early 60's J Bass" currently on his website looks amazing! This one is mine: [url="http://www.bravewoodguitars.co.uk/63whiteS.html"]http://www.bravewoodguitars.co.uk/63whiteS.html[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieG Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 I sold my Bravewood "Jaco" replica [i]only[/i] because it was fretless, and I had absolutely no musical outlet for it and it deserved to be out getting gigged somewhere as a fretless. If it was fretted I would never have sold it (and I did consider having it fretted many times), the back of the neck felt amazing, and the whole relic job was unbelievable. I'd love to have John do me a '75 Jazz relic at some point, but I think his prices (and popularity) have increased a lot since I had mine built, and rightly so! http://basschat.co.uk/topic/211916-sold-bravewood-guitars-punk-jazz-%26-9839%3B1/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 I've never played any of his basses but once did have a nice email chat with him about Ibanez Musician basses (he likes them). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 (edited) [quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1399999990' post='2449783'] I've never played any of his basses but once did have a nice email chat with him about Ibanez Musician basses (he likes them). [/quote] I bought one of his MC940s from him. It's a corker Edited May 14, 2014 by police squad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB280 Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 John did a refurb job on my 61 jazz, you can see the results on his website. He is now working on my 64 P bass and i am talking to him about building me one from the ground up, cant recommend the guy highly enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prime_BASS Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 I agree with the OPs sentiments on him not doing left handed instruments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblueplanet Posted June 27, 2014 Author Share Posted June 27, 2014 Update from John at Bravewood is that he now thinks lefties will become a possibility. Have also asked Mark at Limelight but he says no. Maybe down to sourcing parts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidak Posted November 26 Share Posted November 26 Let's make this thread alive again... Any new experience? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burns-bass Posted November 26 Share Posted November 26 I've had one and it was really well built and looked fantastic. In the end, I preferred a genuine vintage insturment to a replica, but it was good for what it was. The only issue is that selling them on can be challenging. Technically they're considered counterfeits and some people have a very dim view of them. I don't personally care, but on some forums there are some people who really take it personally. You may find ebay and Reverb listings are pulled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted November 26 Share Posted November 26 I have owned several (P and J) and currently own an original '66 J. Functionally there is no difference. The original has more bragging rights, but other than that, for me, they are the same. If he made a 66 J 5 and a P (with an A neck) 5 string then I would happily flog most of my kit. But he wont. I have asked several times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted November 26 Share Posted November 26 They appear on one of the FB relic guitar groups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuyR Posted November 26 Share Posted November 26 11 hours ago, Burns-bass said: I've had one and it was really well built and looked fantastic. In the end, I preferred a genuine vintage insturment to a replica, but it was good for what it was. The only issue is that selling them on can be challenging. Technically they're considered counterfeits and some people have a very dim view of them. I don't personally care, but on some forums there are some people who really take it personally. You may find ebay and Reverb listings are pulled. Fortunately BC is a more enlightened forum. The pearl-clutching pile in seen elsewhere at the mention of Bravewood is rather sad. Anyone buying a Bravewood knows what it is. Bearing in mind anyone spending vintage Fender prices would insist on neck heel, pots and pickup photos, a neck date of 2013 might give the game away. I note John has recently revised his prices upwards to £2300 ish. Still excellent value considering the level of true craftsmanship on offer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mokl Posted November 27 Share Posted November 27 (edited) I have a Bravewood fretless Jazz and can echo the positive comments about the quality etc. I rarely play it these days, although really should sit down with it and become more closely acquainted with it again. There are a few niggles with it, main one being the side dots are essentially invisible (I think this has gotten worse as its gotten older) and although it's lined the lines are almost invisible too. I need all the help I can get on fretless, so this isn't ideal. He seems a good guy in my limited experience, but has a very particular way of doing business, which I respect but I suspect some may not like. I didn't want a pickguard when I ordered my bass (I was going through a Jaco phase), and whilst he clearly states he doesn't supply aged parts for general sale, thought he might have accommodated me when I had a change of heart! He politely declined to help, which was fine, but I can imagine this wouldn't go down well with all. Edited November 27 by Mokl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burns-bass Posted November 27 Share Posted November 27 9 hours ago, Mokl said: I have a Bravewood fretless Jazz and can echo the positive comments about the quality etc. I rarely play it these days, although really should sit down with it and become more closely acquainted with it again. There are a few niggles with it, main one being the side dots are essentially invisible (I think this has gotten worse as its gotten older) and although it's lined the lines are almost invisible too. I need all the help I can get on fretless, so this isn't ideal. He seems a good guy in my limited experience, but has a very particular way of doing business, which I respect but I suspect some may not like. I didn't want a pickguard when I ordered my bass (I was going through a Jaco phase), and whilst he clearly states he doesn't supply aged parts for general sale, thought he might have accommodated me when I had a change of heart! He politely declined to help, which was fine, but I can imagine this wouldn't go down well with all. He’s a quirky character. I enquired about a jazz bass and he said “I’ll have one for sale soon.” I replied that I’d like to buy it and when he then emailed back he told me it had been sold. Bit off, but it happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted November 27 Share Posted November 27 2 hours ago, Burns-bass said: He’s a quirky character. I enquired about a jazz bass and he said “I’ll have one for sale soon.” I replied that I’d like to buy it and when he then emailed back he told me it had been sold. Bit off, but it happens. He has a list and offers it to the ppl at the top of the list first. the positive thing is that I suggested something and he said “that’s a good idea I’ll make it” I knew that however long it took ild get first refusal 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted November 27 Share Posted November 27 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted November 27 Share Posted November 27 Photos - some of mine some I presume his as I don’t have that carpet!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted November 27 Share Posted November 27 ( @Owen think that strap is too wide! Esp on my short squat body!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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