NBD - Fulfilling a long held dream

[JPJ]

So when this bass came up on eBay I couldn't believe my eyes. An original series 36" scale five string with the filter preamp doesn't come up all that often and for once, I was in the position to buy. The purchase was even pre-approved by Mrs JPJ (only the second time that has ever occurred).

I've been a fan of Chris May and the teams work since I was a pimply youth who used to visit Chris and Andy's guitar shop on High Bridge in Newcastle on a Saturday afternoon. I watched their progress with envy until eventually, as a forty-something I finally managed to secure a J series 5 string which became my main squeeze. Lately, I've obtained a Perception 5 as an alternative to the J, but secretly I've always desired an original series who's body shape just presses all the right buttons for me.

A quick exchange of PM's with the seller and a deal was done culminating in a trip to Nottingham today to collect her. Arriving back at 7pm, she was with me in the rehearsal studio at 9pm! She is unbelievably well balanced on the strap, not a hint of neck dive or indeed left shoulder weight - she just sits there! The filter pre is intuitive to operate, and I can't help thinking its a much better alternative to the traditional active bass, middle, and treble set up. The 36" scale is hardly noticeable (mind my J is a 35") but it adds another dimension to the low B. All in all, I'm one very very happy bunny. Big thanks to our very own Big-Red-X for the deal.

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[discreet]

Wow. Excuse my ignorance, but is this an Overwater Original? Nice!

[JPJ]

Yes, I was so busy babbling on like an excited schoolgirl that I forgot to mention the Overwater name :-)

[BassBus]

Exceptional! How do you get on with the long scale?

[madshadows]

Awesome looking bass, congrats

John

[Graham]

That looks fantastic, how does the filter pre-amp work?

[kodiakblair]

What a result. Good to know some dreams come true.

Congratulations.

[JPJ]

[quote name='BassBus' timestamp='1444374804' post='2882597']
Exceptional! How do you get on with the long scale?
[/quote]

Very easily actually. The difference between my two 35" scale and this is hardly noticeable at all. It feels a much bigger jump going 34" to 35"

[JPJ]

[quote name='Graham' timestamp='1444403340' post='2883008']
That looks fantastic, how does the filter pre-amp work?
[/quote]

Well I'm no expert but the way it was explained to me a long time ago was if you think about it like a multi band graphic eq for each pickup, then at one end of travel the graphic is in the 'classic' smiley shape, and at the other end its in the 'frown' as you turn the knob you gradually go from one to the other. The good bit is that its still musical at both ends of the scale and with two pickups, two filters and a pickup pan, the tonal possibilities are almost endless.

[Graham]

[quote name='JPJ' timestamp='1444408170' post='2883088']


Well I'm no expert but the way it was explained to me a long time ago was if you think about it like a multi band graphic eq for each pickup, then at one end of travel the graphic is in the 'classic' smiley shape, and at the other end its in the 'frown' as you turn the knob you gradually go from one to the other. The good bit is that its still musical at both ends of the scale and with two pickups, two filters and a pickup pan, the tonal possibilities are almost endless.
[/quote]

Awesome, have fun with that

[BigRedX]

Great to see this bass go to a good new home.

[White Cloud]

Congratulations...what a stunning instrument. Filters rule imho.

[Cameronj279]

I agree with you in the filter preamp comments. There's so much you can do with them once you figure out how the hell they work!

Good buy

[JPJ]

And less than 48 hours after collection, she's out earning her keep :-)

[URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/JPJ/media/straightout_zps8m1giuq3.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v208/JPJ/straightout_zps8m1giuq3.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[redstriper]

That bass suit you sir

[JPJ]

[quote name='redstriper' timestamp='1444502988' post='2883763']
That bass suit you sir
[/quote]

Why thank you kindly sir!

[Sercet]

I was very close to buying this. A very cool bass.

[Bass_Guardian]

That is an awesome bass! I can't say I'm not jealous!

[BigRedX]

[quote name='JPJ' timestamp='1444502031' post='2883757']
And less than 48 hours after collection, she's out earning her keep :-)

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[/quote]

One of the few times that I could do with a "like button" on Basschat.

[ezbass]

That bass screams John Entwistle to me - fabulous looking thing and from the photo you seem to like it too. Congrats.

[TrevorR]

Those original Overwaters are fabulous. Nice catch, sir!

[JPJ]

Thank you for the kind words gents, as you can see, I'm one very happy chap. Thanks again to Mike (BigRedX) for selling her to me :-)