NBD: Somewhat of a childhood dream. A van der End 5 string Jazz.

[BassAgent]

The first boutique bass I've ever played was a Pedulla-like fretless by Dutch luthier André van der End. Every since then, I've wanted to own a bass by him, particularly with a walnut top and maple fretboard. A few years back, I bought a blue fiver by him. Didn't really get on with the sound, so I sold it.

 

And then last week, just as I was selling two other basses, this walnut top, maple fretboard fiver turned up on a second hand website in Belgium. I had to have it. So yesterday I drove to Belgium and took it home. It's not light, but it's pretty darn awesome. Ash body, pickups and preamp by André himself, birdseye maple neck.

 

[simisker]

Epic! Congratulations on achieving one of your dreams

[ahpook]

Beautiful bass.

 

I feel your joy

Edited Saturday at 12:45 by ahpook

[Doctor J]

Nice. What's going down in Pickuptown? Very interesting.

[BassAgent]

Pretty straightforward: J-M-J. It has three volumes, 2 band EQ, switch for either the J or MM bridge pickup, single/parallel/series switch for the MM pickup and an active/passive switch.

[ajkula66]

Congratulations on your "new" bass. May it serve you well.

 

I've never even heard of the builder in question, but he sure knows how to make a pretty instrument.

 

Play it in good health and enjoy!

[LeftyJ]

I remember seeing that one a few times before on Marktplaats! Very cool, and looks very versatile. I also remember you being very fond of Andre's work. Great score! 

[tauzero]

Very nice. How's the sound?

[BlueMoon]

Great bass. Well done! 

[mikebass456]

That looks fabulous! I know the feeling from when I ordered my Shuker custom 5 string way back in the early 2000's. Even now I sometimes just go and open the case to look at it......🥰

[RonC]

That’s a gourgious bass!

congrats on that one!

Andre is indeed a great luthier.

[BassAgent]

8 hours ago, LeftyJ said:

I remember seeing that one a few times before on Marktplaats! Very cool, and looks very versatile. I also remember you being very fond of Andre's work. Great score! 

Thanks! I don't think this is the one from Marktplaats. There are 3 or 4 of these, André always built a couple of bodies and necks for one bass to match them. I know at least two other basses like these, one with a maple fretboard and one with coromandel. 

 

8 hours ago, tauzero said:

Very nice. How's the sound?

Very very versatile. To be honest, it has D'Addario Chromes on it and I really dislike flats on a Jazz, especially on such a hi fi, modern bass like this. So its exact sound still has to reveal itself to me