SEI bass

[FunkyDude]

So I was wondering how many members in BassChat are owners of a SEI bass ?

 

I finally bought a Flamboyant 5 last year from The Bass Gallery. Martin was so kind that he checked the bass thoroughly and replaced a worn out electronic part for me. He also told me the story of this particular bass. It was a very early built in which the bass was numbered but Martin stopped numbering them because of the process it took could be a health hazard to himself!

 

Sei basses are amazing to play and look at. Combination of woods used and workmanship are breathtaking. Some people hate the head stock and I must admit I wasn't too keen on that initially.  However, when you are actually looking at the instrument and I beginning to understand the logic for the minimum head stock, is to reduce unnecessary weight and improve balance.

 

Forgot to mention John, equally nice and could be funny sometimes when he's in a good mood! 😂 Of course the rest of the boys there are great and helpful too.

 

Edited Saturday at 17:21 by FunkyDude

[tauzero]

I have four - the first was a headless fretless Original 5, the second a headless Flamboyant 5, the third a headed Flamboyant 6 which I've had fitted with a Roland hex pickup, and finally the Basschat bike Jazz 5.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love the necks on them - the nicest I've played.

[bubinga5]

I had a Sei J5. good lord was it great to play and hold. Probably the nicest I've had. Stunning build from the sunken bridge to the olivewood top he folded over the arm contour. The details were hand made, you could just tell. Did it sound like a jazz bass.? Nope. That wasn't a bad thing. It was just a beautiful instrument and you could tell just by picking it up. The bass in question is above.

Edited Saturday at 19:25 by bubinga5

[FunkyDude]

18 minutes ago, tauzero said:

I have four - the first was a headless fretless Original 5, the second a headless Flamboyant 5, the third a headed Flamboyant 6 which I've had fitted with a Roland hex pickup, and finally the Basschat bike Jazz 5.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love the necks on them - the nicest I've played.

WOW...... That's impressive! 😮

[Mudpup]

@ziggydolphinboy

[Terry M.]

Not a Sei owner but I'm a regular visitor to the Gallery and John is indeed an undercover comedian 😂

[OliverBlackman]

13 hours ago, tauzero said:

I have four - the first was a headless fretless Original 5, the second a headless Flamboyant 5, the third a headed Flamboyant 6 which I've had fitted with a Roland hex pickup, and finally the Basschat bike Jazz 5.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love the necks on them - the nicest I've played.

Probably different with headless but how do you find the ergonomics between original and flamboyant? I prefer the original shape but flamboyant I expect to balance better?

[ead]

I used to own a lovely fretless 5er...

 

[tauzero]

2 hours ago, OliverBlackman said:

Probably different with headless but how do you find the ergonomics between original and flamboyant? I prefer the original shape but flamboyant I expect to balance better?

 

Not a great deal of difference - the headlessness means no neck dive on either, and I don't notice any difference in the way they hang. I suppose the Original would hang a little more to the left due to the shorter top horn, but I haven't any evidence of that.

[FunkyDude]

13 minutes ago, tauzero said:

 

Not a great deal of difference - the headlessness means no neck dive on either, and I don't notice any difference in the way they hang. I suppose the Original would hang a little more to the left due to the shorter top horn, but I haven't any evidence of that.

I find the horns on the Original a bit lethal! 😂

[velvetkevorkian]

Love the body shapes but I wish they'd update their 90s-ass logo.

[OliverBlackman]

3 hours ago, FunkyDude said:

I find the horns on the Original a bit lethal! 😂

I don’t think your supposed to sit on them like that 😬

[Russ]

I've had several over the years, but one has stayed with me through everything. I've had my singlecut 5-string since 2003, and it's not going anywhere. It's a wonderful instrument. It's survived many gigs and tours, several international relocations, and it's still going strong. 

 

Here's two pics of me playing it, 20 years apart!  

 

 

EDIT: Looking at the old picture, I'm thinking that I kinda miss my Eden rig that I had back then!

Edited yesterday at 15:52 by Russ

[visog]

Richard Bona making a beautiful sound here with a Sei in the Bass Gallery. Not sure it's his, probably just stock. (Ignore the Fodera in the thumbnail.)
 

 

Edited yesterday at 16:17 by visog

[Russ]

2 minutes ago, visog said:

Richard Bona making a beautiful sound here with a Sei in the Bass Gallery. Not sure it's his, probably just stock. (Ignore the Fodera in the thumbnail.)
 

 

Bona is incredible. The man is just music incarnate - I'm not sure I've ever heard such a natural musician. He just breathes it. 

 

That black Sei Jazz with the EMGs was in The Gallery for ages. It's a lovely bass that I'm sure has a very appreciative new home now. 

[Owen]

I owned a J5 a long time ago. I should not have sold it, but you know how it goes. The neck was sublime. 

[ezbass]

9 minutes ago, Owen said:

I should not have sold it

The BC motto strikes again  

[ezbass]

Non vendidisse

[Russ]

1 hour ago, ezbass said:

Non vendidisse

Should add that to the official BC merch store.  

[sprocketflup]

1 hour ago, ezbass said:

Non vendidisse

People called Romanes they go the house?

[ezbass]

4 minutes ago, sprocketflup said:

People called Romanes they go the house?

I used Google translate, I didn’t do Latin at school. However, you may be referencing Life of Brian, in which case .

[FunkyDude]

20 hours ago, OliverBlackman said:

I don’t think your supposed to sit on them like that 😬

I know but accidents do happen! 🤣

[FunkyDude]

19 hours ago, Russ said:

I've had several over the years, but one has stayed with me through everything. I've had my singlecut 5-string since 2003, and it's not going anywhere. It's a wonderful instrument. It's survived many gigs and tours, several international relocations, and it's still going strong. 

 

Here's two pics of me playing it, 20 years apart!  

 

 

EDIT: Looking at the old picture, I'm thinking that I kinda miss my Eden rig that I had back then!

That's a beaut Russ. Saw a similar one on sale at BassBros a while ago and I took too long to decide and when I finally make up my mind to buy it, it was sold!

 

Eden rigs were one of the best for a while. Such a shame that they were bought up by Marshall and was never the same again.

[three]

I've had a good number of Seis over the years (singlecuts, Js, Flamboyants, headless etc.) but don't own one at present - mainly as I only really play short-scale and there are very few shorty Seis around as far as I know.  Each bass was absolutely beautifully constructed and a joy to play.  Martin and John are not just fantastic luthiers, they're great to work with and actually listen to their customers - genuinely really nice guys.  I think I need a short-scale, headless Flaboyant - for me the body shape is the most beautiful in the world of bass   

[Hellzero]

This was my Sei Flamboyant 6, excellent bass, for sure, but I traded it for I don't remember what, ask @binky_bass...