new Piccolo bass (new luthier?)

[eubassix]

J.D. V. PARIS BASS - Piccolo 4 Short Scale
Got this very recently on a trade deal... and haven't been able to put it down since!! This stunning short scale bass is a masterpiece from German luthier Johannes-Dieter von Paris (based in Göttingen) - when with 'Schack' - for the Frankfurt MusikMesse (2002). It demonstrates JD's masterful combination of top quality tone woods and the sound/playability is exceptional. The electronics feature 2 toggle switches that allow to choose between single coil and humbucking mode (zero noise issues - both modes). The 3-band electronics can be modified by flicking the internal controls (see pic.) to pre select the frequency of each of the 3 tone controls. The bass knob may be preselected within 100-300Hz. The mid tone knob can be preset between 400 and 1500 Hz, and the high frequencies range from 2 to 8 KHz. This extends the tone controls to a semi-parametric 3-way on board preamplifier. Deep growling mids, extreme punch, crystal clear top and crisp slap sound are just a few of the capabilities. There is a veneer of rosewood between the beautiful flamed maple neck + GonzaloAlves fingerboard and it 's thru-body construction. The wooden trussrod cover plate is engraved with the JDvP logo. The ETS tuning fork Bridge is a 3-dimensional string-through(option) version. The playability of this bass is incredible. It is joy and effortless to play - fast neck, shorter scale and amazing fretboard
Specs:
· High gloss nitro' laquer finish
· Thru-neck, flamed maple w/ inner rosewood veneer, 30.75" scale.
· Goncalo Alvez fingerboard, 24 frets, with rosewood veneer
· Body wings 2-piece sandwich maple with flamed ash
· Center block 3 piece ash/rosewood
· 2 x Bass Tech Soapbar Humbuckers
· 18V Andy Schack Electronics with Bass, Mid, High Tone controls (pre-selectable centre frequencies)
· 2 PU single coil/humbucking mode toggle switches
· Black Gotoh tuners, ETS 3D Tuning Fork Bridge
· Weight: 6.4 lbs / 2.78 kg (!)
The condition is near mint. Only minor flaws are on the back on the electronics cover and near thru-body string holes.

Just need to find a case/bag for it now (I've included one photo with a SR4 to indicate overall size)....

Edited June 15, 2011 by eubassix

[Toddy]

MMMMM,,,,,, thats lovely....

Id really like one of those......

[Alien]

Chin ---> Floor. That is stunning. Dibs on that when you want to move it on

A

[OutToPlayJazz]

That's a lovely looking instrument - Congrats on a fine score!

[lozbass]

Gorgeous! Ahh...the joys of a shorter scale...

[purpleblob]

That looks like one mighty fine instrument. Mmmmmmm lovely

[eubassix]

Thanks for the positive comments chaps ! ... it was a bit of a chancer, as there's little info. on JD(vP), but the photos, specs. and other details were good; and I've done this several times in the past... generally with good/pleasing results.

Some additional photos here, with a BassLine PJ bass which also came to me via a trade.
Might add some details/photos of this bass to the section as, whilst it's not so porn-worthy as the JDvP, it IS a very nice bass and one that's not so common in the UK. It was also, I'm assured, another Frankfurt Messe bass.

I've had a look at the more recent work for JD v. P: he's building guitars, basses and acoustics - some of which still reflect this (early) Andy Schack/Alembic design......

[BigRedX]

That's very nice - a sort of Alembic meets Pedulla vibe. Does the luthier have a web site?

[purpleblob]

[quote name='BigRedX' post='766149' date='Mar 6 2010, 03:49 PM']That's very nice - a sort of Alembic meets Pedulla vibe. Does the luthier have a web site?[/quote]

I actually went looking after my post and found this [url="http://www.woodnarts.de/"]http://www.woodnarts.de/[/url]

EDIT: Original owner [url="http://www.wernerwitzel.de/verkauf/jdvp_piccolo.htm"]http://www.wernerwitzel.de/verkauf/jdvp_piccolo.htm[/url] ? A couple of samples on his site [url="http://www.wernerwitzel.de/"]http://www.wernerwitzel.de/[/url] (sorry I was bored lying around with the flu, so went looking for more info. on this )

Edited March 6, 2010 by purpleblob

[eubassix]

[quote name='purpleblob' post='766196' date='Mar 6 2010, 04:41 PM']I actually went looking after my post and found this [url="http://www.woodnarts.de/"]http://www.woodnarts.de/[/url]

EDIT: Original owner [url="http://www.wernerwitzel.de/verkauf/jdvp_piccolo.htm"]http://www.wernerwitzel.de/verkauf/jdvp_piccolo.htm[/url] ?[/quote]

Yes - well researched P'B: 'wood'n'arts' is JD's site and Werner W. was the original owner of the bass (bought directly at Frankfurt Messe, I think).
Unfortunately, there only appears to be an Acoustic bass currently available (from JDvP), so I guess - as with many of these individual luthiers - that most instruments will be made-to-order.

[eubassix]

[quote name='eubassix' post='766110' date='Mar 6 2010, 03:07 PM']Some additional photos here, with a BassLine PJ bass which also came to me via a trade.
Might add some details/photos of this bass to the section as, whilst it's not so porn-worthy as the JDvP, it IS a very nice bass and one that's not so common in the UK. It was also, I'm assured, another Frankfurt Messe bass.[/quote]

here's more on the BassLine Incognito (P/J) 4:-

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=79868"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=79868[/url]

[purpleblob]

[quote name='eubassix' post='766226' date='Mar 6 2010, 05:09 PM']Yes - well researched P'B: 'wood'n'arts' is JD's site and Werner W. was the original owner of the bass (bought directly at Frankfurt Messe, I think).
Unfortunately, there only appears to be an Acoustic bass currently available (from JDvP), so I guess - as with many of these individual luthiers - that most instruments will be made-to-order.[/quote]

Well, it looks to be a really nice instrument. Nice spec. all round.

[i]I must admit I've had a desire to get myself a piccolo since the 80's on first hearing Stanley Clarke on his Alembic, but never quite got around to actually getting one.[/i]

[TheBass]

I'm glad you like it, David. My Alembic Stanley Clarke Dlx was the only reason to let it go.