Yep, I've been GASsed, big time.

I could not resist the pull of the Nordstrand magnet. Even my bliss over my new Warwick did not dull the hunger pangs for one of Carey's beasts.

So I put my money down with Jay (JPJ) at Blueberry Hill to reserve a build slot, and away we go.

But I can't even use the word "horizon" yet. I don't even need to finalize the specs until late summer.

So why, you may ask, did I go for it? Well, he seems to offer the 3 things I look for in any musical instrument: bang for the buck, sound, and high quality. Also, my wife said it was OK (she has the flu, so I got it in writing ).

Anyway, I'm going for the Bumpcity "None Blacker" color scheme, but a lot can happen in 7 months. Stay tuned, and please make as many suggestions as you'd like.

Willie, I am relieved that you love yours.

Good on ya, Sam! Hope it's all that and more...
I like the "None More Black" idea...

Peace,

wraub

Mmm, gear gluttony.

"Deserve ain't got nothin' to do with it"

Amen!

Good for you!

Good Lord! I've been blindsided! I never saw this coming!

Yikes. Hang in there, mang, it's worth the wait.

As am I, mi amigo. As am I.

Congratulations, 0-9!

Peace.
--SW

Sam you magnificent bastard! Congratulations.

I'm glad you got it in writing from the wife. You always need as much documentation of approval you can get.

probably the best last decision on 2004.
congrats!- A

Congratulations zeronyne. Those basses are beyond gorgeous.

I was overcome by that thread too man.

If i can get out of school a semester early and leave with job offers, i'll definitely get myself 1 or 2 basses. I think one 6 and one 5 string.

I just need to sharpen my bass proficiency, so i'll feel comfortable with myself when buying it.

jason

That does it.

The fretless is going on the chopping block

Now...5 strings or 6???

zeronyne, can I have your warwick when the nordstrand arrives?

Don't even think about it.
When his Nordstrand arrives he will be so obsessed with it that I am going to "borrow" the Warwick.

With all the time between now and completion on your future Nordstrand, nil-niner, I wonder if you'll be able to fire this thread up to 6 or 7 pages of posts before wood meets saw.

Don't be hasty...

...I'm sure someone would buy it off ya'!

You're probably ready to move to 6. Why not? You already have a luvlii Sadowsky 5.

We really will have to find a way for you to play my new baby. When are you due to return to Providence from Fla.? Maybe you can arrange a stop in the NYC-area on your way back?

Peace.
--s-uu

Now that Sweet Willie is in bass heaven with his new NJ Deluxe 5er, I'm looking forward to working with Sam on his specs. Right now, we're tossing around the idea of an ebony top sprayed with black gloss and accented with black binding (partially joking and partially NOT ), but we'll see how things end up. I'm predicting that he'll end up with some kind of beautiful tranparent lemondrop/teaburst finish over a highly figured maple top with a blistered birdseye fingerboard before the first pile of sawdust is made!

GAAAAHHH! I wish I played well enough to walk into a gig with the latter. I'm hoping that the black on black on black will be loud enough to hide the fact that I am a rudimentary player.

I'm still leaning towards tiny offset black pearl square fret markers on a black-bound ebony fretboard...

How does everyone feel about an asymmetrical neck radius? Effective? Gimmick?

I think neck profile is a relatively personal thing. I don't feel too strongly either way about symmetrical or asymmetrical neck profiles.

My new fish has a symmetrical neck profile in what Carey calls a "soft V" shape. It is the most comfortable neck I have ever played. Ever.

My 'Ray5 and LB-70 both have symmetrical neck profiles and they, too, are comfortable to play. Of course, they haven't been out of their cases for a few days...

Anywhere you can go to play some differently profiled necks? I would think that Maken Music would be a good place to start, allowing you to compare the feels of Laklands, MTDs, Fenders, and Moduli -- among others. However, I'm not sure if any of those brands feature models w/ asymmetric profiles.

Peace.
--s-uu

Ought-niner, you should know by now that we're going to banter this around for awhile but ultimately it's up to you.

If you can get your hands on Carey's idea of an asymmetrical neck it may help. Me, I don't like them - based on experience with Tobias Growlers (4 & 5). But the owner of the Growler 5 loves it.

I love the feel of the asymmetrical neck. That having been said I not that I have ever had the opportunity to play one all night. I tried an MTD 635 with the asymmetrical neck and it was easily the most comfortable 6 string I had ever played.

What's an asymmetrical neck ? I know I have a U-shaped neck (my BASS, not me ) but that's about as far as my knowledge goes ...

Asym neck shapes are just that, asymmetrical, i.e. the curve of the neck is different on each side of the curve. More of a check mark than a v, if that makes any sense.

I have played some I liked, and some that I did not. At BassPlayerLive, Will, Tom, Dan, and I took turns playing a bass with a thumb groove in the neck, so, whatever works.

Peace,

wraub

09,

I haven't owned an asymm neck, but I've liked the feel of the MTD Americans that I've played.

Black pearl on black ebony? Why bother?
And if you think that black will disguise your playing.... Get something beautiful - it won't make any difference to anyone else. If your playing isn't what you want it to be, you'll feel that on any color bass you have. You already feel it!! Perhaps something beautiful will inspire you. I don't play "up" to the level of my bass, but I love the feel of it!

Tom

*bump o' luv*

I suspect that the wider a neck (as for a six string) the more positive difference an asymm neck profile will make in terms of playability. Maybe someone could confirm this?

Congrats on a positively droolsome acquisition prospect!

Thanks for the bump, SW! Well, it looks like after almost a year, my build slot if coming up. Carey moved into a new shop, and he has a line of J Basses coming out, so I can understand the delay. I will post more as I find out more. The specs are pretty set, but there are a few main issues that I can't seem to decide on.

Can you use the word "horizon" yet?

Peace.
--Doctor NoneMoreLuv

Wow, my first post announcing my deposit on this Nordstrand was 12/28/2004. Since then, a few things have happened.

-I had a second child, (who turned one yesterday, and the other one turns 4 in 15 minutes or so)

-I started bass lessons

-I started a business

-I played my last live show...possibly ever.

-I bought a Warwick Thumb 5 NT, a Michael Kelly Dragonfly 5, a MIM Fender Active Jazz Deluxe, and a Ken Smith Design Proto J Fretless 5

-I sold a Warwick Thumb 5 NT, a Michael Kelly Dragonfly 5, a MIM Fender Active Jazz Deluxe (I'm about to sell the Ken Smith Design)

-I built a P Bass

-I posted on this forum roughly 2000 times

-I met JeremyC.

-I met Bumpcity. We both met Bob Moog at a dinner.

-I met (briefly) Adrian Garcia.

-I met WCuhna.

-Carey Nordstrand released a new line of affodable yet high end J Basses to critical acclaim. He also moved into a new facility, and his pickup business is booming.

A lot can happen in 15 months, eh? And my build slot has finally come up. This is by far the longest I've waited for any customized product ever, although I'm on a 3 year waiting list for a very talented tattoo artist.

My specs have not changed much after all this time, nor has my proficiency in the instrument. Ash/Maple/Ebony, black everywhere possible, OBP-3, Ibanez-ish string spacing, with either the mighty Nordstrand Dual Coil pickups or the insane Nordstrand Fatstacks. A couple surprises will be in order, but I'm mainly looking for a lifetime keeper.

I'll post more as the production cranks up.

Congrats on the birthdays of Kid #2 and Kid #1!

My Kid #2 celebrates his later this month. He will be 5. Let's talk dowry some time...it's between your daughter and tnb's daughter at the moment regarding an arranged marriage. Not sure how tnb feels about that, though. Not sure how my son feels about it either.

Peace.
--s-uu

PS: Congrats on hanging in there during this "journey"! Apparently I lined up my build slot just at the right time to beat all the changes that have occurred in Carey's business this year.

It's almost April and anxiously am awaiting a call from "one whose name I dare not speak"

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....

Wait a minute, did you say dowry? Sydney did just turn 5, almost time to get her married off. How does your son feel about older women?

Let's dig a bit deeper.

Willie, you are looking for a dowry by marrying your son off to a musician? Your PhD is not in Economics.

tnb - I'll be the "Harry Potter" (who is the only one to speak a name) and say Tobias, Mike. If I win, Willie has to buy me dinner.

0-9 - I'm often surprised by how MUCH and how LITTLE changes over time. A few questions:

Selling the KSD? Please tell me it's too heavy so I can sleep nights knowing I gave good advice.

Not more proficient? Perhaps not where you want or expected to be. If there was any practicing going on, you are more proficient. I can see that time is an issue, but one bit of advice (frequently profferredd here) is to join a band or go to jams. Playing with others is a quick boost for your proficiency.

Last live show? Judging solely by the age of your children, I'll guess you are in your 30s. Those of us in our 50s are chuckling at you. I want to stay in contact until your kids are in college. We'll all gamble here on whether your next live show will be on keys, bass, or some yet-to-be-determined instrument.

No changes in what you want from Nordstrand? You choose wisely in many of your components, so it's not surprising. But having experienced the basses listed above means that you can feel even more confident about these selections - they didn't turn you to anything different.

I'm curious about pickup choices and other "surprises". Keep us informed!

Tom

I have a couple of Warwicks you can have. Late 80's Streamer and a 89 Thumb 5 string.

You can have them both.......for about $6000 each....LMAO

It's definitely a heavy beast, but I never stood to play it. But you definitely gave me good advice. It was a total impulse buy, and I can't stand owning anything that could go to a more loving home.


That's exactly it.


Haha. Well, I guess we'll see. The "pain in the neck" factor has finally outweighed the "lucrative fun" aspect for me. I hate to say it, but I feel like I'm the only musician that I know in my immediate area that cares about how a band sounds OVERALL. It's a bit demoralizing. But you're right, who knows if I will suddenly have time to woodshed like crazy and want to share my music again. But for now, as has always been, my computer is my friend. (Wow, that's sad ).

Will do. Thanks for the kind words.