_Sweet Willie_ Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Friday evening I spent a couple of hours at Blueberry Hill Bass . Although Jay runs primarily an on-line business, he graciously made time for me to visit with him and some of his basses since I'm only about 30 minutes from his location. As some of you know, I have had a steadily growing jones for a custom 5-string. This was an opportunity for me to check out jazz-style, bolt-on basses by three respected builders: Chris Benavente, Mike Lull, and Carey Nordstrand. The "reference rigs" were an SWR Redhead 2x10 combo (the older 240W) and an SWR Interstellar Overdrive into a Stewart World 2.1 into an Epifani 3x10. This worked well for me because my current amp is an SWR Super Redhead (350W). Overall: All three fish I played were crazy tasty. These builders care about their craft and it shows in their work -- tight neck joints, beautiful fretwork, tasteful aesthetics, etc. The basses (which I have given names) can all be seen right now at the Blueberry Hill website (link above): "Red Bennie" -- Candy apple red 5-string J bass (Vintage Vortex), white pickguard, very classy brushed aluminum control plate, active EQ, 35" scale, 24 fret, alder body, rosewood board w/ block inlays and white binding. "Mickey L" -- Natural finish 5-string (M5V), white pickguard, ash body, birdseye maple board, 35" scale, 21 fret, Basslines p'ups, Aguilar OBP-3 preamp. "Nordie J" -- Totally hot "aged cherryburst" finish (you have to see this finish -- and then take note that it looks even better in real life) on figured maple top (NJ4 Deluxe), alder body, Brazilian rosewood board, 34" scale, 4-string, Aguilar OBP-3 preamp w/ passive tone control, Carey's own split coil, humcancelling j pickups. I played "Nordie J" first and kept coming back to it again and again the rest of the evening. The neck felt fantastic, the bass balanced exceptionally well, and it was light as a feather. For a bolt-on, I was amazed at the upper-fret accessibility. Playing the 24th fret was very comfortable (not that I'm every up there on a regular basis ), thanks to a slight slope on the neck joint as well as a relatively deep lower bout cutaway. The sound of this bass was out-of-control. In passive mode it was full-bodied. Using just the passive tone control and the pickup pan gave as astounding tonal selection. Adding the active preamp breathed even more life into the sound -- the treble EQ added brightness and presence without being brittle or harsh, scooping the mids with both p'ups on full produced sick slap tone, and the bass EQ was warm. (I love the Aggie OBP-3 preamp!) Talk about an instrument that fit! Had it had 5-strings I might have taken it home with me last night!!! I played "Red Bennie" second. Again, the construction was terrific. The neck was not as comfortable for me as the Nordstrand neck. Obviously, going from a 34" scale 4-string to a 35" scale 5-string meant a wider neck and a different feel, in particular, near the nut. The active electronics on this bass, Benavente's own 3-band, were nice, but didn't speak as well as the Aggie preamp did. Boosting the treble was harsher than I like, but the bass EQ added nice low-end girth. I think the string spacing was a touch too wide for me, and the B-string didn't speak with as much authority as some other 35" scale basses I've played (see below, for example!). While still a great instrument, this one just wasn't for me. , then...> Now, the bass I really almost went home with was "Mickey L." This bass was a Fender J on steroids. In passive mode, without a passive tone control, this bass rocked and rocked hard. The B-string on this bass was completely ass-kickin'. Both pickups full up, this was a true funk machine. Laying thumb to B-string on this bad boy was earth-shaking. (Don't forget that the Stew 2.1 and Epi cab certainly helped!) The neck felt better than Red Bennie's and I had a lot of trouble putting it down. Kick in that Aggie preamp and look out! Boost the mids, the bass up a little, and take off a touch of treble, turn the neck pickup down halfway and keep the bridge p'up volume all the way up...can you say "fingerfunk heaven"? (Good! I knew you could!) I had played a Lull 5 during my California trip this past summer and hadn't been blown away the way I was with this bass last night. However, before I left I played the Nordstrand again. This bass really spoke to me. Felt great. Sounded great. Looked great. I loved it. I think this is the direction I am probably headed in as I enter more seriously into the pursuit of a custom 5er. Anyway, hope I haven't bored anyone to tears. Sometimes I feel it's my duty to fuel others' GAS when I fuel my own. It's not really fair that I live within driving distance of two businesses that represent a variety of custom builders (Blueberry Hill Bass and the Luthiers Access Group ). Peace. --sweet'n'low spreadluv Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars. Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Phil Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Originally posted by Sweet Willie: Playing the 24th fret was very comfortable (not that I'm ever up there on a regular basis )Unlike our fearless Moderator Tom Capasso! Awesome sweets. Good luck on your purchase(s). http://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/blue.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/black.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/fuscia.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/grey.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/orange.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/purple.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/red.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/yellow.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Sweet Willie_ Posted February 15, 2004 Author Share Posted February 15, 2004 Originally posted by Mr. Phil.: Good luck on your purchase(s). Wise-ass whippersnapper! Git offa my lawn! spreadluv Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars. Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcr Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Why, was that our own S-Dub hanging at boutique bass heaven? Nice. Excellent review, also. I know you've been coming back to that Nordstrand in your dreams... I think I see a Nordy in your future. And maybe a Lull. (Hey, maybe you can score one on eBay! BenLoy, can you hook him up?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcbn Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 SW- You didn't mention prices! Call me a rookie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim T. Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Did the Nordstrand have Carey's own picups in it? Which ones? Thanks "When people hear good music, it makes them homesick for something they never had, and never will have." Edgar Watson Howe "Don't play what's there. Play what's not there" Miles Davis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pernax Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Originally posted by Sweet Willie: (I love the Aggie OBP-3 preamp!)Welcome to the club! Let's wait for Alex to get the initiation rites going . Thanks for the tasty reviews, the quality of those instruments really shine from the enthusiasm of your text, I will have to spend a few moments (hours?) looking for more information about those basses and their sisters and brothers. And take notes, as there is a custom 4-stringer in my close future, and a custom 6 probably a bit further down the road... -P (up to 200 characters) You may use UBBCode in your signature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Sweet Willie_ Posted February 15, 2004 Author Share Posted February 15, 2004 Originally posted by Jim T.: Did the Nordstrand have Carey's own pickups in it? Which ones? ThanksYes. It had Carey's NJ4SE pickups -- the split coil, humcancelling jazz pickups. (I think I got the product # correct.) I attribute some of the great sound to those pickups. My intuition tells me that Carey is doing a really nice job with his pickups, but I can't really back that up with scientific proof! (Adrian might be able to speak more about it, having had more of Carey's basses go thru his hands.) NUTT -- prices? The Lull would've been sub-$2000 out-the-door (but Lull prices are going up soon), the Nordstrand sub-$2500 (I believe), and I don't know how much "Red Bennie" cost. To be honest, I didn't talk seriously about prices, since the goal of my visit was "test driving." I know that the prices are available at the builders' websites. Also, I should add that Jay was a pleasure to hang out with. His business is fairly young, but he's definitely excited about trying to get high quality instruments into players' hands. Peace. spreadluv Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars. Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowfreq Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 Tasty, very tasty!!! Can you say? Eenie, meenie, miney moe ... Good Luck, looks like a photo finish to me "The Blues is the Roots, and the rest is the Fruits" Willie Dixon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
... Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 Originally posted by Sweet Willie: Now, the bass I really almost went home with was "Mickey L."You know you want it. Become one of us. Do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Phil Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 Originally posted by lowfreq: Good Luck, looks like a photo finish to me haha. I get it. At first I thought you meant Photo Finish as in the finish on the bass. You know those basses with the photo finish Quilt top. http://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/blue.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/black.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/fuscia.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/grey.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/orange.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/purple.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/red.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/yellow.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Sweet Willie_ Posted February 16, 2004 Author Share Posted February 16, 2004 Originally posted by Bumpcity: Originally posted by Sweet Willie: Now, the bass I really almost went home with was "Mickey L."You know you want it. Become one of us. Do it. A wise man from Seattle once told me that nothing says, "I'm here to kick your teeth in" like a Spector 5 thru a heavyweight SWR rig. Well, that particular ash Lull M5V from the other night w/ Basslines p'ups and maple 'board certainly announced its intentions straightforwardly w/ plenty o' Stewart World wattage to help it out. If only it were running into an El Whappo instead of an Epi 3x10... Hmmmmmm...30 minute drive and some more credit card debt and it's mine...hmmmmm Peace. spreadluv Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars. Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassaddik Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 sweet willie, I have played all the brands you mentioned ( and am a dealer for 2 of them) and i think your findings are pretty dead on- so much so that i just ordered a Nordie for myself to keep my beloved F basses company. The only thing i feel different about is i am not that knocked out by the Aggie pre ( different strokes ) and am putting an F bass pre in the Nordie, but you are right, they play themselves!!!! Praise ye the LORD. ....praise him with stringed instruments and organs... Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. excerpt from- Psalm 150 visit me at: www.adriangarcia.net for His glory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
... Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 Originally posted by Sweet Willie: A wise man from Seattle once told me that nothing says, "I'm hear to kick your teeth in" like a Spector 5 thru a heavyweight SWR rig. I wouldn't trust anything that guy said... he probably doesn't know what he's talking about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getz out Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 Willie, A very nice review indeed. Thank you for sharing your experiences. As we have discussed before, we do have very different tastes when it comes to instruments. I maybe be one of the few individuals that does not enjoy all maple necks (regardless of fingerboards) as a general rule; very odd, but I'm not a traditionalist by any stretch. That said, I would be interested in that Lull. I still haven't played a Lull, but I have had a chance to get my greasy hands on a Sadowsky, and I imagine that they would be of the same ilk. The Sadowsky was dishy. And the Lull seems like a bargain compared to some other builders' models. Now, Willie, it's time to pull the trigger. Come on, just do it. Do you need some help rationalizing the purchase? Any one of us could help with that. Give me a call, I'll talk you through it. Now, if I could only get a mahogany bodied bass with a wenge neck to look like a Fender, I would be able to have a comforable playing bass (for me) that was aesthetically approved by the vast majority of veiwers... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted February 17, 2004 Share Posted February 17, 2004 Maury, Fender actually makes a mahogany-bodied bass. Fender American Deluxe Zone Bass Check it out. Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.S.M Posted February 17, 2004 Share Posted February 17, 2004 willie , Here is another fishing hole to try out before making a purchase LAG COMING EVENTS Players we are going to bringing a number of new basses to these shows new basses from old friends Jerzy Drozd, Chris Stambaugh, John Bolin, etc, as well as basses from new builders Pete Hanewinckel, Wim Heins , Alfonso, Iturra, Laurus , and ? Some of these builders basses will be shown for the first time in the States. I am juiced how about you ? Here is a list of out upcoming Spring 2004 shows. More details are forthcoming. CHICAGO Where : Chicago ( Alsip, IL ) When : February 29, 2004 Location : The Radisson Convention Center 5000 W 127th St. Alsip, IL For more info, call 847 931 0707 And we would like some more in detail reviews since your so good at them Rock-n-roll junkie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Sweet Willie_ Posted February 17, 2004 Author Share Posted February 17, 2004 Originally posted by rocksynthman: willie , Here is another fishing hole to try out before making a purchase Been there, done that. Chill Will hung at the LAG back in July. (Click here for details.) Peace. --s-uu spreadluv Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars. Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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