maandag 9 januari 2012

Mayones basses are it!

Some time ago, I was referring to my Fame and Mayones basses. At this moment, I've played the Mayones Jabba Custom for over a year on an almost daily basis. Solo or in a band setting. Through Ashdown amps as well as MarkBass gear.



This bass continues to impress me.
First of all, I like 5 strings. It feels comfortable and natural. Is this due to the quality of my bassguitar?
Second, I still like 4 strings. To avoid complicated brain patterns, struggles composing songs and the what is better- question I now play the 5 string fingerstyle only, and the 4 string with a pick. Only.

I've been to many GC's over yhe last year and played Squier, Fender, Lakland, Ibanez, Music Man and oh cliché, not one regret buying the Mayones. It is somewhat heavy and suffers little neck dive when playing without a strap.
I also wonder if the neck relief is normal, but when checking a MM Stingray and a G&L L2500 fiver, they both had similar relief. So I guess this is normal for a five. Fender always has dead straight necks. Which I think is cool.

Will this be my last bass?
Not if I can't help it. Still gassing for a Warwick Streamer Stage I, Warwick Corvette $$, Fender Pbass American Deluxe, Squier 50's Classic Vibe P, Spector Euro LX, Sandberg Basic Ken Taylor and Sandberg PM 4, Mayones Jabba Special PBH, G&L Asat bass and many, many more.

What does Mayones have that others don't?

It looks so good. The rosewood fretboard with pearl inlays and one-piece maple neck is and plays beautiful.
The Eye poplar top does have that Butterscotch Blonde feel but those details in the wood upgrade the look.
The matching headstock is what I must have. Unless it's a maple fretboard, but I don't own that.
The solid 3D bridge which keeps pushing the tone.
Those Delano J-style pickups. These are the big poles and I do believe they impact the sound. From a deep growl to a fat jazzy burpy sound. No, it's not Fodera but it has charachter.
The one-piece maple body with deep cutaway to get to the 24th fret. If you want to go there anyway.
The battery compartment, it takes you three seconds to change the battery.
The overall craftsmanship. Check out the white binding, it looks like it grew on the White Binding tree. Or the neck pocket and how the pups fit. Nice work. No complaints.



Is it the bass?
Probably not. The passive switch is nice but this bass sounds so much better active.
The maple top is very touchy, it scratches easily. The Fame is made out of natural wood, scratches don't get a chance.
The bridge doesn't make it easy to get the fretbuzz out. So now I like some buzz. Adapt.
I'm not fond of the tuners. The bass is a Fender Jazz 'copy' so also has similar tuners. I just think they lack precision. Must be the new strings then.

But I like it. And it plays and sounds great.

1 reacties:

  1. Its like you read my mind! You seem to know a lot about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do with a few pics to drive the message home a bit, but other than that, this is great blog. An excellent read. I'll certainly be back.
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