Pastorius
05-13-2005, 07:51 PM
Overall: 4.5/5
This bass really suits me, and in my humble opinion looks great in the finish I have. The only way this bass irks me is that the B string is a little too muddy for my tastes, although I'm looking to get a higher gauge string to change this.
Factory set-up: 4/5
The set up is pretty nice, with a pretty low action, which I love, being the tapping fan that I am. My old bass had a disgustingly high action due to a bowed neck, so this was a breath of fresh air. With the low action it had no fret buzz, and responded very nicely.
Playability: 4.5/5
The A6 has a pretty thin neck, which drew me to it, for all us short handed guys/gals out there, a 6 string is never too far! :lol: But in all seriousness, it makes playing fingerstyle a whole bunch easier, and fretting becomes a mile easier once you get used to the string spacing (took me about 1-2 weeks), then you're flying. I was playing stuff I'd never dream of. And tapping? Get your right hand on that fretboard, because tapping has never been easier! Crank the pickup blend to the bridge and get yourself a lovely Myung-ish tone.
Electronics: 4.5/5
Active EQ - Bass, Mid, Treble.
Volume control, pickup blend.
Bartolini MK-1's. Not top of the range Bart's, but they certainly get the job done, and get it done well. They're still Bartolini's. :p
Tone: 4/5
The tone of this bass can be changed a lot, from an old tredbly radio sound to a realtively booming bass sound (with the right amp). The only department this bass lacks in slightly is the bottom end. Compared to my bass tutor's bass, the bottom end feels slightly empty. (bare in mind he plays a £2000 custom) But the range of tones you can get simply by cranking the mid range, or the pickup blend is lovely. You can go from a mellow fingerstyle creamy sound, then lower the bass + treble, crank the mids, stick the pickup all the way to bridge, and you get a bright zingy tapping tone. Nice. It cuts through the sound of a (rock) band well too, but can dominate the sound if not balanced correctly.
Hardware: 5/5
Hipshot tuners, not sure about the bridge, but it's sturdy, I know that. I'll check out the bridge later, I used to know what it was. This thing WILL NOT de-tune no matter how much I travel with it, or shove it in it's case, or keep it out. Whatever conditions I keep it in, it always seems to keep it's tuning. Very useful for gigging, minimises the jerking aroudn before you play.
All in all, a very nice bass, and for the £800 I paid for it, I am pleased with the results. This is a bass that will last me a lifetime, and I'm glad I bought it. It turns heads with it's looks, and keeps them there with it's sound. Nice bass.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/Pastorius/Bass002.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/Pastorius/Basses/Bass019.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/Pastorius/Basses/Bass010.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/Pastorius/Basses/Bass005.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/Pastorius/Basses/Bass004.jpg
This bass really suits me, and in my humble opinion looks great in the finish I have. The only way this bass irks me is that the B string is a little too muddy for my tastes, although I'm looking to get a higher gauge string to change this.
Factory set-up: 4/5
The set up is pretty nice, with a pretty low action, which I love, being the tapping fan that I am. My old bass had a disgustingly high action due to a bowed neck, so this was a breath of fresh air. With the low action it had no fret buzz, and responded very nicely.
Playability: 4.5/5
The A6 has a pretty thin neck, which drew me to it, for all us short handed guys/gals out there, a 6 string is never too far! :lol: But in all seriousness, it makes playing fingerstyle a whole bunch easier, and fretting becomes a mile easier once you get used to the string spacing (took me about 1-2 weeks), then you're flying. I was playing stuff I'd never dream of. And tapping? Get your right hand on that fretboard, because tapping has never been easier! Crank the pickup blend to the bridge and get yourself a lovely Myung-ish tone.
Electronics: 4.5/5
Active EQ - Bass, Mid, Treble.
Volume control, pickup blend.
Bartolini MK-1's. Not top of the range Bart's, but they certainly get the job done, and get it done well. They're still Bartolini's. :p
Tone: 4/5
The tone of this bass can be changed a lot, from an old tredbly radio sound to a realtively booming bass sound (with the right amp). The only department this bass lacks in slightly is the bottom end. Compared to my bass tutor's bass, the bottom end feels slightly empty. (bare in mind he plays a £2000 custom) But the range of tones you can get simply by cranking the mid range, or the pickup blend is lovely. You can go from a mellow fingerstyle creamy sound, then lower the bass + treble, crank the mids, stick the pickup all the way to bridge, and you get a bright zingy tapping tone. Nice. It cuts through the sound of a (rock) band well too, but can dominate the sound if not balanced correctly.
Hardware: 5/5
Hipshot tuners, not sure about the bridge, but it's sturdy, I know that. I'll check out the bridge later, I used to know what it was. This thing WILL NOT de-tune no matter how much I travel with it, or shove it in it's case, or keep it out. Whatever conditions I keep it in, it always seems to keep it's tuning. Very useful for gigging, minimises the jerking aroudn before you play.
All in all, a very nice bass, and for the £800 I paid for it, I am pleased with the results. This is a bass that will last me a lifetime, and I'm glad I bought it. It turns heads with it's looks, and keeps them there with it's sound. Nice bass.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/Pastorius/Bass002.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/Pastorius/Basses/Bass019.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/Pastorius/Basses/Bass010.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/Pastorius/Basses/Bass005.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/Pastorius/Basses/Bass004.jpg