The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Other Bass Brands => Topic started by: drbassman on July 20, 2015, 06:47:51 AM
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Well, I've been gassing for another one and since they discontinued them, I thought now is the time. Got me a Broadkaster, brand new with papers. Never should have sold my first one, I missed it. These are great basses, right up there with the ThunderJet. Going to practice tomorrow with it.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/Basses/21c5d805-5b8b-4993-8698-0ff6760f6348_zpsg9kf4mhm.jpg) (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/drbassman/media/Basses/21c5d805-5b8b-4993-8698-0ff6760f6348_zpsg9kf4mhm.jpg.html)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/Basses/d774b7a6-e876-4b78-a4dc-e14d35a5977a_zpsi5sy14ew.jpg) (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/drbassman/media/Basses/d774b7a6-e876-4b78-a4dc-e14d35a5977a_zpsi5sy14ew.jpg.html)
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DROOL!
(I just am not a fan of those bridges though - floating so easy to replace)
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Ah, Dr. Bill, your taste continues to be impeccable!
Nobody does that luscious orange so well as Gretsch.
That looks a lot like your departed 5123....is it a thinner body?
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DROOL!
(I just am not a fan of those bridges though - floating so easy to replace)
I agree. I do have a floating Gretsch bridge with adjustable saddles. I'll probably change it out. Only flaw on this bass.
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Ah, Dr. Bill, your taste continues to be impeccable!
Nobody does that luscious orange so well as Gretsch.
That looks a lot like your departed 5123....is it a thinner body?
Thanks for the compliment Al. I missed that bass a lot over the years and just decided I wanted another. This one is a beauty for sure. I think the body on this bass is a bit thicker than the 5123. I could never get the 5123 to sound as good as this does. The difference in quality is real and noticeable. I did have a 6072 that I don't miss as much. An absolutely beautiful bass, but the long scale was unplayable for me. It too sounds great.
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Beautiful...
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Thanks for the compliment Al. I missed that bass a lot over the years and just decided I wanted another. This one is a beauty for sure. I think the body on this bass is a bit thicker than the 5123. I could never get the 5123 to sound as good as this does. The difference in quality is real and noticeable. I did have a 6072 that I don't miss as much. An absolutely beautiful bass, but the long scale was unplayable for me. It too sounds great.
Wow - my 5123 has the thickest body (front to back) that I have ever owned. Nearly an inch deeper than my Univox 335-copy or the Casady I had. Datsa lotta bass!
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Too big a body for me, but I'm glad you like it. And it's good to see you feeling up to posting more.
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Wow - my 5123 has the thickest body (front to back) that I have ever owned. Nearly an inch deeper than my Univox 335-copy or the Casady I had. Datsa lotta bass!
I could be wrong. I'll measure it today and we can compare.
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Too big a body for me, but I'm glad you like it. And it's good to see you feeling up to posting more.
I find it very manageable with the short scale. Yeah, I'm finally feeling better. I posted a comment about my illness in the Cafe.
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Measured the body, it's 2.5" thick. The other thing I noticed is its a heavy bass for a hollow body. All of that maple probably has something to do with it as well as the deep rich tone you get out of it. That hardwood gives it some nice clarity without mushiness.
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I'll check mine this evening and post...
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Wait, it's a shawty? Such unbearable GAS pains.
The main thing keeping me from wanting a White Falcon Bass (still want the guitar) is the long scale.
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OK, there's not as much difference as I thought.
My Gretsch 5123 body is 2 3/4" front to back. My old Univox 335-copy is only 1 7/8" front to back, so no wonder there's a very perceptible difference between them...but I can't think that 1/4" would make much diff between the 5123 and the Broadkaster.
I don't remember the dimensions of the Casady bass I had, but I think it was about 2" to 2 1/4" front to back.
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Wait, it's a shawty? Such unbearable GAS pains.
The main thing keeping me from wanting a White Falcon Bass (still want the guitar) is the long scale.
Yes, it's 30" scale. I love it. I did have a White Falcon briefly. Had a friend who needed money and he sold it to me cheap. A very cool bass, but like the 6072, I just couldn't manage the 34" scale on that huge body.
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I forgot to mention the bass really well at practice. With the original rounds on it, the bass sounded great with both pups full on. Not mushy, nice and clear with a nice balance between the highs and lows. I tried the neck only and the bridge pup only and the neck pup did really well. Lots of bass without totally washing out the highs.
It's going back next week. Going compare it with the ThunderJet.
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That's good. I'm thinking the Thunder Jet will win the comparison.
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That's good. I'm thinking the Thunder Jet will win the comparison.
We'll see. It does have TV Jones pups and they are pretty beefy.
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We'll see. It does have TV Jones pups and they are pretty beefy.
I'm really just guessing based on my preferences. :)
Between the TV Jones and the solid or sem-solid body, I know it would work better for me.
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I suspect the answer will be chocolate and vanilla, liking both.
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Well, Dave and Al were correct. Very different sounds from the two basses. Even with new rounds, the BK was more tame, old school in its tone. Pups are lower output and the overall sound using both pups was mellow, but distinct enough to be heard clearly. I liked the sound and the output was very even across the strings. The bass wasn't overly bassy, the mids and highs were equally represented.
The TJ was altogether different. It has old TI rounds on it and the TVJ pups are way stronger than the Gretsch. The output was clearer and the lows, mids and highs more defined. It has more bite to it, not mellow for sure. So, the TJ can definitely rock out better than the BK. it's nice they don't sound the same! I like them both and could see myself using the them alternately based on the songs I'm playing.
Side bar: BK owners often put TVJ pups in after they hear the difference. A very common mod for this bass.
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Even with TV Jones pickups, the Broadkaster isn't going to be as defined as the ThunderJet.
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Even with TV Jones pickups, the Broadkaster isn't going to be as defined as the ThunderJet.
Typical of the big body bass. The bigger the hollow body the less defined it is.
Conversely, my Gibson EB 650 kicks butt as much as any of my solid bodies because of the TB pups and I suspect the 34" scale helps some as well.
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Very nice! With chocolate and vanilla you can make a nice sundae! 8)
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In general, I find that hollowbodies lack a certain upper-mid punch that naturally comes with solid or semisolid bodies. You can compensate for it to some extent, of course, and it all depends on your own tonal preferences.
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Yes. My 5123 is one of only two basses I have left the rounds on, to give it just a bit more initial attack.
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In general, I find that hollowbodies lack a certain upper-mid punch that naturally comes with solid or semisolid bodies. You can compensate for it to some extent, of course, and it all depends on your own tonal preferences.
My problem is I love the old school sound of a hollow body with flats but I can't get enough mid and high definition to be heard properly in my band. It's just too sassy and indistinct. Even with the tweaks on the EQ and tone controls, it usually isn't enough.