2012 Non Reverse Cataldo Basses

[dadagoboi]

Done and Donner fly away tomorrow.  They have been fun builds, the Fiver is tuned to Bb and has DR Sunbeams per customer request.  The NR4 has a ThunderBucker Max and Smith Rock Masters.

[Rob]

More excellent work Carlo.
Now. . . every time you post pics I look for the "airbrushed" trees.

[Nocturnal]

Beautiful!!!

[godofthunder]

 I feel a bought of G.A.S. coming on................................sigh.

[Pilgrim]

I'm not a Tbird guy, but I think those are fantastic!

[Denis]

Damn, that seafoam green five is a knockout!

[sniper]

i'm liking that red offering to the gods

[Bionic-Joe]

Lookin' sharp!!!! nice bridge!!

[dadagoboi]

Thanks, guys!  Both customers are very happy with their basses.  I hope to get some sound clips and pix from them.

The one on the right is my ultra light, has a 2 bolt neck, no pick guard and floating bridge.  Weighs 7.4 lbs, balances and sounds great.  I plan on keeping it just the way it is. 

[Highlander]

Beautiful in her simplicity... au naturale...

[dadagoboi]

Painted Scott's NR41 this week.  2 coats sealer, filler, 2 coats primer, 1 coat pelham, 2 coats clear.  A few more clear coats and finishing will be done.

Primer


Pelham


Clear


Quite a bit of color shift depending on the light!
 

[godofthunder]

OMG I'm peeing my pants! VERY excited about this bass 

[Highlander]

[envy]Carlo, you are a cruelly talented man...[/envy]

[jumbodbassman]

Scott the fiver showed up safe and sound.  thanks. 

First impression only as i got it late last night and could n't really let loose. 

Carlo  - the bass is the most comfortable thunderbird (reverse or NR)  that i have ever played.  No neck dive and plays  much shorter than a  "real" NR  for us nerdy "hold the bass high up finger playing types"...   Seems low slingers and pick players don't hate Birds as much as i  seem to do.     My third Cataldo bass clearly has the best paint job by far.  Excellent color and shine.  Nice and light weight,  reminds me of my alder weight fenders from the late 60's - 72 era.   i wasn't sure about the 17.5MM spacing but i really like it a lot  now that i have it in my hands.      reminds me of my first 5 string MM bass  which i regret having ever sold.  Not sure i will ever look at a full scale (19MM) five string the same. 
Sound -   Played it rather low thru my B15S but a very grindy 66 tbird sound .    Not sure i like the one pickup setup.  again this finger players thing as the bridge pickup always seems to add some clarity more than treble to my sound especially depending on where my hand is placed.  much less of an issue with a pick but i very seldom use one and doubt i ever will with the tight spacing on the fiver.    Carlo i may have to send her down to you for a mod......

[dadagoboi]

Glad you like it, Jim!  I have around 45 basses worth of paint experience now, the finish work has definitely improved and my current prices reflect that.  The compact headstock definitely helps with balance. 

Since a '66 neck pickup and '63 bridge pup are the same (both for vintage Gibsons and ThunderBuckers), it would be easy to move your neck pickup to the bridge position and have Steve wind a '63 EX5 neck.  That should give you the sound you're looking for.  I'd be happy to do it.