Check out my new fretless Stradi bass! This is the most expressive instrument I’ve ever had, the vibrato, sustain, and definition are spectacular. Here’s the first solo piece with lots of fun double stops, mwah, staccato fingerstyle, slides and some funky improvisation. It took 3 weeks a few hours a day to write, rehearse, and perform this in one take. The first bonding time with a new instrument is always special, but this bass triggers my brain like no other, it’s beyond inspiring to experience its sonic possibilities. Been playing fretless for some time but didn’t know this much definition in tone, sustain and resonance could be present, seems an ultimate blend of modern in-your-face sound and classical finesse with all its benefits.
Marek Dąbek is one of the finest luthiers around today, together with his wife Agnieszka this most wonderful couple builds these amazing instruments with incredible eye for detail. The stunning fingerboard is made of Bocote, with an Amazaque neck and solid roasted Alder body, the top wood is quartersawn Oak with a Shou Sugi Ban finish, all woods are made from one piece. Pickups are Delano Xtender and a custom piezo with Glockenklang preamp, slide pots and coil switch are on the back. It has an Ebony bridge and nut, Gotoh tuners and strap locks, glow in the dark Luminlay side markers and silver eyelets with crushed turquoise. The top wood is treated with fire, Japanese Yakisugi style.
I used Ernie Ball Super Slinky strings, the bocote fingerboard is hard and takes roundwounds well. I used 3 pedals: a Rodenberg 707b clean booster, a Darkglass Hyper Luminal compressor and at some parts a Boss OC-2 octaver. I used my Eich T-1000 amp and recorded into a Focusrite preamp into my laptop into Cubase.
Drums by Jack Irons (RHCP/Pearl Jam). He recorded and mixed it himself, I recorded this take on his stereo mix and mixed it in Cubase. No post processing or plugins used, just some volume adjustments, mastering was done with Ozone. More recordings in the works!
This type of Stradi bass is called Symphony. I named this bass Symphony Cora, after my dear late mother who loved my fretless playing for its soothing sound. I wrote “White Orchid” () beside her during her last months back in 2011 and with this Stradi bass I’m now recording the full band version of the song. I’m fortunate to be friends with Marek and Agnieszka and they were around when we started the studio recording in LA last February, we envisioned it would take the sound to the next level. I played White Orchid on a 5-string Stradi similar to this bass, owned by producer John Heintz, and we couldn’t think of a better fretless sound to fit the song. Only thing was, for my fingerstyle playing I need some space underneath the strings, so for this built Marek made a recess in the extended fingerboard at my plucking position, the result couldn’t have turned out better and I’m very grateful. White Orchid should be out later this year!
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2 months ago 00:03:30 1
This fretless Stradi bass is phenomenal
2 months ago 00:42:42 1
Interwoven 🍃 Nature-Inspired Folktronica Music by Iyakuh &
3 months ago 00:11:13 1
Nice and easy crochet earrings | Aqua
3 months ago 00:16:58 1
Estas Tonne & Tatjana Branoff & Bernd Bechtloff - Cloud Dance [Remastered]
3 months ago 00:05:47 6
FIRST FRAGMENT - Soif Brûlante (Fretless Bass Playthrough) by Dominic “Forest“ Lapointe
3 months ago 00:56:54 1
Joe Zawinul: Solo Keyboard (1985)
3 months ago 00:01:52 1
Eruption - Van Halen - Violin Cover By Nina D
3 months ago 00:06:03 4
Even Flow Bass cover, fretless bass (Pearl Jam)
3 months ago 00:04:47 1
Jeff Schmidt Live Solo Bass [Bound-ruiner severhead]
3 months ago 00:12:01 1
99% People Satisfying When See This CNC Working Process. Perfect Machines Technology
3 months ago 01:18:29 1
Klaus Schulze - Into The Blue
3 months ago 00:00:55 1
E-Bow on fretless bass sounds UNREAL
3 months ago 00:06:38 1
David Gilmour/Roy Harper - Short and Sweet, live in 1984
3 months ago 00:01:01 70
Ловец Духов - Nadishana
3 months ago 00:01:02 1
Playing God but it’s on FRETLESS bass
3 months ago 00:03:18 1
Sound of Silence on FRETLESS Bass Sounds HAUNTINGLY Beautiful
3 months ago 00:06:00 5
Converting a Bass Instantly to Fretless! Testing the Flatter
3 months ago 00:02:14 1
Tony Franklin • Open G Jam • Massive Sound
3 months ago 00:02:34 7
Under The Bridge On FRETLESS Bass Sounds SUBLIME
3 months ago 00:03:08 6
Tears in Heaven on FRETLESS bass sounds MAJESTIC
3 months ago 00:09:40 1
I got this Omnichord for $10 at a thrift store! (+ a sample library for patrons)
4 months ago 00:15:05 1
РАГА МЕГХ/ राग मेघ/ RAAG MEGH
4 months ago 00:22:34 1
How Marcin breaks the internet (and his nails) with his guitar
4 months ago 00:00:56 1
Fretless Bass Groove with Bass TAB - Bass Practice Diary - 15th January 2019