Now I got a new bass

[MeYatch]

I got my new bass today when I got home from work. Its a Cort Curbow Fretless, and I got it used from some guy on talkbass.com. It looks like this:


Here's the specs if anyone cares:
http://www.cort.co.kr/english/products/ ... duct_id=91

but basically its a luthite body, and an unlined ebanol neck, 3 band active EQ with a "slap switch"

The first thing I could say about this bass is that its really light. The second thing I could say is that its really black, ha ha.

It balances really well on a strap with the long upper horn. It balances pretty lousy sitting down because of the really small lower horn.

Unamplified, I was surprised at how resonant, and loud it is, because its so small.

Amplified it has a very flat response. Very clear sounding. Thats pretty much why I bought it, so I'm very happy about that. Chords sound really clean. I don't think this would be the ideal bass for classic rock, but for what I want to do with it, its pretty great.

I've never owned a bass with an active EQ, so I'm not really sure what to say about that. Those of you with onboard preamps, do you pretty much set it and forget it, or do you tweak between songs, or in the middle of songs?

I havn't quite gotten the hang of the slap switch yet. There are trim pots on the back in the control cavity, but I'm not 100% sure what they do. I don't do a whole lot of slapping, but it does seem to bring out my pick sounds a little better.

I think it could use a set up. I'm getting some buzzing, especially in the first position. It came from Arizona, so its no surprise that it will need a truss rod tweak.

Overall this is a very light, very playable bass. I would definately reccomend this bass to other people. However, if you've got that fender sound in your head, this isn't going to get you there. I'm still experimenting with the EQ, but I havn't been able to get that single coil "jaco" sound that just erupts out of my fretless jazz.

I'll definately be getting to know this bass over the next few days. End of The Sun is planning on starting to record this weekend, so it will probably make a debut there.

[Team Transylvania]

Awesome!

[bassist_25]

Congrats on the new axe. I've heard lots of good things about the Curbows. If they're good enough for Adam Nitti, then I say that they're good enough for "Legends in Our Own Minds" like us. LMAO

Seriously though, awesome job on going with an unlined fingerboard. I don't care much for lined fretlesses, and I really wish it were possible to buy a new MIM or MIA unlined fretless Fender. I don't know why it's only MIJ Fenders that you can get unlined. I think that you'll dig the ebanol fretboard. It really is a cosmetically pleasing material. Plus, you can use round wounds on it with no problem. I really dig the body shape, and I'm sure the Bartolini gives it that sweet dark timbre. Personally, I like fretlesses to have a darker timbre when compared to fretted basses.

Those of you with onboard preamps, do you pretty much set it and forget it, or do you tweak between songs, or in the middle of songs?

Everyone's different. I've seen cats who do a lot of onboard adjusting while playing and others who just let things go once the set starts. I generally leave onboard EQs flat. What I do like onboard EQs for though is it allows me flexability when playing through backline that isn't mine. Like most people, I don't like to go messing with someone else's amp, so it's really nice to adjust my bass for some sort of sound that I can dig.

I havn't quite gotten the hang of the slap switch yet. There are trim pots on the back in the control cavity, but I'm not 100% sure what they do. I don't do a whole lot of slapping, but it does seem to bring out my pick sounds a little better.

The slap switch on my Jazz Bass scoops the high mids and puts more emphasis on the lows and low mids. The overall sound is less punchy but it's fatter in the bottom end.

[MeYatch]

Seriously though, awesome job on going with an unlined fingerboard. I don't care much for lined fretlesses

I do prefer the look of an unlined board. I don't look at the front of my fingerboard while playing, so it doesn't make a whole lot of difference to me. My jazz has block inlays, and they would look really stupid without fretlines I think. Some day I'd like to get a fretless with an inlay that goes up the fretboard, kind of like steve vai.

I think that you'll dig the ebanol fretboard. It really is a cosmetically pleasing material. Plus, you can use round wounds on it with no problem.

I like the look of it, but really its not much different than my fleishman with the ebony fingerboard, except upon close inspection. It was scary fast with the flatwounds that came on it. Zero resistance, very easy to slide right past where you were aiming and not be able to stop. Those flats lasted about 10 minutes, not a personal best, but close to it, ha ha.

The slap switch on my Jazz Bass scoops the high mids and puts more emphasis on the lows and low mids. The overall sound is less punchy but it's fatter in the bottom end.

It seems to be a pretty standard mid cut/bass and treble boost. I'm going to experiment with the trimpots to see if there's any other sounds available from it.

[RamRod 1]

I like the Pick-up position.

[Soulseeker]

Thats pretty sweet. I guess you should probably learn how to play bass now right?? Just kidding man, thats kool, i like it!!!

[metalchurch]

Very nice, Mitch. I like the finish and especially the satin silver hardware on it.
It has an active preamp, but is the Bartolini a passive pup or an active?
Probably a passive, I'm guessing.

The body is made of luthite, I wonder what tonal difference that makes?
What kind of wood does it compare to if any at all?

Christmas came early for Mitch this year!

To: Mitch
From: Mitch LOL!

[MeYatch]

Very nice, Mitch. I like the finish and especially the satin silver hardware on it.
It has an active preamp, but is the Bartolini a passive pup or an active?
Probably a passive, I'm guessing.

The body is made of luthite, I wonder what tonal difference that makes?
What kind of wood does it compare to if any at all?

Christmas came early for Mitch this year!

To: Mitch
From: Mitch LOL!

I don't really know, I think its probably a passive pickup.

I have no idea what luthite sounds like, because generally I think that when someone claims that any specific kind of wood has a specific sound to it, they are pontificating directly from their ass.

However, it feels very alive and resonant. I would not hesistate to own another instrument made of luthite. I opened up the control cavity the other day and it smells like lighter fluid or petroleum or something. I had heard that luthite smells funny, but I guess the smell has worn off the outside.

Thats pretty sweet. I guess you should probably learn how to play bass now right?? Just kidding man, thats kool, i like it!!!

Thats next on my agenda! Know anyone that gives good lessons?

[BassFinger]

Just noticed this thread. I've been tempted to try a Cort Corbow 5 string.

I'm not going to claim I can tell you how a particular wood sounds but I do know that a light wood is very resonant and responsive. Swamp Ash, which is lighter than most Ash, is a desirable wood for a responsive bass. Luthite is not wood wood but a composite material which is very light. When I think composite material (graphite, carbon fiber...), I think a punchy bass that can cut through the mix (aka...Steinberger, Zon, Modulus).

Congrats on the new axe! Maybe I'll get to hear it sometime.

[MeYatch]

yeah I don't know about the luthite. It feels like wood, and makes wood nosies when you hit it. Its very resonant, and very articulate sounding. Definately try out the 5 string if you get a chance, I really don't have any complaints about it, and its so light.

I'll be playing it in bedford tonight with end of the sun, before switching over to fretted basses with echo chamber.

[Banned]

Howz the Curbow working out???

[MeYatch]

pretty good, its on all of the End Of The Sun recordings that were posted in the general discussion area.

[Banned]

Cool, I may have to go back to the store and spend some "quality time" with the one I was looking at.