Knutson Luthiery - Messenger Custom DLX
Reviewer: Ben Loy
- Vintage: 1999
- Number of Strings: 4
- Double bass strings compatible
- Bowable: Yes
- Thumb Reference: E♭
- Balance While Playing:
(8/10)
I bought this bass a year ago to learn the upright after playing electric for many years. A great bass. I've been playing it with Nick Palumbo and the Flipped Fedoras now for eight months now, and everyone is really happy with the sound.
Swing fans place a lot of emphasis on style, so I do get some questions/quizzical looks from dancers, but the band is so happy with the sound that it makes little difference to me what they think. Not to mention the fact I don't have to start up a van to get home from a gig at the end of the night!
The construction is first-rate. Ebony fingerboard, rock maple neck, etc. The carved spruce top is hollow to get more of that "swelling" sound that comes from a real upright. The arco sound with the optional Barbera transducer system is wonderful. John is very accomadating to special requests, offers the bass in multiple scale lenghts (40" and 41.5" are his standard offerings), does custom finishing, etc.
All in all, an excellent bass, and a great deal. The clevinger and the NS cost several thousands more, but this bass is right up there in terms of quality.
Text copyright © Ben Loy.
