This is the latest creation from the German master luthier Gerald Marleaux and also one of his most special basses ever. This bass has been designed from scratch to be the PERFECT FRETLESS BASS and we think he has succeeded. It combines neck thru body construction with a continuous fingerboard that extends from the bridge up to the headstock, providing a lot of sustain.
The 3 Octave + fingerboard is only interrupted by the custom Delano Quad Coil that has been specially designed for this bass in collaboration with Gerald Marleaux. The result is an ultra sensitive bass that just begs you to play and play. You can dramatically alter the tone using your right hand's position and dynamics, and it responds effortlessly to the subtlest changes.
Single Coil mode offers a pure sound with lots of definition; turn the Tone pot a little but and you'll get a more traditional sound; cut the tone completely and you'll get that trademark dark growly tone. Parallel mode yields a more open and bright sound and again the Tone control proves to offer a lot of variation. Series mode is darker and offers stronger low mids, making it ideal for band use with drums.
Harmonics seem to jump off the fingerboard. You can set a ridiculous low action and get a million of great tones just by changing your dynamics. If you play over the pickup (it features a thumb rest) you'll get a great staccato tone, but if you move it towards the neck you'll get as much growl and "mwah" as you'll ever want.
The side of the neck has both dots and lines making it very easy to play in tune while keeping the gorgeous White Ebony board plain. We personally chose this tonewood for the fingerboard and we are thrilled to report it plays, feels, sounds and looks just amazing.
We were lucky enought to visit Marleaux's shop a few years ago when the prototye of this bass was being developed, so it is always a party when we get one of these aptly named basses. Please welcome a new DIVA.