Lightwave Saber VL5 fretless bass
bass guitars January 3rd, 2010
Ed Friedland – The Bass Whisperer demonstrates the Lightwave Sabre VL5 fretless bass. This is the first in a series of demos featuring the Lightwave product line. For more info go to www.lightwave-systems.com
Duration : 0:9:59
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:12 am
The hybrid model …
The hybrid model has a magnetic pickup in the neck position along with the optical pickup, check their website.
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:12 am
Yes, in a few weeks.
Yes, in a few weeks.
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:12 am
Has anyone played …
Has anyone played the fretted model? It’d be interesting to hear how the frets interact with the hi-fi optic pickup and, in particular, the ice tone circuit.
I really liked the sound of this bass – but I’m a “neck pickup” kinda guy and it doesn’t really have that bark.
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:12 am
Awesome sounding …
Awesome sounding bass! Will you also be doing a review of a fretted version?
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:12 am
Not this year.
Not this year.
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:12 am
No problem, Ed.
I …
No problem, Ed.
I really like the Bass Whisperer thing. It’s pretty cool and it’s nice that you’re shedding some light on some lesser-known brands. Will I see you in Anaheim?
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:12 am
This model has 3/4″ …
This model has 3/4″ spacing which is roughly 19mm. Pretty standard spacing on a 5 string.
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:12 am
I played a …
I played a Lightwave bass about 4 years ago, and loved the tone — however, the wide string spacing at the bridge didn’t work for me. Anyone know if these basses can be ordered with closer bridge spacing (there seems to be a few mm space between the bridge units), and if so, how close they can get?
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:12 am
I have a first …
I have a first generation Lightwave system on a Zon Sonus 5 fretless. Best bass I’ve every played bar none. Absolute magic.
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:12 am
Donna Lee, I heard …
Donna Lee, I heard it immediately from the first note!
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:12 am
Yes, in fact they …
Yes, in fact they do have a hybrid model with both. Look at their website.
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:12 am
I imagine the only …
I imagine the only place to service this instrument if needed would be shipping it back to the company. I like the creative new ideas this bass guitar offers and the tone sounds very rich and smooth. However, I would definitely consider one if it offered both traditional magnetic pickups and lightwave pickups with the option of blending the two sounds together. Is a guitar in the making?
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:12 am
I agree with all Mr …
I agree with all Mr. Friedland I bought one one month ago and it’s a really great bass, really nice to play
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:12 am
wow. thats a pretty …
wow. thats a pretty cool pickup system
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:12 am
While it’s not a …
While it’s not a cheap bass, that doesn’t seem expensive to me. You can pay that (and a lot more) for basses that are just “regular” instruments. If you consider the time that went into R&D with this system, and the fact that it’s unique and no one else makes it…. not so bad.
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:12 am
Well, they’ve been …
Well, they’ve been building this system for quite a few years now, and they’ve got it de-bugged pretty well. You’re really at no more risk than playing any active bass without passive bypass. In fact, less. If your battery dies in the LW, you just plug it in.
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:12 am
Great review Mr. …
Great review Mr. Friedland. Nice to seen advancement coming to the best instrument out there
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:12 am
Thank you, Mr …
Thank you, Mr Friedland. Excellent Jaco stuff too. Very inspirational.
Well, you have to hand it to this company. They really decided to go a different route than everyone else. At least it’s not a Fender Jazz fretless clone like everyone else does.
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:12 am
Sounds and looks …
Sounds and looks amazing. You get what you pay for though…$1795.00 to be exact. Jeeesssh,
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:12 am
It sounds sooo good …
It sounds sooo good, but I feel like all of this is just more that can go wrong right before your gig starts… maybe not, though.
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:12 am
The body and neck …
The body and neck are built in Korea, but the electronics, optics, and bridge housing are made by Lightwave in the US.
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:12 am
It looks like …
It looks like something from the future. Nice work Korea!
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:12 am
They should just …
They should just get rid of the “wave” part of the name, and then the name of the bass will be “Light Saber”. Who wouldn’t want to buy a lightsaber?
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:12 am
I suck at tapping, …
I suck at tapping, so no worries.
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:12 am
Finally a Lightwave …
Finally a Lightwave bass demo where we can hear the tone of the bass, and not just some crazy tapping. Thank you Mr. Friedland!