Re: How different is the tone between 1st run Lemmy and 2nd run?
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 9:05 pm
John, you are "reversed". Steve's has the more elegant looking leaves. Mine is pictured first, on the left and Steve's is last.
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How different is the tone between 1st run Lemmy and 2nd run?
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Re: How different is the tone between 1st run Lemmy and 2nd run?
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 11:29 pm
Brian's (left) and Steve's together at RIO. Also note the difference in the carving areas:
Re: How different is the tone between 1st run Lemmy and 2nd run?
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 11:37 pm
That's a substantial difference in carving. Mega Cool.bassduke49 wrote:Brian's (left) and Steve's together at RIO. Also note the difference in the carving areas:
Was each Lemmy unique in this respect?
Re: How different is the tone between 1st run Lemmy and 2nd run?
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 11:40 pm
They were made to be played.incubus2432 wrote:When mine was next to Steve's (I love the carving on Steve's BTW) it was painfully obvious to me how "used" mine looks. The gold hardware is heavily worn and some of the edges of the carvings/body are slightly rounded from wear. I take great care of it by keeping it well oiled and the hardware is wiped down/waxed after any heavy use but my ham handed playing is certainly taking it's toll. On one hand it makes me giggle like a schoolgirl that it has some battle wear but on the other hand I wish it was as new looking as Steve's. This is in no way saying that Steve's LK doesn't get used or anything like that (I am only using his for a comparison since it's the only other one I have had my mitts on)......I am just a bit jealous of it's more pristine condition. Maybe he plays his like an adult?!?!?
Signs of wear indicate an instrument that's been enjoyed and loved!
Re: How different is the tone between 1st run Lemmy and 2nd run?
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 11:55 pm
Too late to edit the text....... Thanks for clarifying.incubus2432 wrote:John, you are "reversed". Steve's has the more elegant looking leaves. Mine is pictured first, on the left and Steve's is last.
Re: How different is the tone between 1st run Lemmy and 2nd run?
Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 1:34 am
Each was hand carved, so no two were identical. Many followed a pattern, though, and were similar, but some varied radically (as seen in photo above). So you could say that each was unique, yes.Ric N. Backer wrote:Was each Lemmy unique in this respect?
Re: How different is the tone between 1st run Lemmy and 2nd run?
Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 2:22 am
Excuse me....johnallg wrote:sloop_john_b wrote:Interesting fact: no Lemmy (except Crisman's) has ever been out of it's hermetically-sealed vault long enough to be plugged in.
Steve Wood plays his....
Mine has been on tour with me twice as my main bass.....
I'd post Youtube links, but I don't want to make you all jealous....
Re: How different is the tone between 1st run Lemmy and 2nd run?
Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 2:25 am
Dude. You should see Lemmy's two. The action is a mile high, and they both look as though he's used them to dig the garden with. Added to that, both of his have fake pickup covers screwed into them to act as a hand rest. I know how he feels about that. Over the last 30 years, I've gotten so used to using the bridge pickup cover as a hand rest, that I get cramp playing the 4004LK until I get used to it again.Ric N. Backer wrote:They were made to be played.incubus2432 wrote:When mine was next to Steve's (I love the carving on Steve's BTW) it was painfully obvious to me how "used" mine looks. The gold hardware is heavily worn and some of the edges of the carvings/body are slightly rounded from wear. I take great care of it by keeping it well oiled and the hardware is wiped down/waxed after any heavy use but my ham handed playing is certainly taking it's toll. On one hand it makes me giggle like a schoolgirl that it has some battle wear but on the other hand I wish it was as new looking as Steve's. This is in no way saying that Steve's LK doesn't get used or anything like that (I am only using his for a comparison since it's the only other one I have had my mitts on)......I am just a bit jealous of it's more pristine condition. Maybe he plays his like an adult?!?!?
Signs of wear indicate an instrument that's been enjoyed and loved!
Re: How different is the tone between 1st run Lemmy and 2nd run?
Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 4:51 pm
They were made to be played, that's for sure.gareth wrote:Dude. You should see Lemmy's two. The action is a mile high, and they both look as though he's used them to dig the garden with. Added to that, both of his have fake pickup covers screwed into them to act as a hand rest. I know how he feels about that. Over the last 30 years, I've gotten so used to using the bridge pickup cover as a hand rest, that I get cramp playing the 4004LK until I get used to it again.Ric N. Backer wrote:They were made to be played.incubus2432 wrote:When mine was next to Steve's (I love the carving on Steve's BTW) it was painfully obvious to me how "used" mine looks. The gold hardware is heavily worn and some of the edges of the carvings/body are slightly rounded from wear. I take great care of it by keeping it well oiled and the hardware is wiped down/waxed after any heavy use but my ham handed playing is certainly taking it's toll. On one hand it makes me giggle like a schoolgirl that it has some battle wear but on the other hand I wish it was as new looking as Steve's. This is in no way saying that Steve's LK doesn't get used or anything like that (I am only using his for a comparison since it's the only other one I have had my mitts on)......I am just a bit jealous of it's more pristine condition. Maybe he plays his like an adult?!?!?
Signs of wear indicate an instrument that's been enjoyed and loved!
Re: How different is the tone between 1st run Lemmy and 2nd run?
Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 5:05 pm
What's the story with the name? Were they designed especially for Lemmy or did Lemmy just buy some and soon they simply became known as the Lemmy bass?
Re: How different is the tone between 1st run Lemmy and 2nd run?
Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 5:15 pm
John, they were a special marketing effort, similar to the "signature editions" but without (of course) a signature as on the Tom Petty's, Susanna Hoffs, Chris Squire's, etc. I believe the plan was to have 50 made, but it ended up being 60. It was first marketed in 1995, but early production models appeared in 2001, with the last in 2006 (as far as I can tell). They even had a photos session done with Lemmy to promote:
Re: How different is the tone between 1st run Lemmy and 2nd run?
Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 5:17 pm
I've never seen Lemmy smile before. Looks photoshop'd on 'em.
I can just image the marketing folks on that one. Before, it was like...Hey, let's find this great guitarist hot chick...Susanna Hoffs...
For that one it's like... Hey, lets find the baddest bad arse we can....
I can just image the marketing folks on that one. Before, it was like...Hey, let's find this great guitarist hot chick...Susanna Hoffs...
For that one it's like... Hey, lets find the baddest bad arse we can....
Re: How different is the tone between 1st run Lemmy and 2nd run?
Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 7:26 pm
If I recall correctly ther were two different people that carved the Lemmys. One person did all the early ones and the other the latter ones. This may acount for some of the differences.
Re: How different is the tone between 1st run Lemmy and 2nd run?
Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 8:26 pm
There were four that I remember and maybe more I've forgotten. The first ones were done by John Quarterman, then Mike Ponce and Adam Page. The last ones were done by Rick Seccombe, who was probably the most skilled of all and who also pushed the limits of the original design.ken_j wrote:If I recall correctly ther were two different people that carved the Lemmys. One person did all the early ones and the other the latter ones. This may acount for some of the differences.
John Quarterman was well known for his work with Dobro before he joined us. Mike Ponce was a Fender Custom shop masterbuilder when he joined us. Adam Page, his cousin is the son of John Page, of Fender fame. Rick Seccombe was a long time handwired amp builder and I believe worked at Matchless. All were attached to our now defunct acoustic guitar department and also built acoustics at the same time they were carving these basses.
Re: How different is the tone between 1st run Lemmy and 2nd run?
Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 8:52 pm
Any idea of what numbers these guys did ? I would love to know who exactly carved #26.....johnhall wrote:
There were four that I remember and maybe more I've forgotten. The first ones were done by John Quarterman, then Mike Ponce and Adam Page. The last ones were done by Rick Seccombe, who was probably the most skilled of all and who also pushed the limits of the original design.