Our own dear Amy Humphrey with Clatter, lovin' that 12-string.
Re: Waterstone Guitars...
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:25 pm
by jingle_jangle
I've owned and played Waterstone 12ers for a couple of years now, and many of you know that I converted one of Tom Petersson's TP-12s to solid state Light Show specs. For those who haven't, here are a couple of photos:
Monster guitars with HUGE sound.
I've been working with Bob Singer, President of Waterstone, on some projects which will see the light of day in a few short months. Bob's a dyed-in-the-wool Rickenbacker nut, as some of you know. He's also a good customer of yours truly...
Re: Waterstone Guitars...
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:40 pm
by weemac
Myself and qwezirider (Bruce Thomsen) have the 32" scale tp-12 basses.
Current tp-12s are 32" with pearl tops, I believe they are lighter then the older ones.
My galaxy yo-yo glow tp-12 is my main performing bass, they sit well on the strap and despite the weight dont seem to give me back aches. I supect that the large flat body makes you stand straight and stops you from slouching.
Pickup output is strong but warm and still sort of clear and chiming. Althouth they probably have Artec pickups they have been speced with Alnico magnets to keep away from any nastyness in the treble frequencies.
You have to set the action fairly low to keep them playable but the necks are well shaped with a 48mm nut (apart from the earlier tp-1 and tp-2 models which have a 2-1/4" nuts on them)
I love the waterstone tp-12s
Eden.
Re: Waterstone Guitars...
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 8:35 pm
by antipodean
Any opinion on 12 vs 8 strings, and short vs medium vs long scale? I've been "jonesing" (easy for me to do) for a bass with octave strings for some time but haven't been able to find any to A/B in this neck of the woods...other that S-neck 4003S/8 that was in Sydney last year. I've had the impression that long-scale 8/12s will neck-dive (due to the longer head and extra tuners) and have a higher propensity for neck instability - are these fears unfounded?
Re: Waterstone Guitars...
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 8:49 pm
by weemac
An 8 string at full scale is fine but once you get to 12 strings it's nice to shorten the scale a bit.
I have a full scale custom made (Jack Spira) 8 and it plays so well (I don't like the emgs so much though)
I had a full scale 12ver and although it set up fine the wide nut and extra strings made it very painfull to play for any length of time. I even had to take the strap off to tune it as I couldn't reach the far tuners.
The 32" Waterstones once set up can be played all night with only the occasional panadol....
A 12 string does sound very different to an 8 string though.
An 8 sounds like a 4 string with extra presence and bite and tends to cut through the middle of the soundscape.
A 12ver sounds like a wall of choursed sound that supports and surrounds the rest of the soundscape.
Evan, come over the hill to portland some time and you can try out my 8 and 12....
Eden.
Re: Waterstone Guitars...
Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 12:12 am
by jingle_jangle
antipodean wrote:Any opinion on 12 vs 8 strings, and short vs medium vs long scale? I've been "jonesing" (easy for me to do) for a bass with octave strings for some time but haven't been able to find any to A/B in this neck of the woods...other that S-neck 4003S/8 that was in Sydney last year. I've had the impression that long-scale 8/12s will neck-dive (due to the longer head and extra tuners) and have a higher propensity for neck instability - are these fears unfounded?
The Waterstones have necks like logs that take some getting used to. It is real work to play one for any period of time, at least for me. There is some neck dive, due to strap button location...there's no other place to put it on an LP-shaped bass. A GIANT LP-shaped bass, I hasten to add.
Re: Waterstone Guitars...
Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 12:37 am
by qwezirider
What Eden said about mine! And Paul too. They are a fair amount of work to get used to, but it's fun to have to think about playing sometimes. Mine is allegedly a prototype of the 32" scale as per the guy who does setup work for them. It's definitely a fun beast to hear.
Re: Waterstone Guitars...
Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 12:47 am
by weemac
jingle_jangle wrote:The Waterstones have necks like logs that take some getting used to. It is real work to play one for any period of time, at least for me. There is some neck dive, due to strap button location...there's no other place to put it on an LP-shaped bass. A GIANT LP-shaped bass, I hasten to add.
True definately for the 34" scale ones. The 32s are easier all round (and apparently sound punchier)
The bulk of second hand ones are going to be 34s (as they they were the standard model)
The 32s were a special model have since become the standard and the 34" is NLA
The first 32s had a smaller body than the 34s (Like Bruce's one above)
The second lot of 32s had the larger body of the 34s. you can spot them by the 14.5 fret neck/body joint (mine is from the Red sparkle test run of these ones)
The latest lot of 32s have the large body (But thinner) and a repositioned neck, back to a 15 fret neck/body joint. The pearl top is also a giveaway.
Best advice is to try to find a 32" scale one.....
The Hamer B12s (30") and B12m (32") are also worth considering (cost a lot though)
Eden.
Re: Waterstone Guitars...
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 3:23 pm
by crazypink
The legend that is Bruce Foxton with his Waterstone Brighton '64 used to play Start, a Waterstone Lulu his back up bass, and another Waterstone semi also used for Start!
