Martin Keith Elfin 5 fretted bass

[jps]

I finally got my camera out to make some photos of my new Martin Keith. Some of you saw and played it at MARF IV.

[jps]

Details.

[cjj]

That's got some purdy wood on it!

[jingle_jangle]

Exquisite form,too,Jeff!

To me, this illustrates the gulf between archetypal and arbitrary shapes in the design of a guitar or bass.

Most free-form-sculpted basses come off as so very contrived and tortured into existence. This one's shape is so natural and comfortable to the eye.

I imagine that, since you've invested in one, it goes without saying that it plays and sounds exceptional as well?

[johnallg]

That's got some purdy wood on it!

Ain't that the truth!

[jps]

Thanks for the compliments, guys.

Paul, this is my second Martin Keith, the first one is a fretless that I got at NAMM 2010. These are wonderful sounding basses very full, warm, smooth tones, and they are capable of getting very aggressive sounds when needed. I love the Citron humbucking pickups; the passive electronics are unique in that besides the usual panning from bridge to neck pickup I can pull up on the tone control and pan from inner coils to outer coils of the two pickups, offering some really nice spaced single-coil type sounds, and still keep the humbucking nature of the pickups.

I have posted the outdoor photo of the fretless Elfin 5 in another thread here in the past, but here it is again along with a new studio shot.

[gellkeller]

A truly beautiful bass Jeff. It reminds me of a local builder, Jeff Mallia, but with a bolt on neck.

[ram]

It has almost an ancient look to it ... like some old mid evil lute or something with very modern lines... can't put my finger on it - that's just the vibe it get from it. Beautiful looking instrument! How do you tune it?

[jps]

BEADG on both, although EADGC might be an interesting change for me on the fretless Elfin.

[woodyng]

incredible looking instruments,Jeff! Are they 34" scale? The necks looks really wide,(at least at the body end)---are they fairly shallow like the 4004 necks?

[T.A.R.]

Jeff they are both beautiful! Thanks again for letting play with the fretless, amazing tone!

[jps]

The basses have 34 ½" scale, the nuts are 1 ⅞" and the string spacing at the bridge is ¾", all pretty standard fair, but the necks are thin with shallow shoulders along the necks, very comfortable.

[Geddy Lee]

Gorgeous bass! Congratulations.

[rickenbrother]

Jeff, I didn't get to play your bass, but I did go to meet Martin at the most recent NAMM show from your recommendation (thank you). If your Elfin matches Martin's personality, you have a truly wonderful instrument. Congratulations and enjoy it!

[bassman7365]

Thanks for letting me noodle on her Jeff. Was a wee bit nervous as the Fender fretless I experiment on is lined. But with such distinctive tonality, she was a dream. Made me appear to be more adept than I really am. Tell Shari, Lori and I are asking about her. Hope all is well