DiPinto Belvedere?

[dg27]

I'm in the midst of a somewhat casual search for a long-scale semi-hollow bass and I've posted a few times about it. Considered a Jack Casady, but I'm concerned about neck dive. It also has a 12" fingerboard radius: Not sure I'd like that. Posted here about a Schector Baron H and the silence was deafening: 0 replies--guess I'll pass on that.

Came across a company I'd never heard of, DiPinto. They make something called the Belvedere that looks pretty nice.

http://goo.gl/U4SlRA



Wondering whether anyone knows anything about these.

 

[BlueTalon]

Re: DiPinto Belvedere?

Isn't any semi-hollow long-scale bass going to be susceptible to neck dive?

 

[dg27]

Re: DiPinto Belvedere?

I don't know, but I've heard that it can sometimes be affected by where the top strap button is positioned. (And I'm guessing that some might be worse than others.)

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: DiPinto Belvedere?

Unless the centre block of a semi-solid instrument is seriously dense, neck dive is the default setting.

 

[dg27]

Re: DiPinto Belvedere?

Unless the centre block of a semi-solid instrument is seriously dense, neck dive is the default setting.

Thanks, FF--I was hoping you'd weigh in.

One question about this: My '69 Gibson EB-1 is solid mahogany and the body weighs a ton. This has neck dive: I'm not clear on why that's so based on what you said above. Wouldn't a dense solid body have the same affect as a dense center block (and prevent neck dive)?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: DiPinto Belvedere?

Solidity or hollowness is irrelevant. The issue is mass and distribution.

The first Gibson "Les Paul" SG electric guitars came equipped with the Maestro Vibrola bridge and balanced perfectly on a strap. When Gibson changed to a shorter vibrato tailpiece and then the stopbar/Tune-o-Matic combination, the mass was reduced and the fulcrum point shifted towards the headstock. The EB-3 and EB-0 were always similarly unbalanced. Your EB-1, I cannot explain without knowing where the strap buttons are positioned.

 

[dg27]

Re: DiPinto Belvedere?

Thanks for your insight.

Solidity or hollowness is irrelevant. The issue is mass and distribution.

Got it.

Your EB-1, I cannot explain without knowing where the strap buttons are positioned.

It's in the conventional place.



The neck dive on this has always been a PITA, IMO.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: DiPinto Belvedere?

Consider that the strap button on a Fender P or J Bass lies directly above the 12th fret AND some distance above the centre line of the fingerboard.

If your EB-1 has the extendable spike for upright playing, you could hang a counter-balance weight on that.

A more serious option might be those stands that Pat Metheny used to use onstage for his electric twelve string and Alex Lifeson used for the acoustic intro of "Closer To The Heart". These will look daft but not as daft as lying on a hospital bed in traction.

 

[dg27]

Re: DiPinto Belvedere?

Consider that the strap button on a Fender P or J Bass lies directly above the 12th fret AND some distance above the centre line of the fingerboard.

Wow--this never would have occurred to me. It looks like this DiPinto might be almost as bad: the button is around the 17th fret. On the EB-1 it's around the 19th.

If your EB-1 has the extendable spike for upright playing, you could hang a counter-balance weight on that.

Can't remember whether it does. Although I started in upright (school orchestra as a kid), I was never interested...

A more serious option...

I think the option I've been using is the best for me: Sticking with my other basses. On my Warmoth the button is around the 15th fret, but that one is nowhere near as bad as the EB-1.

Thanks for all your help.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: DiPinto Belvedere?

Even the difference between a P or J and the stubby upper horn of your Mustang Bass should be detectable when worn on a strap.

The extendable spike/stand of the EB-1 was another Gibson marketing "first". Frets to compete with Leo Fender's invention and the option to play upright in an attempt to win over contrabassists. I don't think that anyone seriously expected a bow to be weilded à la Viol family.

 

[dg27]

Re: DiPinto Belvedere?

Even the difference between a P or J and the stubby upper horn of your Mustang Bass should be detectable when worn on a strap.

The Mustang has always felt like a toy; dive was never an issue, possible because overall it's small.

The extendable spike/stand of the EB-1 was another Gibson marketing "first". Frets to compete with Leo Fender's invention and the option to play upright in an attempt to win over contrabassists. I don't think that anyone seriously expected a bow to be weilded à la Viol family.

The EB-1 was my first bass. I bought it strictly because I liked the body shape (and it was cheap). Knowing what I know now, I never would have touched it.

Thanks.

 

[Big]

Re: DiPinto Belvedere?

Isn't any semi-hollow long-scale bass going to be susceptible to neck dive?

Nearly any long scale is susceptible to neck dive. Of course I havr never played without hands so I really weigh the tone.

Sent from my SM-T210R using Tapatalk

 

[BlueTalon]

Re: DiPinto Belvedere?

Of course I havr never played without hands so I really weigh the tone.

Can you repeat this part in English please?

 

[dg27]

Re: DiPinto Belvedere?

My question exactly.

 

[jtougas]

Re: DiPinto Belvedere?

Being a child of the '80s, I totally misread that title, and was a little afraid of clicking on the thread...

 

[dg27]

Re: DiPinto Belvedere?

Being a child of the '80s, I totally misread that title, and was a little afraid of clicking on the thread...

I have no idea what this can mean. DiPinto is small guitar manufacturer out of Philly.

 

[jtougas]

Re: DiPinto Belvedere?

Well, skip the first 'i'...

But in the interest of not derailing this too far with my caffeine depraved mind, nice looking bass, but I've no experience with 'em.

But my aesthetic reasoning is kinda asking for some white binding on the outside of the body...

And Ibanez makes a few different semi-hollow basses as well, that may be worth looking into... though they are shorter scale, they may balance better, and you may be able to offset the scale length with a heavier string. And an older model may have been made full-length.

Gretsch makes a hollow long scale...

If you're comfortable with fretless, Spector makes the SpectorCore...

G & L ASAT Bass?

 

[BlueTalon]

Re: DiPinto Belvedere?

Still not tracking. If there's a specific reference, the rest of us aren't getting it.

 

[dg27]

Re: DiPinto Belvedere?

Well, skip the first 'i'...

Still have no clue.

But my aesthetic reasoning is kinda asking for some white binding on the outside of the body...

The sides and the entire back are white.

And Ibanez makes a few different semi-hollow basses as well, that may be worth looking into... though they are shorter scale, they may balance better, and you may be able to offset the scale length with a heavier string. And an older model may have been made full-length.

I have long arms and really dislike short-scale basses. That's why I never play my Gibson EB-1 or Fender Mustang.

Thanks.

dg

 

[jtougas]

Re: DiPinto Belvedere?

Okay, last hint...