NBD: Meyers TBM-4

[JB_From_Hell]

Yesterday, actually. Sold my mandolin to fund this. My first step into the world of boutique instruments, and my first bass with a preamp. Built in 2010 by John Meyers, book matched Koa top, swamp ash body, maple neck, rosewood board, Delano MM humbucker, John East preamp, switch for front coil, series, rear coil.

Got it for about 1/3 of the price had I ordered it from him, and the Delano and preamp were upgrades done by a previous owner.

I’ll post some better pics if it’s nice out tomorrow. Has a nitro finish, and I spent today stripping the neck, the did tung oil and beeswax.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: NBD: Meyers TBM-4

that is beautiful

did you say the previous owner modded the preamp
or had the upgraded preamp installed by the builder?

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: NBD: Meyers TBM-4

One of the previous owners swapped out the original pickup (Bartolini) and preamp for the Delano and East.

 

[Mincer]

Re: NBD: Meyers TBM-4

That koa is beautiful.

 

[ginormous]

Re: NBD: Meyers TBM-4

That koa is beautiful.

Agreed. That's a koa-lity instrument.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: NBD: Meyers TBM-4

Thanks guys.

I’m still goofing with the setup, trying to find that perfect balance between playing super easy and being able to dig in for dynamics. Right now, I’m erring on the playing easy side. I’m also thinking about removing the nitro from the body and going for tung oil and wax on the whole thing. The nitro looks very nice, but i think I’d love it more oiled.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: NBD: Meyers TBM-4

Also, here’s a better pic:

 

[Mincer]

Re: NBD: Meyers TBM-4

Damn, that's nice.
What's that pickup sound like?

 

[Mincer]

Re: NBD: Meyers TBM-4

Damn, that's nice.
What's that pickup sound like?

 

[d1dsj]

Re: NBD: Meyers TBM-4

Awesome, what a beautiful chunk a wood!

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: NBD: Meyers TBM-4

Damn, that's nice.
What's that pickup sound like?

Series sounds fat but really clear. I have no experience with Music Man basses, but the builder said he moved the pickup a little further toward the P pickup spot from where MM usually puts them. In series, it very much has that modern bass tone, kind of hi-fi sounding. On the neck coil, it's not unlike a P bass, and the bridge coil is a little thinner version. 99% of the time, I use it in series, but the neck coil with my OD on is a really sweet sound. Then I switch back to series and realize I like it better

East has a stacked mid control that I'm thinking of adding. If I do, I'll probably ditch the 3-way to avoid drilling another hole. Also thought about relocating the jack to the side, which would leave a space for another knob. I know that's a lot more surgery than a hole for a pot, but it doesn't involve defacing that koa.