Heartfield DR-4

the dr-4 has some some great features such as 22 frets, active pickups with volume, tone and balance knobs with an active switch. the low impedence output really allows you a variety playing atmospheres. the finish is great looking and the head is very cool with the transparent look allows you to see the fiber mesh in the head which is all factory. it has somewhat of jazz body curves and is very lightweight. the neck is very thin and very fast.

I am impressed with the range of the dr-4 sound. The bass has a good low thump and is impressivly bright. you really have to dial this thing in though it can be a little too bright. once you get to know the controls it is a good sounding bass. great for pop and slap. i have heard of theses basses having a bad buzz through the amp but mine is dead silent. with the low z output it does sound better in the studio than live. It could have a little more thump but is not lacking.

the bass was set up great with a very low action and no vibration against the frets. the finish is what caught my eye. the bass is almost a camelion green IT IS GORGEOUS! apart from some scratches i love it. everything original still works great but the 1/4 and low z outputs developed a terrible scratching noise. i took the bass apart and a little wd-40 fixed the problem completly. maybe the wd-40 is a good idea for anybody having buzzing problems.

the dr-4 I own is solid. i play live at least twice a week and always use mine over my other basses(ibanez,fender,musicman)simply because it is weightless on your shoulders and the sound is good. this is a pretty old bass with alot of miles and everything seems solid. i have had no problems with any hardware or failure issues. no truss adjusments have been needed the neck is straight as an arrow.

i have never needed to use the customer support. seeing that the heartfield line was discontinued in 1993 it is probably non-existant.

i have been playing for 10 years and never found basses like the heartfield dr basses.i have a fender p bass, ibanez sdgr and a musicman stingray and i choose my dr-4. the look of the bass is awesome, the speed you find behind the slim neck and the light wieght build will keep you playing for hours. being that they are somewhat rare i am always looking for another. it does not have as meaty sound as a stingray or the well rounded ibanez but everything combined i am very happy with mine and do recommend getting one if you have the chance.

4 string version of the DR-5. I say this, because the DR-5 is the real king ass-shaker, groove-maker, son of God LOL The DR-4 is just the little brother :)

Basically the same electronics, but I've tried both and the DR-5 is less buzzy - picks up less RFI for some reason.

Let me say for sure these kick ass, but just not as much as the DR-5

Very good sound but it is no DR-5. God the DR-5, you put some taper-wound steels on them they sound great! :) The DR-4, it sounds basically like a Fender, with tighter lows and more snappy hight - thankfully if you want a darker sound you can dial it out with the onboard EW - but it doesn't make it sound like a DR-5. The whole compression balance is much different. The DR-4 is substantially LESS compressed, due to the smaller body the sustain drops off much quicker, so the sound is very attacky and snappy comparison. I prefer the DR-5 but if you want really in your face snap the DR-4 can do it with a bit less tweaking. Also the fundamental tone of this thing is different - it is higher, not the deep throaty 10-pound growl of the DR-5 - the DR-4 is only 7 pounds - not the big massive sound quite as much - but more of a "punchy" sound. Less like a piano, and more like a "bass". SHit the DR-5 can sound EXACTLY like a piano if you set it right and use big seel on it :)

This bass was absolutely beat to shit. I mean, it has two HUGE cracks almost completely through the body like someone had a fight with it used it as a weapon against a building. Still sounds great though. I'm returning this piece of shit anyway - stopped payment on the mail frauding bastard :P

Aside from the user-induced damage, there are no flaws whatsoever on the bass.

The neck of this DR-4 is not as stable, strong, rigid, or good sounding (in my opinion) as the DR-5, BUT it is VASTLY superior to ANY Fender or other "estttm brand" bass. It is full of graphite after all. I just notice how more rock solid the DR-5 is by comparison that's all. Every time I try another bass - man the DR-5 just is the kick ass bass it is so cool! If you are considering buying any of these Heartfields on the used market DON'T! Man, do they suck! Yuk! Don't buy them (I will :)

Fujigen in Japan made these. Contact them :

http://www.fujigen.co.jp/

Email custom@fujigen.co.jp

Everybody contact them get them to start making the DR-5 again ! :-D

Hey, you never know - don't let them go changing everything - they are good just as they were - the world needs more Heartfield!

Good