Product: Iceni Zoot Performer
Price Paid: US $850
Submitted
11/12/2003
at
09:44am
by
Tom Wall
Email: sixty4tw at yahoo<dot>com
Features
:
10
2001 model, assembled in the UK from parts made in Japan. 34" scale, 24 frets. 2 Volume, Tone, Blend controls. Iceni CSD Pickups (one Jazz Bass style, one double). John East active electronics. Solid Swamp Ash body, natural hand-rubbed oil finish. Neck is 7 piece laminate of maple and bubinga. Unique body style. Iceni design bridge. Gotoh tuners. Thin, fast neck, satin finish.
Sound
:
10
A very versatile bass that suits many styles. Using it primarily in the studio through a JoeMeek channel strip with little or no compression. Very quiet with a huge variety of tones. The active circuit sounds amazing and although there is a bypass, this one active bass that have purpose and tone. It would probably impress many "passive only" enthusiasts. An all around tone monster equally suited to the studio or stage. Simplt beautiful sounding instrument.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
No Opinion
This is still primarily a custom shop instrument so it was very carefully set-up in the shop before shipping. Even after being shipped overseas, it needed only a few very minor tweaks. This bass is assembled and fitted in a flawless manor. Build quality is as good as anything I have seen or played.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
I see no reason this bass will not hold up like a tank even with lots of live playing. Of course the hand-rubbed oil finish provides little protection, but anyone owning one of these beauties is going to be overly protective of it anyway! Although I have a back-up I would not worry about it.
Customer Support
:
10
I can think of no other Luthier who knows how to treat his customers the way Mike Walsh does. He's a pleasure to work with and will always respond prompltly to any inquiries or questions.
Overall Rating
:
10
I've been playing bass and guitar for more than 20 years, I paly ethereal and dreampop styles of music. I have a Lakland 55-01 5-string as well as numerous guitars. I bought this intrument (now discontinued) completely on faith and could not be happier. Iceni's new Zoot Chaser bass, is all hand made in England and only slightly more expensive. These basses are recieving rave reviews and I'm happy to say I have one of only a few of their basses in the U.S. This is a true thing of beauty, both aesthetically and functionally. It's one of those rare instruments that plays and sounds so great, it will genuinely inspire you. Plugged in, this bass feels truly alive. It just rocks!
