Prometeus Guitars Custom CT Tribute

Hand built for me this year by the young and talented Italian luthier Armando Pugliese in southern Italy! This is a solid bodied four string bass that has a strong resemblence to a carl Thompson, has 21 jumbo frets and is a four string! It features a single passive Bartolini MM style pickup (in the "sweet spot") and the controls could not be simpler - volume + tone.

Built from the hardest centuries old seasoned hardwoods! Armando and I discussed wood choice at great length before eventually deciding on the best combination for the kind of tone that I wanted!

Body; solid nicely figured Ovangkol, Neck; quarter sawn Padauk, Fingerboard; thick Quarter sawn Coco-bolo (flat board), Control cover; wenge! This bass also has an Ebony nut!

This bass is finished in several clear coats of deep penetrating oil and this brings the wood grain to life!

As I previously stated the body style is very alike a classic Carl thompson but with some variations - very beautiful!! Bridge is a Wlkinson individual string type and tuners are Kluson, everything seems to work nicely and do its job well!

This is a 32" medium scale bass - but Armando can build virtually any scale style required..the real advantage of a custom build! The neck is certainly not very thin - it is comfortable for me and feels similar to an early wal mk1 custom...just the way I like it!!!

This bass simply has an incredible tone. To put things into perspective I had it built to become a back up for my Alembic...the Alembic hass now become a back-up for this bass!

The tone is best described as rich, woody, organic...and very punchy! For me the best "slap" sound I have had on any bass and I have had them all (Wal, Alembic, Vigier, Jaydee, Musicman etc!) The response and resonance of the notes when played with fingerstyle has to be heard to be appreciated! The volume across the strings is very even, the bottom end is tight and the top end crisp!

This is a passive bass, there is no complicated electrics or built in pre-amps - simply a straightforward great sounding bass. Rolling the tone control adds a lot of warmth..all the sounds available on this bass are very useful and practical for studio and especially live! Just plug it in a play!

I use a Trace Elliot 130 watt GP7 and this bass sounds wonderful plugged straight in. I play a wide variety of music and this bass (in much the same way as a vintage Fender) has the versatility to handle anything.

Armando has a personal philosphy and vision about building simple straightforward great sounding basses..no fancy electrics etc. His basses dont sound like the pick-ups or the electrics, there are no unnecessary laminations purely for the sake of appearance (they add nothing to the sound) My bass has a unique voice all of its own...other makers take note!

My Prometeus bass arrived from Italy nicely set up! You must remember each bass is hand crafted solely by Armando..its a one man show folks!

The action is on the extremely low side. My bass has light strings fitted but, of course, Armando will set your own build up with whatever strings you want and set-up just the way you like it!

I have had to adjust the neck once so far - it was a very simple turn on the two way truss rod nut and the neck adjusted very nicely to add a touch more relief! Perfect!

It is so hard to criticise this bass..one fret end has a tiny bit of sharpness and thats about it really. Perhaps a couple of tiny finish flaws on the wood.

Armando's least favourite part of a build is the finishing aspect of the wood - you arent buying absolute perfection like for example an Alembic or Fodera...but it is certainly good enough! But hey, for a price that is similar to a factory built Mexican fender (no, you havent misread that - its true!) the Prometeus is above criticism!

My prometeus is built like an absolute tank! It is made from the very hardest well seasoned woods ( for example coco-bolo is much harder than ebony!!) and it would take a huge effort to damage it!!

The neck is a set-neck type and has a huge, very tight, glue joint. This is further re-inforced by ebony nails (used in violin/cello construction for decades.) I hope I dont have to find out but I this bass would be extremely durable if mistreated in any way. The strap buttons are very secure.

I havent owned this bass for any great length of time yet but I trust and believe in it! The neck has been adjusted once to add a touch more relief - simple and straight forward!

I have to say - I have been playing for over 25 years - Armando is the nicest and most helpful person I have met in the business! During my build I had DAILY updates, feedback, photos of each stage...the guy is AMAZING!

If you were unlucky and had any trouble with your bass I believe Armando would have it sorted asap. He is a very decent human being who has a code of moral conduct and integrity that impressed me enourmously! He is trustworthy, passionate, reliable and understands the true meaning of honour...you simply cannot buy qualities like that in a person.

I have played bass for over 25 years and currently also own an Alembic four string. I talked extensively with Armando before the build started, loved his passion and enthusiasm and bought into his philosophy!

If my bass was lost or stolen I would comission another Prometeus bass straight away - I couldnt live without it! In fact at the time of writing this review I am planning ahead to having a fretless Prometeus built for me in the near future!

I love the sound of this bass so much. It feels perfect and reminds me very much of a Wal to play - it is the most beautiful looking bass I have ever owned too!!

It is almost absurd that Armando will do a custom build for around the same price of a Mexican fender - it doesnt make sense! It seems too good to be true - but true it certainly is!

If you want my advice? Armando is young and surely cannot be making much profit on his instruments at this time - he just wants to establish himself as a builder.....get one ordered now before he starts charging the kind of prices his instruments are REALLY WORTH!

For this kind of price and quality I honestly think , pound for pound, that this is the best value for money bass at any price.