Brubaker Guitars MJX-5

First I said: it's a bass that must pollute as much as the peripheral for a whole weekend dépard on vacation, because it is (drawn in the states) made in China and controlled in the states then. .. delivered in Europe (well, not yet in France, I nabbed the bay)

5 string active bass designed by Kevin Brubaker (visit)
U.S. maker of stringed instruments focused on low rather "high level", type single cut, and there he decides to make a cheap bass through a Chinese manufacturer.
(I do a little copy and paste the specs on the site, I'm nice, I translated)
Body - Nato (or linden )
• maple neck-
• - key maple, 22 frets
• pitch-34 "
• radius of the button-16 "
• Preamp-selected Brubaker - selector, volume, bass, treble.

Bridge and "brubeker selected" (), rather massive and effective.
it was like a type microphones JB and MM.
the electronics fair to me ... a little damage, and the keys are Gotoh toues as other home: not brilliant (but are working loose from the opening of the carton 8l).
I will say one more thing: I had to remove the pickguard (one of the first things I did) and or it's not obvious at all! He gets caught between the micro and serious party dominated by the key ... not great, qYes, I almost shit. The easiest way would be to turn the microphone ... but if you open the hack it moyen.Une Once opened, it is halu 8-l.
The microphones are set in the handle, which by the way this is a threaded sleeve that fits very deeply in the body, up more than half (an interesting compromise.)
That said there is an even for the most part other Brubaker (real ones, made in the states).

UTILIZATION

The big highlight is the ergonomics. Built for the slap, it goes to vacuum alone, do not need to pray is a bass that rewards hard work of technical plans, slap, tapping, etc. (besides, I myself am not too interested in everything that, but there is a real invitation from the girl.)
It has an original form (whew, it changes a little like so ...), JB and the neck is a real car: very flat radius, and the hand moves alone on the maple fingerboard. A treat! Access to acute, do not talk about me this is the last pure must at all levels. I do not want too much notice while enthusiasm, the kind of thing is unnecessary, but frankly ... one "forgotten" almost! it's very light and more.
In terms of sound, note the Knob the top (usually volume) is the micro scale. There are some who like it.

SOUNDS

She typed his "modern" sound goes in the direction of violin, very (too?) Chattering, bright, lots of medium. It's still special. It suits the jazz-rock, all that is funk, modern soul (in the states she finds her buyers in a lot of bassists gospel, bassist Beyonce () plays here above).
Its a pretty aggressive too. Bridge pickup, it oats bad, it bites, very medium.
I think that metalheads will love.
Micro serious: arf, I'm disappointed. it's there on his modern Jazz bass, but a bit limited for my taste in dynamics, and depth. Of course you can disguise the problem by mounting the bass, but I have a better sound with a good passive (like the Gibson SG or Ibanez passive n).

Warning: it does not sound eh naz it is correct and it is fairly accurate, but I blame him for lack of character and potato, the GM wins (much) on both the intermediate position is a. .. almost as acute microwave.
Arg, it's a shame we might be extending the range with a new preamp and microphone grave deeper.
The preamp is there, it does its job; Knob severe and acute, but nothing transcendent. No more than a Cort Action or I do not know ... I think it blurs the sound a bit. Writ not match the rest.
Balance microphone: it does more than anything else selector board finally you really go soft.

In summary: the pickups are correct; clacking and fairly accurate but are moving towards its overall medium (although it is possible to have a round: + acute neck pickup to 0 but that lacks warmth and personality) and the preamp makes its boulo but not tiptop, and I find it a bit messy.

I put 6 to 5 not to because it's not zero either, I think it would suit many people.

OVERALL OPINION

I finished by nab because I have had plenty of Sousous and it was a year that I ogled through the low U.S. forum where everyone has praised it. The fact is that in the States it is sold in 5 or $ 600, slab, what, and in this price range it defies concurence.
I foolishly jumped into the water (without being able to try it) even before it is distributed in France. It's okay, but I think it would be a great bass ... 400 or 500 €, 600 and some, the current price for Europe is a bit high to keep the advantage of Value price. Namely that in my case, it will change pickups and preamp.

It was understood, Brubaker banged hard by successfully making a good violin cheap Made in China, thanks to his sound knowledge, but the electronics it is still a bit cheap. Besides defects in connection with me: the bass is supposed to be conrôlée the U.S. but my jack kidding when she wants and I found nothing apparently disconnected.
Anyway ...
I'm going to shove a pre Aguilar OBP3 for starters, see what I Donnet mics, then I will but I will aim tater microphones to have a warm sound for insrument that allows me to have one foot in the modern and other in a more vintage.
I thought of Delano, but it just looks to me rather modern and slamming, then maybe the Crel or whatever.