Mike Lull Custom Guitars M5V

Mike Lull is a luthier little known in France and has no importer. I highly recommend going to see on the site the many models it offers.
Based in Seattle, USA, the workshop small (4 luthiers I think) hand-built 300 instruments per year (especially guitars and basses) and did not intend to produce more. Each instrument is assembled and tested by Mike.

My M5V (for Modern / Vintage 5 strings) has the following specs:
- Swamp ash body, chambered for the particular weight (4kg) with table reported. You really have to squint to notice the body is so well done. Natural to fall finish.

- Handle not painted maple, oiled and polished, 35-inch pitch, 21-fret touch quilted maple beautiful, 12-inch radius.

- Mechanical and bridge Hipshot Hipshot Ultralite aluminum. Adjustable 19mm string spacing (less than 1mm Fender easier on the fingers, more delicate slap)

- Electronics: single coil pickups specially made by Seymour Duncan (I did not take the noiseless, but the shield because it has less hum than my previous JB Deluxe Noiseless)
The preamp is an Aguilar OBP-3, powered by 18V. Besides the batteries are installed in a tiny home and change is a little painful.
Program settings: Volume push / pull to switch to passive with a small change in volume but no tone (so it's kind to troubleshoot) Balance microphones. Mids push / pull for two different frequencies mids. Then Bass / Trebble two bunk knobs. The operation is smooth, although the focus of the scale would benefit from being more pronounced. For cons, the bass knob, it sends terrible, I've never seen it, but still very musical.



UTILIZATION

The handle is very close to a JB, a thinner chouilla. So it's a good start. I like the polished and oiled sleeves, this is sweet!
The pitch 35 inches did not ask me from time to particular adaptation. I did try to close a very good bass player who plays on a JB 5 strings and no one not even realize until I tell him.
Access to acute is similar to a JB: The last three boxes must be accurate but it goes smoothly.
The hoop is very very good. Handmade, the last settings are listed on a Plek machine that bubble, then it is the ultimate time hand-finished. The best of the best.

Low for a 5 string ash is light: 4kg. With a good strap (which can be up with Dunlop strap locks), it does not sting the nose.

Little originality: If only the rope can be mounted passing. Lull think it is useful only for that one.

The head is my beautiful eyes, I love the cut. I think it has a small flaw: the part that presses the strings against it before mechanical concerns only the A and D strings. So for the other strings, you must do a lot of laps on the lifts for they are firmly against the nut (which is in fact the bones)

SOUNDS

The sound of this bass is of course very close to a JB, 70's spirit. A more modern chouilla. People who heard it mentioned something close to Sadowsky, such Tal Wilkenfield. This is not in itself a bad reference! But this is different, closer to the spirit Fender electronics being specific.
Basically, it growls, it's a nice velvety grain throughout the registry. On the treble side, very consistent while remaining fairly clear, there is a side a little Millerien. The balance a little side easel when the bass knob, which slightly reduced the middle while leaving the treble is turned neutral, it's just perfect.
Balance at the center for the slap, it's great. Finally, a little balance handle (or completely) by attacking side closer to the button, you can get a very nice sound for a walking worthy of the name. This was not the case on my previous JB Fender.

I occasionally connects to a DI EBS to my sound card or on a BigBang Markbass plugged into suitable 15p. With EBS multicomp I use sparingly, it is very good. If I put in a little more reverb EBS during a solo, it literally sings.

Evaluate sound is subjective, but it is the instrument I expected. So 10. And if I had 11 fingers!

OVERALL OPINION

I use this wonder for three months, but very intensively. Madame is jealous, she will soon ask me to choose between them ...

I previously had a 2011 Fender Deluxe JB, who was very (too?) Typed in my eyes. Vintage really. And the violin was very improved, particularly at a shrink a little sloppy for an instrument in this price.
I kept fifteen days a Lakland 55-94, supposed to be very versatile (which is probably true). It was to die for beauty, really beautiful, with a violin of the same ilk. But the sound, to me, was not there. I'm definitely a JB addict. So it is good. The instrument of a lifetime. As it dates from 2011, although the wood is older (7 years), it will improve, so it's a beautiful view!

The price / quality ratio, about recurring controversy over certain topics is good for me. The idea that this is not a standard instrument, which was manufactured by enthusiasts who are luthiers and not industrial excites me (although manufacturers are also able to make good instruments!).
With experience, though still short, I would do this choice without hesitation. I think also order a M5 (more modern) with an ebony fingerboard, fretless ... But it will have to wait!

Finally, it should be noted that each email sent to Mike Lull has received a prompt and courteous response. It is a true passion. It seems that on much more expensive instruments (like F **** a) it is not always the case!