Sage
While you were partying I studied the guitar.
- Joined
- May 23, 2012
- Messages
- 461
Well, my SE Kestrel arrived yesterday. I got the black one, will post a picture soon but you know what they look like by now. After messing around with it a little, here are my initial impressions.
First off, Guitar Center *is* shipping the gig bags with these. It came in the box, I didn’t have to special order it. Sales guy told me all the SE guitars come with bags; unless he was full of it, maybe their policy toward the SE line has changed now that they’re under new ownership.
My biggest concern about these basses was the neck width. I really like the slim width of the Jazz neck, and these necks are 2mm wider. Not as wide as a P-bass or a Ricky, but wider than I'm used to. After messing around with it, I think it's fine. It's probably at the very edge of what I'd be comfortable with, and it'll take some getting used to, but I think I can adapt.
I was also concerned about the fretboard radius not being as flat as I'm used to, but as I suspected, it's not really noticeable. Radius is more of an issue if you bend strings, and I don’t. It might be noticeable when barring strings for arpeggios and chords, but we’ll see.
The big question is whether or not this bass is worthy of replacing my current bass, a Squier Vintage Modified Jazz 70s bass (don't laugh -- with a couple of mods it's an astounding instrument) which I’ve modded with a Badass II bridge.
The short answer is: I don't know yet. Which is disappointing, because I wanted the Kestrel to blow me away. It may still beat out the Squier, but it's not as easy a decision.
My favorite bass tones come from early Rush and Yes records, usually recorded on a Rickenbacker 4001 or a Fender Jazz bass. Not everyone knows this, but the Fender Jazz was actually developed in response to the popularity of the Rickenbacker 4001 -- the dual single-coil layout is their commonality. So what attracted me to both the Squier and the Kestrel is that they both incorporate elements of each of those classics.
The Squier Vintage Modified Jazz 70s bass is an interesting animal. The pickups are Duncan Designed (though Squier has switched to in-house pickups since I bought mine) and the body is made out of solid maple, probably because it looks like ash but is easier to get in Indonesia. For me, that's actually a step up -- the Rickenbacker 4001's body is entirely maple. Because of this, the Squier has a really aggressive growl in the upper mids and top end that really cuts through a rock mix. It sounds dirty and mean and I love it.
On the other hand, the Kestrel has a through-neck construction, just like the Rickenbacker, but the wings are alder, like a standard Jazz bass. The build quality is definitely a cut above the Squier, which is to be expected at this price point. And the Hipshot hardware is probably better than anything you'll see on a bass three times this price. Solid is an understatement; it’s downright luxurious. And the Kestrel's design is sleek and beautiful to look at.
However, the Kestrel's tone is lacking in the mids compared to the Squier, and the attack is not as sharp. I don't know if it's the pickups or the construction. It has deeper lows, and great resonance, but it doesn't have that growl. It’s not a bad tone by any means — others will likely prefer it. But in an A/B tone comparison of the two I keep coming back to the Squier.
And there’s the rub. I prefer the tone and playability of the Squier, but I love the construction and aesthetics of the Kestrel. The Kestrel is a great bass, for sure, but it's not the knockout I'd hoped for.
First off, Guitar Center *is* shipping the gig bags with these. It came in the box, I didn’t have to special order it. Sales guy told me all the SE guitars come with bags; unless he was full of it, maybe their policy toward the SE line has changed now that they’re under new ownership.
My biggest concern about these basses was the neck width. I really like the slim width of the Jazz neck, and these necks are 2mm wider. Not as wide as a P-bass or a Ricky, but wider than I'm used to. After messing around with it, I think it's fine. It's probably at the very edge of what I'd be comfortable with, and it'll take some getting used to, but I think I can adapt.
I was also concerned about the fretboard radius not being as flat as I'm used to, but as I suspected, it's not really noticeable. Radius is more of an issue if you bend strings, and I don’t. It might be noticeable when barring strings for arpeggios and chords, but we’ll see.
The big question is whether or not this bass is worthy of replacing my current bass, a Squier Vintage Modified Jazz 70s bass (don't laugh -- with a couple of mods it's an astounding instrument) which I’ve modded with a Badass II bridge.
The short answer is: I don't know yet. Which is disappointing, because I wanted the Kestrel to blow me away. It may still beat out the Squier, but it's not as easy a decision.
My favorite bass tones come from early Rush and Yes records, usually recorded on a Rickenbacker 4001 or a Fender Jazz bass. Not everyone knows this, but the Fender Jazz was actually developed in response to the popularity of the Rickenbacker 4001 -- the dual single-coil layout is their commonality. So what attracted me to both the Squier and the Kestrel is that they both incorporate elements of each of those classics.
The Squier Vintage Modified Jazz 70s bass is an interesting animal. The pickups are Duncan Designed (though Squier has switched to in-house pickups since I bought mine) and the body is made out of solid maple, probably because it looks like ash but is easier to get in Indonesia. For me, that's actually a step up -- the Rickenbacker 4001's body is entirely maple. Because of this, the Squier has a really aggressive growl in the upper mids and top end that really cuts through a rock mix. It sounds dirty and mean and I love it.
On the other hand, the Kestrel has a through-neck construction, just like the Rickenbacker, but the wings are alder, like a standard Jazz bass. The build quality is definitely a cut above the Squier, which is to be expected at this price point. And the Hipshot hardware is probably better than anything you'll see on a bass three times this price. Solid is an understatement; it’s downright luxurious. And the Kestrel's design is sleek and beautiful to look at.
However, the Kestrel's tone is lacking in the mids compared to the Squier, and the attack is not as sharp. I don't know if it's the pickups or the construction. It has deeper lows, and great resonance, but it doesn't have that growl. It’s not a bad tone by any means — others will likely prefer it. But in an A/B tone comparison of the two I keep coming back to the Squier.
And there’s the rub. I prefer the tone and playability of the Squier, but I love the construction and aesthetics of the Kestrel. The Kestrel is a great bass, for sure, but it's not the knockout I'd hoped for.