I believe you could put adjusters on the bridge and use it the same way. I used to own a removable neck Eminence bass that had bridge adjusters and it was no problem. I just think Arnold wanted to keep this system as simple as possible with less excess parts making it easier to adjust the bridge etc. It has no bolts of any kind. The neck joint simply hooks into the brass plate mechanism in the neck mortise, slides into place and is more than solid w/ string tension.
He says you can adjust string height by adding a thin wood shim on one side of the neck joint which raises the over stand up towards strings thus lowering string height.
It's a great system and besides the scroll being smaller w/ bass guitar tuners, w/ neck in place it has no other differences than any other
real DB. I'm looking forward to getting to know it better. I have never played a New Standard hybrid LaScala or Cleveland so I cannot compare it to those. I can say it felt more responsive and seemed to have more of that carved top nuance as compared to a New Standard Cleveland
Ply that I've played and performed with. Arnold is putting the finishing touches on the neck heel / neck profile which will bring it to an Eb neck since that's what I'm used to w/ my two main DBs.
I've been working w/ a case maker to develop a good light weight case for it that won't break the bank. The goal is to make the whole package under 50lbs. which looks doable. That would be under weight in all jet airline situations that I know of right now. Hopefully the case will be compact enough that it will be under size as well. The bass will also have a padded belt that tightens around the belly at the C bout to keep sound post in place.
To me it will be the best solution to fly w/ a REAL DB.
Under size & weight, durability of a hybrid w/ better tone & response than a ply, a lot
more economical w/ a lot
less anxiety then flying around w/ a fully carved master bass converted to an RN,
and it's by Arnold & Wil. I have tried many of Arnold's builds over the years from his Master grades (his early ones and recent Walnut), Ergo basses I & II, & Cleveland ply and now this bass and I am always surprised at how he gets such mature sounds from these new made basses. I'm used to playing Old basses mind you. A 1820's Prescott Gamba and a 1920's carved German shop round back. I'm pretty excited to take the Time Zone thru some time zones on tour later this month. I'll post more pics when I get it back in my hands
