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BGRA: Kinal SK5-B
| Manufacturer |
Kinal |
Model |
SK5-B |
| Reviewer |
Tom Capasso |
Email |
n |
| Experience |
30+ |
Item owned |
1-6 months |
| Review Date |
2002-12-01 |
Price paid |
$2375.00 |
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Bass type | 5 string fretted |
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Neck join | Bolt-On |
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Neck construction | 5 - 2 Maple, 2 Wenge, 1 Pernam Buoco |
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Fingerboard | ebony, 24 fret |
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Body | Alder, 1 piece |
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Finish | polyurethane |
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Pickups | Bart 59J-S4 and MM52J4 |
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Hardware | Hipshot black |
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Electronics | Active - Demeter 3 band pre, vol and blend |
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Kinal basses are hand-made. The body shape (SK) has a rounded symmetrical
bottom. The top horn reaches the 24th fret for proper strap balance. The
body is thinner where your arm comes around the front. The control panel
is matched, and the electronics and batteries are inside the single
cavity. Inserts are used for the control cavity screws and truss rod
cover (which is at the body). The control cavity and cover are covered in
sheilding tape. I asked for a finger ramp between the "J" and "MM"
style pickups that allows you to rest your thumb (for fingerstyle) between
the pickups. Two straplocks are on the bottom of the body for ease of
balancing (you take your pick). The body was stained and polyurethaned
beautifully. The controls (which come with the Demeter pre) have clear
detentes and are smooth. The knobs do not rub against the body. There is
a rosewood jackplate instead of just putting the jack on the body.
The neck was made of 5 pieces of wood, and extends through the tilted
headstock (which means the original neck wood was pretty thick). The neck
has maple (nicely grained - looks great), then wenge, and pernam bouco in
the center. The neck is symmetrical (hand carved, it may not be perfectly
even), with a fairly flat profile. The ebony fretboad was dressed with
boiled linseed oil. Interestingly, some maple wood is laminated to the
side of the head to provide the necessary width. This is covered in front
by a matching alder laminate (matching the body) and in back by a walnut
cover. Note that this back cover is carved to match the back of the neck
including the "stop" where the neck meets the head. The neck joint (six
bolts) is tight all around. All the woodwork and fretwork is excellent,
smooth, and impressive.
The bass sounds wonderful. You can use the Demeter with 9, 18, or 27
volts - I asked for 18. With the two pickups, I can get the deep lows
from the J pickup at the neck, or a nice range of sounds from the soapbar
at the bridge. There is coil switch for the soapbar. The Hipshot "A"
bridge and truss rod are easy to adjust. The feel of the neck is heaven,
and it is easy to reach the upper frets. The scale is 34.5, and the B
string is clear, focused, and responsive.
My only problem was with the custom-made hardshell case. The neck support
is too deep, so that the head rests on the case. I fixed this by adding
some material to the cutout.
It plays like a dream. Very easy to get arond on the fretboard, and the
ramp gives you lots of positions to work with. The alder body is light,
the balance is great, and it sounds wonderful !! This bass is well made -
you can see it and feel it !!
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| construction |
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| playability |
| (98%) |
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| appearance |
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| sound |
| (98%) |
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| value |
| (100%) |
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| service |
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| overall |
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