Reviewer Tim Sweet
Experience 20+
Review date March 28 2003
Manufacturer DeArmond
Model Pilot Pro Delux 4
Price £299
Item owned for 1-2 years

Bass type 4 string fretted
Neck join Neck Through
Neck construction Maple/walnut laminate (5 piece)
Fingerboard Rosewood 35"
Body Ash 2 pieces
Finish Oiled
Pickups DeArmond H/B (i assume)
Hardware Satinchrome
Electronics Active
Firstly, this bass looks stunning, more like a £1000+ instrument (which is what you would pay for a 'named' bass of equal spec.) The body has an extremely offset shape which I really like, & balances perfectly when slung into the playing position. Being a guitarist first & foremost, i wanted a bass with a superslim neck and, frankly, i've never seen one with a slimmer neck than this (34.5mm at nut). Once i'd set the bass up it became extremely playable & is a joy to use. Its heavy enough, without being cumbersome, and the mass of the ash body, along with the long scale neck, enables some lovely deep tones to be found. I've gone off the satinchrome hardware a bit now but its such a well crafted piece of woodwork (a few negligible flaws excepted)that it'd be worth fitting some better quality furniture in the future if necessary. I'm not sure what pickups DeArmond use but they sound good to me. I generally use the bridge only as it gives a more punchy, woody sound. I've recently been looking round for a second bass(or should i say first in view of what i've been considering!)but I'm afraid the 'name' brands, although high quality, just dont seem worth paying the money for when i seem to have found the perfect bass for me. This will remain my first bass for the foreseeable future ( although i do have my eye on a G&L (M/M style but minus the p/guard & with a much better tailpiece)but I cant find anyone who stocks them in the South West - any offers!!

Construction 98%
(How do they do it for the price?????????)
Appearance 98%
(Gorgeous)
Playability 98%
(Lovely)
Sound 90%
(Deep & Fat)
Value 100%
(Exceptional)
Overall 95%
(Unless your rich you wont do better)
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