IN TERMS OF BASS MAKERS,
LeCompte Electric Bass is still a babe, but,
since 2004, founder and one-man-show
Bud LeCompte has wasted no time in producing
a host of custom basses that run
the spectrum from traditional to anything
but. The Acid J-5 and the CBXSC-6
provide a clear picture of this luthier’s versatility,
and despite their disparate designs
and appeal, each bass demonstrates
LeCompte’s commitment to excellence
in sound and workmanship, as well as his
keen sense for the varied taste among
today’s bass players.
KEEPIN’ IT SIMPLE: ACID J-5
Everything about this bass gestures to Leo
Fender’s masterpiece, but LeCompte states
that the Acid J-5 should not be viewed as
an attempt to copy a classic design but
rather should be seen as his interpretation
of it. I immediately dug the edgy look
created by the satin blue/black burst finish
over the black-stained wood two-piece
alder body. Opposed to oil and lacquer
finishes, LeCompte says he searched long
and hard to find a durable conversion varnish
for his basses. The result is a soft finish
that, while not as tough as
polyurethane, is enough to provide protection
from the occasional light ding or
scratch. A matching headstock with Hipshot
tuners sits atop the 35"-scale 3-piece
maple neck, and a black pickguard finishes
off the classic Fender look.
Continuing the traditional vibe,
LeCompte approaches the electronics of
the Acid J-5 with the same back-to-basics
attitude. The bass is passive, but not your
grandmother’s passive, if you get my drift.
Thanks to two Nordstand Big Single pickups,
the Acid J-5’s low end is full and aggressive,
and 4-string players who only switch
to 5-string for a few songs per gig will find
the 18mm string spacing easy to negotiate.
The electronics on this bass are wonderfully
simple (volume, blend, and tone), and
the B string was tight and responsive. The
Acid was extremely comfortable, with just
one notable exception. In contrast to the
large Fender-sized headstock, the body is
noticeably small, and this discrepancy
resulted in some neck dive. I wouldn’t mind
seeing the same body on this bass, but
maybe just a tad bit larger (or maybe the
headstock could be smaller).
COMPLICATING THINGS: CBXSC-6
Whereas the Acid J-5 proves Bud
LeCompte’s knows that some of us like
to keep it simple, the CBXSC-6 shows
that he understands that some want a
plethora of knobs to keep them busy on
and off the stage. One look at this multistring
amalgamation of traditional woodwork
and advanced electronics had me
hurrying to get my hands on it. Bud clearly
knows his way around a wood shop. I
could go on and on about how much I
like the way this bass looks, but one look
and you get the point. My only aesthetic suggestion
would be to recess the battery compartment
on the back so that it doesn’t
interrupt the smooth lines of this beauty.
Now, on to electronics!
Lecompte chose to outfit this bass with an
Audere Audio, 4-band, Z-mode preamp with
tone control and 6-way Z-mode switch, run
by an 18-volt power supply. This enhanced
version of Audere’s JZ3 (reviewed July ’07)
has all the benefits of its predecessor but more
versatility. For instance, the 6-position rotary
switch allows setting low, medium, or high
output impedance for each pickup. I found
myself preferring the L/L or L/M setting most
of the time, though, especially since the 4-band
EQ provided a healthy range of manipulation.
Switching from active to passive engages the
passive tone knob, but its largely inconsequential
effect caused me to pretty much ignore it
altogether. The fundamental tone of the
CBXSC-6 was clear and articulate, with excellent
note-to-note separation and a delicate
overriding personality. All these electronics
manage the beefy tone generated by two Nordstrand
Big Split pickups (a hum-cancelling
version of the Big Single).
With these two instruments, LeCompte
offers a little bit for everyone. Traditional
jazz players looking for a meaty 5-string
will find the Acid J-5 a welcome addition
to the market, while our 6-string brothers
and sisters will delight in the workmanship
and sonic versatility of the CBXSC-6.
ACID J-5
Street $2,300
Pros Gutsy J-style sound
Cons Some neck dive
CBXSC-6
Street $4,030
Pros Classy looks, quality workmanship,
versatile electronics
Cons Relatively tame passive tone control
TECH SPECS
Weight Acid J-5, 8.5 lbs; CBXSC-6, 10 lbs.
Made in U.S.A.
Warranty One year
Contact www.lecomptebass.com