@@HappyChillmore Both are great, versatile instruments with wide tone sets, but the dragonfly sounds a little more organic with breath/ or like a boutique build (to my ear), which I personally prefer. The XJ-1T sounds a bit more like a Moon or Atelier, slightly more of a modern jazz sound. Both are excellent builds, it just depends what you are looking for!
the bridge alone sounds like a 60s Jazz while both pickups together sounds like a 70s Jazz, I love it! I think they made that effect by moving the neck pickup further to the neck vs moving the bridge pickup further towards the bridge, I wish more did that :)
Looks great. Sounds like modern hi-fi sheen meets jazz bite. Not bad passive and that would work great with outboard preamps. But that onboard pre is so well suited and voiced perfectly- it would be silly not to use it. Never cared for single cuts but that one would work just fine. Has the modern thing happening in a crystal clear way. Nice demo.
I think your channel and content is good enough to stand on its own without the lobster claw gimmick. I have to fast forward over that bit these days...
FWIW, I find adding a steeper angle to the B string after the nut really helps its definition. I don't know why, but the difference is quite apparent. So, I overwind a little the B string to force a steeper angle on my 5 string jazz.
Never heard of this brand thanks for sharing It seams I discovering new brands every day that make basses … susbass was yesterday today Harry’s engineering!!!
Great review! I was going to send you my Dragonfly CJ5, but this is a very good representation of all Dragonfly basses. They all have the same pickups and preamp, but the one you have has a 3 piece quarter sawn neck. I have an FBass and a Dragonfly and the preamps are similar, in that you can use the full range. Great job again!
Probably the best sounding and most amazing bass I’ve seen on your channel! I love Japanese basses and own 3 Tokai basses myself … way better then my Fenders, including a 73 jazz usa
Very nice!! I luv the string through and the neck cutaway just sounds so clean and nice! It looks very comfortable to play that bridge tone was amazing!!!
Nice bass with some killer sounds. I like everything about it except the single cut design. I like some single cuts, but not a fan of the upper body going all the way to the 14th fret. Every bass I've tried with similar non-existent "upper cut" just feels weird. It feels restrictive while playing to me, yet again I do like headless basses like old Steinbergers that feel so open. Just a personal preference. Great sounding bass in any case and the craftsmanship looks amazing. Great Video.
I really, really don't like singlecuts. They have never grown on me and I doubt they will. I'd also prefer a maple board (purely aesthetic preference). But otherwise, a fantastic sounding bass! It has some serious kick. However, for the price, the competition is fierce. Here in Poland, we have Mayones, Nexus, Stradi, Zakrzewski (which is probably closest to this one) and many others, and for an equivalent of ca. $3500 they'll make basically anything you want (well, Nexus will, because the rest stick to their model lines, albeit highly customizable) and you'll still have some spare change left (depending on specs, of course). But yeah, a great bass overall! And if Joe sends you some vintage Japanese basses, like e.g. an Ibanez Musician or an Aria SB-1000, I'll probably have to go change my pants.
Love it! We need some more japanese basses!
Bass Japan Direct has been advocating dragonfly for years, glad to see another positive review.
That tone at around 14:54 was pure bliss. Incredible bass as a whole
Big thanks for the shout out, and congrats on your great channel, review style, and format. Very nicely done!
How would you rate these compared to an xotic xj 1t?
@@HappyChillmore Both are great, versatile instruments with wide tone sets, but the dragonfly sounds a little more organic with breath/ or like a boutique build (to my ear), which I personally prefer. The XJ-1T sounds a bit more like a Moon or Atelier, slightly more of a modern jazz sound. Both are excellent builds, it just depends what you are looking for!
the bridge alone sounds like a 60s Jazz while both pickups together sounds like a 70s Jazz, I love it!
I think they made that effect by moving the neck pickup further to the neck vs moving the bridge pickup further towards the bridge, I wish more did that :)
Been dreaming about one of these since hearing a Japanese bassist play one. To my ears it's the dream Jazz tone.
Sounds great! That shape makes me think of Young Frankenstein, though. "What hump?"
That 480Hz sounds superb dude
Looks great. Sounds like modern hi-fi sheen meets jazz bite. Not bad passive and that would work great with outboard preamps. But that onboard pre is so well suited and voiced perfectly- it would be silly not to use it. Never cared for single cuts but that one would work just fine. Has the modern thing happening in a crystal clear way. Nice demo.
Allways a highlight of the day - get a fresh coffee and watch the lobster 🦞
Dragonfly is so underrated
I got to play a Dragonfly in Nagoya a few months ago. The build quality is unreal.
I think your channel and content is good enough to stand on its own without the lobster claw gimmick. I have to fast forward over that bit these days...
FWIW, I find adding a steeper angle to the B string after the nut really helps its definition. I don't know why, but the difference is quite apparent. So, I overwind a little the B string to force a steeper angle on my 5 string jazz.
VERY articulate lows even when boosted. Quality instrument.
Never heard of this brand thanks for sharing
It seams I discovering new brands every day that make basses … susbass was yesterday today Harry’s engineering!!!
Really cool bass. Thanks for the review.
Cool and groovy love it must say super cool bass
Awesome!
Absolut killer bass! 👌
Great review! I was going to send you my Dragonfly CJ5, but this is a very good representation of all Dragonfly basses. They all have the same pickups and preamp, but the one you have has a 3 piece quarter sawn neck.
I have an FBass and a Dragonfly and the preamps are similar, in that you can use the full range.
Great job again!
I just realized that is the 5 piece neck, custom order.
Thing has some really nice growl! Impressive bass!
You've always been a strong player, but you kicked it up a notch or two in this video. Cool bass, too
Probably the best sounding and most amazing bass I’ve seen on your channel! I love Japanese basses and own 3 Tokai basses myself … way better then my Fenders, including a 73 jazz usa
Amazing! The best sounding bass you have tested... And very versatile 💜👏👏👏👏
Very nice sound.
Great sounding bass!
Very nice!! I luv the string through and the neck cutaway just sounds so clean and nice! It looks very comfortable to play that bridge tone was amazing!!!
Man, that really is a killer looking and sounding bass. Really nice
Man , LETS GOOOOO
Hi Fi bass and it sounds amazing. Japan the land of the rising Bass.
You need to do a video on Tom Martinson basses.
Peter said basses reproduce the sound from body to heart.
That looks and sounds fantastic! Thanks for the review.
Gorgeous bass. Thank you for this review.
nice, some boutique bass review is good
I like it! Thank you for another great video!
Nice bass with some killer sounds. I like everything about it except the single cut design. I like some single cuts, but not a fan of the upper body going all the way to the 14th fret. Every bass I've tried with similar non-existent "upper cut" just feels weird. It feels restrictive while playing to me, yet again I do like headless basses like old Steinbergers that feel so open. Just a personal preference. Great sounding bass in any case and the craftsmanship looks amazing. Great Video.
The access on this is really good. You don’t even notice that it is a single cut. I easily reach the B string on the 24th fret. Super comfortable.
I really, really don't like singlecuts. They have never grown on me and I doubt they will. I'd also prefer a maple board (purely aesthetic preference). But otherwise, a fantastic sounding bass! It has some serious kick. However, for the price, the competition is fierce. Here in Poland, we have Mayones, Nexus, Stradi, Zakrzewski (which is probably closest to this one) and many others, and for an equivalent of ca. $3500 they'll make basically anything you want (well, Nexus will, because the rest stick to their model lines, albeit highly customizable) and you'll still have some spare change left (depending on specs, of course). But yeah, a great bass overall!
And if Joe sends you some vintage Japanese basses, like e.g. an Ibanez Musician or an Aria SB-1000, I'll probably have to go change my pants.
I will look and see what I can find.
Everything I like in a bass, MIJ, single cut, neutral preamp. Only minor question, does it come in a fretless model?
They are mostly custom orders. I would think you could specify that.
you can specify fretless as an order, yes.
Interesting bass but it looks too massive for my style. Thanks for the review
Call me a snob, but I find neck dive on a 3000+$ bass to be completely unacceptable.
Snob
first
Dragonfly is like the Suhr of Japan in my opinion.