fretmeister

http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2017/03/12/trace-elliot-announces-the-transit-b-bass-guitar-preamp-pedal/ Looks interesting!

I had a Dingwall ABZ5 and it was very good across the range but it was a bit polite for me. In hindsight I wish I had tried a pickup change as the basic sound and response of the bass was great. I've got a passive Yamaha Attitude Standard 5 which is excellent and great value for money, and I often use my Marleaux in passive mode.

I don't think you can go wrong with any of the 3 top machines anymore. They do sound a little different, and the way they operate is a little different, but the tech has now reached the point where it's pretty much down to personal choice rather than something more physical. Something else that is coming though is Helix Native as a full featured app for Win and OS. A Helix in your computer. Alone it is going to cost quite a lot, BUT if you have a Hardware Helix already, it's only going to be $99 - and apparently it will be a multi-machine licence so you can have it on your desktop and lappie too. The Helix is already awesome at doing re-amping, but if I can do that all in the PC, then that will be awesome.

The next Helix firmware update will have loads of bass amps, The DG B7K and other stuff on it. The 2 senior modelling guys at L6 are bassists.

This https://youtu.be/5eHNbhsh6Nc Awesome.

I've got a Helix and I love it. Amazing thing

I need to find a shop with some stock and give them a proper go.

I have a used Yamaha Attitude Standard 5 string and it was under £200. And the low B is awesome. Easily as good as my Ray 5

Lovely! Apparently really light weight too according to HF's own vid. I haven't got £2750 lying about though alas.

Pickup is here. Just need my new scratchplate to arrive now. Then I will turn my Ray 5 into a passive P bass. Possibly into a PJ at some point in the future too. (Cue the howls of protest from EBMM forum members and the usual "Don't change it, just buy the bass you really want" cries, while at the same time them not being able to name a single 5 string P bass with 22 frets and 17.5mm spacing)

Anyone tried both of these? I'm looking for a nice P bass and I know these 2 are quite similar in spec, main differences appearing to be the 'board radius and the pickup. Is there anything else I'm missing that would make a real difference? And would I be able to find either of them weighing 8.5lb ish? ta

Steve Harris on Live After Death. Still gives me shivers

I really need to try one of these 50s ones.

Or use a fender headstock string retainer. That's what PRS use.

Quarter Pounders are a good pickup but the don't really sound like a traditional P bass pickup. The mids are lower and the bass is higher. Great if that is what you need, but not so great if you want a 1960s sound. but there are other SD models to choose from that have the vintage sound with a bit more output if that is what you need. There's a lot of snake oil around about pickups, but SD's are well made and sound good. My regular guitars usually end up with them as well. I don't think I've ever tried the jazz QPs.

Thank you!

Can someone measure from the 20th fret to the edge of the pickup please? E side will do. Thank you.

Lovely! And gives me hope about my planned mods too.

This is a great thread. I've got one of those pickups incoming and I'm going to do something similar to my ray5.

They only made them for a while. Mid 1990s I think. Made in Taiwan. It's not really an Attitude despite the use of the name - mono output, P&J pickups. But the pickups have a nice bit of grunt to them.

Excellent! Thank you! I have ordered them. Any chance of a pic of them in your Sterling? I'm going to put it in my Ray5

ah-ha! Found it - the "CL" version is for narrower spaced instruments. Now I just need to see if anyone has one in stock!

Do the poles line up with the strings properly?

Anyone aware of a 5 string Precision pickup suitable for a bass with 17.5mm string spacing? I know I could get Nordstrand or Mojo or someone to make one, but if there is an off-the-peg option I'd like to have a look at those. ta

I've been thinking about a 5 string Precision for a long time, but a Yamaha Attitude Standard 5 came up on ebay so I thought I'd have a punt I got it during the week and although it needs a proper set up I used it at rehearsal this morning. This is the bit that's annoying - it cost less than 10% of the bass I usually take with me (a Marleaux), and it sounded fantastic. It sat in the mix like only a P can do. I didn't even use the other pickup selections - just stuck with the P into my M900 with a little bit of grit for warmth. It's got a huge sound with a nice grindy quality to the mids (not surprising as it is from the Attitude line), and the low B is really strong. It is now with my favourite local luthier for a full set up (might need a little neck shim), and I'm wondering if it might end up being my first choice. It's a little heavier than I usually like, but it's well balanced. Anyone else got one?