Sambrook

Thanks to all of the above responders. This weekend is the first time I've had chance to attack the problem.

No joy, sadly. Bought a set of Rotosound Trubass to get as close to the double bass sound as possible. This time, the E and G are fine, with little output from the A and D! Tried the suggestions, but no improvement.

If I see a reasonably priced piezo bridge for sale, I will probably try that, cos the Trubass strings do give that lovely warm thwump.

Thanks again, chaps.

I'm near Barrow-in-Furness, Sth Cumbria, 40 mins from M6 J36. 

It sure is.

57 minutes ago, vincbt said:

Just need to find the right strings now

La Bella white nylons - all day and all night.

I've tried half a dozen different types of string on my Portamento, and all sound really good. The La Bella's,to my ears, have the perfect balance for the magnetics and the piezo. 

30" scale

Twin humbuckers 

Vol/Tone/pickup Selector 

22 frets 

42mm nut 

3.4kg

No neck-dive

This is a really nice bass, that I just haven't gelled with. It does everything it's supposed to, and does it with typical Ibanez solidity. Even the relicing looks good.

I've added a thumb rest, as you can see, easily removed if not to your liking, although it is useful.

I can post if needed, and I'm willing to travel to a meet-up (within reason).

Thanks for reading.

Pm sent

Pm sent 

Thanks for that, it certainly fits the symptoms.

My Cort B4 fretless has a piezo bridge. It works perfectly with the Chromes it came with, also the TI flats and rounds I've tried on it. However, my LaBella white nylons are a different story. The E and A strings work fine (and sound really good), but there's almost no output from the D and G. The strings work fine on my other piezo fretless (so it's not the fault of the strings); I've tried raising the saddles to increase the tension on the piezo element, no good. I've had a thorough look at the wiring guts, can't see anything obviously amiss, though I'm no expert. There is some audible output, but barely...

Is there anything I'm missing? It plays well with the other strings, but semi-hollow, fretless, piezo, and white nylons are meant to be together...

Any help greatly appreciated.

Cheers, Sean 

Changed the battery as well, btw...

I have a Portamento, it's awesome.

So versatile. I've owned a Roadster (fretted) , a great bass, but heavy, and I believe the Musicians are heavier still.

I've had my Portamento 5 or 6 years; I've tested far more expensive, high end fretless basses during that time, and none of them came close to unseating the Ibanez. Buy with confidence!

Pm sent 

As always, apologies if this has been discussed to death...

I've always been drawn to 2 pickup basses- before messing with any eq, you have 3 distinct tones. A no-brainer, surely?

HOWEVER, I am hypnotically drawn to the Sire D5 at the moment; in butterscotch or sunburst it just looks the biz. BUT, only one pickup, tone on, tone off, that's yer lot, mate.

Am I missing something? Any cogent argument that 'allows' me to get the Sire will be very welcome...

I would suggest putting the fretlesses away for a period, don't play them at all. Enjoy your short scale fretted to the full. After a 'suitable' length of time, break them out again...

The fretless sound is so rich and unique, I think you'd miss it if you had no access to it. 

The Retrovibe Telebass I have is incredibly light (6.6lb, from memory), with a humbucker bridge pickup. I put an Artec rail humbucker in the neck position, and all is groovy. Heartily recommended...

Try it and see!

I've done it many times, and adjusting the relief was the only thing needed ( and not every time, either).

Could we have a pic of the position markers? And what's the weight?

Cheers.

I have one as my permanent fretless. An awesome instrument that makes any string sound good. However, I would say that LaBella white nylons are by far the best suited strings for that bass. They have plenty of roundwound style growl and bite, and also work wonderfully well with the piezo...

Pm sent

Harley Benton shorty P? Cheap enough to use as a taster/tester...

I haven't had one, but owners rate them.

Funky looking bass there...

Thanks, it does.

A question for Alex: how's the balance? Any neck dive?

Thanks Clarky, it is almost perfect, I'm after the AGB, not the AVB. This is going to play on my mind, though...

Cheers for that.

Apologies if this is old news (I generally am fairly late to the parties).

John Edgington's interviews with various Genesis members has popped up on my YT feed, and I've had several very pleasant hours of reminiscence. Just watching Anthony Philip's one now. Very interesting...

My adolescence and musical awakening runs underneath all this bit of history.

Bought some months ago from here. I  don't much like the interface, and have gone back to my G5.

It's 'as new', unmarked and working perfectly. Comes with dedicated Zoom power supply, and in it's own box.

Add a fiver for postage.

Cheers