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itu

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Posts posted by itu

    DIY Effects

    in Effects

    Posted

    On 02/04/2019 at 18:46, itu said:

    Ordered it. Bought it via Reverb.

    The unit arrived today after our somewhat slow customs and post office. Shift-Line posted the package within two days after my order while they promised three days. Total cost including EU customs and VAT: 100 €.

    + Really well packed. I think you could play football with the box and the stuff inside would be just fine.

    + The electronics seem to be good quality, no tin balls or anything dirty.

    + The box is plastics (3D printed) and reasonably tough for the intended use.

    +/- Size could be slightly optimized, but then the knobs would be prone to hits.

    +/- 3D printing quality is what it is, but this helps to keep the cost very reasonable.

    Now I need to record some IR stuff and start tweaking. If the quality of the sound is similar to the PCBA, it has to be good. Might come back later with some test results...

    Alembic basses

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    But Lindsey Buckingham's g-word thing is made by Rick Turner, who worked with Ron W., so Alembic.

    Tobias was Michael Tobias' design and handwork in the first phase before Gibson bought them. Pre-Gibson handcrafted instruments cost quite some. They have some basic lo-Z electronics (bartolini?), but the woodwork is impeccable. The "ergonomic" neck is special, it is thicker under lowest (thick) strings. Their bolt-on version was named as "Killer B".

    • Like 2

    Alembic basses

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    They are the ones who happened to be among the first in active, sorry, low impedance stuff. They opened the higher ground to us, bassists. Their superb woodwork gave us hand made high end instruments (compare them to cheap, hi-Z, bolt-on, F-word stuff). On the other hand they represent sky high prices. The 25th anniversary bass had a price tag of 25 ooo $ at a time, when Jens Ritter was still very, very young.

    If woodwork is your thing, I suppose that Alembic is your thing, too. Electronics have certain reputation, although they are not magical. Very good to excellent, though. Something similar can be found from Wal, Vigier's Nautilus and ROM packages, later Status and few others.

    My only complaints might be the weight and body shapes but this is very subjective. Every single Alembic I have had a chance to play has been a real tour de force of workmanship and quality control. There may be something very "progressive" in them from 1970's but if their concept touches you, you will get a lifelong partner.

    http://alembic.com/info/fcvault.html

    • Like 1

    5 Way Bass DI Shootout!

    in Gear Gallery

    Posted

    3 hours ago, HughRichardson said:

    I’ve not tried the countryman but I’d love to if I get the chance. How long have you had it?

    So glad you liked the video :)

    Yes, the video, your style is very approachable, simple and to the point. Keep going.

    My Countryman is some 30 years old. Easy to open and needs a 9 V battery or Phantom. Like a brick. Does not make a number of itself but keeps on running, hopefully forever.

    5 Way Bass DI Shootout!

    in Gear Gallery

    Posted

    There were several meaningful points in the video. My top five are:

    - size i.e. portability

    - does it colour the sound?

    - price (certainly)

    - operation (battery, Phantom, 230 V)

    - durability

    So, my choice has been Countryman Type 85 for ages. It was not the cheapest at the time but the quality seems to be flawless, it is nearly indestructible, and the size is decent for a gig bag. Does not seem to change the sound of my instruments.

    That red one may be very good but the size... and tubes may break... if I had someone to carry my stuff, all of the boxes could be possible options.

    Best basslines for a FRETLESS beginner?

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by itu
    forgot the great and elegant Larry Klein

    Police - Every little thing

    Double bass ideas, try So what

    Eagles - One of these nights

    Sade and that song, where the bass has a short solo... Smooth operator

    Oleta Adams - Get here

    Morphine, any song (fretless two-string with slide...)

    Fernando Saunders - The Spin

    Some harder and really hard stuff: Peter Gabriel - So, Paul Young - Secret of association, Tribal Tech, CAB (Bunny Brunel)

    Here are many more: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/what-are-some-good-fretless-bass-songs.7100/

    • Thanks 1

    Maple necks and sunlight

    in Repairs and Technical

    Posted

    UV will affect the colour of the lacquer or colour first and then the wood (lacquer may contain UV inhibitor).

    The temperature changes are big (although the color of the wood is light) so the neck could turn all the time.

    Take a picture of the neck before starting the ageing. Then after 100, 200, 500 and 1 000 hours. If your studio has steady lighting, you should see the change.

    By the way, UV rays (A and B) get through the clouds, the sun does not have to shine from a cloudless sky.

    • Thanks 1

    NBD: SKC Bogart Blackstone (with history) owners welcome!

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    1 minute ago, Chris2112 said:

    Frankly, we reached a peak of material development in the 80's and carbon fibre still hasn't been surpassed. Until race cars are made of something lighter and stronger, carbon fibre will continue to be the best neck material around (IMO).

    How about material manipulating methods along with materials? 3D-printing (plastics, fibers, ceramics, metals, composites of all these as well as functional parts) is the new black, so there may be several ideas coming towards consumer goods. No, all ideas are not used. Something new is coming round the corner all the time.

    NBD: SKC Bogart Blackstone (with history) owners welcome!

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    On 04/07/2018 at 21:12, Chris2112 said:

    The neck has a smooth satin finish, like a Zon, rather than the gloss gel coat Status use (I have owned both Zon and Status basses in the past).

    Congratulations on a neat bass. That Pentabuzz looks very good, too.

    I have a Modulus Q5 Custom ('91), two Vigier Passions series II ('88 and '89) and two Status necked instruments. Status can be ordered with satin and tint finish. Modulus had a tint finish option and they still offer gloss as an option for the neck. I have tried two Zons and their necks were glossy at the time (early 90's).

    It is probably up to the customer to get certain neck finish. Also no dots or LEDs or whatever are just (pricey) options in this category.

    Carbon fiber neck is nice in a country like where I live, as the weather changes lot from freezy to relatively hot and the necks are stressed. I have had so called better quality wood necks that need a tweak at least twice a year. Carbon just stays in place round the year.

    (I sometimes wonder, have we seen anything new since 1980's and 1990's bass development? Sky high prices of so called master built instruments and awkward looking single-cuts?)

    Preamp/ DI query

    in Effects

    Posted

    I will take one more approach.

    Do you use pedals? Do you want to take the line out after effects or before? Basically all effects outputs are lo-Z (low impedance) so practically their output fit any mixing board.

    If you want just the bass output to the board, a DI-box is reasonable. Many lo-Z (so called "active") basses can be connected directly to mixers.

    Some kind of a splitter (so a DI-box) is needed if there is a need for an amp, in both occasions.

    HIgh impedance (so passive) bass output loves DI-box (so a hi-Z to lo-Z conversion) before connecting it to a mixer.

    Preamps, yes, I think I will write a short book about them and how they behave.

    Headphones

    in Accessories and Misc

    Posted

    Please lady Bluejay, take a tour in a shop that has several models, and let your ears decide. Even the volume level and have a player (phone, maybe), that has some song(s) you know well. Then try to find those details and sound you like. My brand, or model suggestion is only good for me.

    • Thanks 1

    Playing covers - how accurate do you need to be?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    If your band has different setup than the original - or doesn't - you have to arrange the song anyway. I think it is very important to understand that the original version may work well in the original context. How about with your group? Just arrange any song to a bossa nova (Anarchy in the UK, anyone?) and you just have to adapt and arrange.

    I have been a few times in a place where I have no idea of the original song. I have opened my ears and tried to find the suitable notes and feel to support others. Sometimes it is just root-and-five.

    Latest song I have been learning is the Bohemian Rhapsody. Yes, because of the movie. Luckily, I have the score. First thing (for me, that is) is to copy it note-by-note and then try to find possibility to change it, if the band's arrangement is going away from the original.

    • Like 1

    having another go

    in Build Diaries

    Posted

    If you put the bridge as far back as possible, you may be able to play with the balance and reach (how to reach the half and first position) a little bit. The neck has to be "deeper" in the body. The instrument becomes slightly shorter, too.

    I like the idea of having the hum at the neck position. Would have been my choice, too.

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