bloke_zero

I was wondering about a decent preamp front end - like the Nordstrand starlifter + a powered cab - not necessarily flat or full range. It seems like an unecessary extra gain stage to have a preamp pedal + preamp also in the amp? I know this isn't going to fly with someone who has an SVT as an integral part of their onstage sound, but I was wondering if anyone has gone down that route?

Nice video - it sounds great.

It does say 'Needs review' so might be a rando suggestion rather than a 'true fact'. Makes some sense though - a classic rock set of strings.

They *almost* admit they think it's the pickups, as they note towards the it's exactly what Seymour Duncan is talking about with the effects of magnet degradation. I think the wood and finish must play a part - it's hard though - I have a bass that just feels so good acoustically it's kind of hard not to pick it up all the time though I'm not convinced it's the best sounding electronically!

Crazy video! Well, you can hear that it's different after a year - I guess how much of that is the pickup magnet and how much is the body? I think the whole nitro thing is partially about how the bass feels in your hands as much as the difference in tone through the pickup, though a friend of mine (and studio engineer) swears it makes an audible difference. Cool that they asked some actual experts - Seymour Duncan no less!

Yeah I get that. Personally I was comparing it with a US built Fender but with MM build quality and attention detail and the MM neck which I like. And it was substantially discounted, so all in all it made sense for me. I have to say, I'm doing less well with making sense of the rest of the world! I really was surprised with how well it recorded - in the hand it feels and sounds like a really well thought out and made response to 'what's our version of the P-bass' question.

She's great to watch - still playing and engaged with the bass.

How much does it cost to get a nut cut by a luthier? Might be more cost effective for a one off?

Same on my MM Cutlass - nice looking bass!

It's really nice to see something new and really well considered. I wonder how long the buttons will last - I guess they'll be fairly easy to fix. I'd like one! Looks like a lot of fun.

When I looked there aren't too many passive bass and treble circuits out there - the only one I found was the G&L2000: https://www.bassesbyleo.com/passive_l_series.html It's pretty easy to implement and I'm sure could sit in with a preamp (it's only a couple of caps really). The only thing I found difficult was finding a reverse log pot with a long enough shaft - but you wouldn't have that problem. And I've heard that you can use an Linear 250K in it's place anyway. I've definitely heard of people swapping the resistance strip in pots to create new combinations so it is possible - good luck!

Thanks for putting up the clips - it is the kind of thing I always mean to do but never get around to. Interesting the consensus around the tone. I guess I'd characterise the '71 open as 'authoritative' rather than 'flabby' as it sounds a little deeper, but then I'm a bass junkie! I liked the openness and clarity of the Moollon with the tone open, but the '71 won for me with the tone down. On the whole you're right - they are different rather than better/worse! Really made me want to get some flats on my bass!

I have tried! But when you're getting that Ampeg sound with the 'Ultra Hi' button enaged smashing into the amp at high gain evey little creak and scritch at the top end is really loud and however fast the gate is. If you let the note die without sounding chopped off by the gate, I get a little screech as I lift my finger on the left hand, which I should be muting with the right hand instead. I know if I changed ANY element of the set up it would go away (flats for roundwound, ultra hi off, less pre gain), but also, if my muting technique was immaculate it wouldn't be a problem and I could have that crunchy sound I'm after!

Thanks - I was looking at this the other day after seeing Moses stopped doing instruments. http://www.zonguitars.com/zonguitars/necks.html Phenowood looks interesting!

They look great - though I did like the stripes on the US models

Got to love that! Nice bass!

There was an interesting little bit on 70's jazz pickups from Monty's on Instagram (ssssss! I know - I don't normally social media but...), you might have got on the wrong side of the quality control. Might be worth giving them a call for a rewind - and they do a replacement too - https://www.montysguitars.com/collections/bass-pickups/products/retro-wind-j-bass-pickup-set?variant=29222240288867

The dilemma of science - what can you quantify? I guess I'm thinking that I've gone to low and sacrificing tone for playability. You could record in between height adjustments and blind test. I agree there must be an element of feel - art and science.

I agree - re-reading that has made me re-think. Science works if you have the patience and sensible metrics.

Tell me about it - it wasn't until I picked up a 70's Stingray that I suddenly went 'Ahhh!' and then had to quickly put it down as it was about 2.5K! Looking at your list of players it seems like Jazz bass style would be a reasonable place to start - narrower neck etc - it's all very personal!

Seconded - there is so much to think about, neck profile, pickup and then when you're in a shop some basses speak to you and some don't - basses I thought would ring my bell just didn't come alive in my hands, and as a guitarist you may want to travel further up the neck than some so fingerboard radius can make a big difference there. I'm sure you'll be ok if you can't make it to a shop, but it can make the choices much much clearer.

I'm a bit late to the party, and glad you've found a solution! I used tru oil and it was pretty painless to apply if time consuming - I think I did 6 coats, rubbing in, then taking back a bit with super fine wire wool - it came out really nice and very pleasant under the fingers.

Cool - yes - maybe it's time to call them up and talk pickups. Their 70's p-pickup reads like almost exactly what I want. I guess they get so many great instruments through there they can stop and analyse the good ones!

In Acton? I had them put a bass together for me - really such a beautiful setup they did on it - they are great - I didn't know they did bass pickups - tempting! https://www.montysguitars.com/collections/bass-pickups

I was watching through these Percy Jones videos (which a friend of mine described as watching a Hieronymus Bosch water colour master class) and he talks persuasively about three finger technique - here at about 3:20 - I can really hear it making sense of some of his percussive runs on those early Brian Eno records (like Another Green World) - and it makes a lot of sense in terms of right hand muting. I have to say though, I love me some thumb style too - totally different tone!