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ikay

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Posts posted by ikay

    What strings for an acoustic basS?

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    One to consider is Thomastik Acousticores (AB344). These have a nylon core with phosphor-bronze windings and sound like a classical (bass) guitar. Very expressive strings. And expensive for that matter but they are a bit special! Not everyone likes them - but I do :lol:

    About to take the plunge

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    Depends what you're after and what sort of music you play but if you go for a fretless I'd suggest having the piezo bridge as part of your pickup configuration. My Recurve (0067) has piezo + humbucker (switchable single-coil) and filter preamp which is a very flexible combination. The piezo has a very wide and open natural sound. Combined with the more focused sound of a mag pup you can cover everything from acoustic-like tones to real grunt and snarl with all points in between. Have fun speccing your bass and enjoy!

    *** SOLD *** 2011 Fender American Deluxe Jazz

    in Basses For Sale

    Posted · Edited by ikay

    Selling this on behalf of a guitarist friend of mine in Reading, Berks.

    Bought new last September from Dawsons in Reading for a recording project. Has barely been out of it's case and is in mint condition. Olympic white with rosewood board and block inlays. Complete with case and accessories. Currently strung with D'Addario XL nickels (40-100) and also includes a spare set. I've played this bass and it's a beautiful example, lightweight and resonant. I'm very tempted myself but already have two Js!

    More detailed specs here [url="http://www.dawsons.co.uk/guitars/bass-guitars/fender-american-deluxe-jazz-bass-guitar-2010-rosewood-neck-olympic-white"]http://www.dawsons.c...k-olympic-white[/url]

    Price is £995 - NOW SOLD

    Collection from Reading preferred but will ship at cost.

    If interested please PM me and I'll put you in contact with the seller.

    [attachment=103503:IMG_0039.jpg]
    [attachment=103505:IMG_0047.jpg]

    Bolt-on versus neck-thru for slapping - opinions?

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by ikay

    [quote name='Sean' timestamp='1332691328' post='1591678']
    Interesting stuff, however it doesn't really explain the physics of it. The engineer in me wants to know :unsure:
    [/quote]

    Here's a bit of the supposed science relating to resonant frequency (not my words, result of googling but sounds reasonable):

    "A neck through will have a longer continuous fiber length throughout the piece and will have a lower natural resonating frequency (RF) due to this longer length. The fundamental will dominate. [tone will be more round and less bright due to less complex harmonics - see below]

    A set neck [or bolt-on] will have 2 shorter pieces (body and neck) each with their own RF along with their combined signature. The impedance mismatch at the neck joint will reflect some of that back into the body and neck but will also allow specific frequencies to pass and blend. It all makes it to the strings eventually and you have a more complex sonic signature with a larger range than with a single piece body/neck core. The fundamental is still there but the midrange will dominate."

    Another link here although this study focused on sustain rather than tone - [url="http://liutaiomottola.com/myth/neckJointSustain.htm"]http://liutaiomottol...ointSustain.htm[/url]

    Active blend v's passive blend and what it does for tone/sound

    in Accessories and Misc

    Posted · Edited by ikay

    LukeFRC, I have a passive jazz and a jazz with an Audere JZ3 pre with buffered blend. To my ears the active blend just gives a much smoother and more progressive transition from one pickup to the other. There's a wider range of blended sounds to be had over a wider area of control movement. The sound at the mid point is still slightly scooped.

    The passive blend on the other hand only has a very small zone either side of centre where you can actually 'mix' the pickups. For example, if you slowly move the blend from centre towards the bridge pup there's a particular point where you can hear the bridge pup starting to 'bite'. Very small movements around this point are where you can find some 'blended' tones but it's quite delcate compared with an active blend.

    II wouldn't say that passive blend is inferior - it has it's own unique character and in some ways is more characterful than the finer grained control offered by active. As with most things it depends on what you're after and what works for you.

    I'll do a quick back to back recording to compare in the next day or two. Not sure how effective that will be in showing the difference but will give it a go. If it works I'll post it here (if not I wont!).

    Got an ACG? got a webcam? I've got a favour to ask...

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted · Edited by ikay

    Some clips of mine - Recurve frretless 5 (0067) - EQ01 with RFB mag pickup (switched humbucker/single coil) and piezo. Just to offer another configuration for comparison. Usual disclaimer re quality of playing and recording. Bass is strung with TI flats. Recorded direct into Zoom H4. Clips are as follows:

    1.Mag pickup (switched to single coil) with filter boost up full - starting with filter sweep and followed by repeated pattern while slowly sweeping filter from high to low

    [attachment=102023:ACG-Mag-Filter+Boost.mp3]

    2. Piezo pickup with filter boost up full - starting with filter sweep and followed by repeated pattern while slowly sweeping filter from high to low.

    [attachment=102024:ACG-Piezo-Filter+Boost.mp3]

    3. General purpose setting - mag and piezo filters both about 2/3 open and boost about half up. Clip starts with mag/single coil, followed by mag/humbucker, then piezo, finally some idle doodling while sweeping the blend from full piezo slowly back to full humbucker.

    [attachment=102025:ACG-Mag+Piezo-GeneralSetting.mp3]

    The piezo has a wider and more open sound than the mag which is tight and focused. I use the blend as my main control when playing live to select the sound I want for each song. Occasionally I'll also tweak the boost if I want to add a bit of edge or soften the sound. The frequency cutoff is generally just set at my personal sweet spot and left alone. This bass is played in a jazzy/bluesy covers band and the mag/piezo mix is an ideal combination for this.

    *what do you look for in an (onboard) preamp?

    in Accessories and Misc

    Posted

    [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1331160264' post='1568837']
    IMO an onboard pre-amp should do at least one of the following:

    1. Something that can't be replicated by the controls on your amp.
    2. Individual tonal changes to each pick up.
    3. Smooth blend between pick ups without any volume drop in the centre position.
    [/quote]

    You don't happen to be on commission for selling the ACG EQ01 do you :lol:

    Knobs?

    in Repairs and Technical

    Posted

    If it's the one on the left you're after run a search on ebay for 'chicken head knob'. There are lots of them on ebay. The one on the right looks like a Fender jazz control knob, replacements also available on ebay.

    P/J type bass questions. Help wanted please.

    in Repairs and Technical

    Posted

    [quote name='tbonepete' timestamp='1330451599' post='1557768']
    Can you recommend any pots in particular?
    [/quote]

    There are a few threads on Talkbass about blend/centre volume issues:

    http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f38/jazz-blend-pot-center-detent-volume-drop-525115/
    http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f38/old-story-volume-drop-middle-position-when-using-blend-pot-598672/

    Both of these recommend the 'MN' blend pot from Allparts:

    http://www.allparts.uk.com/online-shop/guitar-bass-parts/electronics/250k-pots/dual-250kmn-blendbalance-audio-taper-pot-w-centre-detent-p-1560.html

    thomastik jf344 strings

    in Repairs and Technical

    Posted

    If the truss rod is fully clockwise (not good if it's at the end of its travel!) then are you seeing a back-bow in the neck or an up-bow? Max tension in the rod would generally result in a slight back-bow and the strings would be 'grounding out' on the frets. If you're still getting an up-bow (ie. the neck has some relief) and you want less relief (ie. a flatter neck that will lower the action) then putting on higher tension strings will have the opposite effect to what you want Some pics might help.

    Weird meeow tone

    in Repairs and Technical

    Posted

    [quote name='V4lve' timestamp='1330949010' post='1565074']
    Beginning to wonder if I am obsessing,
    [/quote]

    I think probably yes :lol: It's only detectable when using headphones and even then not really that noticeable unless you're listening for it. No one will hear it when you play live. Having been through all the various checks it doesn't sound as though there's anything on your bass that needs fixing. It's just one of those slightly curious artefacts to do with the natural vibration of the strings you have on it. Possibly more noticeable with new strings than dull ones as you mention. It probably happens to the rest of us as well but we just haven't noticed it!

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