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EMG456

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Everything posted by EMG456

  1. EMG456
    [quote name='cloudburst' timestamp='1376411035' post='2173581'] OMG. Credibility crisis! :-) Gary. [/quote] Don't knock the cabaret - me and my L2 did thousands of them in the 80's and 90's and I don't have a credibility gap. Or maybe I just think I don't ... Ed
  2. EMG456
    [quote name='MisterFingers' timestamp='1376429164' post='2173983'] It's going to cost a lot more to get a new finger board than get a re-fret - and metal wears a lot slower than wood, but I get ya. [/quote] You're right there but it shouldn't be prohibitively expensive and it does take an awful lot of playing before a new board becomes necessary. I have been playing fretless since 1978 but usually only for 2 or three songs each gig and there were long periods in the '80s and '90s when it was unusual for me to take a fretless along. I have owned four fretless basses during that time but only 2 for more than three or four years. None of them have had to have the board replaced yet and I'm thinking they'll probably see me out! That said, the Antoria fretless P that I bought in '78 has a lacquered maple board and the lacquer finally wore through to the wood 5 or 6 years ago. A swift visit to local luthier Jimmy Moon and hey presto, it's gleaming again ready for the next 30 years! Put whatever strings you like on it and as they say around here, "Gie it laldy!" i.e. give it a damned good thrashing. Ed
  3. EMG456
    [quote name='MisterFingers' timestamp='1376228132' post='2171010'] Apologies if this has been covered many times in the past, or is in the wrong section... [/quote] This does come up regularly and I must admit that I don't understand what the issue is. If you like the sound of flatwound or tapewound strings on your fretless, use them. I personally don't and my fretless basses have never been strung with flatwounds. This causes wear on the fingerboard, just like it does on frets. After a while, if there are softer spots on the board, it may need dressing. If you play a LOT on that one bass, the fingerboard may eventually have to be replaced - a decent luthier can do that easily. I just kind of view a fretless fingerboard as a consumable which can be fixed or replaced if it wears out. My bass is for making noises with and the fretless noises I like to make are made with roundwound strings. Just my 2p Ed
  4. EMG456
    [quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1373707584' post='2140735'] does something 'have' to happen - this song is all about the lyrics and the ethereal feel created by JM's strumming and open tuning - the clarinet and bass (nice as it is) is just the icing on the cake i think PP is great on this even if you do draw comparisons with JP - and as ezbass said above what bassist in their right mind would be brave or stupid enough to even want to attempt this [/quote] Are you kidding?!! The chance to play for JM and in the band with the likes of Shorter et al - I would say yes in a heartbeat! Brave or foolish? Yep, I try to be! Seriously, I wasn't aware that Pino had been hired by Joni but it makes sense - he would have been a great fit for covering all those great JP and LK lines. I thought he did a really good job here - much mellower tone than Jaco but then again Pino's been pretty much mellowing out ever since the early days. Cheers Ed
  5. EMG456
    [quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1372887742' post='2131341'] Any one remember lugging these about with a P or a Jazz? And taking out the passenger front seat to get it all in.... [size=4][url="http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/826/hqa4.jpg/"][/url][/size] [url="http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/842/9jm4.jpg/"][/url] [/quote] Absolute classic rig - I loved my 371 rig in the late 70's/ early 80's. Effortless volume and power with a truly great sound. Actually very easy to move around with the wheels on the back and big cast handles. We used to play a club that had a grand carpeted stair and at the end of the night I'd wheel the 301 cab out and when no one was looking slide it down the stairs on its back! Wheel out to the estate car, tilt back, load in, done! Feeling quite nostalgic now... Ed
  6. EMG456
    Once again, ACG. It's more like the Wal than the Alembic in that once you've filtered out the highs using the low pass filters, you can add selected ones back again using the high pass filter. Unlike the Wal, the amount of Boost at the Q point and the frequency and amount of high pass filter are continuously variable rather than pre-set switched. And the Alembics didn't have that Wal "Pick Attack" or high pass filter capability. I have an EQ01 in my Status 6 and would absolutely recommend them. As Luke alludes to it's not as simple to use as a more straight forward pre amp but infinitely more versatile. Ed
  7. EMG456
    [quote]you cant beat fender, They got it right.....[/quote] The trouble is... they don't have enough frets! (Usually) Ed (running away laughing)
  8. EMG456
    [quote name='Chris2112' timestamp='1372428227' post='2125664'] Same here. I have heard some people say that they are exactly the same as EMG's more expensive pickups, just in a different casing. I doubt that very much. But they weren't as dire as some people make out. [/quote] The original EMGs are low impedance "active" pickups. They have a low magnetic pull on the strings and a preamp built into each pickup. they are pretty hifi sounding, totally noiseless and you can run very long leads with little signal degradation. Oh, and there's no need to earth the strings so you can be a bit more protected from electric shock through a faulty amp than normal. Selects are the budget range and include none of those features - they are just bog standard pickups. Still good though. Ed
  9. EMG456
    Yes, alembic Essence. Presumably ordered with the control cavity on the "wrong" side of the body to suit a lefty who originally learnt to play on a righty bass!
  10. EMG456
    Hard work ,weddings and things don't always go to plan... My favourite, a good few years ago now happened about November time. The venue was a country house hotel just north of Glasgow. We were a four piece band - vox, keys, guitar, bass using programmed drums. Setting up the gear we got the usual comments from the management - "Far too many speakers", etc. etc. and then during the soundcheck, the power went off. We were getting the blame for it - too much current being used etc. - till someone arrived at the hotel saying that the power was off for miles around. Some electricity sub station had gone down and no one could say when it would be fixed. All we had which would actually make a noise was one acoustic guitar! The evening was due to commence and the bride and groom came through to see us - the video guy had about 15 minutes worth left in his batteries - is there anything we could do to let them have their first dance on the wedding video? Well, as has been said, it's one of the biggest days for many folks, we had to try and do something so we said yes, we'll do three songs in some shape or form. What to do? Sing your part! Stamp your feet, clap your hands, join in with harmonies. make it up as you go! We went on, the hotel had decked the stone walled room out with loads of candles around the window ledges and it was looking great. We did their requested 1st song and two others. It was hilarious and it went down a storm. So much so that they came back to see us and begged us to go back on as everyone had enjoyed it so much! We worked out two 45 minute sets - some songs we did normally. many we didn't and it turned out to be a great night for all concerned. Highlight of the night? That little gap in the Commodores "Easy" just before the whole room, to a man it seemed, joined in with a perfect full on rendition of the guitar solo! Best wedding I ever played. Cheers Ed Oh, and the power didn't come on again till the next day!
  11. EMG456
    Rob, I have a couple of basses that are similarly commemorative. I'm not selling them but then again I made a deal with myself a long time ago that unless I desperately needed the cash, I would not sell a bass that i I liked ever again. Do you need the cash? Are you the sort of person who regularly changes guitars or are you usually in it for the long haul? If you commissioned that Alembic, chose the woods and options etc etc then I think you may well regret selling it later on. As has been pointed out, it would be expensive to replace in the future should you want it back. If you really like it still and it's just the weight then I would have to say keep it and use it in the house and for recording. If you are looking for an alternative to the Warwick for gigging, there are many very reasonably priced instruments available these days that after a little fettling can be terrific basses. I suspect that you could easily buy something like that for less than your depreciation loss would be on the Alembic. (Maybe even two!) The wide strap is a good idea and I believe there is also a strap available that spreads the weight over both shoulders- that might be worth investigating too. Choose carefully. All the best. Ed
  12. EMG456
    Remember there's the Antoria badged verson as well - identical guitar. And the even rarer White Eagle. Good luck finding one. Cheers Ed
  13. EMG456
    [quote name='FlatEric' timestamp='1371632358' post='2116318'] Pic for EMG456. [/quote] Lovely! Nice Arias too! Ed
  14. EMG456
    [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/eddiem/9073738891/][/url] [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/eddiem/9073738891/]L2[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/eddiem/]emg456[/url], on Flickr Ha - wrong thread I hear you shout but wait... Underneath the rectangular covers of the EMG SS and HB pickups installed in most L and XL basses lies an actual EMG P pickup - offset split coil and all. Coupled with the fact that the neck pickup is positioned almost exactly where a Fender P has its pickup, this explains why my Steineys can do a very convincing big airy P sound using just that pickup. Cheers Ed
  15. EMG456
    Flateric, I asked you on another thread if you had pictures of your Oddysey but I think you must have stopped reading that one after posting. Anyway, here it is and beautiful - I loved Oddyseys. I have no cash just now but if you're ever selling...etc. etc. Cheers Ed PS Any bigger pics of the whole bass?
  16. EMG456
    [quote name='lojo' timestamp='1371475305' post='2114251'] Cheers, thought I was going mad, but this solution makes sense, ill get something made up [/quote] Just before you do that, as someone with close to 30 years experience on Steinberger type instruments as well as the classics and 20, 21, 24 fret etc., I would humbly suggest that it may be the headless aspect which is throwing you off. Most folks tend to go for positions roughly 2 frets higher than they thought when adjusting to these basses. You could try playing it exclusively for a while and see how you get on before drilling holes and fitting appendages. Sooner or later, you'll find it easy to go between headed/ headless, 20/ 24 etc. Cheers Ed
  17. EMG456
    [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1371300491' post='2112298'] Personally I'd prefer someone to have another go at getting the Gizmo to work as usable commercial product. [/quote] Well, I haven't heard that word for years. (at least not in terms of a mechanical actuator of guitar strings!) The guitarist I was working with at the time had one fitted on to his Ovation Breadwinner - it was a brilliant thing. 1970s - great time to be playing music! Cheers Ed
  18. EMG456
    [quote name='cloudburst' timestamp='1371071272' post='2109564'] As of fairly recently... Main bass = 1988 Steinberger XL2 Backup bass = 1988 Steinberger XL2A Guess I'm boring. CB [/quote] You're boring! As I don't really see the point in owning two basses that are exactly the same, my backup will always be different to my main bass. Then again, the main bass is likely to be a different one on different gigs also - no point having them and not using them and I like to just pick before I go out the door. But they'll all sound exactly like me playing the bass! And +1 to never leaving spare gear in the car. If you need a backup bass at all then it needs to be ready and tuned at the stage temperature and environment and not stolen from the car. Cheers Ed PS Amazed at all these folks who have never suffered a broken string - good on you... or alternatively, try harder!
  19. EMG456
    I just used an historic inflation calculator on two prices that I kind of remember from the mid seventies. There are probably others out there for different countries - this one uses UK inflation rates. http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-1633409/Historic-inflation-calculator-value-money-changed-1900.html I was choosing between a Fender and a Rick and buying new - Fender was priced about £300 and Rick £400. Plugging those prices in concludes that they would now cost £2133 for the Fender or £2844 for the Rick. From this admittedly unrepresentative and small sample we can conclude that buying a bass as an "investment" is a complete waste of time - you're unlikely to get back even the equivalent value in the future let alone make a profit. Occasionally some buck the trend - like the aforementioned Wals - £800 new in 1984 - equivalent value today £2180 so you would stand a chance of a profit there if you could find a buyer. If you buy cheaply, it can be different story so the '61 Precision I bought for £125 in 1978 would have cost me the equivalent of £608 today! Then again, I sold it for £450 in 1984 - ho hum. Buy them to play, not to invest. Cheers Ed
  20. EMG456
    [quote name='lowregisterhead' timestamp='1370591346' post='2103045'] When I had my XL-5W (now with a private collector in Scotland ~... Amazing instruments. Wish I still had one! ...~ [/quote] Well, you only have yourself to blame. Never been called a collector before though... Agreed that the NS Boomerang is a viable alternative and indeed more versatile than the original pivot plate.. Oh and the bronze ends are still lovely. Cheers Ed
  21. EMG456
    [quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1349783877' post='1830398'] I'm kind of partial to Dirty Loops fusionised cheesy pop songs at the moment ... [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjVGJ3YFDc8&feature=relmfu"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjVGJ3YFDc8&feature=relmfu[/url] [/quote] These guys are phenomenal - never heard of them before. Thanks for posting. Ed
  22. EMG456
    Ha Ha... I'm the only person in the world I know who prefers left hand pivot plates on his right hand Steinbergers! It all goes back to my habit of wearing the bass high on a short strap. The Steinberger pivot is set up to essentially work for all players who typically hang the bass in the time- honoured tradition - fairly low, and sitting somewhat round to the picking hand side of the body. I like mine higher and a bit more round to the front. When you try this with a normal handed pivot, what happens is that as the strap is shortened, the pivot tends to turn round till the long arm is effectively pointing upwards and you're stuck with no further adjustment possible. The answer is to use an opposite handed pivot. The strap which the bass effectively hangs from is then attached to the short arm of the pivot, which allows you to raise it further and the long arm sits horizontally keeping everything balanced. This practise has been with me so long now that whilst I could probably change my ways, at this stage in life I'm not going to! Which leaves me with a deficit of suitable pivot plates - I only have two lefties to use with potentially 5 host basses so I do a lot of swapping dependant on which basses I want to take with me to whatever endeavour! Anybody got any spare lefty pivots? You correctly identify the actual pivot mounting point as a potential whoops but I think in practise, this would probably work out fine - the balance point would be essentially correct but if you used the pivot with little or no friction set, the bass would not tend to self- centre the way a correctly handed one would. A bit like driving some cars in reverse with full lock on - the forces at play tend to hold it on full lock rather than self centre the steering. Boat rudders are the same but I digress as usual... Sbluplanet - if that's you in your avatar, it looks as though you do wear the bass quite high - you may well prefer an opposite handed pivot. Cheers Ed
  23. EMG456
    Sblueplanet - I don't know the numbers for left hand production of the L series basses but they don't seem to come up for sale very often. Due to the unique construction however, you could use a right hand bass and just make or have made a replacement top plate ie the front of the bass which carries the pickups and control knobs. That way you could have the proper left- hand arrangement for the controls but still be able to swap back to the original plate for re-sale purposes. I've seen GL guitars with nice wood top plates fitted so you could vary the appearance as you liked. Just an idea which would open up the market for you. Cheers Ed
  24. EMG456
    [quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1370090064' post='2096344'] I've been thinking about getting some myself , and I am very much of the generation that believed the virtual extinction of flatwound bass strings was a mark of social progress , similar to the eradication of tuberculosis or the development effective hemmorhoid treatments . For thirty years they were the bass playing equivalent of flared trousers ( i.e most right - thinking folks thought they would never make a comeback ) but they have achieved the seemingly impossible and become trendy again . [/quote] I actually did LOL at that! Dingus, you really must be the long lost bass playing twin that I never knew I had! Like you, I have been a flats-free zone for getting close to 40 years and astonishingly even to myself, am now thinking about stringing up a couple of basses with them to see how they go. There are some archetypal flatwound sounds that I would like to have at my disposal now but this would be more akin to using an effect if you like for a particular song or piece. I would not go back to flats as a default but that's because I like my basses to provide all the frequencies from the very low to the very high and flats simply don't do that. I'm well aware that many disagree with me on these things but hey - I'm happy! Cheers Ed
  25. EMG456
    Enjoyed listening to that again. Human Racing always seemed to me to have the Wal bass sound written all over it - excellently played too, even if there was some studio skulduggery going on! He's a very clever writer and arranger as well - really like the way he handles the key change in Gone to Pieces. Looks like I'm going to have to pay another visit to iTunes...
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