Wilco Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 So, I've just changed my amp head to something lighter & more portable. Likely that when funds allow, the same will happen with my cab. Like many of us, I'm looking to make things a little easier for myself on the transportation front. Then I go & load two 9lbs basses into hefty rectangular cases & lump those around to gigs! Don't get me wrong, those two basses are great & yes, instruments are lighter than amp gear obviously. You'd have thought though, given the currently popularity of backline size reduction, that a trend in smaller intruments might have followed? Steinberger type stick basses being the obvious candidates. I'm a child of the 80's however, so that might be a rose tinted specs type thought which could garner chortles to derision elsewhere!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 (edited) Only with heaps of swirly chorus.... [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhRYCQn3Hds[/media] And a weird spinny thing at the end ! Edited March 13, 2016 by ahpook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 Looked at this thread, then typed "chapman stick" into YouTube. No. Just. No. I get the skill involved, I can even appreciate it. But it really does not warrant a return... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectoremg Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 [quote name='ahpook' timestamp='1457830538' post='3002226'] Only with heaps of swirly chorus.... [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhRYCQn3Hds[/media] And a weird spinny thing at the end ! [/quote]Big fan of the film and never seen that before? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 I did a post recently asking for an overview of headless, bodyless basses and had some very interesting replies. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/277945-headless-body-less-basses/page__p__2979992__hl__headless%20__fromsearch__1#entry2979992"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/277945-headless-body-less-basses/page__p__2979992__hl__headless%20__fromsearch__1#entry2979992[/url] I ended up with a Hohner B2B which, up until I saw it for sale, was a model I had never heard of. It is passive with P/J pickps and a bolt on neck. The tone is different to a B2A played passively, no surprise as the pickups are different, and I much prefer it. But I have had some full-bodied basses that weigh no more than the headless/bodyless ones. (Shameless plug alert) my stealth MIJ 32" scale Fender Jazz Bass Special - currently for sale - weighs just 7.5lbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilco Posted March 13, 2016 Author Share Posted March 13, 2016 I should have been clearer in my initial post, I wasn't thinking of the Chapman Stick, more of your Hohner & Steinberger types. Good previous thread Paul S. I had a B2A a few years ago & I liked it, but not tried a B2B. The Steinberger XS looks pretty good mind. New strap hook arrangement, meaty active EMG, piezo bridge & rosewood saddle to warm the tone up a bit - all for £600 new..... Dammit, haven't had GAS for ages..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattM Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 Being fortunate enough to own an XL2, and having owned a B2A previously, can confirm that yer genuine article ain't that light owing to the materials and solidity of construction. Always surprises people who pick it up for the first time... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 (edited) Yeah, the Xm-3 is quite heavy for a headless . Amazing. Really. Back in the '9os , headless basses were unpopular . Still are according to the basses you hate post on here I wonder what the lightest 'quality ! Headless basses are? ( sorry , not hohner ) Btw; I recently looked at a few you tube clips on chapman stick. Looks hard . Doesn't look good for metal . If I learned how to play one ,somehow IMHO it doesn't look as cool as an ordinary bass or even guitar so couldn't see me gigging with one unless I was in a largish band . Edited March 13, 2016 by RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LayDownThaFunk Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 Unless you had a disability, I really don't understand why you would play a stick bass. Unless it was some 80s cheese tribute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 Well, they are perfect for travelling on public transport. Also, in small pubs etc. Very handy indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 [quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1457842994' post='3002253'] Big fan of the film and never seen that before? [/quote] No ? Maybe it's not in every version, there's loads of edits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 [quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' timestamp='1457872927' post='3002507'] Well, they are perfect for travelling on public transport. Also, in small pubs etc. Very handy indeed. [/quote] Perfect back up bass. Take up no room in the car or on stage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LayDownThaFunk Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 I'll take tone anyday... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 Thing is, I don't think they sound any worse than full sized basses. A lot harder to put out of tune too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 I had a Hohner B2A fretless back in the day - worst bass I ever owned!! If I was going that the "[i]stick-type[/i]" bass route now I think that I'd only be looking at a Status Streamline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 My B2AV sounds fine. The B2V that I had sounded somewhat thinner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 I think the world is ready for a 3-d printed bass in metal, chromed, as a 21st century take on the "stick" bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EMG456 Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 Amazing that 35 years on all the same old prejudices are still around. For anyone who has never played one, a Steinberger L series bass is probably just about the zenith in bass guitar design. Ned Steinberger took a step back and designed out almost every functional shortcoming that the "traditional" bass guitar had. Poor physical balance, uneven tonal response, dead spots, inaccurate and unstable tuning, sensitivity to climatic changes - all gone in one fell swoop. As a secondary benefit, these are about the most compact full scale basses you will find. Oh, and no shortcomings on the sound either, in fact the Steinberger has the uncanny ability to be heard clearly in a mix even when the actual level is way down. I like all sorts of basses and am in the fortunate position of owning a selection of excellent instruments that I enjoy playing but if the dreaded house fire was to occur and I only had time to save one of them, it would be my trusty old L2. It's been with me for over 35 years and is quite frankly, the only bass I really *need*. Oh, and while I'm at it, the Chapman Stick is a pretty cool instrument as well. Check out some Kevin Keith stuff for bass-centric but also properly funky two handed Stick playing - like this! [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkgoF_orWuI[/media] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 [quote name='LayDownThaFunk' timestamp='1457901378' post='3002892'] I'll take tone anyday... [/quote] Of course tone is a very subjective thing but this B2B sounds, to me, a lot nicer than many other basses I have tried - not all of them cheap crap either . Even when stacked up against other Hohners the P pickup sounds nicer than the B2As I have had before - either active or when played passively - more like a 'regular' P bass should. Maybe it is the EMGs I am not so keen on,I don't know, but as far as this B2B is concerned I don't consider it to be any kind of sacrifice. Anyway, horses for courses - I am happy with it and, generally speaking, I am hard to please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 Not sure I'm seeing much of a resurgence of Steiny-style minimalist basses, but there's definitely a bit of a resurgence of headless basses going on - the new Carvin/Kiesel Vader basses are getting rave reviews, i'm seeing more Status headlesses than at any time since the 80s, and Ned Steinberger's own Radius basses seem to be doing really well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 [quote name='Russ' timestamp='1457995030' post='3003846'] Not sure I'm seeing much of a resurgence of Steiny-style minimalist basses, but there's definitely a bit of a resurgence of headless basses going on - the new Carvin/Kiesel Vader basses are getting rave reviews, i'm seeing more Status headlesses than at any time since the 80s, and Ned Steinberger's own Radius basses seem to be doing really well. [/quote] Interested in carvin/ kiesel/ Vader .any pics ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 [quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' timestamp='1458036484' post='3004015'] Interested in carvin/ kiesel/ Vader .any pics ? [/quote] How about a video? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlHOizbf0OM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 Thanks russ. will look later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz39 Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 Well - digressing to Sticks: they are lovely - and tone is what you make of it, and what effects you whack on it. Check out anything by Tony Levin, or Warr guitarists like Trey Gunn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilco Posted March 15, 2016 Author Share Posted March 15, 2016 (edited) As if by destiny, a mint Steinberger Synapse Custom 4 string came up near me on Ebay so I bought it! My Geddy Lee Jazz weighs in at a hefty 10lbs & my P bass at 8.8lbs. Would you Adam & Eve it that the Synapse weighs........ 8.8lbs. Exactly the same as my P!! In the flesh as it were, a surprisingly chunky & solid instrument. So no weight reduction benefit then, but it will no doubt fit in the car & on stage much easier, & in some ways doesn't feel that heavy so perhaps it's better balanced on the strap? Other first impressions;- 1) very fast & buttery neck - very, very easy to play 2) seems well enough screwed together 3) sound seems very much orientated to high mids, so I need to mess around with some EQ to dial that out for my ears 4) every note has a lot of clarity & definition. Initial impressions then, by no means a disappointment & on the surface of it, a very decent bass! Edited March 16, 2016 by Wilco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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