The Short Scale Bass Appreciation Society!

[ped]

3 hours ago, martthebass said:

How’s it sound Ped?

Sounds very similar to the PJ setup before it (so like a really grunty P bass) but with more body and no ‘plonk’ so to speak! With both pickups it’s a really sweet plinky J with flats. It’s ideal, honestly better than I expected. The pickups were a halfway house between educated guesses as to what would suit and the necessity for them to fill the old gaps. 
 

The neck pickup in particular is very clever; it’s a dual coil with one coil hotter than the other and it’s splittable. The bridge pickup is really powerful and balances with it just right as I was advised by the maker (Gemini Pickups in Wales)

[Stub Mandrel]

On 02/12/2022 at 14:23, ped said:

As soon as it says it’s in the depot after clearing customs, ring Parcelforce and pay the duty over the phone. If you wait for the letter it’ll be about three days until it arrives (if Royal Fail aren’t on strike)

 

Thomann are using dhl these days. Got an SM58, joyo amp and a tweed case last week, within 6 days of ordering.

[bassist_lewis]

Just got the weekly Bass Direct newsletter with this gem in it:

 

https://bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/MARUSZCZYK_Jake_4P_Nat_30.html

 

I need to go work for BP 😂

[ezbass]

41 minutes ago, bassist_lewis said:

Just got the weekly Bass Direct newsletter with this gem in it:

 

https://bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/MARUSZCZYK_Jake_4P_Nat_30.html

 

I need to go work for BP 😂

I saw this and thought the pickup was bit too far towards the neck, the 32” doesn’t look as far forward, although I’m not mad about the finishes on either.

[martthebass]

14 hours ago, ped said:

Sounds very similar to the PJ setup before it (so like a really grunty P bass) but with more body and no ‘plonk’ so to speak! With both pickups it’s a really sweet plinky J with flats. It’s ideal, honestly better than I expected. The pickups were a halfway house between educated guesses as to what would suit and the necessity for them to fill the old gaps. 
 

The neck pickup in particular is very clever; it’s a dual coil with one coil hotter than the other and it’s splittable. The bridge pickup is really powerful and balances with it just right as I was advised by the maker (Gemini Pickups in Wales)

Giving me some food for thought there Chris, I'm looking at modding my Mikey Way Mustang next year as it could do with a bit of a liven up.  The stock humbucker is ok but I'd like something a bit hotter - more like the MFD in my G&L Fallout.  I tend to use these 2 basses on gigs and I much prefer the added punch and definition of the MFD over the stock pup in the Mustang.

[ped]

2 minutes ago, martthebass said:

Giving me some food for thought there Chris, I'm looking at modding my Mikey Way Mustang next year as it could do with a bit of a liven up.  The stock humbucker is ok but I'd like something a bit hotter - more like the MFD in my G&L Fallout.  I tend to use these 2 basses on gigs and I much prefer the added punch and definition of the MFD over the stock pup in the Mustang.

An MFD would be fun in a Mustang. The MFDs I had in my L2000 had one hotter coil which gave a great P sound which is partly why I went for this Tbird pickup. I presume the one in the Fallout is the same? 
 

Of course with the scratchplate covering the body you can have a nice big channel routed and try a few different ones until you’re happy, then get a new scratchplate. 

[martthebass]

Just now, ped said:

An MFD would be fun in a Mustang. The MFDs I had in my L2000 had one hotter coil which gave a great P sound which is partly why I went for this Tbird pickup. I presume the one in the Fallout is the same? 
 

Of course with the scratchplate covering the body you can have a nice big channel routed and try a few different ones until you’re happy, then get a new scratchplate. 

Not sure Chris, I think the Fallout is essentially an L1000 in different clothing.  I don't usually use it in single coil config (I find it a bit weedy compared to series/OMG). 

[ped]

22 minutes ago, martthebass said:

Not sure Chris, I think the Fallout is essentially an L1000 in different clothing.  I don't usually use it in single coil config (I find it a bit weedy compared to series/OMG). 

Hm I can’t remember the ins and outs of it but I think the OMG mode is effectively putting a cap in front of one of the coils. Kind of like my Tbird pickup in humbucker mode. Single coil switches one off completely which sounded nice with two pickups. 

[fretmeister]

I've just put some La Bella deep talking flats on my shorty.

 

Can't wait to give them a proper try. Mind you, at the same time I put some long scale White Copper Nylon Tapes on my Sandberg just out of curiosity and I think I really like them. Might have to look into those for the shorty too - maybe in 10 years when the Deep Talkin's finally need replacing!  

[ped]

More pics as promised, in between the rain!

 

 

[eude]

3 minutes ago, ped said:

More pics as promised, in between the rain!

 

 

That is simply stunning!

Edited December 5, 2022 by eude

[ped]

3 minutes ago, eude said:

That is simply stunning!

 

Thanks! 

[ezbass]

31 minutes ago, ped said:

More pics as promised, in between the rain!

 

 

Nice. Now, video/sound clip 🙏😉

[martthebass]

3 hours ago, ped said:

Hm I can’t remember the ins and outs of it but I think the OMG mode is effectively putting a cap in front of one of the coils. Kind of like my Tbird pickup in humbucker mode. Single coil switches one off completely which sounded nice with two pickups. 

I think you’re right, the OMG setting does sound good in some settings, I use it like a ‘boost’ on gigs when I need some added oompf. I like the look of the Tbird type pickup though, do you have a link?

[ped]

1 hour ago, martthebass said:

I think you’re right, the OMG setting does sound good in some settings, I use it like a ‘boost’ on gigs when I need some added oompf. I like the look of the Tbird type pickup though, do you have a link?

Yep here you go

https://www.geminipickups.co.uk/bass/thunderbird-bass/degenerate-tb

 

They do a few other type sin a Tbird case.

[scrumpymike]

On 28/11/2022 at 17:13, ezbass said:

Harley Benton alert!

 

https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_mv_4msb_gotoh_bm.htm

Mine came this morning! Ordered last Thursday, so more than happy with the delivery time. Only just got back, unpacked it and had a quick play but must say first impressions are extremely favourable. Arrived in perfect condition, double-boxed for freshness 🙂 The fit and finish wouldn't be out of place on a bass 2 or 3 times the price and completely justify its 'Deluxe Series' tag. Such a smart move by HB to fit D'Addario EXL 165 (045-105) strings and Gotoh tuners too. Pickups are Roswell JBA-N AlNiCo 5 single-coil (bridge) and PBA AlNiCo 5 split-coil (middle) with no selector switch fitted. Haven't worked out how the tone control does what it does but the range sounds good to me. Set-up is pretty good as received and the 3.5kg weight quoted by Thomann feels about right and it sits nicely at 'quarter to three' on the strap, i.e. no real neck-dive to speak of but on the edge.

 

I'll post more impressions and pic's soonest but so far I'm a very happy bass bunny.

[ped]

11 minutes ago, scrumpymike said:

Mine came this morning! Ordered last Thursday, so more than happy with the delivery time. Only just got back, unpacked it and had a quick play but must say first impressions are extremely favourable. Arrived in perfect condition, double-boxed for freshness 🙂 The fit and finish wouldn't be out of place on a bass 2 or 3 times the price and completely justify its 'Deluxe Series' tag. Such a smart move by HB to fit D'Addario EXL 165 (045-105) strings and Gotoh tuners too. Pickups are Roswell JBA-N AlNiCo 5 single-coil (bridge) and PBA AlNiCo 5 split-coil (middle) with no selector switch fitted. Haven't worked out how the tone control does what it does but the range sounds good to me. Set-up is pretty good as received and the 3.5kg weight quoted by Thomann feels about right and it sits nicely at 'quarter to three' on the strap, i.e. no real neck-dive to speak of but on the edge.

 

I'll post more impressions and pic's soonest but so far I'm a very happy bass bunny.

Sounds good. No pickup selector is odd though, perhaps it’s worth changing the controls to balance and tone instead?

[Obrienp]

I think I would go for a stacked vol/tone and a blend but it means a bit more complicated wiring job. Come to think of it, why not two stacked vol/tone like an old Jazz bass.

Edited December 6, 2022 by Obrienp

[Osiris]

14 hours ago, scrumpymike said:

Mine came this morning! Ordered last Thursday, so more than happy with the delivery time. Only just got back, unpacked it and had a quick play but must say first impressions are extremely favourable. Arrived in perfect condition, double-boxed for freshness 🙂 The fit and finish wouldn't be out of place on a bass 2 or 3 times the price and completely justify its 'Deluxe Series' tag. Such a smart move by HB to fit D'Addario EXL 165 (045-105) strings and Gotoh tuners too. Pickups are Roswell JBA-N AlNiCo 5 single-coil (bridge) and PBA AlNiCo 5 split-coil (middle) with no selector switch fitted. Haven't worked out how the tone control does what it does but the range sounds good to me. Set-up is pretty good as received and the 3.5kg weight quoted by Thomann feels about right and it sits nicely at 'quarter to three' on the strap, i.e. no real neck-dive to speak of but on the edge.

 

I'll post more impressions and pic's soonest but so far I'm a very happy bass bunny.

 

How's the neck binding? Is it square edged or more rounded off? I do like the look of a bound neck but find that they can be uncomfortable to play if they're not rounded off. 

Edited December 7, 2022 by Osiris

[scrumpymike]

1 hour ago, Osiris said:

 

How's the neck binding? Is it square edged or more rounded off? I do like the look of a bound neck but find that they can be uncomfortable to play if they're not rounded off. 

 

Felt fine to me last night and adds a real touch of class. I'll include some close-ups in the pic's I'm taking (hopefully) today.

[scrumpymike]

Only limited time for another quick play today. Once again,  for me this bass just feels and sounds right. My only slightly negative comment is that, in common with many cheaper basses, the volume control is 'all or nothing' - full on at full rotation and zilch when backed-off a tenth or so. Thankfully the tone control is more evenly progressive.

 

6 hours ago, Osiris said:

 

How's the neck binding? Is it square edged or more rounded off? I do like the look of a bound neck but find that they can be uncomfortable to play if they're not rounded off. 

Re neck edge binding, there's a small radius to the edge but with the 12"-radiussed fretboard it feels fine to me.

 

So here are some pic's of mine as opposed to HB/Thomann publicity shots:

 

 

[fretmeister]

How do you select pickups?

[scrumpymike]

4 hours ago, fretmeister said:

How do you select pickups?

 

The tonal range delivered by the 'tone' control suggests it has some pan/blend capability. If not, you don't - which seems odd. I've asked Thomann to explain how it works and will post the answer.

[Baloney Balderdash]

16 minutes ago, scrumpymike said:

 

The tonal range delivered by the 'tone' control suggests it has some pan/blend capability. If not, you don't - which seems odd. I've asked Thomann to explain how it works and will post the answer.

I bet that they got the specs wrong and that the supposed tone knob is indeed really a pickup blend knob.

 

Wouldn't be the first time Harley Benton and Thomann got the specs wrong in the spec list of their products.

Edited December 7, 2022 by Baloney Balderdash

[Obrienp]

I like the body contours on that HB. Definitely an improvement on the original Mustang design.