General Music Chat

Forget my request for fuzz bass. If you feel any inclination to work on that number I sent you, I want you to use the Bionic Bass!

Didn't think about that, Schmeddy. That might be very cool!!
Again, let me get the setup right and work on it for a few days. I've already played some cool stuff on it.
I also need to plug it into the Marshall. How about fuzz upright?? I can crank the pre-amp and line out to the board.

I can see Mark freaking out about now!!!

Yes!

I also need to plug it into the Marshall. How about fuzz upright?? I can crank the pre-amp and line out to the board.

I can see Mark freaking out about now!!!

yeah! that's ME...the "traditionalist" playing solid body electric mando on straight up acoustic bluegrass gigs and playing my six string bass when i'm too lazy to haul my upright around!

for some cool "effected" upright, if you ain't hip....you might check out some Miroslav Vituous (first bassist w Weather Report)

check out about 10:00 min in for some wah-wah arco business
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIlHVFTjuNU

eberhard weber was also big into running fx on his upright
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2be9lqLAHs

david friesen using delay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_sF88PW0Qo

A few observations Mark-
By lowering the bridge I decreased tension on the nut and ended up w/ a better neck profile.
I also lost a little volume as well.

yeah, like most string instruments (maybe more so than others?) string height/tension does play a huge role in volume. me, i'm a pu**y and keep my action pretty low for easier playability. if i'm out gigging or playing in any kind of volume situation i've got it amplified so i don't have to beat the sh*t out of it (and my hands) to be heard.

the other down side of low action.....it makes it pretty hard to slap.

You're also spot on about the PU. I plugged it into the board and tried it w/o a pre-amp. Hardly any volume and very 'tinnish' tone. The contact pads on the set screws on the bridge are aluminum as well!! No dampening there.

you never answered my question about where the p/u's are mounted...i surmised they are on the bridge from what i can see in the photo.....like i said, if that's the case you might consider moving them to under the feet of the bridge (between brdg and body). that SHOULD get you more volume and less tinny (aluminumy?) tone.

wow, i can't believe those feet are metal w nothing between them and the top. i'd think that would be a battle to the finish (pun intened) between the top and the brdg.....my money is on the brdg to win that one!

I'm strapped for $$ after this purchase so I'm wondering if I can use the pre-amp out on my Marshall to drive the signal into the board? The amp is SS, not tube. I know a tube amp needs to 'see' a load to function properly. Just wondering about the SS amp?

hmmm, no exp trying that. it's worth a try i'd say.

some more bass fx stuff ( but i don't think i'll be going this route for any bluegrass gigs.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phaeGyWmvG8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_sF88PW0Qo

Link?

thanks. so you heard the song yet? is it to hurky jerky or will it work? tone is completely up to you. Upright bass is on my wish list of instruments to work with, even more so since the Melvins Lite album. so I could go for clean tone too.

ok jook, checked the song last night on my phone but couldn't tell much. checked it just now on the "for real" rig. here's the good and not so good news....


the good:

man, i LOVE that tune! yeah...it's got some great and really interesting moves and changes. "commercial" ...but not, if you know what i mean. (compliment there)

ok, the not so good:

i'm having a real tough time discerning what it is other than the basic pulse that the bass is playing. to my ears it's pretty murky in the low end and so i can't weigh in on the tone of the bass or the p/u.

i know from your other recordings that you and and i hear and record/mix bass very differently. i do believe there are times when a "mysterioso" less defined bass tone can work, but for the most part i really prefer hearing very well defined and articulate bass parts. (big suprise, right?) i want to hear every note, gliss, slur, nuance, and gesture.

the tune is really damn good...but i think you should consider recording another take w a cleaner and more articulate bass line. maybe just forgo the p/u and record the bass w a mic. or perhaps you can clean things up in the mix? maybe less compression?

FWIW....i always record upright on 2 trks. one w a mic and another trk using the p/u...thinking i'm going to blend in some of the low end that the p/u offers. but then....90% of the time i end up just using the mic trk!

that's how i recorded that last deal i sent you...i forget what you titled it, but it's the one you listed me in the credits as playing "bulldog bass".

thanks for sharing the tune, buddy!

yeah, cool bit on the intro.

my uncle paul had a silver '61 Galaxy w a black ragtop. that was a seriously cool ride!