I ordered the ROMA

Whit Townsend · #1 04-27-2006, 01:42 PM

I bit and ordered one of those $750 plys from Ideal.
Should be here tomorrow or Monday. Seems to be a well made instr, esp for the price. Might have some set up work to do, but thats ok. I just hope she's loud. If its got the volume to drive a 6 piece Bluegrass band the I'll be alright. I can work on the overall tonal character with string choice and my hands.
They gave me the choice of Helicore Orch or Hybrids. Went with Med Orch, as the Orchs were considered to be more gutlike. I hope to at least keep the E and A, thinking that if there ok should match well with a gut D &G. Don't know if I'll be able to play for 3-4 hrs on a steel D & G.
Hopefully I can give her a test run at practice next week, and possibly gig with it next weekend if I can get the BP100 & PreAmp sounding usable. If not, the Old Kay's top still has a few gigs left in her I hope.

Frank Louis · #2 04-27-2006, 10:15 PM

Good for you Whit . . .I hope you are as happy as I am with mine. It's gonna take a little time for the sound to open up, but it will. I found that the Pecanic tailpiece and cord along with the Spiros really helped as well.
The set-up it comes with is not all that bad, but I had my fingerboard planed and bridge trimmed for better playability. My luthier said the quality of the ebony was good, more typical of a higher priced instrument. But it had a slight dip which had to be dressed.

I've been using it on acoustic gigs for the past year and a half and she has held up well . .

Good luck . . keep us informed . . .

Whit Townsend · #3 04-28-2006, 02:58 PM

Glad to hear its opened up nicely.
Steve emailed me said had to use a different trucking Co than originally planned, so bass wasn't shipped till this morning, be here by middle next week. Bummer. I was all antsy.

What kind of music are you playing and what kind of Spiros?

I play almost 100% bluegrass, but thru the PA w/a pu on most gigs. Have used a BP100 and the orig Fish bass preamp that goes with it for 13 yrs. Not the best, but I found a way to make it work. Hope I can do the same on the new bass for at least a while before I go shopping for a newe PU system or mic or both. I'd like to settle on the best strings for me and the bass first.I've always been a low tension nylon guy, they worked for me on my old bass. Acoustically it was very loud, with a very pleasant decay, very old school. But this was on the best sounding old Kay (or other ply) I've ever played or heard. Gonna miss her. I'm still hoping against all odds that someday, someone will want to tackle its problems, but alas not to be for now anyway. I'm thinking Nils probably arn't gonna get it on a new green bass. Most Nils I've heard on newer unseasoned basses were pretty pathetic sounding.
I'm actully hoping I'll grow to like the steel strings, if I do, I'll prob go with some Spiros next set. If not, then most Likely its Eurosonics.

Frank Louis · #4 04-29-2006, 11:54 PM

I've been using the red wrapped on both ends, mediums I believe. Playin' acoustic folk, singer songwriter, coffee house type stuff. Very popular in and around the college towns.
On some dates I work with a drummer, and would like a better system to amplify my sound, The piezo pick-up I'm using is too thin sounding and does not mix well with the band. On those occasions I'll use my BSX EUB.
The helicores that came with the bass were not bad though. Not as bright and "growly" as the Spiros but still useable.
These basses have been layin in storage for quite a few years, so they are not really that green, but they are new so you'll have to play the heck out of it for a while open up the sound a bit. For the money one of the best bargins around IMHO.

Whit Townsend · #5 05-03-2006, 08:26 AM

Bass arrived safe and sound yesterday. I set the bridge, tuned it up, and played it last night at band practice.
Didn't say anything to the guys, just pulled her out of the bag and started playing.
After about 3 tunes, someone commented and another seconded that my bass was sounding good tonight.
I just said thanks.
After another tune and a conmpliment about a little run I put in, I just coudn't stand it anymore. "Notice anything different about the bass?" After a couple of double takes, they realized it was a new bass. I took it as a positive. Guess if it had been bad, they would have noticed something was wrong instead of complimenting me.

My impressions after about 2 hrs playing:
Set up is playable but could be much better. Action a little high at the nut, string ht at the other end about where I like it. Overall, It's exactly like it was promised to be, playable, but not a really custom set up.
The Med. Helicore Orchs sound fine for bluegrass. Mellow tone but loud enough, big fundamental, a gut-like sound with just a little sustain, which is nice. Made hamburger out of my right hand fingers tho after about an hr. They will just have to toughen up, think I'll keep these strings for a while.
Bass had a few minor finish flaws, and a few very small dings, but nothing I can really complain about for the price. You gotta look hard for the smudges in the finish, and I'll put more dings on it in the next 2 weeks than what is there now.

Have to give Steve & Ideal an A+. Delivered me a decent quality instrument at a great price, and service was excellent, prompt, friendly, no BS.
Everybody should call them up and order some accessories just to get to talk to Mrs. Loeb. She's a real sweetheart.

Frank Louis · #6 05-05-2006, 12:16 PM

Newbies take note . . . the CCB's on eBay will be available for years to come. These Romas are limited supply and will be gone forever when sold out.

We are not "shills" for Steve Loeb or Ideal Music, just satisfied customers. . . .

Paul New · #7 05-05-2006, 12:28 PM

Hey Whit, you playing that thing tomorrow night ? I think I`ll play my Kay.

I`m assuming you`re playing with Pure and Simple, Melissa too ?

And, I have a set of Eurosonic ultralights, barely used. Try em out, buy cheap if you like.

Whit Townsend · #8 05-05-2006, 01:02 PM

Hey Paul.
Yep gonna give it a whirl. Just P&S, not Melissa.
Got any idea of the sound system situation?
Got the old fishman sounding pretty decent after I superglued it to the bridge. Would rather play into a nice big ol condenser tho if they got one and enough channels!
Gotta go down with the wifey to the K. Derby simulcast at Ebro tomorrow, so I prob won't get there till around 8. We're sched for 9:00.
Need to talk to David S. and see if he'll help me lower my action at the nut sometime over the next few weeks.
Figure he's got the necc. rattail files and patience.
I'd like to take a look at those ultra Uros. Hows the tension on em, still pretty tight? Thinking I need to keep some pretty high tension on this thing at least for a while till it loosens up.

Paul New · #9 05-05-2006, 03:23 PM

All I know about the sound is that David... shoot, can`t think of his name, used to be at Raven music and plays anything...is running it.

Good luck with getting David S. to do something, and don`t tell him I said that.

The Euros are very light tension, maybe looser than gut. I also have some spirocore weich, and probably others you could try on it if you want. I usually keep a few different sets in my bag.

We play at 8, see you there. I`ll watch and try to learn something.

Whit Townsend · #10 05-05-2006, 03:51 PM

<<<I`ll watch and try to learn something.>>>>

I doubt that! About all I do is groove on the 1&5, and try not to hit the 5 on the beat before I go from I to V

I'll be hangin in 1st pos most of the night with these high action metal strings. Plus, I've lost the reference dots on the old Kay. A big positon shifts gonna be like shootin in the dark!