Mystery EUB from Planet Violin

Beowulf K · #1 09-02-2006, 09:45 PM

Hi! Anybody with any feedback on these basses?
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-PLANET-VIOLI...QQcmdZViewItem
...They look nice and the price is OK...might need a pickup re-do, I'm thinkin'...anybody got one?

TheSuzie · #2 09-03-2006, 01:47 AM

No experience here but I saw those and kind of wrote them off as being the worst of both worlds since they don't look to be much more portable that a standard DB. The only advantage is they may feel more like a DB than some of the sticks out there. Personally, the appearance turns me off a bit. I feel like I would want to lop off the 'points'.

Still, the proof is in the playing and maybe someone else knows about that. BTW: did you look at the other instruments they are selling all seem slightly weird and cheap.

Peace,
S

Beowulf K · #3 09-03-2006, 10:06 AM

Of course, I'm kind of wierd and cheap myself!

But I was looking for something with more of an upright look and feel; my problems are with loud bandmates and feedback really. I've used EUBs before but I like more of an upright shape: I was thinking of doing a Baby Bass build but thought perhaps I could just get one of these, change the strings, bridge and pickups and go. But if anyone knows about any structural problems, please chime in and let me know!

ToneRanger · #4 09-07-2006, 11:12 PM

Looking at the pickup and preamp, I wouldn't be surprised if it was related to the Palatino.
In that case, changing bridge & strings is probably essential - possibly also pickup & preamp.

Borderfort · #5 09-12-2006, 12:43 PM

I have one of these (Weird Looking Planet Violin Bass) in my shop right now. A customer brought it in to be set up.

It seems to be well put together- it has an utterly flat laminated top & back. 5-string, C to G ; All what should be ebony is "ebonised", setup (nut & bridge) needed tweaking, which is why it is in my shop.

There is a sound post, but no bass bar, so I am guessing the soundpost is centered under the bridge, instead of under the treble foot. Otherwise the top bends on the bass side. If anybody knows for sure about that, I'd love to hear!

Just from setting it up, it seems like it will have a big sound, even though it's only 5 inches thick.

Piezoelectric pickup under the bridge feet. I haven't plugged it in to anything yet. I'll report on that after I try it.

Borderfort · #6 09-13-2006, 01:46 AM

Sorry, that's B to G. Duh. I've been talking to too many cellos.

Borderfort · #7 09-13-2006, 02:21 AM

Here are some photos of the instrument in my shop: a long shot of the whole instrument and a side view showing how perfectly flat it is.

Borderfort · #8 09-13-2006, 02:22 AM

This photo shows the bridge shoe that holds the pickup.

MrPrashant · #9 09-15-2006, 09:44 AM

im really curious to hear how this sounds. i was thinking of picking one up.

**Francois Blais** · #10 09-15-2006, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Borderfort

I have one of these (Weird Looking Planet Violin Bass) in my shop right now. A customer brought it in to be set up.

Hi Borderfort, and welcome on Talkbass!
Since you are a music shop owner, that makes you a commercial user.
Since you are a commercial user, please let me suggest the following readings:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/faq.ph...policy#faq_cup

You should also get in touch with Paul, the board's owner and admin, to get your user title changed to reflect your commercial affiliation.

Thanks!
Best regards,
François
TB mod.

WillBuckingham · #11 09-17-2006, 10:36 AM

Those would look so much better without those bizzarre upper bouts. Even a single cutaway would look substantially better.

Lowtonejoe · #12 09-17-2006, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Borderfort

Here are some photos of the instrument in my shop: a long shot of the whole instrument and a side view showing how perfectly flat it is.

Wow! That thing looks pretty cool!

I guess the traditionalists don't like it but I think it has a very modern 'zing' in it's appearance.

It would probably fit right in with a modern, eclectic jazz group.

Joe.

hubcap58 · #13 09-18-2006, 09:17 PM

I'm a new guy here, I'm waiting for mine to come in. I got a black one.
should get it this week.

Beowulf K · #14 09-19-2006, 10:06 PM

It seems like it would be kind of uncomfortable to lean into, if you know what I mean.

pharaohamps · #15 10-06-2006, 01:45 PM

Looks like it's got the same guts as the Palatino, though it's less portable. Seems to me like it would defeat the whole purpose of an EUB, which is portability. But it does look pretty dang cool... Anyway, scrap the preamp for sure, and I'd put an adjustable bridge on it if it were mine. I've got a Palatino and with some setup it's playable, so I bet this one would be too.

Matt Farrow

TheSuzie · #16 10-07-2006, 12:20 AM

pharaohamps, you may want to check out this thread. It appears the space bass may have another shortcoming

Bass from Space setup

peace,
S

pharaohamps · #17 10-25-2006, 04:21 PM

Hmm, I see that it has a flat top. Not good unless the top is thick and reinforced. On a flat-topped guitar, the bridge is braced with a bridge plate and then the whole thing is stiffened with cross-braces. The braces add stiffness without significantly increasing mass, which aids in sound projection. On an acoustic DB, the top is arched and the soundpost / bassbar act to preserve the shape of the top. Also, since the bridge acts to compress and expand the top, leaving one foot solid (on top of the soundpost) and the other floating (on the bass bar) lets the "rocking" motion of the bridge transfer to the top more efficiently.

On one of the Mystery Basses, there's no advantage to an arched top except for looks. Since it's designed to be amplified, the stiffer flat top will hinder acoustic output (and thus reduce feedback.) I'd only take what steps I thought were necessary to make the bass playable and roadworthy. If I owned one, I'd probably fill the thing up with expanding foam to keep it from feeding back...

Again, it looks like a Palatino with a goofy looking hollow body. Nothing wrong with that, though

Matt Farrow