Good pedal for L-1500/1505

[Nedmundo]

I've played my L-1500 on three gigs over the past month, using my G-K 700RB-II/Neo 112 rig each time. First time out, I thought it sounded freakin' amazing, with tight, punchy bottom and clarity throughout. The sound guy called it "thick but clear," which works for me.

The the other two venues, I was less excited about it, because the "honking" quality in the upper mids (at least I think that's the region) some complain about became more apparent, and bugged me. The lows and highs (10th fret and above on G & D strings) sounded great, but I started thinking about going back to my Fenders for stage use. (I've also noticed this bass's tone opens up with lots of power, and I probably didn't push the master volume enough.) And I found it tough to address the "honk" with the G-K's EQ.

Of course I also started to think: how can I cure this with more gear? In particular, I wondered whether a 1x15" might be a good match. GAS springs eternal.

Then it hit me -- why not try the Aphex Bass Xciter pedal I never use? I had totally forgotten about it. So I fired up the G-K rig with the Xciter, and turned the pedal's controls up to about 7. The "honk" almost completely disappeared, and was replaced by satisfying phatness and punch all over the fretboard. I'll need to play around with it some more, and of course a short test in my den is no substitute for a stage. But I couldn't believe the difference, and I bet I'll be able to dial in good settings for gigs. So all L-1500/1505 players wanting more phatness should give it a try.

[cb56]

I've discovered that, for me anyway, the sansamp BDDI is a must with my L1505.

[Lordcliff]

??? I'm thinking of snagging a 1505 off of Ebay, what's up with the "honk"?
I just got a 2500 a month ago, and LOVE the bridge pickup soloed, which made me think a 1505 would rock.
I use a Mesa 400+, with nothing in between the bass and the amp.

This is the bass I'm looking at getting: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...5131&rd=1&rd=1

[Nedmundo]

Originally Posted by Lordcliff

??? I'm thinking of snagging a 1505 off of Ebay, what's up with the "honk"?
I just got a 2500 a month ago, and LOVE the bridge pickup soloed, which made me think a 1505 would rock.
I use a Mesa 400+, with nothing in between the bass and the amp.

If you love the 2500's bridge pickup, you probably would love a 1505. I'm not really a bridge pickup guy myself, b/c I find the sound thin and nasal. On the 1500, to my ears, the "honk" is mostly on the D & G strings below the 10th fret, where many basses sound a little thin. (Insert qualifications about technique, rig, strings, etc. here.) Up high the 1500 sounds wonderful. The Bass Xciter fattens it up in the "thin" region nicely.

[cb56]

Wow! That's a nice looking bass. Just for comparison puposes, I bought my used L1505 for $600 shipped, It had one very minor dent in it and was otherwise perfect including the case in ex. condition. I think I got a great deal. I guess what I'm saying is, that bass is a good one for that price, but if it goes much higher you might want to keep looking. IMO L1505s are under valued so great deals can be had.

As far as the midrange honk goes. It's true the L1500/1505 have a very pronounced midrange that (IMO) needs to be dealt with by taming it (not eliminating it) with eq. I personally prefer a bass with more midrange than one that lacks midrange. I think the single pickup arrangement on the L1505 has a different tone than anything you can get on the L2500 because the pickup is in a different spot on the bass. It's in between where the two pickups on an L2500 are. To my ears, it sounds like a beefier version of the bridge pickup on an L2500.

I think the L1505 would be a good match to your mesa 400. You have the graphic eq on your amp that you could pull out some of the mids if you wanted.
Too me the L1505 sounds less like a Fender jazz and more like a combination of a P bass and a stingray bass. G&L's first 5 string was called an L5000. I used to own one and IMO the L1505 comes close to that sound with maybe a bit more of an aggressive tone.

One more thing about the L1500/1505 is that in active mode there is a tremendous amount of treble boost that IMO is not very musical sounding. Put the bass in passive mode and it dissapears. There is a simple resistor change that can be done to drop the treble frquency down to where it is on an L2500 (sounds better to my ears).
Sounds like alot to fuss with I know but it's well worth it. I absolutley love my L1505. It's my #1 for rock n roll. For blues, jazz and country, I'll pull out my Fender Jazz, but for a growly rock tone that cuts through the mix, my L1505 is the shnitz.

[cb56]

Here is a link to the L1500/1505/climax thread that I started when I got mt L1505.
L-1500/1505 discussion/appreciation thread
Lot's of info and opinions (both pro and con) to sift through. IMO if you can get that bass for under $700, you can get most if not all of your money back by selling it if you decide you don't like it. Make sure it's in EX condition before buying it.

[Lordcliff]

"I'm not really a bridge pickup guy myself, b/c I find the sound thin and nasal."
My 2500 is the first bass I've ever played where i liked the bridge soloed, I normally solo the neck pick-up on my Tobias.
"To my ears, it sounds like a beefier version of the bridge pickup on an L2500."
That's exactly what I like to hear. Something about the 1505 is "me", I was shocked at the fatness of the bridge pu on my L-2500, a tight fat sound. I'm not sure if I'm going to bite the bullet on this ebay bass though, I did JUST get my 2500. I'm even thinking, maybe, of having one made, but I know that will cost about twice as much.
Thanks for the help guys.

[DavePlaysBass]

I just picked up the Behringer BDI21 for $30 and it sounds good with G&Ls. The MFDs overdrive the thing nicely and can get a very pleasy fuzz. Roll back the drive and it gets a very nice modern "scooped" sound that may help with the honk. I have not band tested it yet thought.

If I run the BDI21 in front of a MXR Auto Q, I get a really fat synth sound. And it sounds best with the MFDs. But that's maybe a little off topic.

Dave

[jasper383]

"How Can I Cure This With More Gear?"

Talkbass needs a new slogan.

[cb56]

I don't get it. The tools we use are bass, strings, amp, eq on amp, effects pedals, speaker cab.
What's wrong with using as many or few as it takes to get the job done.
I suppose your bass sounds perfect for all occasions with the eq knobs on your pre amp set straight up to 12 o'clock?
Oh wait, you probably don't need a pre amp just bass with no volume or tone knobs on it right into a power amp into a speaker cab.

[Nedmundo]

Originally Posted by cb56

I've discovered that, for me anyway, the sansamp BDDI is a must with my L1505.

What does it do for the 1505? Is it similar to what I've described with the Bass Xciter on the 1500? I've read loads about the Sansamp, but I've never tried one.

[cb56]

it tames the mids but doesn't totally cover them up. Kind of like playing through a tube amp SVT, mesa400 etc...

[jasper383]

Originally Posted by cb56

I don't get it. The tools we use are bass, strings, amp, eq on amp, effects pedals, speaker cab.
What's wrong with using as many or few as it takes to get the job done.
I suppose your bass sounds perfect for all occasions with the eq knobs on your pre amp set straight up to 12 o'clock?
Oh wait, you probably don't need a pre amp just bass with no volume or tone knobs on it right into a power amp into a speaker cab.

Not to try and read nedmundo's mind, but I think he was laughing a bit at himself and us bass players by saying "how can I cure this with more gear." That was the spirit of my post, as well.

Is there a sense of humor pedal?

[Lordcliff]

Originally Posted by jasper383

Is there a sense of humor pedal?

The real question would be, does it have a true analog bypass? How does it effect your tone when it's not on?
I'd only get one if they make a rack mount version.

[cb56]

sorry, I guess the joke went over my head. I thought you were another one of those talkbass "know it alls" giving us a hard time. I'll go look for that sense of humor pedal now.

[jasper383]

Originally Posted by cb56

sorry, I guess the joke went over my head. I thought you were another one of those talkbass "know it alls" giving us a hard time. I'll go look for that sense of humor pedal now.

Behringer now makes one. It looks suspiciously like that pricy one.

[Nedmundo]

Originally Posted by jasper383

Not to try and read nedmundo's mind, but I think he was laughing a bit at himself and us bass players by saying "how can I cure this with more gear." That was the spirit of my post, as well.

Is there a sense of humor pedal?

You got it bro'!

[quickervicar]

I love gear. I mean love gear. So why do I find myself removing items from my signal chain as the years progress? First it was my Boss Phaser, then the Tube Works Blues Driver, and then my Trace Elliot Compressor. I've now even eliminated the Interstellar Overdrive from the chain. I'm down to only 17 tubes.

What's wrong with me?

[Nedmundo]

Originally Posted by quickervicar

I love gear. I mean love gear. So why do I find myself removing items from my signal chain as the years progress? ... What's wrong with me?

I think you're removing the stuff because it's a pain, and if you're like me, you hate hassle, fuss, and bother. Nothing wrong at all! I'd love to go pedal-free apart from a tuner, but my current band's music calls for effects. In fact, when the leader interviewed me before my audition, he specifically asked whether I was into them. Oddly, the one I use most is my Boss digital delay, which I bought in 1986 for playing guitar in a band in college.

And now, with my L-1500, I'll be using the Bass Xciter. At least it works in the effects loop on my amp, so I don't have to reconfigure my pedal board and/or create more clutter on the stage.

[quickervicar]

I don't hate the hassle & fuss. It justs sounds better. Clearer and heftier. Punch, sustain and clarity are all improved.

Don't worry--Stella will still be used when the time comes.