An SB-1 in a band mix

bassfootballguy · #1 07-15-2009, 02:17 PM

Hey G&L fans!

Just wanted you to have a chance to hear my SB-1 in our band mix. All of our soon-to-be-released CD was recorded with my SB-1 (split coil version).

Give a listen and let me know what you think of the tone (the playing might seem a tad ordinary for some of the chops like fireworks players around here).

myspace.com/standonhim

James

mainsail · #2 07-15-2009, 02:52 PM

Hey James, your bass sets very well in the mix. Nice tone for the material and great guitar work also.
Congrats on the groups active schedule coming up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassfootballguy

Hey G&L fans!

Just wanted you to have a chance to hear my SB-1 in our band mix. All of our soon-to-be-released CD was recorded with my SB-1 (split coil version).

Give a listen and let me know what you think of the tone (the playing might seem a tad ordinary for some of the chops like fireworks players around here).

myspace.com/standonhim

James

bassfootballguy · #3 07-15-2009, 03:26 PM

Thanks mainsail! I'd love to visit your fair city one day...

James

mainsail · #4 07-15-2009, 10:06 PM

If you ever get the chance look me up. It would vbe great to break bread together. QUOTE=bassfootballguy;7677653]Thanks mainsail! I'd love to visit your fair city one day...

James[/quote]

jfh2424 · #5 07-16-2009, 05:25 AM

Wow, congrats on the tone and the tunes. Very professional.

Thanks for posting!

John

bassfootballguy · #6 07-16-2009, 08:58 AM

Thanks John! We're just glad to have it done and out.

ljazz · #7 07-17-2009, 06:03 AM

Wow!.... don't you just love the SB1? It's the ultimate Pbass!

Give us an idea of the signal chain you used here. And what strings were you using? I find a slight bump at about 100, and at about 1.5k..... and it sits perfect everytime when recording.

(BTW, great playing.... perfect for the music, and really, that kind of playing I'd rather listen to instead of the chops forward stuff.... thanks for sharing.)

Ljazz

bassfootballguy · #8 07-17-2009, 10:51 AM

Ljazz,

I agree wholeheartedly on the SB-1. I went through a phase where I acquired a mass of vintage P's and boutique basses looking for this sound I was trying to capture.
I happened in one of my favorite pawnshop/music places one Saturday and they had this aqua colored SB-1. I have owned and not totally loved L2000s, so I knew the quality of the brand.
I played it acoustically and it just rang in my hands, then plugged it in and was floored at the clarity, depth and authority.
I bought it on the cheap and have parted with everything else since then and am preparing to add another SB-1 (I pick it up Sunday).

The signal chain was this - SB-1 w/ GHS Precision Flats > Sadowsky Preamp/DI > Focusrite Preamp > Board. We then took that signal, and depending on the track either ran it through the Ampeg computer patches or left it bare with only a moderate amount of compression. The most common patches on the Ampeg software that we used were SVT IV, B-15 Fliptop (I had one of these for a while and the model on that software is incredible) and SVT Classic.

ljazz · #9 07-18-2009, 07:06 AM

Ahhhhhh, the SB1..... simplicity at it's finest.

I just picked up the Ampeg SVX software earlier this week, and I love it! I wasn't sold completely on the B15 solo, but in the mix, it sounds perfect. And it beats the heck out of dragging my '66 fliptop out of the house.

My L2K comes to the studio with me, but I have yet to record with it...... I always end up grabbing the SB1.... it just works. I'm not sure what year yours is, but mine is an '87, and has the 1 11/16" width neck...... without question the best neck ever!

Are you running with the vol on full, or rolled back a bit? It sounds like you're rolled back a touch. I find the the vol to be more of a "character" thing once you're above 60 or 70%..... roll back a bit for a vintage P tone.... rolled all up for a nice dose of MFD rough lovin'.

Ljazz

bassfootballguy · #10 07-18-2009, 01:58 PM

ljazz,

I think I mostly had the vol up full, but I laid back on the tone control a bit and just tried to play on two of those three cuts with a little more "grease" for lack of a better term.

I had the neck off of mine and I still don't know for sure what year it is. The width on mine is the same as yours, I think, I have not really measured it for sure but now I believe I will.

I do love these basses - and tomorrow it looks like I'll add another!

Thanks for your feedback and the discussion!

James

whoatherechunk · #11 07-22-2009, 03:27 AM

Awesome! Ever thought of acquiring a sb2?

bassfootballguy · #12 07-22-2009, 08:04 AM

I almost did acquire an SB-2 recently. I used to have one in the light blue metallic color. I liked it, but not quite as much as the SB-1s. Perhaps if it had the tone control mod I might have been more enamored with it.

jfh2424 · #13 07-22-2009, 09:32 AM

A tone modded SB2 is a special beast indeed. Got one a few months ago and I really love it. Definatly a Pbass slayer.

John

bassfootballguy · #14 07-22-2009, 09:02 PM

I'd like to get one.

LAG · #15 07-24-2009, 06:28 PM

The bass sounds great and I love the music.

bassfootballguy · #16 07-24-2009, 11:38 PM

Thank you very much LAG. I really appreciate the supportive bunch here.

James

jetagegreg · #17 07-25-2009, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassfootballguy

I almost did acquire an SB-2 recently. I used to have one in the light blue metallic color. I liked it, but not quite as much as the SB-1s. Perhaps if it had the tone control mod I might have been more enamored with it.

I'm not a fan of the tone mod, but I seem to be in the minority. I just turn the P-pickup all the way up, and dial in a bit of J -- perfect IMO. (Try tracks 4 or 7 here for a sample of alder/maple goodness, if you're curious ♫ http://thejetage.net/ecard/)

BTW I just took the RW neck off your old blue one to restore my '92 cherryburst. Could be that you like the maple fretboard better than the rosewood one with an alder body? In general, I certainly do--the cherryburst body is just so bright that it needs rosewood to tame it a bit. Could be the lack of pickup loading from the 2nd pickup as well.

Have you tried an L-1000 btw? That's my other favorite G&L.

-GB

bassfootballguy · #18 07-25-2009, 02:47 PM

Greg!

The music sounds good. I miss that old blue one. I just don't think I kept it long enough to get used to the sound.
I have not tried an L1K, and I need to before the prices continue to spiral. They're about 60% higher than they were a few years back and I fear they'll keep climbing.
I really dig your band website.

James

jetagegreg · #19 07-25-2009, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassfootballguy

Greg!

The music sounds good. I miss that old blue one. I just don't think I kept it long enough to get used to the sound.
I have not tried an L1K, and I need to before the prices continue to spiral. They're about 60% higher than they were a few years back and I fear they'll keep climbing.
I really dig your band website.

James

Hey James, thanks for the kind words.

You can still find an L1000 for $600-800 sometimes, as long as it's not mahogany, or from 1980-81. I'd avoid the 1980-81 ones with the skunk stripe neck anyway, unless you know the neck is 100% stable--go for a later, less-collectible, and more inherently stable bi-cut neck.

I also suspect that if the prices keep climbing, G&L will pretty much have to do a mass-market re-issue.

Best,
-GB

bassfootballguy · #20 07-30-2009, 11:40 AM

Greg,

I am gonna keep my eyes peeled. My next G&L will either be an SB-2, an L1K or a Lynx.