Baer Amplification Part 3 - Page 9

5StringPocket · #**161** 02-02-2013, 01:52 PM

Good suggestion. Thanks!

KJung · #**162** 02-02-2013, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5StringPocket

Nice gig nostatic. That's a full ensemble. I would have liked to have been there to hear it. I still like the sound of my Streamliner 900 and PJ5 through the ML112 stack but (like others) look forward to trying a Valkyrie through these cabs. I feel like Goldilocks trying the 3 bear's porridge, or in this case the 3 armadillo's chow. I'd like a little tighter low end with a bit more low mid bump. It looks like the Valkyrie should be able to nail this with its good control in that crucial 40-250Hz zone.

Strings also seem to make a difference with these cabs. The D'Addario Chromes are excellent with my Nordstrand-loaded PJ5 but I'd like a bit more treble extension. The DR nickel LoRiders which are great on my single coil jazz (Carvin SB5000) are good on my PJ5 but don't quite have that low mid meat of the flats and a bit more zing at the high end than I like with the PJ5. I 'm going to try a set of D'Addario half rounds and possibly a set of Thomastik Jazz TI Flats. There are nuances in the strings which I can't seem to account for with eq and adjustments on my bass knobs.

I guess I've always used cabs that are pretty transparent (not flat so much as 'full range'). So, I've always found that string brand/type had a HUGE impact on my sound, and as you say, no amount of knob turning will make one string sound much like the other with a nice, clean, full range rig. I like that!

Combine that with the greatly different 'feel' of various string, and I always view strings as one of the single most important drivers of tone (unless of course, you dig 'em dead... then doesn't much matter!). IMO!

nostatic · #**163** 02-02-2013, 03:13 PM

+1 strings are one of the variables that I think often don't get much attention, both from a tone and playability perspective. After going through a lot of options I've settled on Fodera nickel 40-100 on my 4s, 28-100 on my 5 (E-C). I really am not a stainless steel guy for both tone and playability reasons. Within nickels I find a difference in feel and sound as well.

Flats are not my thing except for the La Bella nylons on my Rob Allen. Those are perfect for that bass. Beyond that, I've tried Thomastiks in one of my Foderas and I just didn't dig it. I might try it on the new fretless that is in the works, but I found them to be kind of odd tension wise string to string.

R Baer · #**164** 02-02-2013, 07:01 PM

Strings for me are always a hassle because it's the one element of your signal change that is always changing. I hate the sound of new strings, and I don't really like stainless strings. So, I always go through this process where I put on new nickel strings, hate them for a couple weeks, then I'm happy for a few weeks, then I'm back to not happy because they start sounding a bit dull. Over the last few years, I've gotten into the habit of only changing my strings about every 6 months or so, because I would rather deal with dull sounding strings over the sound of the brand new ones. My favorite strings are the R. Cocco strings, but they can be hard to find and are very expensive. Lately, I've been using Sadowsky black labels. They sound great and are priced good. They also fit on my Nordy perfectly. I think I heard that one of the Sadowsky strings are made by R. Cocco, but I can't remember which one.

tombowlus · #**165** 02-02-2013, 07:15 PM

Thought I'd share a few fun shots from the Baer booth:

Some sweet Wilkins basses shared the booth:

And Roger's killer Skjold:

Some other guy named Roger stopped by, too.

Here's Roger with Lee Louie:

And Roger with Roger:

Jeff Moote · #**166** 02-02-2013, 07:49 PM

Now I want a Valkyrie. Thanks Tom...

tombowlus · #**167** 02-02-2013, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Moote

Now I want a Valkyrie. Thanks Tom...

nordyboy · #**168** 02-03-2013, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R Baer

Strings for me are always a hassle because it's the one element of your signal change that is always changing. I hate the sound of new strings, and I don't really like stainless strings. So, I always go through this process where I put on new nickel strings, hate them for a couple weeks, then I'm happy for a few weeks, then I'm back to not happy because they start sounding a bit dull. Over the last few years, I've gotten into the habit of only changing my strings about every 6 months or so, because I would rather deal with dull sounding strings over the sound of the brand new ones. My favorite strings are the R. Cocco strings, but they can be hard to find and are very expensive. Lately, I've been using Sadowsky black labels. They sound great and are priced good. They also fit on my Nordy perfectly. I think I heard that one of the Sadowsky strings are made by R. Cocco, but I can't remember which one.

Hey Roger, I agree, those R Cocco strings are really nice, they have quite high tension and sound really percussive when you pluck a note. Mark recommended them to me as an alternative to DR, I still prefer the feel of my Sunbeams though!

nordyboy · #**169** 02-03-2013, 12:32 AM

That Valkyrie looks so perfect on the cabs, especially on the 112 stack. Thanks Tom I feel another difficult conversation with my wife is looming!

midichlorine · #**170** 02-03-2013, 12:40 AM

man, why did you post those pics??

i thought i was actually gonna be able to go on holiday this year

gotta get!!!

Addison · #**171** 02-03-2013, 02:49 AM

I'm a little lit up right now...

But I just wanted to say that myoney recent gig tonight with the ML212 was ridonkulous.

I don't have any sound samples but I basically played in a giant sheetrock box and it STILL sound KILLER.

I honestly just wanted to keep playing all night long just to hear myself.

And I wasn't even being super crazy! All in the pocket simple groove shizz and it all sounded rad.

So happy right now with my rig... So damn happy.

Thanks again Roger!

CTC564 · #**172** 02-03-2013, 03:56 AM

Good to hear!!! Congrats

KJung · #**173** 02-03-2013, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R Baer

Strings for me are always a hassle because it's the one element of your signal change that is always changing. I hate the sound of new strings, and I don't really like stainless strings. So, I always go through this process where I put on new nickel strings, hate them for a couple weeks, then I'm happy for a few weeks, then I'm back to not happy because they start sounding a bit dull. Over the last few years, I've gotten into the habit of only changing my strings about every 6 months or so, because I would rather deal with dull sounding strings over the sound of the brand new ones. My favorite strings are the R. Cocco strings, but they can be hard to find and are very expensive. Lately, I've been using Sadowsky black labels. They sound great and are priced good. They also fit on my Nordy perfectly. I think I heard that one of the Sadowsky strings are made by R. Cocco, but I can't remember which one.

Good post. One of the KEY criteria I use when evaluating a string is the length of time is sounds the way I like it. This has as much to do with the bass and rig (and the chemical make-up of the player's sweat, etc.) as it does with the string itself.

Take a bass like an MTD that has a huge deep low end and super, super sizzly upper treble (8K and up), especially the models with wenge necks, which tend to sound very sizzly. Since strings (IMO and IME) tend to change most in the deep lows and upper treble (i.e., strings tend to lose their bloom and sizzly most quickly). So, I found string went dead 'quicker' on that instrument through a full range rig.

Also, different players hands have different impact on strings, so hard to generalize.

For me, luckily, with my J Bass that is not quite as 'wide' voiced as some modern instruments, the hi beams settle into their secondary tone profile (i.e., losing that out of package sizzle and deep bass) after one gig, and then sound the same for a long, long time (weeks and weeks and weeks, assuming I don't play outside in 90 degree weather, which will kill any string fast).

So, +1, 'tone stability' is key. There are some strings that I actually like better tonally than what I'm using now, but what good is that if that 'superior tonality' only lasts a couple gigs!

Sorry for the OT! Back to the Baerdom.

kringle77 · #**174** 02-03-2013, 07:12 AM

I play blue steel extra lights and don't like them when they are new. I always have two sets going. One sits in a jar of alcohol while the other gets played. Then, when one set gets dull, I swap them out. I know it's time to get two new sets when I start to lose some low end. The blue steels (once broken in) really last a long time and I am not easy on them. And, even though they are very light, they are a higher tension string so they don't feel too floppy.

KJung · #**175** 02-03-2013, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kringle77

I play blue steel extra lights and don't like them when they are new. I always have two sets going. One sits in a jar of alcohol while the other gets played. Then, when one set gets dull, I swap them out. I know it's time to get two new sets when I start to lose some low end. The blue steels (once broken in) really last a long time and I am not easy on them. And, even though they are very light, they are a higher tension string so they don't feel too floppy.

Moving to the passive P for most of my playing now has really changed my approach to strings. I put a set of Dunlop nickel wounds on it, hate it for about a week, and then happily play it for a year. That very midrange, non extended tonal profile of a P results in strings settling in and sounding the same FOREVER for me (and the low mid growl and upper mid grind last a long time). No batteries, very frew string changes, poly finish (so I just wipe it off with a damp cloth every once in a while), very 'liberating'

To bring this back into Baerdom, Roger's cabs would seem to be pretty 'forgiving' of string aging, since they are voiced relatively tight in the low end, and do not extend into the sizzle area, which are again, the two areas that are most quickly noticed when a string starts to break in and 'get old'. I feel for the guys with MTD's and Epi rigs, which are all deep lows and sizzly highs! When a string loses that over the first few gigs, you have very little left!

**Chef** · #**176** 02-03-2013, 09:21 AM

[quote tom's pics from namm]

Man.
I really like that Valkyrie thingie.
I need one of those.

KJung · #**177** 02-03-2013, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chef

[quote tom's pics from namm]

Man.
I really like that Valkyrie thingie.
I need one of those.

I'm actually more interested in the head on top of the ML212 stack. A bit large, but it looks very light, and seems to be so transparent that Roger didn't even bother to put any knobs on it. VERY cool.

**Chef** · #**178** 02-03-2013, 09:39 AM

Whaaaa?!?!?!
OMG, you're right, look at that!!!!

thetaxmiser · #**179** 02-03-2013, 10:03 AM

The Valkyrie looks cool in the case. Does it fit on the ML112 when it is stacked vertically?

Mulebagger · #**180** 02-03-2013, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nostatic

Nice craftsmanship. Too bad they cut the neck pocket too short and had to add in that little chunk of mahogany.

Kidding of course. Truly amazing bass you've got there. Great job on the clips too. Really nice feel.

Suddenly thinking how my Emperor would sound through those cabs!
Hmm... now should I sell off my BagEnd S15-D and S15X-D and get a ML212? Hmmm...