Updated Pics of the Coco Twins

cuebill · #1 10-21-2007, 08:20 PM

Well, I just bought a new camera today and thought since it has been almost 10 months since I have had the Twins I might as well take a few shots outside and let everyone see how the custom knobs I got from Roger at THG look as well as the Black Beauties strings (which are going to be replaced soon with some Fatbeams to try and coax some more highs out of the fretted's Audere pre.)

Of course it's really just an excuse to show them off again...

Notice how the untreated cocobolo pickup covers and fretboard have darkened in color since I picked them up from the factory (bottom pic.) I really like the aging effect of natural wood over time though and to be seen in person they are actually matching the body even better now.

Pic of the fretted when it left the factory new for comparison:

xkimsungminx · #2 10-21-2007, 09:22 PM

aw the pictures aren't working for me -_-;; hm.. and I should post pictures of my bass too since I had a mini photo shoot for mine as well haha

cuebill · #3 10-21-2007, 09:31 PM

OK, how about now? I think they came out much larger this time for some reason, but I had to use the ol' imagecave pic host for some reason.

xkimsungminx · #4 10-21-2007, 09:39 PM

okay wow... they look amazing!! i really love the way the backs look on both basses. is the one on the left a spanish cedar and the right swamp ash?

just wondering but, was it cocobolo that is supposed to be really similar to brazilian rosewood in tone?

cuebill · #5 10-21-2007, 10:14 PM

You are correct on all counts. Cocobolo from what I understand is actually a type of Rosewood. Perhaps the experts can clear that up for us though?

The only down side to the Twins so far is that of course they both sound very similar even though the body woods and fretboard woods are different. Having the same neck woods, tops and backs, pickups, & pre's; what'd I expect I guess, eh?

Of course the upside is that if I only want to carry one bass I can dial in the fretted to sound very much like the fretless, especially with the low action I keep on it and can actually get a bit of mimicked fretless "mwah" out of her.

I am thinking of trying a different pre down the road in the fretted just for something different though. I guess I am not 100% crazy about it's tone even though I am trying to give it a good go. Like I said I just can't seem to get enough of the cutting highs and often find myself with the treble knob maxed out and wanting more. However in the fretless, the tone is to die for. Especially since I usually back off on the treble anyways.

I am having a few slight issues with the fretless though. Seem to be losing most of my "mwah" factor around the "sweet spot" of most other fretless basses, from the 12th fret up. I am sure it is just a set up issue (although I have adjusted and shimmed about as much as I know to do) and after I try some new strings if it still persists I will contact Gard to see if Keith can help. I usually try to work things out on my own, especially after seeing first hand how busy the guys at the shop in Greensboro are.

That is why I am holding off on an actual review of 'em. Just a few minor details to work out and even with those small things they are still light years ahead of most other brands of basses I have owned. I play each one of them regularly at Church every week and both get a daily workout of some kind. They are becoming broken in so to speak and the necks are getting that "at home" feeling. Not sure about the rest of you guys, but especially the back of my fretted's neck is starting to get a "yellowish" tint to the clearcoat. Not that I mind, I guess it is part of the "personalization" process. Just something I have noticed lately.

All in all I am very happy with them so far and may even order another down the road at some time.

xkimsungminx · #6 10-21-2007, 10:49 PM

Nice, yea I heard that about cocobolo so wondering if it was as good a wood as brazilian rosewood is =D. I LOVE the tone of brazilian rosewood in acoustic guitars SO much!

I think you might want to try the Aggie OBP-3 then if you feel that way about the treble response from the Audere. I play for my church as well, and I usually have the treble cut on my Aggie Pre probably like... almost half way backwards. It might just be my bass though because the G string for some reason sounds just a LITTLE detached from the way the other strings sound [a little thin sounding? or treble-y compared to the G on most other basses, sorry don't really know how to explain it]. Hopefully this improves a little after my bass gets more broken in from lots of playing.

I just got my SKB last month and mine has no finish on the neck I think, at least not clear coat, so I wouldn't know about the yellowing of the neck =).

Oh and another thing you said you might want to try changing strings to Fatbeams... I recently bought my very first set of DR Black Beauties ever, and am probably going to put them on in a week or so, but do they "feel" like normal strings? [like the roughness of nickel or steel strings, or do they have a smooth texture to them like flats do?] From the close up shot, they look like they're smooth, and I haven't had the chance at peaking into the box yet to see myself.

Hopefully I like the DR BB's, but judging by how you feel about the treble response I might not like them? I still have the stock D'addario strings on my bass and the pluck tone isn't as... zingy? as I'd like it, but I hardly do any slap/pluck so I suppose it doesn't matter very much to me.

allenhumble · #7 10-21-2007, 10:52 PM

Wow! Very nice basses.

cuebill · #8 10-22-2007, 04:43 AM

Thanks allen.

The Blackbeauties are smooth feeling (at least to me), but some have described them as feeling sticky when new. They are not coated such as say a black nylon string, but the coating still has a "metallic" feel to them similar to a regular string, almost more like a paint. Very hard to explain. I do love the feel of them, although the coating does seem to come off if you do much playing on them especailly if you do much slapping, fingerstyle in one spot over time, or use a pick at all. Careful when making adjustmets to the truss rod as well or you'll scrape a shiny spot there as well. I liked them better than the factory XL's.

emjazz · #9 10-22-2007, 04:30 PM

With the Audere preamp you're hearing the pickups more than you're hearing any coloration from the pre. The Nordstrand pickups are great but they are a bit polite (the dual coils). I have a set in my six string now so I know them well. I think the OBP-3 is a better match for those pickups if you want them to sound brighter and deeper. Otherwise, you may want to try other pickups. I'd go with the Aguilar preamp though for what you want. If that doesn't work than try a set of Carey's Big Singles or Big Splits.

Gard · #10 10-22-2007, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emjazz

With the Audere preamp your hearing the pickups more than you're hearing any coloration from the pre. The Nordstrand pickups are great but they are a bit polite (the dual coils). I have a set in my six string now so I know them well. I think the OBP-3 is a better match for those pickups if you want them to sound brighter and deeper. Otherwise, you may want to try other pickups. I'd go with the Aguilar preamp though for what you want. If that doesn't work than try a set of Carey's Big Singles or Big Splits.

+1

I've got a set of the DC's and an Audere in my fretless, and a set of Fat Stacks and the OBP-3 in my fretted.

If you want a bit more "oomph", try the Aggie with the DC's, and it'll probably help, as the Audere is very much an uncolored preamp.

As for the setup issue, just give us a few days warning and we'll be happy to help you out.

cuebill · #11 10-22-2007, 06:24 PM

I didn't really think of it like that emjazz. You are probably right about the pickups and pre.

Thanks Gard, I see you are right on top of things as usual.

I'll probably be sending you a p.m. soon if I can't get this straightened out. I'm sure Keith can fix her right up.

emjazz · #12 10-22-2007, 06:46 PM

Also, if were to go the route that Gard did with his basses and used different pickups and a different preamp in your fretted bass than your basses will sound much more different than they do now, which seems to be what you'd like to have.

allenhumble · #13 10-22-2007, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cuebill

Thanks allen.

The Blackbeauties are smooth feeling (at least to me), but some have described them as feeling sticky when new. They are not coated such as say a black nylon string, but the coating still has a "metallic" feel to them similar to a regular string, almost more like a paint. Very hard to explain. I do love the feel of them, although the coating does seem to come off if you do much playing on them especailly if you do much slapping, fingerstyle in one spot over time, or use a pick at all. Careful when making adjustmets to the truss rod as well or you'll scrape a shiny spot there as well. I liked them better than the factory XL's.

I found another brand of Black coated bass strings called Black diamond strings. I have not tried them yet but am intersted in knowing if the coating on these will have the same ware issues as the black beauties.

allenhumble · #14 10-22-2007, 07:27 PM

Do you have any pics of the headstocks or of the entire basses?

Jeff Moote · #15 10-22-2007, 07:38 PM

The twins still look great, and you're right about the cocobolo getting even better as it oxidizes. I'm glad you're getting the setup sorted out. I know Kieth will make them perfect for you

I do think string choice will go a long way to getting the extra treble you're looking for (the BBs are probably not the ideal string for snappy treble tone). I'd say something SS like Hi Beams would get you there. My personal favourite string is the Nickel Lo Riders, but I'm using the stock D'Addarios for economy right now.

Anyway, like Andy said the Audere is going to let the basic tone of the pickups come through so if strings alone don't do it you'll either need to change to a more "shaped" preamp like the OBP-3 or consider other pickups like Gard has done with his basses (though it'd be a shame not to be using those beautiful cocobolo covered DCs... though I don't think you'd have any trouble finding someone who would

)

cuebill · #16 10-22-2007, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Moote

(though it'd be a shame not to be using those beautiful cocobolo covered DCs... though I don't think you'd have any trouble finding someone who would

)

Yeah, I think that will be my last resort, changing the pickups and covers for that reason alone.

Will try to get some more pics soon.

Gard · #17 10-23-2007, 09:09 AM

Bill, I'd definitely start out looking at putting the OBP-3 and different strings on the fretted bass before anything else. I think that will probably get you where you want to be with that one. (That said, my fretted has BB's on it, and I get plenty of cut....but they are different pickups, so...)

On wear on the BB's, never bothered me, the color goes away a bit, but who cares? They last forever! They sound the same at 6 months as they did at 6 minutes to me, they look

, and at least they don't do that horrid "snakeskin-y" thing that Elixirs do!

Hope you can make it over with the twins soon, I'd like a bit of visitation time...

...plus, you can meet their cousin (the fretted Century Sig VI)for the first time!

cuebill · #18 10-23-2007, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gard

...plus, you can meet their cousin (the fretted Century Sig VI)for the first time!

Any pics of that one? I know that your fretless 6 was the best playing 6 I have ever had my hands on. What is the string spacing on that Century Sig? 19mm like yours perhaps? I'm not a 6 player, but with a neck like that, I'd think of converting.

JOME77 · #19 10-23-2007, 07:00 PM

Still the best looking pair of twin Roscoe's that I've laid eyes on!

Gard · #20 10-24-2007, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cuebill

Any pics of that one? I know that your fretless 6 was the best playing 6 I have ever had my hands on. What is the string spacing on that Century Sig? 19mm like yours perhaps? I'm not a 6 player, but with a neck like that, I'd think of converting.

In all it's glory:

5585

It's a 19mm spacing, just like the fretless.