Tactile vs Sonic

[Chris Fitzgerald]

[continue tangent]
Yeah, the AI customer service is tops.

The keys to mixing a mic through the amp are two simple things IME: Don't expect too much volume from the mic relative to the pickup (although it can add just enough "oomph" to the G string to make it worth it), and don't let the speaker point right at the bass.

Oh, and plug the correct ******* cable into the correct ******* channel.

[/tangent]

[Mark Perna]

Originally Posted by Treyzer

The Toad is wise!

Nice "Spinal Tap" reference

And to think this from a man who called me out for my Bon Jovi quote


Have you no shame on this hallowed DB forum?

Hmmm. How can you compare the single greatest movie of all time with a garage band from Jersey?

"There's a fine line between clever and...stupid..."

mark

[Mark Perna]

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

So the real point of this tangent, if I'm not mistaken, is that Mark and I are, on occasion, both idiots.

Logic dictates that this is clearly true.

mark

[Mark Perna]

Originally Posted by drurb

140 it is! I always leave mine set at 35 Hz.

Mine's usually at 35 too depending on the room. I've cut a little more on occasion if I'm in a boomy room. I don't know how high I've gone because I always do it by ear. I'm not confident the numbers on the side are all that accurate anyway.

I love the fdeck preamp. It has become so much an essential part of my system that I bought 2 extra from him as backups in case something happens to the one I'm using now.

mark

[Mark Perna]

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

[continue tangent]
Yeah, the AI customer service is tops.

The keys to mixing a mic through the amp are two simple things IME: Don't expect too much volume from the mic relative to the pickup (although it can add just enough "oomph" to the G string to make it worth it), and don't let the speaker point right at the bass.

No argument from me about AI service. They've replaced the top of my Focus twice now free (I've had problems with cable/mic input going bad on one of the channels). Both times I sent Rick an e-mail and I got a new Focus top Fed Exed to me within a day or so. I sent the old ones back to him. He doesn't even charge me for shipping.

I've just started using a mic (AMT) and, while I'm a neophyte with a mic, in my limited experience, I've found the same thing to be true. Get the pickup happening and mix the mic in. It really softens the piezo edge of the pickup without losing the clarity.

I'm not sure of what my pickup to mic ratio is (it's hard to tell by looking at the focus because the input gain of each is so different). I'd guess it is about 70-30. In boomier rooms, it is probably closer to 80-20 or 85-15.

I'm loving it. It has transformed my live sound. It has also made playing through an amp MUCH easier. The attack heard through the amp is much closer to the acoustic attack so what I hear through the amp is closer to what I hear when I'm practicing. I think the mic dominates on the attack and the pickup takes over for the body of the note. This seems to dramatically lessen the piezo-y sound of the pickup without any loss of volume.

And +1 about facing the bass away from the speaker. I have to continually remind myself to have the bass facing forward when I turn the amp on so I don't get a blast of howling feedback (always a conversation stopper in crowded rooms).

mark

[TroyK]

I'm wearing a little egg on my face, but to close this thread out, I put a Spirocore Weich G on to match the rest of the set and the tactile imbalance of my strings that was troubling me, fell away into something very pleasent. I know that I also like the feel and balance of Mittels and other strings, like Flexicores, but I'm convinced at this point that what started this for me is that I had mixed and matched a set of strings from different manufactuers and had done a bad job of doing so. It sounded fine and made since on paper, but ultimately was the wrong decision. Just goes to show that there are multiple, multiple factors. That same G string on the same bass, paired with a different set of strings E-D was a whole different experience.

Now, the bass both feels and sounds better. As to which gauge and how much tension is ultimately right for me, we'll see. I'm pretty happy right now. I'm thrilled and and little sheepish that I've joined the legions of people who settle on a complete, matched set of spirocores after years of trying to out-think the people who have been doing this for multiple generations.



Now, just to enjoy playing the bass and work on my s***.

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by TroyK

I'm wearing a little egg on my face, but to close this thread out, I put a Spirocore Weich G on to match the rest of the set .....That same G string on the same bass, paired with a different set of strings E-D was a whole different experience.

Now, the bass both feels and sounds better. As to which gauge and how much tension is ultimately right for me, we'll see. I'm pretty happy right now. I'm thrilled and and little sheepish that I've joined the legions of people who settle on a complete, matched set of spirocores after years of trying to out-think the people who have been doing this for multiple generations.

Yes every time I make a single string substitution the whole feel of the bass changes and the strings that remain feel different in response to that change.

As you know I do that same thing over and over again. Hopefully some day I'll quit.

Right now my basses both wear Spiro Mittels and Stark E. I like that combo a lot and tension wise it works for me. As you said though changing one string changes everything. Especially on that G string with the Stark E the G doesn't work as well under the bow up the neck. I leave it though because I don't get paid to play with the bow up the neck on the G string, I just do it at home. I do get paid to play big low notes which the Spiro Stark E and Mitt A have in spades.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

As you know I do that same thing over and over again. Hopefully some day I'll quit.

The following has been attributed to Albert Einstein:

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

You're not alone, UT-- you're not alone.

[damonsmith]

Originally Posted by calivox

Hmmm. How can you compare the single greatest movie of all time with a garage band from Jersey?

"There's a fine line between clever and...stupid..."

mark

What does any of that have to do with The Big Lebowski?

[Treyzer]

"The Dude Abides"

[Uncletoad]

Because man New Sh*t has come to light.

[Mark Perna]

Originally Posted by damonsmith

What does any of that have to do with The Big Lebowski?

Ummm. Nothing. I was responding to the Spinal Tap/Bon Jovi references. The "there's a fine line between clever and stupid" quote is one of my favorite lines from SP.

mark

[Treyzer]

In an effort to continue this derailment..

True story,when I first moved to L.A. and lived in Venice, I actually rented one of those cottages where the "Dude" lived!

"Just knowing the Dude is out there just makes me feel better"


Another fav line from the Tap... courtesy of Nigel Tufnell; "D minor,the saddest of all keys".

[TroyK]

Originally Posted by Treyzer

I actually rented one of those cottages where the "Dude" lived!

Was the rug still there?

[Treyzer]

Originally Posted by TroyK

Was the rug still there?

Nah, but there was a certain aroma to the place!

[TroyK]

That's a shame, it really tied the room together.