Just ordered Alumitone BassBars

NicJimBass · #1 04-05-2010, 08:04 AM

I bought a cheap Ibby 6'r (GSR206- maple neck w/rosewood fretbaord, agathis body) late last year, because at the store, it played nicely and sounded good. After playing it for a while at home these past several months, I still love how it plays and feels, but for whatever reason, the stock pickups don't transmit the 'B' string very well... it's quieter than the other strings, even though, acoustically, it's right there with the rest of them.

Been doing research for a while, and had all but settled on a set of EMG's. I was very skiddish however, as every bass I've owned that had EMG's left me underwhelmed... granted, I played them all solo, and not in a band context, but i never really liked the tone they produce. After listening to some Youtube clips, I was ready to pull the triger on a 45J for the neck and a 45P for the bridge. Another issue I have with EMG's is the fact that they're active. I loves me some active basses, but with some of the places I play, I'm always paranoid about a battery dying, or electronics crapping out, so I really wanted to go passive.

After searching a bunch of threads on here, I decided to try the Lace Alumitone BassBars. I'll admit it, the fact that I can order them in chrome was a selling point, albeit a small one, but I've yet to hear anything bad about these pickups. I tried a Lace Helix 4-string at a local Sam Ash and dug it alot. I'm hoping that after a setup and some minor fretwork, this will become my main bass, replacing my StingRay 5, which I love to death, but it weighs a ton!

Anyway, anyone else here use these pickups? What are your thoughts on them?

FunkMetalBass · #2 04-05-2010, 08:59 AM

Never used them. I'd be curious to try them, but I don't know that they're worth spending $200 on at this point. Guess I'll be heading to Sam Ash this week to try out a lace bass.

tubby.twins · #3 04-05-2010, 01:16 PM

I've got one BassBar on order for a fretless 5-string project. I haven't tried one in person, but I heard a few sound clips and they reminded me of the tone of Villex pickups - very clear, very wide band response. I'll post a follow-up when I get a chance to test mine.

SurrenderMonkey · #4 04-05-2010, 06:15 PM

Why are they so expensive? They look a lot cheaper to produce than the standard copper-wound pickups.

NicJimBass · #5 04-05-2010, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurrenderMonkey

Why are they so expensive? They look a lot cheaper to produce than the standard copper-wound pickups.

Not sure, but if they're on-par with Lane Poor's, may be well worth it.

NicJimBass · #6 04-22-2010, 07:14 AM

So, here we are over 2 weeks after I placed my order, and I'm still waiting on the pickups to come in. Apparently there was an issue with supply from Lace, which I understand, so no biggie. It's just hard being patient when I want them now!

Actually cancelled my order once or twice but Bruce at Aamps has been very good at communicating with me and trying hard to get these to me, so I've backed out of cancelling both times.

I'll work on before and after soundclips when time permits.

poor_gear_whore · #7 04-22-2010, 09:57 AM

Are they passive pickups? Cant wait to hear your thought on them after theya re installed.

NicJimBass · #8 04-22-2010, 10:34 AM

Yes they are passive. It is a bit of a gamble getting them, as there's not alot of real-world info on them, but hopefully it'll be worth the money and the wait!

tubby.twins · #9 04-22-2010, 12:13 PM

I've got a Bass Bar now, but haven't tested it yet. I also have another one on order from Bruce at Aamps. I'll post a follow-up when I get a chance to test it.

Arvin · #10 04-23-2010, 07:53 AM

I've got a Bassbar, too, but I haven't tried it yet, either. If I'd gotten the P-style Alumitone, that'd be a different story. None of my current basses have soapbar-shaped pickups in them.

I guess I need to build another to try it out.

laklandplayer · #11 04-23-2010, 05:32 PM

You'll love the Bass bars. I put them in a Skyline 55-01 with a Demeter preamp. A great sounding pickup, you won't be sorry.

NicJimBass · #12 04-25-2010, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laklandplayer

You'll love the Bass bars. I put them in a Skyline 55-01 with a Demeter preamp. A great sounding pickup, you won't be sorry.

Awesome. I just got the first of 2 from Bruce at Aamps, so I intend to install it in the next couple of days.

NicJimBass · #13 04-25-2010, 07:44 PM

Just installed and tested the first pickup. I put it in the bridge position, as that is the one I use solo the most. I gotta say, I am really liking these so far. The true test will be in a band context, but by itself, this bass sounds worlds better than it did. Everything is smooth sounding and just sounds good.

The only thing I don't like so far is that the pickup seems very microphonic. I can rub my thumb on the mounting screw and it comes through pretty loudly. Not sure if this is how they work, or if I need to do something to remedy this.

So far, so good!

tubby.twins · #14 04-25-2010, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicJimBass

The only thing I don't like so far is that the pickup seems very microphonic. I can rub my thumb on the mounting screw and it comes through pretty loudly. Not sure if this is how they work, or if I need to do something to remedy this.

Wow, that's not good. Kind of rules out using the pickup body as a thumb-rest.

Have you tried using a small amount of electrical tape to insulate the screw's head from the pickup body?

NicJimBass · #15 04-26-2010, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubby.twins

Wow, that's not good. Kind of rules out using the pickup body as a thumb-rest.

Have you tried using a small amount of electrical tape to insulate the screw's head from the pickup body?

It does make using the pickup as a thumbrest difficult, to a point. If I do it sloppily, there is some noise, but once my thumb is on there, it's fine. I dunno... the tone of this thing is great, and I want to make it work, one way or another. Gonna email Lace today to see if there is anything I can do.

NicJimBass · #16 04-28-2010, 06:42 AM

Talked with Reggie at lace, who said the pickups sholdn't be microphonic, so I'm sending it back. Hoping it gets back soon!

meinl · #17 05-01-2010, 02:35 PM

I was thinking about getting Lace pickups a while back, but didn't know anything about them. I found this thread and found about the Aamps store. Thanks guys I ordered them on wed and got them today with USPS ground and I live in MN. Unfortunately they are like 3mm o big for my current spots

, but I will hopefully have em in by the end of the week.

firefighter736 · #18 05-04-2010, 05:01 PM

I've got a quick question (which may be completely stupid, sorry!) - if I'm looking to put a Lace PU in a Music Man style body should I go with the Bass Bar or some other style?

62bass · #19 05-05-2010, 11:25 AM

Has anyone here tried the Alumitone P pickup yet? I'm going to be putting a bass together soon and want a P pickup in it. If you've tried one, does it still sound like a P pickup? They're a bit expensive to take a chance on without some idea of what I'm likely to get.

I know there are probably some places on line where they've been recorded and I could listen, but I've never yet heard one of those where I liked the sound. Usually it's all way too bright roundwounds and too much slapping.

NicJimBass · #20 05-05-2010, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by firefighter736

I've got a quick question (which may be completely stupid, sorry!) - if I'm looking to put a Lace PU in a Music Man style body should I go with the Bass Bar or some other style?

I believe the BassBar is the largest pickup they make, so that's get my vote.