Coming soon; Steinbacker fretless bass

[JIO]

Originally Posted by Richland123

Is there a special reason why you are not using double ball end strings?

If you read back a couple of pages, it's all spelled out. Frankly, being a die-hard Kubicki Factor fan/player, I personally feel double-ball strings are a limiting design and am glad not to have to use them.

[JIO]

Originally Posted by Megas3300

I want that, I want that in my life.

Man if I had to make another one! It's nice when something one makes exclusively for one's self gets a response like that! Not that I did exclusively make it to own/play (but I most certainly will play it! ) but I made it because it didn't exist in exactly this form and I love conceptualizing, designing and building these basses.

If I had nothing better to do (like living, relationships, working, playing music, etc) and an over-abundance of capital (as you can see, I can't afford the electronics right now, so it needs to sit a while longer before I can rock it), projects like this would be an ongoing thing. You can check page 1 of this thread to see when I started. Not complaining, but just sayin' it takes a lot of fussing-over for months.

But actually yes, if I made another one just like this one it would be more realized in many ways as I've learned much in the process. It would also justifiably be very expensive. Too hard to do a cost-comparison...

[wraub]

That is a fine looking bass you have made there. Really fine.
Nice job.

I, also, think I'd buy one.

wraub

[JIO]

Originally Posted by wraub

That is a fine looking bass you have made there. Really fine.
Nice job.

I, also, think I'd buy one.

wraub

wow.., thank you so much! I am planning on selling this and a few other custom-basses I've created through my Gildaxe web-site. But first I need to get this one to sound as good as it looks & plays - it's a hard rule for me. If I made another, I would use a different tuner/bridge set-up closer to a Kubicki-style. I actually saw one on eBay that looked good. The Steinberger unit is just such a graceless brick of material.

Just wait until you see my finished Supersonic bass (Fender Performer spin-off) Custom Performer/Supersonic bass I'm making that bass for me!

[JIO]

Originally Posted by tomersg

man that bass looks great! except the pickguard IMhO...

love this pickguard!

[JIO]

...and this one - so 80's! I did a similar smoked plexi pg for an EB-3 I stripped the red finish off and de-fretted in the early 70's!

[daveman50]

Originally Posted by JIO

Just wait until you see my finished Supersonic bass (Fender Performer spin-off) Custom Performer/Supersonic bass I'm making that bass for me!

We're waiting.....!!!!!

[JIO]

Originally Posted by daveman50

We're waiting.....!!!!!

Me too bro! I anticipate getting the Firemist Gold Metallic (Pat Wilkins) finished hotrod back any day now! I still need to decide on a pickguard colour and cut one out, but will post pics of Pat's beautiful work once it arrives!

Serious GAS!

[JIO]

Went ahead and did the back-side horn position for the upper strap-peg - keeps the front profile clean and the strap lays nice also.



Also can see the carbon neck/body plate.



I like the way the carbon looks uneven from sanding - it plays against the perfectness of the surrounding finishes.



and the blackened maple neck wedge



And finally, I ordered an Aguilar OP-2 preamp with V/BLD/T/B. I wanted 4 controls w/no stacked knobs or switches. Once here it's a short install from being fully-functional.

[wraub]

Originally Posted by JIO

wow.., thank you so much! I am planning on selling this and a few other custom-basses I've created through my Gildaxe web-site. But first I need to get this one to sound as good as it looks & plays - it's a hard rule for me. If I made another, I would use a different tuner/bridge set-up closer to a Kubicki-style. I actually saw one on eBay that looked good. The Steinberger unit is just such a graceless brick of material.

Just wait until you see my finished Supersonic bass (Fender Performer spin-off) Custom Performer/Supersonic bass I'm making that bass for me!

Actually, I've been watching that build as well, and am looking forward to it being up and running.
Keep it (them) up and going.
Waiting...

wraub

[JIO]

The preamp will be here on Saturday.

I keep reading that the Aguilar's are a little tricky to install - anyone with 1st hand experience here? Maybe it's just that they are not as plug-in friendly as EMG's, but I have installed electronics prior so I am hoping for smooth sailing.

[Thumpin_P]

Just print off the directions from bestbassgear.com. They are definitely more consuming than EMG's...but, you can do it!

[JIO]

Didn't arrive as scheduled. Next week (Tuesday) I hope.

[JIO]

never mind -

[JIO]

I finally got the preamp install issue sorted and the Steinbacker is live! Initial sonic impression is good and it plays nice. Very slippery and simultaneously articulate. It's not as loud as I hoped running 9V and I really don't have room for another 9V battery in the control cavity, so I may just have to boost it externally. (not really a problem) I plan to put it through its paces at a jam tomorrow night where I can make a true assessment of how it performs. I'd post pics but photobucket is still down. Soon.

[Stealth]

An extra battery will give more headroom (more non-compressing, non-distorting amplitude range), it won't automatically provide you with a volume boost.

Hope you'll give clips of it soon

[JIO]

Originally Posted by Stealth

An extra battery will give more headroom (more non-compressing, non-distorting amplitude range), it won't automatically provide you with a volume boost.

Hope you'll give clips of it soon

I read a tb thread about this very subject last night EMG J pups: 9 or 18 volt?
and opinions were all across the board, but most agree w/what you said. Is there a simple way to bypass the preamp (via a mini-toggle) and if I did that would the passive pu's be louder? I like the active/passive option anyway, so if I can do this I would.

As a separate but related question, why is this set-up not as loud as another similarly set-up active bass? (different brand/pus) In general, what makes one louder than the other?

[JIO]

I found this - so it's pretty straight forward to do the bypass.

[Stealth]

Don't use that way. It'll cause audible buzzes and pops when you switch.

Use this wiring by line6man. When in passive mode the preamp's input is grounded and the output is lifted. That way you don't get crackling on switching.

[JIO]

excellent! thanks for that!