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Pedulla Thunder Bass Opinion

ZiggyDude

ZiggyDude

Jun 8, 2005
531
58
#1
Greetings!

I just got a used - but very clean - Pedulla Thunder Bass 4 string in Zebra. It is about a year old and has the Bartolinis.

I used it at home for a few days and it seems fine. Very strong preamp and it seems to emphasize the lower midrange - possibly at the loss of the fundamental. I played with the boost switch but for now wil leave it aside as a toy.

I put a new set of DR Highbeams on it and took it to its first gig this night. To be honest - I was rather disapointed. Though it still has that same strong mid range - the E string was basically very quiet - in fact it was almost gone. Overall I had to lay into the E string while just grace the other strings. I tried panning between the pickups and all sorts of tone control changes - but that was the way it was. Also - I can attest that the pickups are level in relation to the strings. I also used three othre basses that night - so the problem is not EQ or the amp.

Before the set was half over I set my new love aside and grabbed a Bongo 5. The band, roadies and folks all were rather struck at the shedding of the new bass.

Does anyone have experiences with this bass? I play Classic and New Rock with finger and or pick. No slap.

Thanx much - much,

- Ziggy -
 
#2
I guess not much of a Pedulla following out here...........

I did change the set up for the second night. Basically angled the pickups the most I could. I also tried leaving the boost switch on and EQ amp and bass around that. I eventually gave up on that and turned the switch off. Things were improved but still there was some of the problem.

Anyone else used the Thunder Bass much - or Pedulas in general?
 
#4
I've had a couple different Pedulla's over the last few years and while I love the fit, finish and playability I could just never get a good live sound out of them.

I think it's the combination of the maple bodies and Bart pickups that just don't work for me.



Still, every time I see one for sale in the classified's I have to restrain myself.
 
#5
One more thing - play with the amp eq, and find the settings for that bass. I spent a lot of time tinkering with it. When I get it dialed for my Rapture, my Warwick $$ comes through like a face-melter if kept at the same settings. But then they ARE two completely different animals.
 
#6
Thanks for the ideas.

Pondscum
I did play with the amp - but I already had the lowest EQ slider all the way up. You have a bolt on bass and very different electrics - but it is still interesting what you noticed.

Jongor
I wondered about the soft maple to. When a body is maple - it is usualy hard. Most bass makers put walnut or a dark wood in the back of the body.

I will check the Pedulla club. Sad the Pedulla site does not have a forum...
 

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