The wire was ripping off at the base of the pickup. I don't know for the ghosty sound. Make sure your bridge is straight. You can give a call to Gary at Eminence, he is very friendly.
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Double Bass Eminence Megathread
- Thread starter Christopher
- Start date
- Jan 25, 2006
- 1,292
- 6
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist; Arnold Schnitzer/ Wil DeSola New Standard RN DB
I've emailed Gary w/ no response as of yet.
I know about the proper bridge positioning and all to make proper contact. I don't think it has to do with that. And it's not my amp.
I've owned it since '01 and have toured w/ it pretty extensively in the past, but now I cannot use it.
Anyone ever experience this?
Bri
Hey Bribass,
Spam folder must have eaten your email...didn't see it, so I'm here.
The Realist pickup either works or it doesn't. If it's acting weird, it doesn't have enough pressure on the ceramic piezos situated within the copper foil.
Remove the bridge from the top of the pickup and you will see 2 small (about 1/8" in dia.) round raised areas. Those are the ceramic piezos. They must have pressure on them to operate. Kinda like some people I know.
After a time the piezos can dent the top of the bass, thereby reducing the pressure on them. It's your job to add pressure to those 2 little areas and nowhere else.
To do so, cut 2 pieces of electrical tape, 1/8th inch square (.007" thick) and place them directly over the 2 raised areas (in other words, directly on top of the piezos). If you only see one raised area, put the tape on that one.
If you're not getting a big, fat sound, put on another piece of tape. If you don't have electrical tape, you can use masking tape (.005" thick), or Scotch tape (.002" thick). Pile acordingly.
Re-string and have at it! THIS WORKS!!!
Spam folder must have eaten your email...didn't see it, so I'm here.
The Realist pickup either works or it doesn't. If it's acting weird, it doesn't have enough pressure on the ceramic piezos situated within the copper foil.
Remove the bridge from the top of the pickup and you will see 2 small (about 1/8" in dia.) round raised areas. Those are the ceramic piezos. They must have pressure on them to operate. Kinda like some people I know.
After a time the piezos can dent the top of the bass, thereby reducing the pressure on them. It's your job to add pressure to those 2 little areas and nowhere else.
To do so, cut 2 pieces of electrical tape, 1/8th inch square (.007" thick) and place them directly over the 2 raised areas (in other words, directly on top of the piezos). If you only see one raised area, put the tape on that one.
If you're not getting a big, fat sound, put on another piece of tape. If you don't have electrical tape, you can use masking tape (.005" thick), or Scotch tape (.002" thick). Pile acordingly.
Re-string and have at it! THIS WORKS!!!
- Jan 25, 2006
- 1,292
- 6
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist; Arnold Schnitzer/ Wil DeSola New Standard RN DB
Does anyone have any more information about this?
I'd been wondering whether I could mate part of a backpack to my gigbag, but if a ready made solution exists, that would be great!
In Camden the other day I saw a girl with an Eminence-shaped instrument on her back, but I didn't have the guts to chase her down and interrogate her! This could have been the case above, but does anyone know of another EUB whose case we could put an Eminence in? Perhaps one of the Arias?
EDIT: I had a bit of a "D'uhh!" moment when I realised that the 'deluxe padded gig bag' in which my bass is sitting in the corner is probably the case in question. If I come up with a snazzy way to make it backpackier I'll post pics.
MORE EDIT: Just got an email from Concord: 'It is the same bag as photo showed on gelbass.com stie, but with back pack style. It is heavy padded bag.'
Sounds good.
After a brief 20 year hiatus from upright bass ( :^), I've just gotten myself an Eminence. I chose this instrument cuz I'm in an apartment and want to be able to practice at odd hours without bugging the neighbours. It's turned out to be great.
10 days in, my chops have got a _long_ way to go, but nonetheless I'm amazed at how relatively easy this thing is to play. The action is low for the moment; I'll hitch it up when I have the strength to dig in more.
Despite my lack of recent upright experience, I do have a pretty formed idea of what kind of sound I want to make:
I love the old jazz records, so I'm not looking for a lot of growl, nor in fact much sustain. I do, however, want definition to my notes; and a healthy initial thump!! sounds good, too.
The Eminence, with its stock D'Adario Helicore Hybrids and modified Realist pickup, makes quite a decent sound. It's just not quite the classic sound that I'm dreaming of. (Well duh, it's not an old carved bass, with gut strings, in front of a Neuman...)
As I gain some proficiency and get up the nerve to take it out on some modest cocktail gigs, I'll start experimenting with some of the variables that'll sculpt my sound.
In a future thread I'll pick the collective TB brain about pickups and mics for Eminence. But for now, I'm thinking of a simple change of strings.
These D'Ad. Hel. Hybrids seem quite decent to me, and I find them easy on my virgin fingers. And I love the price they sell at! (I've already blown a wad of cash, so economy is important, short-term.)
I'm wondering if I switched over to D'Adario's Orchestras if that would
a) ease back on the crazy growl I'm getting on the E string. Also:
b) How is the sustain (don't need much), and initial thump (the more the better) on the Orchestras? And
c) Would they give me a good amount of high mids, for decent cut?
Thanks for any thoughts.
Peter Wilson
10 days in, my chops have got a _long_ way to go, but nonetheless I'm amazed at how relatively easy this thing is to play. The action is low for the moment; I'll hitch it up when I have the strength to dig in more.
Despite my lack of recent upright experience, I do have a pretty formed idea of what kind of sound I want to make:
I love the old jazz records, so I'm not looking for a lot of growl, nor in fact much sustain. I do, however, want definition to my notes; and a healthy initial thump!! sounds good, too.
The Eminence, with its stock D'Adario Helicore Hybrids and modified Realist pickup, makes quite a decent sound. It's just not quite the classic sound that I'm dreaming of. (Well duh, it's not an old carved bass, with gut strings, in front of a Neuman...)
As I gain some proficiency and get up the nerve to take it out on some modest cocktail gigs, I'll start experimenting with some of the variables that'll sculpt my sound.
In a future thread I'll pick the collective TB brain about pickups and mics for Eminence. But for now, I'm thinking of a simple change of strings.
These D'Ad. Hel. Hybrids seem quite decent to me, and I find them easy on my virgin fingers. And I love the price they sell at! (I've already blown a wad of cash, so economy is important, short-term.)
I'm wondering if I switched over to D'Adario's Orchestras if that would
a) ease back on the crazy growl I'm getting on the E string. Also:
b) How is the sustain (don't need much), and initial thump (the more the better) on the Orchestras? And
c) Would they give me a good amount of high mids, for decent cut?
Thanks for any thoughts.
Peter Wilson
I have played them for jazz, not on an EUB mind you, and they were interesting. I think their tone is nice. Real dark, not a lot of sustain. And they are crazy easy to use with the bow. However, they last about 2 months under rigorous jazz pizzing. Not very economical. I used one set and decided I didn't want to spend $600 a year on bass strings and moved on. Just my two cents.
D'Addario has another set, the Preludes, presumably meant for students, but very nice nevertheless, and quite economical, with a very warm tone.
They're stiffer than Helicore Hybrids though.
You may also want to experiment with other orchestral strings, like Flexocors.
They're more expensive than Helicores or Preludes however.
Kolstein Varicores are nice orchestral strings with good definition.
There's a set for sale here:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=548773
Watch the Classifieds; there's always something nice at a good price there.
Hope this helps!
François
They're stiffer than Helicore Hybrids though.
You may also want to experiment with other orchestral strings, like Flexocors.
They're more expensive than Helicores or Preludes however.
Kolstein Varicores are nice orchestral strings with good definition.
There's a set for sale here:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=548773
Watch the Classifieds; there's always something nice at a good price there.
Hope this helps!
François
Hey, thanks for the perspectives and tips, guys.
Good to know about the short life of the Hel. Orchs, Nathan, you probably saved me $$. Where do I send your check? :^D
François, Flexocores were one of the other types I've been interested in. But in Pirastro's catalog, they're characterized as "warm". Whereas they call Permanents "Bright".
Would Perms be a good candidate, considering the qualities I want: less sustain & growl, but still decent "cut" and punch?
- Peter
Good to know about the short life of the Hel. Orchs, Nathan, you probably saved me $$. Where do I send your check? :^D
François, Flexocores were one of the other types I've been interested in. But in Pirastro's catalog, they're characterized as "warm". Whereas they call Permanents "Bright".
Would Perms be a good candidate, considering the qualities I want: less sustain & growl, but still decent "cut" and punch?
- Peter
Incidentally, I had intended to start this thread on the string forum; did I accidentally post on the Eminence thread, or did a moderator see "Eminence" and move it to this thread?
I meant to hit the string forum, cuz my main question is re. string choice, about which any double basser might have an opinion.
I meant to hit the string forum, cuz my main question is re. string choice, about which any double basser might have an opinion.
I moved it here as it's related to the Eminence EUB.
Everything related to the EUB can be discussed here, and you'll likely get the best help regarding your Eminence instrument in this forum.
I'm a mod on both forums, incidentally.
Regards,
François
The Flexocors are warm all the way through.
With the Permanents, the top strings are brighter, but the bottom ones are rather warm, albeit less dark than Flexocors.
Don't worry about growl or sustain in both cases.
(Permanents do have more sustain than Flexocors, but not as much as dedicated pizz strings)
I've done some more reading of the archives. I started to get very interested in some of the Innovation medium tension nylon strings -- the Super Silvers, or the original Rockabillies. They sounded (on paper) like they'd be right up my alley. But then I went to the iTunes store and auditioned some tracks by one of their endorsers, Michael Moore. Turns out I don't really care for the sound; just not enough definition. (Good dynamic punch, though.)
?? One other question: Anybody ever try Pirastro Chromcor?
I've seen them described as a "Student" string. The catalog says they're bright. One old archive post compares them to Dominants.
- Peter
?? One other question: Anybody ever try Pirastro Chromcor?
I've seen them described as a "Student" string. The catalog says they're bright. One old archive post compares them to Dominants.
- Peter
I'm not sure Michael Moore still plays on Innovation strings anymore.
And when he did, I'm not sure it was those models...
I bought Super Silvers D & G recently.
You have to like floppy strings to like them, and they sound clear and bright.
They're slappers strings IMO, not jazz strings.
The original Rockabillies are even more floppy.
Pirastro Chromcor are using a solid steel core.
Pirastro started producing them when they discontinue the Ultra Sensitive brand several years ago.
The Chromcors are good strings, brighter than Flexocors, with a tad more sustain, particularly on the bottom strings, but they're also quite stiff, due to the solid core.
If you want very thumpy strings, you can get a look at Jargar strings from Denmark.
They are also available in three gauges.
They're the darkest steel strings I know!
And when he did, I'm not sure it was those models...
I bought Super Silvers D & G recently.
You have to like floppy strings to like them, and they sound clear and bright.
They're slappers strings IMO, not jazz strings.
The original Rockabillies are even more floppy.
Pirastro Chromcor are using a solid steel core.
Pirastro started producing them when they discontinue the Ultra Sensitive brand several years ago.
The Chromcors are good strings, brighter than Flexocors, with a tad more sustain, particularly on the bottom strings, but they're also quite stiff, due to the solid core.
If you want very thumpy strings, you can get a look at Jargar strings from Denmark.
They are also available in three gauges.
They're the darkest steel strings I know!
Thanks for more insight, François; you're a walking encyclopedia of DB strings.
I'm looking for less growl and sustain, and good initial attack energy. But dark -- no. I need some cut.
It seems like a hard combination of qualities to find.
I'm probably going to give Permanents a try. Nothing's perfect, but Perms sound like one of the better compromises for me.
Peter
F:Jargar strings from Denmark. ...the darkest steel strings I know
I'm looking for less growl and sustain, and good initial attack energy. But dark -- no. I need some cut.
It seems like a hard combination of qualities to find.
I'm probably going to give Permanents a try. Nothing's perfect, but Perms sound like one of the better compromises for me.
Peter
I'll weigh in here since I have a valid data point - I did almost what you described. I replaced Helicore Pizzicato's with a set of Helicore Orchestras. I got my Eminence second (really at least third) hand and it had an almost new set of pizz's on it. Way too much sustain on the E string and pretty thin on the G. I happened to have a set of old Orchestras on hand and I put them on and got pretty much the result I think you desire. A lot more punch and definition and a lot less sustain. All in all, to my ear it sounds a lot more like a real double bass.
Also, I noticed Nathan had a problem with durability on the Orchestras. I'm just guessing here, but I'll bet Nathan found that after a couple of months they lost what little sustain and "growl" they had and just didn't work well on his DB anymore for jazz. I may be wrong (please correct me if I am and there turned out to be something more substantial that went wrong with the strings) but the Orchestras I used for my Eminence were at least five or six years old and probably had hundreds of hours of time on them. And basically, they sounded like dead, crappy strings on my DB when played pizz. But it turned out that "dead" strings were just what the Eminence needed to control the tendency toward too much sustain and sounding like a fretless DB. So I'm happy with the result - but I suspect maybe you'll have to play the Orchestras a while before they get adequately "dead". I'm thinking that just about the time that Nathan would consider them worn out is about the time they start to sound good on an Eminence.
Standard disclaimer -ymmv, yada, yada, yada
Mark
I'm thinking that just about the time that Nathan would consider them worn out is about the time they start to sound good on an Eminence. ... ymmv...
Thanks for the insight, Mark; that's a good point -- different players with different tastes and purposes and basses have different criteria for concepts like "dead".
I do want to experiment with strings, but today I'm thinking: since I'm just getting my DB chops back together it probably doesn't make sense for me to be putting so much of my attention into strings at this stage.
The biggest distraction of my current Hel. Hybrid set is the crazy growl from the E string -- it's just so pronounced, and so different from any sound coming from the higher strings. So for now maybe I'll just swap the E string out for an Hel. Orchestra (investment: $30), and sit tight with that for a while. And over the coming months I can get an idea of how the Hel.s age on the Eminence.
Thanks again everybody, for all the valuable perspectives.
- Peter
