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Alien 6 Fretless Demo - Looking for Ideas

#22
Kwin Smith said:
Well, we called to place my order today, but had to leave a message. Hopefully, we'll get the return call tomorrow. Looks like I'm going to be on the list for March...I hope!

Here's a couple of quick questions:
1) How's the overall weight on yours;
2) Could I trouble you for the typical neck dimensions?
and
Have you gone on with your plan of doing some vids? If you are going to, could you run it through some Latin jazz grooves with a tiny bit of chorus in one of them?
Thanks!
Kwin
Click to expand...

The Alien is next on the list of vids to do. And since I'm not one to just shoot and print, I'm hoping to have it up by next week or so. In the meantime, I'll see about getting some info on the weight and neck.
 
#25
Sadly not at this point. With the holidays and two productions, I've been busy nearly every night either playing a gig or at a rehearsal. I have three days off this week that I'm hoping to get something together.
 
#27
I had some time Wednesday and made a vid, so hopefully this week it'll be up. To answer one question, I've played it unplugged with two folk guitarists and it holds up. The demo itself is only recorded with a mic, in order to back that statement up.

Weight? It's not light, but it sits well when you're sitting down an is comfortable.
 
#28
Okay, here's the demo. Took longer than I anticipated, but that's what happens when you say "Oh, I have a month of downtime from gigs; this'll be no problem!" and then suddenly it's the middle of January and you've been gigging heavily.

And in full disclosure, I don't have the Warwick Bronze strings on. I threw on an old set of GHS Super Steel Contact Core strings, mainly because the Bronze ones were making my fingers black.

Warwick Alien Fretless 6 - Demo
 
#31
Thanks, gents. Yes, shot purely with a Blue Microphones Yeti USB mic stationed at my feet. It goes without saying, but that was the big thing you all wanted to know about, and I couldn't think of a better way to do it. I have no qualms about taking this to a gig and not plugging in.

I should've done a part toward the end with it plugged in, because it has a deep, robust and mellow tone with the preamp, especially run through the BC-80.
 
#33
I'm considering an Alien and have a couple of questions. Instead of starting a new thread, they were touched upon here so I thought I'd ask them here.

1. Sound wise, what's the difference between the Rockbass and non Rockbass Aliens? I know the electronics and woods are different but how does that translate to the difference in sound?

2. Could I use tapewound strings on an Alien? And how would that affect the sound? Would it sound more "upright" like?

Thanks.
 
#34
LeonD said:
1. Sound wise, what's the difference between the Rockbass and non Rockbass Aliens? I know the electronics and woods are different but how does that translate to the difference in sound?
Click to expand...

I can't speak with full authority (since I've only tried mine), but I would assume any of the tonal differences are going to be minor at best, when unplugged. It's really when you plug them in and see the differences in the preamps that you are going to notice a difference.

For example, the Rockbass Alien Standard has a simple preamp with volume and tone, whereas the top model has the Prefix Plus setup, which is much more robust and capable of dialing in your sound.


LeonD said:
2. Could I use tapewound strings on an Alien? And how would that affect the sound? Would it sound more "upright" like?
Click to expand...

It definitely would affect the sound, although not drastically. I would assume that the tone would be a bit softer and more mellow. It would be a bit closer to an "upright" sound; not exact, but closer.

I have a set of GHS Super Steel Contact Core strings that I put on mine instead of the Phosphor Bronze ones, and they work great. So give other strings a try.
 
#35
One Bad Monkey said:
I can't speak with full authority (since I've only tried mine), but I would assume any of the tonal differences are going to be minor at best, when unplugged. It's really when you plug them in and see the differences in the preamps that you are going to notice a difference.

For example, the Rockbass Alien Standard has a simple preamp with volume and tone, whereas the top model has the Prefix Plus setup, which is much more robust and capable of dialing in your sound.
Click to expand...

That's good to hear. I've been looking for an acoustic bass for playing unplugged only. I might go with this Rockbass Alien. I really like the idea of the thumbrest they have on there. I can't wait to hear the unplugged sound in One Bad Monkey's demo. I wasn't too impressed with the unplugged sound in one of the Andy Irvine demos I heard the other day.
 
#36
Herrick said:
That's good to hear. I've been looking for an acoustic bass for playing unplugged only. I might go with this Rockbass Alien. I really like the idea of the thumbrest they have on there. I can't wait to hear the unplugged sound in One Bad Monkey's demo. I wasn't too impressed with the unplugged sound in one of the Andy Irvine demos I heard the other day.
Click to expand...

I can't comment on Andy's recording setup, but for my demo I recorded the audio with a mic though Garage Band and them spliced it into the video in the editing. I find that yields a much better sounding video than relying on the built-in mic on the camera.

The thumbrest is nice, but I find myself rarely using it.
 
#37
One Bad Monkey said:
I can't comment on Andy's recording setup, but for my demo I recorded the audio with a mic though Garage Band and them spliced it into the video in the editing. I find that yields a much better sounding video than relying on the built-in mic on the camera.

The thumbrest is nice, but I find myself rarely using it.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that info. I'm still at work so I can't watch the demo. Just a few more hours...:D
 
#39
I'm just going to be blunt. Apologies:

1) How is the more expensive model worth it (I love the metal tailpiece instead of annoying bridge pins but...) for a very similar model that is also made in China and doesn't even have a solid top?

2) The youtubes I have reviewed all sound terrible when acoustic and sound great amplified. I don't expect great volume but I'd like a warm, full tone when playing acoustic only. I already have great sounding electrics.

Anyway, thanks for all your help. I thought it best to just come out and say it because I know the Boulder Creek basses have more acoustic volume and bassiness unamplified but I want a 6-string ABG and the Alien looks very classy. I, like others have said, would like it to be the one but laminated tone just doesn't do it for me. I hope it's better in person. I would love to play some.

Best,
Tom H.
 
#40
slombovia said:
I
1) How is the more expensive model worth it (I love the metal tailpiece instead of annoying bridge pins but...) for a very similar model that is also made in China and doesn't even have a solid top?
Click to expand...

Wood choices are different between all three models, but the biggest difference is in the electronics. The Prefix Plus preamp was a factor in me choosing the "top" Alien over the Rockbass Deluxe.

Otherwise, yeah, they're fairly similar.


slombovia said:
2) The youtubes I have reviewed all sound terrible when acoustic and sound great amplified. I don't expect great volume but I'd like a warm, full tone when playing acoustic only. I already have great sounding electrics.
Click to expand...

There are a lot of factors involved here. Aside from compression issues with YouTube, the fact of the matter is that no acoustic bass guitar is going to give you a completely warm and full tone; there are a lot of things working against it.

I have a set of GHS Super Steel Contact Core on this bass, which is probably one of the brightest sets of strings you can use. That's going to affect the overall tone, and I like it as-is; the guitarists I play with cite that it sits well with the tone of their guitars.

Put a set of tapewounds or flats on it, and you'll probably get closer to the tone that YOU want.


slombovia said:
Anyway, thanks for all your help. I thought it best to just come out and say it because I know the Boulder Creek basses have more acoustic volume and bassiness unamplified...
Click to expand...

Sure about that? I only ask because that top soundhole on the Boulder Creek is designed to allow the player to hear their instrument, which it does (because the sound is going toward the player and not away from). A lot of people take that as a sign that the AEB is a very loud instrument, which it "might" be. But you're really hearing the sound from that soundhole, which is not going to tell you if from ten feet away, someone at a small club can hear you with two guitarists.

The Boulder Creek is a loud sounding AEB, but the Alien is louder (I've played both). Closest I can compare the Alien volume to is the old Tacoma Thunderchief. Those things were beasts.
 
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