Ambient/Post-Rock/Textural bass playing thread

[lordradish]

So I finally got around to a NBD post. But here's a preview. We've been away in upstate New York at music camp, and I picked up my new Martin Keith on the way home. There are still a few bits to be adjusted, but it's already playing and sounding brilliant. It also passed cat customs.View attachment 4784047

Zen Blades?

 

[JES]

The Finger Lakes region...a ways from Woodstock.

An old friend is a winemaker there, and there was a moment where I almost moved there for a job. Lovely area.

Zen Blades?

Power Blades.

 

[steubig]

@JES

congrats!

 

[lordradish]

An old friend is a winemaker there, and there was a moment where I almost moved there for a job. Lovely area.



Power Blades.

Like em?

 

[lucas303]

Gamechanger is having a 20% off sale on a few things. Codes:

The PLASMA Pedal - 5yearsplasmapedal
The PLASMA Coil - 5yearsplasmacoil
The LIGHT Pedal - 5yearslightpedal

I only have the Light Pedal but I can attest that it's a lot of fun and pretty unique. The light thing isn't just for show.

 

[JES]

Like em?

yes…but. It’s one of the things I am working out. They sound fantastic overall, but on the lowest notes, played touchstyle, I’m getting this sort of “pew” sound in headphones. It’s really only audible through headphones but it’s bothering me. I actually tried a power blade in my Lull to make sure I liked them, but I didn’t do the headphone test and sure enough, it’s there too. My plan is to a) try lowering the pickup and see if that makes a difference and if not b) try different strings. But I really like the Cobalt flats I use. Sometimes one needs to experiment with strings on a new instrument, though.

It sounded huge through my amp at practice Monday night, though. No pew pew there. There is a certain something in the Power blade that the Zen Blade doesn’t have. But the Zen Blade is more open and hi fi. Maybe?

 

[JES]

Also, someone in my NBD thread hipped me to the tapping thread, which led me to this picture of @Bob_Ross, which you all must see.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

yes…but. It’s one of the things I am working out. They sound fantastic overall, but on the lowest notes, played touchstyle, I’m getting this sort of “pew” sound in headphones. It’s really only audible through headphones but it’s bothering me. I actually tried a power blade in my Lull to make sure I liked them, but I didn’t do the headphone test and sure enough, it’s there too. My plan is to a) try lowering the pickup and see if that makes a difference and if not b) try different strings. But I really like the Cobalt flats I use. Sometimes one needs to experiment with strings on a new instrument, though.

It sounded huge through my amp at practice Monday night, though. No pew pew there. There is a certain something in the Power blade that the Zen Blade doesn’t have. But the Zen Blade is more open and hi fi. Maybe?

Does the unwanted tone appear when recording instrument — DI — DAW?

 

[lucas303]

Also, someone in my NBD thread hipped me to the tapping thread, which led me to this picture of @Bob_Ross, which you all must see.

The cool grad student TA that you think might get high but you're not quite sure enough.

 

[JES]

Does the unwanted tone appear when recording instrument — DI — DAW?

yes, it does. I also hear it going through my VTBass into my Bluebox (which is basically DI-tiny DAW). Got an idea?

 

[emjazz]

yes…but. It’s one of the things I am working out. They sound fantastic overall, but on the lowest notes, played touchstyle, I’m getting this sort of “pew” sound in headphones. It’s really only audible through headphones but it’s bothering me. I actually tried a power blade in my Lull to make sure I liked them, but I didn’t do the headphone test and sure enough, it’s there too. My plan is to a) try lowering the pickup and see if that makes a difference and if not b) try different strings. But I really like the Cobalt flats I use. Sometimes one needs to experiment with strings on a new instrument, though.

It sounded huge through my amp at practice Monday night, though. No pew pew there. There is a certain something in the Power blade that the Zen Blade doesn’t have. But the Zen Blade is more open and hi fi. Maybe?

That's just the power blade. I remember that as well. I ended up going with a different Nordstrand P pickup, but the power blade is great

 

[lordradish]

An old friend is a winemaker there, and there was a moment where I almost moved there for a job. Lovely area.



Power Blades.

Like 'em?

 

[lordradish]

yes…but. It’s one of the things I am working out. They sound fantastic overall, but on the lowest notes, played touchstyle, I’m getting this sort of “pew” sound in headphones. It’s really only audible through headphones but it’s bothering me. I actually tried a power blade in my Lull to make sure I liked them, but I didn’t do the headphone test and sure enough, it’s there too. My plan is to a) try lowering the pickup and see if that makes a difference and if not b) try different strings. But I really like the Cobalt flats I use. Sometimes one needs to experiment with strings on a new instrument, though.

It sounded huge through my amp at practice Monday night, though. No pew pew there. There is a certain something in the Power blade that the Zen Blade doesn’t have. But the Zen Blade is more open and hi fi. Maybe?

Zen is definitely hifi. Problem I'm having is the Miezo bass that it's in has a high pitched buzzing that I can't figure out. I've even taken it in to a shop, and they couldn't find any grounding problems so I am starting to wonder if I have a bad pickup or pre.

 

[JES]

That's just the power blade. I remember that as well. I ended up going with a different Nordstrand P pickup, but the power blade is great

The hugeness or the pew sound or both?

 

[emjazz]

The hugeness or the pew sound or both?

Ah..I was talking about the pew sound, but both really. Yeah, that sound was only noticeable with headphones, and not at all when in a mix

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

26727873[/URL], member: 30373"]Ah..I was talking about the pew sound, but both really. Yeah, that sound was only noticeable with headphones, and not at all when in a mix

is it just me or that’s a « flaw » in the pickup’s design?
I would never go into a studio session with an instrument that has this issue. Ruined bass take, ill pass on that.
Live I would, but still……

my 2 cents.

 

[JES]

I heard back from Adrian at Nordstrand who suggested a couple things to try. So I will.

 

[lucas303]

I heard back from Adrian at Nordstrand who suggested a couple things to try. So I will.

I hope you have better luck with their customer service than I did.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

26729842[/URL], member: 340182"]I hope you have better luck with their customer service than I did.

same, I asked for recommendations/guidance since the website has the worst pickup descriptions in history.
apparently the person who answered my inquiry was the one who helped write those abominations.

I guess we are the minority, because the praise the get is quite impressive all over.

:/

 

[monsterthompson]

same, I asked for recommendations/guidance since the website has the worst pickup descriptions in history.
apparently the person who answered my inquiry was the one who helped write those abominations.

I guess we are the minority, because the praise the get is quite impressive all over.

:/

Those descriptions are awful. I was concerned about dealing with them at first but my Nordy experiences have been generally positive. Though my Zen Blades have had some problems in the Miezo I don’t think the problems were necessarily the pickups as much as the pots they connected to.

 

[steubig]

pretty sure i know they guy who wrote those.

guess they wanted something "artistic" . . . not my thing, but i'm old and i don't just want everyone off my lawn, i want them off my damned street.